That’s the bodyguard

After working night and day with CED, her captain and her commissioner, every piece of paperwork, every permission, every piece of equipment, manpower, everything was ready. All she had to wait was for Saturday. Graham wanted everyone to go with Journee, but she decided a small crew would get the job done without getting spotted and she wanted only her people on the job.

That Saturday she woke up early. She tied her hair in a ponytail and wore a red blouse paired with black trousers. Even Kay was ready with her breakfast.

"Are you guys ready?" he asked while she was stuffing her mouth with food.

"Yeah!"

"You sure you don't want my help?" inquired Kay, again.

"Kay! You know you can't come," she gave him a look.

He knew she was right. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Let's hope we make a chunk in their armour today," hoped Journee.

"Remember you are going for surveillance, not fight with him," said Kay.

"I am aware, Kay. But if an opportunity arises, I am not going to back down."

"That's my girl!" he said proudly.

She finished eating and gulped the coffee in a single gulp. "Okay, take care. Today you can work on Amber's case."

"Return with good news."

"I will." She kissed him on his cheeks and left her house.

As it was early morning at the weekend, the roads were less crowded. Within minutes she was inside her precinct. It was almost empty except for the late-night crew who were just finishing their work and were about to leave. Officers kept standing and saluting her with respect as she crossed them.

She entered a conference room where a few of the officers were waiting for them. Slowly her selected twenty-five people were inside the room. After all were seated, she started her instructions.

"So, there are main 18 gates that we are going to cover. The IT team will set up surveillance in their ice cream van. All of you collect your gear and be in contact. We have assigned a number to all of you to be stealthy. Please don't use anyone's name. Meyers, especially you, don't use anyone's name. Is it clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Officer Meyers stood up and nodded. Everyone else smirked at him.

"And if you use names?" questioned Journee with a raised eyebrow.

"I will gladly take your punch," Officer Meyers stood straight with his chest out.

"Hmm…" she shot him s death stare. "So, everyone's clear on what to do? Man the gates, tell me the moment you see Zion. Jones, Martin, you are with me."

"Yes, ma'am," both Henry and Jack replied.

"Get your gear, everyone. Let's roll out in 15 minutes," she announced.

Everyone exited the room and collected every piece of equipment they would need for the mission. They got a gun, a headset, a camera equipped with Wi-Fi and speaker, a walkie-talkie, a taser, binoculars and a civilian car. All were dressed in casual clothes. After 15 minutes, the entire armada moved towards Central Park.

While Journee, Henry and Jack were waiting in her Jeep outside the Park, the IT team were setting up the surveillance. They tapped into the CCTV network of Central Park and were half ready. All other officers parked their cars near the entrances and started waiting for Zion and the Hall crime family to arrive.

Journee lowered her seat and lay down comfortably. It was still an hour when Zion and his team would arrive. Journee's phone kept chirping with messages. First, it was her father who wished her good luck, then it was the captain asking for updates. Last, of all, Trevor Evans who was in CED and also coordinated with other law agencies for organized crime messaged her that he too was coming to help her.

She started screaming while staring at her phone, "no, no, noooo."

"What happened?" asked Henry.

"Ahh… Trevor is coming," she groaned.

"Oh no! not that idiot!" shouted Jack.

"Yuck… he is coming to help us," growled Journee.

"Or he is coming to keep an eye on you," suggested Jack.

"Enough of your conspiracy theories," snapped Journee.

"He works for the Hall family, I can bet my life on it. I am telling you he is here to control you," said Jack.

"As if anyone can control her," henry rolled his eyes.

"That's more like it. I love you," she patted his cheeks with force.

He rubbed his cheeks and commented, "don't say that in front of my wife."

"Why? She knows I love you," she pouted and sent kisses his way.

"Ha-ha," he laughed sarcastically.

They waited for a few more minutes and the crowd started pouring inside Central Park. As it was the weekend, it was guaranteed that Central Park would be jampacked with families and couples. But what caught their eyes was a long line of passing cars, expensive cars.

One of those cars caught Journee's attention. The gorgeous, black 1965 Pontiac Catalina passed in front of her. She immediately sat up in her seat. Not only the car but the driver too was gorgeous. The handsomely rugged man had a goggle on. His hair was bouncing in the air. She recognized that hair. The first few buttons of his white shirt were open. She recognized his chest too.

"Hot damn!" she bit her lips. "That's the bodyguard!"

"How can you tell?" asked Henry, impressed.

"Um…" Journee hesitated then instantly replied, "we all know what car he drives. Come on boys, focus. Stay alert." She pressed her tongue between her teeth.

Suddenly all the walkie-talkies were active. To her surprise, the cars were entering Central Park from every gate. They didn't choose a single entrance but tried to cover as much ground as possible. She understood that it was to throw his enemies off his trail. After the night of the fateful shooting, everyone was proactive in his team.

As normal cars were not allowed inside the park, it was clear that Zion took special permission from the municipal authorities. Well, if a mafia boss asks you something you don't deny him. All the cars dropped their passengers and left for the surrounding parking areas. Officer Stan recognized Zion's cars and informed Journee.

Journee signalled Henry and Jack to follow and they all boarded the ice cream truck.

"Take us in. Get to the location of Officer Stan," she commanded.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Every officer, check in," her voice echoed in the walkie-talkie.

"1! 2! 3! 4!..." slowly every officer checked in.

She kept staring at the screen that had the live footage of the park. The Hall family was setting up the tables and barbecue stations. There were a lot of craters, boxes, and picnic coolers. She tried hard to concentrate on Zion, but her eyes would wander to his bodyguard. He was extremely delicious to look at.

The truck stopped after they were close to the Hall family spot. Now the equipment in the truck could record the conversation of the hall family easily. Journee exited the truck to take a look around.

The moment she got down a few of the officers nodded at her. She nodded back. Her officers went close to the Hall family and just lay on the ground. They pretended to enjoy the sunshine in the morning. But they had their cameras pointed at the Hall family.

She was looking around when a young man dressed in a grey shirt with a leather jacket on bumped into her. A checkered scarf was wrapped around his neck.

"Sorry!" he exclaimed and started walking away from her but without even looking at him, with her back on him, she grabbed his hand and pulled him back in front of herself.

"I will have my wallet back," she shoved her palm in his face.

"Excuse me!" the boy shouted. He tried pulling his hand away from her grip but her grip was tight.

"Okay, so we are going to pretend that you didn't pick my pocket, just now," she taunted.

The boy's eyes widened. He was shocked. "You are mistaken, gorgeous. I only steal hearts," he tried flirting his way out of the situation.

Journee cringed hard. "Don't, don't even try." She closed her eyes and shook her head. She pulled him closer and looked into his eyes. "Which law agency are you from?"

"What?" every question out of Journee's mouth was enough to shock him to his core.

"Hmm… let's see. The demeanour, the nose in the air with pride, the jump in your walk, you are FBI," she observed and commented.

"How…" the boy's jaw dropped.

"The first rule of pickpocket, diversion. Whoever taught you is a moron," she educated him.

"Excuse me!" he shouted.

"Give me your wallet, boy," she ordered.

He immediately placed his left hand over his right pocket as his other hand was in Journee's hand. "I am not a bo… where is my wallet?"

Journee smirked and showed her hand. "Here!"

"How did you… your left hand, my right pocket, how?" he was perplexed.

"Diversion! I was not only chatting you up, but I also had one hand on your wrist and another in your pocket," she smiled mischievously.

"Who are you?" he asked, impressed.

"Don't ask stupid questions. Ask what is important. You are here the day when the Hall family chose to have a picnic. So I think the FBI wants you to pick someone's pocket," she observed.

"Right!" he exclaimed, excited.

"No, you are going to turn around and leave the park. This is my operation, I don't want anyone to jeopardise it. Do you understand?" she commanded.