Eight of Swords

July 5, 2012

“One bravo two eighty-three on channel one.” The radio crackled as the officer’s voice came into her ear. She pressed her hand against the headphone, trying to make out the rest of his words. “…Got something… backup… county line… ten…”
The radio cut out as she furiously typed commands into the com. “One bravo two eighty three, you were unreadable please repeat.”
The crackle of static responded, but no words came with it. She listened for a little longer, glancing at the radio to see if he was still broadcasting. The lights were off across the channels and she bit back annoyance. She hated that the towers had been so weak lately. It seemed like every time the officers went past city limits, their radios started to cut out. “One bravo one fifty-two and one bravo one sixty-three, respond to Johnson and county road ten to assist.”
“Copy, both units en route.”
“En route at twenty two fifty six.” She smirked. She knew both of them would be at the Starbucks on Johnson, three miles from the county road. It was nearing midnight and they would have made sure to get their fix before the friday night bars let out and the DUIs started.
Updating their status on the computer, she stared at one bravo two eighty-three’s status icon. It was blinking red, angry that she hadn’t been able to make sure he was all right. “One bravo two eighty-three, status.”
The radio channel opened and crackled again. She tried again, but only got more static. A little trickle of worry started in the bottom of her throat, pooling in her stomach. She knew he had to be all right, but there was the little worry that something had happened to him. He had to be all right.
“One bravo two fifty-two, both units on scene.”
“Copy on scene at twenty three hundred.”
“Nothing to see here. His car’s fine but he’s not here. We’ll be checking the area.”
“Copy.” He had told her earlier that he was going on foot. What if something had happened to him? What if he fell in a hole and couldn’t get out? He had his flash light, he would hear the other officers. He would be all right.
“One.. bravo two fifty-two.” His voice was shaking, audible despite the static that broke into his transmissions. She could hear one bravo two sixty-three in the background, his voice muffled as he said,”Oh my god.”
“Go ahead.” Her voice shook. the tension of his transmission making her fear for the worst.
“They’ve taken him. He’s gone. They left their mark. The grass is charred all around, but he’s not here.”
“Copy.” She swallowed as the other officers scrambled to assist with the search. They had been hearing rumors of people missing there since the beginning of the year. But never an officer. They had done patrols to make sure people there would be ok. He would be all right. He would be all right. He would come back.