Chapter 19-20 - Former CIA, Now LAPD

Chapter 19 – The Weight of Silence, the Sound of the Engine

February 5, 2016 – 7:01 PM

Grant Residence – West LA

The gate creaked open. The sound of the Escalade's V8 engine, though soft, filled the street with a controlled, low, almost respectful rumble.

Harry was already waiting on the sidewalk, arms crossed and eyes wide. May stood at the second-story window, cell phone in hand, and Michael peered from the kitchen, putting away silverware.

The black SUV gleamed under the streetlights. Tinted windows, imposing bodywork, chrome accents.

It was impossible not to notice.

Mike got out calmly. He wore a dark shirt and well-fitted jeans. Nothing about his posture suggested ostentation but his presence was different tonight.

Harry ran to the sidewalk.

"YOU BOUGHT AN ESCALADE?!" he shouted in disbelief.

Mike smiled.

"I bought it. It's mine now."

"It's just like the ones in spy movies! Are you going to put those hidden red lights? And bulletproof glass?"

"This is the civilian version, Harry. But... I confess I've driven a lot of them—just modified."

May came down the stairs with her cell phone still in her hand.

"Wow. That's... unexpected. You don't seem like the 'big engine and chrome' type."

"Not everything I am is visible on the surface."

Michael opened the door with a dish towel over his shoulder.

"Is that a car... or a DARPA ship?"

Mike laughed, walking toward them.

"I always liked this model. We used it for official operations. The armored version, with thermal cameras, a signal jamming system, and military-redundant GPS. But this one... I chose this one for myself."

Athena appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.

"You came in with your engine roaring and brought the whole street to a standstill. An Escalade, Mike?"

He gave a half-smile, genuinely.

"It's symbolic, Athena. For years, this car was where I was protected. Now, I've chosen a version... where I simply exist."

She looked at him for a long moment. Then she nodded, almost smiling.

"Well... park properly before some neighbor thinks the CIA is coming to get someone."

Harry was fascinated.

"Have you ever driven in chases?"

"Yes."

"And jumped out of a moving car?"

"Once."

"You're a legend."

7:30 PM – Family Dinner

At the table, dinner was lasagna with arugula salad and garlic bread Michael's recipe. The Escalade was still on the table.

May twirled her fork between her fingers.

"Have you always had this kind of money?"

Mike answered honestly:

"I've managed to save quite a bit over the years. I made some wise investments. And some of what I received… was unconventional."

Athena raised an eyebrow.

"Does that mean legal?"

"It means clean. But with… gray origins."

Michael laughed.

"The most elegant definition of 'American intelligence' I've ever heard."

Harry looked at his sister.

"We'll never win Christmas presents again. How can we compete with an Escalade?"

Everyone laughed.

May looked at Mike more deeply.

"You could have bought anything. A sports car, a Tesla, a helicopter. Why this one?"

Mike looked at her.

"Because it's big. Quiet. It protects the people inside. It doesn't really attract attention. It's functional. And, honestly… because I wanted something of my own that had history. And this car does."

Athena watched silently. But there was respect in her eyes.

Not for the purchase. But for the contained revelation.

Mike rarely talked about himself. And now he was talking. Without too many words.

9:10 PM – Nighttime Drive (Short)

After dinner, Harry begged for a "mini-drive" around the block. Mike agreed, with Athena in the front seat, May in the middle, and Harry with his face pressed against the glass.

The interior was softly lit in blue. The touchscreen glowing. The sound was off.

"You know what I like most?" Harry said. "It's not noisy. It feels like we're floating."

Mike nodded.

"This car doesn't need to scream to be powerful."

Athena smiled discreetly.

"Like someone I know."

May watched him in the rearview mirror. There was admiration there. But also… curiosity.

"Have you ever had something of your own before this?"

Mike thought for a moment.

"I've had properties. Accounts. Registered firearms. But something just mine, chosen by me, for me? No. This is the first."

The answer was direct. And touching.

Athena looked out the window.

Mike was making memories.

And everyone in that car knew it.

10:05 PM – Back at the house

With the engine off, the silence of the night filled the space.

Harry was the first to get out, running to tell Michael that "the car had secret buttons."

May followed, but before she did, she looked at Mike and said:

"Congratulations. For choosing something for yourself, for the first time."

Mike smiled sincerely.

Athena came last.

Before getting in, she stopped at the curb.

She looked at the car.

Then she looked at him.

"You're full of secrets, Mike Edwards."

— "Some… are starting to stop being so."

She touched his arm. A light gesture. But full of weight.

— "Good night."

— "Good night Athena."

Mike got into the car.

He turned the key.

The dashboard lit up.

But he stood there. For a minute. Alone.

And he thought:

"It's not about the car. It's about allowing yourself to take up space. For the first time, without a mission. Just… being who I am."

Chapter 20 – The Weight of the Street

April 23, 2016 – 9:00 PM

Patrol Vehicle, Downtown Los Angeles

The patrol car, a black SUV, moves smoothly down the street. Moonlight reflects off the windows, and the muffled sounds of the city penetrate through the cracks in the slightly open window. Inside, the radio is silent, a rare pause, allowing only the low engine sound to fill the silence.

Mike sat in the driver's seat, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, watching the passing traffic as he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings. Athena, beside him, was equally vigilant, her eyes darting back and forth, monitoring every movement and shadow, like second nature.

"Sometimes, the stillness is scary, isn't it?" Athena said, breaking the silence between them.

Mike glanced at her quickly, his eyes narrowing with a slight smile.

"Yes, it is. But we have no choice but to wait." He paused, considering his answer. "It's what the city requires of us. Wait... until something happens."

Athena nodded, but her eyes continued to scan the street.

"Have you ever experienced something so calm that you knew the worst was about to happen?" she asked, her lips quirking slightly.

Mike thought for a moment.

"Yes. There's something about silence. It brings a tension, like a ticking time bomb."

Athena smiled, but it was brief.

"I know exactly what you're talking about. But still, we're here, waiting."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a call coming over the radio.

"Dispatch to Unit 405, we're receiving a suspicious situation report on West 7th Street, near the Astoria Hotel. Suspected assault in progress. Unit 405, respond."

Mike immediately grabbed the microphone.

"This is Unit 405, receiving your call. On the way."

He glanced quickly at Athena, who was already adjusting her seatbelt and getting ready.

"Do you think it's serious?" Athena asked, adjusting the radio.

Mike glanced quickly at the GPS screen, plotting the location on the map.

"Given the area, it's possible. Astoria is a hot spot. It could just be a bar fight, but considering the time, we could be dealing with something more."

The car accelerated, making a left turn onto 7th Street. The city noise intensified as they approached the area. Traffic began to slow, with several cars parked, but no sign of immediate suspicious activity.

Mike pressed the button to roll down the window, letting in the cool night air. The street was lit by the hotel's neon lights and streetlights, but there was still a sense of darkness, as if something were lurking.

"I guess what awaits us is never what we expect," Mike said, mostly to himself, but Athena heard him and reflected.

"It's always like this. We never know what we'll find, but we adapt," she said, scanning the sidewalk along the street.

They quickly arrived at the Astoria Hotel, an old building with its facade covered in flashing neon signs. There was a hustle and bustle ahead, people coming and going, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Mike parked the car on the side street, about half a block from the hotel, and got out. Athena did the same, both quickly equipping themselves with their radios and pistols, ready for anything. They approached the hotel entrance, where a woman stood, visibly agitated, gesturing toward the reception desk.

"He's in there! He threatened me!" the woman screamed when she saw the officers approaching. "He said he was going to kill me!"

Athena immediately approached her, speaking calmly and in a controlled manner.

"Calm down, ma'am. What's your name?"

The woman was panting, but managed to say:

"Diana. He... he was following me. I was at the bar, and he kept looking at me. When I left, he came after me and said he knew where I lived. That he was going to kill me."

Mike exchanged a quick glance with Athena. They knew this wasn't a simple incident. Someone was actually threatening someone explicitly.

"Where is he now?" Mike asked, his voice deep.

"Upstairs! In room 311!" Diana pointed desperately toward the hotel lobby. "Please do something. He... he has a knife!"

Athena immediately began moving toward the hotel entrance, with Mike following close behind. They passed the reception desk, where the receptionist looked tense, but unsure of what to do.

"Room 311. Let's go," Mike said, his voice firm. "Stay back, Athena."

As they reached the elevator, the atmosphere was tense. Mike knew that if the man was armed with a knife, the situation could escalate quickly. But more importantly, the woman was in danger, and they needed to act cautiously to avoid a tragedy.

The elevator stopped on the third floor, and the two left with precise, silent movements. The hallway was deserted except for a closed door at the end, marked 311.

Mike motioned for Athena to stand behind him, and he walked to the door, listening intently. For a moment, the silence was absolute. Then, suddenly, a sound of breaking glass and a raised male voice could be heard from inside the room.

"You're not leaving here. No one's going to stop me!"

Mike and Athena exchanged a quick glance before Mike pushed the door open. The man was standing near the window, a knife in his hands, visibly agitated.

"Drop the knife!" Mike ordered, his voice authoritative. He was in an attack stance, the pistol out of his waistband.

The man looked at them both, wide-eyed, but didn't drop the knife. He made a quick move toward Mike.

"You're not arresting me! I'm not going back to jail!" The man screamed, advancing.

Before he could take another step, Athena reacted with the speed of trained instinct. She leaped forward and disarmed the man with a precise movement, pinning his hand and sending the knife falling to the ground.

"Throw it on the ground!" Athena shouted, as the man tried to break free but was quickly restrained.

Mike stepped forward, pinning the man firmly to the ground.

"You are under arrest for threat of death and assault. Remain calm."

The woman's screams from before still echoed in her head. Athena took a deep breath, looking at the immobilized man.

"You'll be okay, Diana," she said calmly, looking at the woman who was now restrained.

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Chapter 10 - Chapter 19-20