Illusive | Tim Bradford

eight •

I listen as Bradford proposes that we can keep her and the baby safe if she were give him up. Bradford instructs her to just tell him she doesn't feel well, that she's worried about the baby. This was all a plot to lure Vance to the apartment.

I watch as Cesiah calls Vance, I can tell just by the way he speaks to her that he has no means to keep her around after the baby is born. She is just a means to an end to him.

I pause at the sudden sound of gunfire. I lift up my radio, "7-Adam-19. Shots fired at Bronson Estates." I speak into it. Something doesn't seem right as the static hisses, "control, respond." I speak.

Cesiah looks at me, "marcus had a frequency jammer in the basement. One of his guys brought it back from Iraq." She informs.

I pull out my phone, seeing no signal. "No signal." I inform Bradford.

As Cesiah begins to pack, Bradford attempts to rush her. "I need things for the baby. I can't leave here without them." Cesiah admits.

I nod, "it's okay. We're going to get you to a safe place. When are you due?" I ask.

"A week ago." Cesiah informs.

Before I can respond, Bradford is looking out the peephole. "Vance." He mutters, before he looks to Cesiah. "Your boyfriend's here." He announces.

One of Vance's men knocks at the door, causing me to tense. "To the police offers inside, I'm here for Cesiah. She walks out, you walk away. Otherwise, we're gonna come in and take here." Vance threatens.

Bradford shakes his head, "no, you're not. Cause you can't risk her getting hit in the crossfire. You give up and we'll make sure she goes to the hospital when the baby comes." Bradford attempts to reason.

Vance proves he has no motivation to even attempt to negotiate with us, shutting down Bradford's ideas and telling him that he will not leave without his child.

"What are you doing?" I ask Bradford, unsure of what his plan is.

"I brought us a little time. But they're going to come through that door soon enough. And I'm not sure we can stop them." Bradford admits.

I look through the peephole, seeing three gunmen in the hallway. My skin crawls. They're definitely not going down without a fight.

Whilst I'm standing as Cesiah lays on the couch, I hear her make a noise. "You alright?" I ask.

"I just had a contraction." She reveals, I mentally curse the police force. And life in general. Of course when there's three gunmen outside, a baby decides to come. "A really big one." Cesiah adds.

"Okay," I speak, thinking about what we can go.

After they blocked the peephole, Bradford used my body-cam to make a hoist for the camera so we could see out. Then, we used the app on the city issued phone to view the footage.

I held the phone for Bradford to see the hallway outside. Bradford crouches in front of the door with two handguns aimed at it. When he sees the men in the hall come at the door, Bradford fires a row of shots through the door and wall; bringing down at least one of the gunmen.

They return fire, and Cesiah screams from the couch due to being in labour.

We hear Vance worriedly call it off, as they become distracted with trying to find another way into the apartment.

After working hard to deliver Cesiah's baby; although she was working 10x harder than me, the baby has arrived. I hand the wrapped up baby in a towel to Cesiah. "It's a girl," I announce.

I look to Bradford as he looks on the phone, where the body camera app is. He seems lost in thought for a moment.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Somethings not right." He comments.

Then suddenly, the sound of crashing comes from the next room.

"Look out!" He yells.

Pony comes through the door behind me, and I turn. Pony shoots, and I fall to the floor. My gun goes flying. Laying there in shock for a moment, as I feel paralysed. I was only semi conscious.

Did I actually get shot?

But suddenly, I remember my trauma plate. I climb up from the floor; seeing Bradford battling the gunmen whilst Vance is trying to take the baby from Cesiah's arms.

I kick the gunman behind the knee and he falls to the ground with a thud. I pepper spray the next thug, and I hear Bradford hollering out the Miranda rights.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney present. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you." He informs.

Luckily, someone from our crew was able to disable the jammer by turning the power off. Therefore, we had ambulances, backup teams and helicopters all present out the front of the estate.

I walk beside a gurney with Cesiah seated on it, I talk her through what's next as she asks. She seems to be unable to entirely process the fact that she is now free. Whatever's next is entirely up to her.