Storm Killer by Benjamin Blue Page A

the two leads from the step up transformer. The circuit was now active and anyone on the grating who touched the door would receive the a little more than the equivalent of a farmer’s electric fence. Not enough to kill, but enough to stun.
    He felt protected now that he had the trap set and went back to sending his Mayday message. He was becoming more and more hysterical as the van shuddered and rocked from the buffeting of the winds. 
    The Lieutenant and Hoch approached the van’s steps and quickly made their way up the steps. The noise of the storm masked their footfalls. 
    The Lieutenant took the lead with Hoch following. Kim took up her position at the foot of the steps with her regulation firearm.
    Lt. James slammed through the outer door and took the single step to the inner door. He reached out, grabbed the handle and --- CRACK. All he saw was an orange and yellow ball of fire leaping from his hand to the door and felt the jolt as his muscles seized. His body was thrown backward by the electrical jolt. He crashed into Hoch who had just stepped through the outer door. Together, they fell in a heap out of the door and tumbled down the steps to the base of the van. Hoch had the breath knocked out of him and Lieutenant James was still out from the electrical charge he had taken. His TASER fell at Kim’s feet.
    Manny Jenkins stuck his head out to see if the men were going to be of any more concern to him. Kim saw his head appearing from the edge of the door. She reacted without thinking and, with all of her strength, slammed the heavy metal door into Manny’s head. Not once, but three times in rapid succession.
    Manny slid to the bottom of the door as he tried to focus his eyes.  Kim grabbed the TASER, step onto the first step of the van and slammed the TASER against the side of his neck. She fired two charges into him to make sure he was down.
    She then tended to the Lieutenant while Hoch reconnected the patch panel and brought the house back into the communications loop.
    Together they aided Lt. James back to the house fighting the winds and rain from the unrelenting storm. By the time they arrived there, he had pretty much recovered from the effects of the electrical charge he had taken.
    The medical team insisted that the Lieutenant should rest for the remainder of the evening. He was still a little shaky and Hoch assisted him to his cot. They had talked about how Kim had responded and what a great addition she made to the security team.
    As Hoch turned to leave, the Lieutenant said, “Officer Hoch. That is one great woman you have there.”
    Hoch turned with a confused look on his face. “Woman? What woman?”
    “Why Officer Danby, of course.” Lt. James exclaimed.
    “Danby? And me? Where the hell did you get that idea? We’re just good friends!”
    “Good friends? Excuse me, but I saw her kiss you after your Karate exercises and I thought that you two were -.”
      Hoch interrupted with a deep laugh. “Danby and me? God no. She just thanked me for getting her started in Karate as she loves it so much.”
    “Oh, I see. So you two aren’t together?”
    “No way. We really aren’t each others’ type.”
    “Well that’s good to know. I mean you didn’t want me to have the wrong idea did you?” Lieutenant James hurriedly tried to continue as amusement played on Hoch’s face.
    “Oh no sir! Certainly not! You’re getting the wrong idea. Our Officer Kim Danby is a free spirit with no attachments as far as I know.” Hoch said with a smile.
    “Good night, Lieutenant.” Hoch said as he left the room.
    “Good night, Officer Hoch.” Lt James replied.