33

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As the day wears on, the sun dips below the horizon, casting the apartment in a soft, melancholic light. Lauren hasn't heard a peep from Tim or anyone else at the precinct, which is unusual on any day, but today feels like an eternity. The silence is deafening, each tick of the clock echoing through the emptiness of the room. She tries to busy herself with chores and paperwork, but her mind keeps wandering back to their conversation, the unspoken words hanging in the air like an unresolved cliffhanger.Finally, her phone starts to ring, the sudden noise jolting her out of her introspection. She looks at the screen, confused. Nolan's name flashes across it. Why is he calling her? It's not like him to check in outside of work hours. With a mix of apprehension and hope, she swipes to answer."Hey Lauren," Nolan says, his voice tight with urgency. "I need your help."Lauren's stomach drops. Nolan wouldn't call unless it was something serious. "What's going on?" she asks, her grip on the phone tightening."I think Armstrong is another dirty cop," Nolan says, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's sided with the Derians. I'll explain everything in the car, but I need you to come with me and help break into his house."Lauren's heart races. She's known for a while that something wasn't right with Armstrong, but hearing it out loud makes it all too real. "Okay," she says, her mind already racing with the implications of what they might find. "Give me five minutes."She throws on her shoes and grabs her badge and gun, the weight of the latter a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation. Within minutes, she's in the passenger seat of Nolan's car, the engine purring to life as they peel away from the curb. The sun has almost disappeared now, leaving only a smear of orange and pink across the sky. The city lights flicker on as they drive, casting an eerie glow over the streets.Nolan's eyes are focused on the road ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel as he recounts the events of her day off. Lauren listens intently, her mind racing to keep up with the twists and turns of the story. "So, you think he's been working with them all along?" she asks, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger."I know so," Nolan says as he pulls up to Armstrong's house. The neighborhood is quiet, almost too still, as if it's holding its breath in anticipation of their next move. The house itself is unassuming, a single-story suburban home with a neatly trimmed lawn and a white picket fence. It's the last place you'd expect to find a traitor to the badge, but here they are.Lauren's phone buzzes in her pocket. She glances at it, seeing Tim's text. "Hey, I miss you. Want to come over for dinner later?" A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, but she quickly pushes the thought aside. Now isn't the time to think about dinner or their relationship. She has a job to do.They park a few houses down from Armstrong's, the quiet suburban street a stark contrast to the chaos in their hearts. She gets out of the car, the chilly night air a slap in the face after the warmth of the vehicle. Following Nolan's lead, they make their way to the house, sticking to the shadows cast by the streetlights. Lauren's hand rests on the grip of her gun, her senses on high alert.Nolan motions to the side of the house and they tiptoe through the dew-kissed grass, the crunching sound of gravel beneath their boots seemingly amplified in the silence. They reach the sliding glass door, which Nolan deftly opens with a pick. Lauren's breath hitches, adrenaline coursing through her veins as they slip inside, the darkness enveloping them like a second skin."So what exactly are we looking for?" Lauren whispers, her eyes scanning the room for any clue that could confirm their suspicion."Rosalind said there's a hidden compartment in the laundry room wall," Nolan replies, his voice low and focused. "It had guns, money, and evidence."They sneak through the hallway, the house eerily silent around them. The light from a distant streetlamp filters in through the windows, casting a faint glow on the floor. Lauren's eyes scan the walls, looking for any sign of a hidden door or compartment. They enter the laundry room, the smell of detergent and fabric softener filling their nostrils. Her eyes widen as she spots a tiny seam in the drywall. "Here," she whispers, pointing to the wall.Nolan nods, getting down on one knee. He presses his hand firmly against the spot she indicated, and with a soft click, the wall slides open. But instead of finding the treasure trove of evidence they'd hoped for, the compartment is empty. "Damn it," he murmurs, his voice a low growl of frustration. "He's one step ahead of us."Suddenly, the sound of a door opens, then closes with a thud that echoes through the house. Lauren's heart skips a beat, her eyes flying to the laundry room door. She sees a shadow move across the floor, the unmistakable silhouette of a person. "Nolan," she whispers, her voice barely audible.He looks up, his own heart racing as they realize they're not alone. "It's him," Lauren breathes, her hand moving to her gun.Nolan quickly and quietly shuts the laundry room door, the soft click of the lock clicking into place. The tension in the room spikes, the air thick with the scent of fear and anticipation. Lauren's eyes dart around the small space, looking for anything they can use as a means of escape.Suddenly, they hear Armstrong's phone vibrate from the other room, the sound cutting through the stillness like a knife. Lauren grip on her gun tightens. "I told you, I'll keep you posted," he says, his tone one of confidence and control. Lauren's heart thunders in her chest, her pulse pounding in her ears as she tries to listen through the wall. "I'm taking care of it," he continues, "You don't have to know how."Nolan, his own nerves stretched thin, starts putting the things back in the closet, trying to erase any evidence of their invasion. His hand brushes against a bottle, sending it clattering to the floor. Lauren's eyes go wide with horror, and she claps a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. The silence from the other room is palpable, and for a moment, she's sure they've been found out.But then, "I gotta go," Armstrong says into the phone, his footsteps retreating down the hall. Laura and Nolan exchange a tense look, understanding that they've been given a brief reprieve. They both know they can't afford to waste any more time.Nolan moves swiftly to the window above the washer and dryer, his eyes scanning the latch before giving it a quick jiggle. It opens with a sigh of relief, the cool evening breeze whispering through the narrow gap. He nods at Lauren, his expression a silent order. She nods back, her heart hammering in her chest as she climbs onto the dryer, her boots echoing faintly on the metal.With a deep breath, Lauren squeezes through the opening, the night air wrapping around her like a cloak. She drops down to the ground, her knees slightly bent to absorb the impact. The grass is cold and wet, the sensation seeping through her pants. Nolan follows closely, his larger frame fitting through the space with surprising ease. They're both out of the house and into the shadows in seconds, their breaths coming out in ragged puffs.They run to the car, their boots pounding the pavement. Lauren's mind is racing with thoughts of what they just heard, the implications of Armstrong's betrayal weighing heavily on her. She slides into the passenger seat, her heart thumping against her ribs as Nolan starts the engine and pulls away from the curb.As they drive through the deserted streets, Nolan's phone lights up with a call from Armstrong. "Answer it," Lauren says, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Stay calm."Nolan takes a deep breath and accepts the call, placing it on speaker. "Nick?" he says, trying to keep the tension from his voice."It's over John." Armstrong's voice is laced with venom."What is?" Nolan asks, playing dumb. His eyes dart to Lauren, who nods slightly, urging him to keep the conversation going."All of it," Armstrong hisses into the phone. "They caught Serj and I'm dead if I don't make a deal."Nolan's grip tightens on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. "Why did you do it?" he asks, his voice a tightrope walk between calm and anger."I owe you the truth, but face to face," Armstrong says, the sound of his footsteps growing fainter. "I'll be sitting in my living room. The back door is still open from when you broke in. And bring Clark, I know she's with you."Nolan ends the call, his jaw clenched. "We've got to go back," he says, his eyes meeting Lauren's in the rearview mirror."Let's go," Lauren says, her voice firm despite the fear coiling in her stomach. Nolan nods, the gravity of the situation etched on his face as they turn the car around, heading back to the house they'd just left. The quiet of the suburban streets feels ominous now, each shadow seemingly hiding a potential threat.As they pull up to the house, Nolan parks the car in the alley behind, the headlights off. They both get out, their boots crunching softly on the gravel. Lauren's heart is racing, her senses on high alert as they make their way to the back door. She can feel the weight of her gun, the cold steel a reassuring presence against her thigh.They approach the open door cautiously, their breaths shallow and eyes scanning the darkness beyond. Nolan motions for Lauren to cover him as he takes the lead, his hand on the doorknob. She nods, her own gun raised in both hands, her index finger hovering just outside the trigger guard. With a quick look over his shoulder, Nolan nods, and together, they go into the house, the door sliding open.The living room is illuminated by the flickering light of a TV, casting long shadows across the room. There, on the couch, sits Armstrong, his hands in the air in a clear gesture of surrender. His eyes are wide, darting between them, and Lauren can see the desperation etched on his face. She keeps her weapon trained on him, her heart thumping in her chest as she takes a step forward."Don't do anything stupid," Nolan says calmly, echoing the words of their earlier conversation."Little late for that," Armstrong retorts, his eyes darting between them. "So, Clark, what brings you here on your day off?""Justice," Laura says bluntly, her voice steely. "Now get on your knees, hands behind your head."Armstrong's eyes narrow, but he complies, the leather couch groaning as he shifts his weight. Lauren can see the tension in Nolan's shoulders as he watches their former friend and leader with a mix of anger and disappointment."Sure, sure," Armstrong says, his voice a forced calm. "I've got some things I want to get off my chest.""Save it for IA," Nolan says firmly, his voice a stark contrast to the gentle hum of the TV. Lauren can see the muscles in his jaw tense."No," Armstrong says, his tone shifting to one of sincerity. "It's not for IA. It's for you guys." He takes a deep breath, his eyes flicking to Lauren."Look, I know I can't make this right. I know that," he starts, his voice cracking slightly. "But I at least have to try and make you understand." His eyes plead with them to understand, to find some shred of compassion amidst the betrayal.Nolan's grip tightens on his gun. "You sold us out and murdered Erin Cole," he says, his voice a deadly whisper. The room seems to hold its breath as the weight of her accusation hangs in the air."It's not just about Erin," Armstrong says, his eyes never leaving Lauren's. "You guys think you're so clean. So perfect. But we all have our secrets."The room feels smaller, the walls closing in around them as the tension spikes. Lauren's grip tightens on her gun, her eyes never leaving Armstrong's as he starts to speak again. His words are a jumble in her ears, a confession she never wanted to hear.

"You remember Officer Fields, don't you, Lauren?" Armstrong says, a smug smile playing on his lips. "I mean you were practically married to him."From the hallway, the shadow of a man emerges, and Lauren's world seems to tilt on its axis. It's Jordan, her ex-husband. The very sight of him sends a cold shiver down her spine. The man who'd once promised to love and protect her now stands before her, a twisted mockery of the vows they'd made. His eyes are cold, his posture casual, as if he's just dropped by for a friendly chat."Hey babe," he says, his voice a chilling caress that sends a wave of revulsion through her. "I've missed you."

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KATE SPEAKS!it's about to get juicythis is what you all have been waiting for🤫chapters are about to get gooodddd

also can we talk about nolan and lauren??like what a badass duo