Chapter 45 – Code Thirty-Five
Los Angeles – Friday, 2:03 p.m.
Mid-Wilshire District
The afternoon was hot and muggy. Inside patrol car 7A45, Gustavo and Angela were finishing up a patrol on Fairfax Avenue when the radio crackled with an urgent alert:
"All units in the vicinity of quadrant 12, we have a 211 in progress—possible bank robbery, multiple armed suspects, civilians inside the building, immediate request for backup. Code thirty-five, repeat, thirty-five."
Angela immediately reached out and grabbed the radio.
"Unit 7A45 responding. We are four blocks away. En route to the location now."
Gustavo put the car in gear with precision, flooring it. The sirens blared. The tension in the air was palpable. He glanced at Lopez, who kept his expression firm but focused.
— "Thirty-five… that means hostages, right?"
Angela nodded.
— "Yes. High-risk situation. Let's get there and seal off the perimeter, wait for SWAT."
Gustavo tightened his grip on the steering wheel. It was the first time he had faced something of that magnitude as a field officer.
2:09 p.m. – In front of Banco do Pacífico
The scene was chaotic. Police cars surrounded the two blocks. Police officers were wearing vests, armed with M4s, positioned behind improvised barricades. Civilians were crying and being kept away by yellow tape. Shots had been heard minutes before. One of the bank's windows was shattered.
Angela quickly got out of the car, Gustavo right behind. Both were wearing vests and had Glocks holstered. A veteran officer from the area battalion approached them:
— "We have three confirmed suspects, all armed with rifles. There are at least five hostages. They are demanding a car and an escape route. We have already called SWAT."
Gustavo was scanning the building with his trained eyes. He had learned to map structures based on DOD training. Entrances, exits, possible evacuation routes.
Minutes later, a black armored van arrived with SWAT. Sergeant 20-David Buck Spivey, a burly man with a firm voice, jumped out of the passenger seat with a well-equipped team right behind him.
Hondo led the task force. Beside him were Deacon, Luca, and the only woman on the team, Cris who seemed as confident and focused as the others. Tan was absent, rumor had it that he had an ankle injury. The team was one man short.
Hondo approached Buck.
— "We have four. Tan is out, and the fifth from the rotation hasn't arrived yet."
Buck frowned. He looked around for something… or someone.
That was when his eyes fell on Gustavo, who was standing with Angela, observing everything with a technical look and posture of someone who was not just any rookie.
Buck approached the two.
— "Officer Silva, right?"
Angela nodded.
— "Yes, sir. He's my recruit."
Buck turned to Gustavo.
— "Do you have any advanced tactical training?"
Gustavo nodded.
— "Yes, sir. Tactical training with the DOD, in addition to having done an urban raid module with Sergeant Mumford's SWAT team, as a guest."
Hondo and Deacon, who were listening closely, exchanged a look. Cris crossed her arms, watching with interest.
— "How many simulations have you participated in?" — Hondo asked.
— "Fifteen simulated operations. Three in DOD training in national security situations. Zero real field experience, but I'm ready."
Buck nodded. There was no time for hesitation.
— "Let's get you equipped."
2:20 p.m. – Preparation
Luca ran to the van and returned with a custom plate carrier, an Ops-Core Fast helmet, and a communications kit. Deacon handed Gustavo an HK416, already loaded with EOTech optical sight, flashlight, and tactical grip.
— "Do you know how to use this?" Deacon asked neutrally.
Gustavo checked the magazine, cocked it firmly, and pulled the bolt back in one fluid motion.
— "Like it's an extension of my arm."
Cris, standing next to him, raised an eyebrow.
— "Are you a cop or an operator?"
Gustavo smiled slightly behind his helmet.
— "Maybe both."
Angela, on the radio, reported to the control room:
"7A45. Confirming: Officer Silva will accompany the SWAT team on the raid. Equipped and authorized by Sergeant Buck."
2:26 p.m. – Ready to Enter
Hondo gave a quick tactical briefing.
— "We enter through the side. Alpha Team: me, Deacon and Silva. Bravo: Luca and Cris. Three armed suspects, two hostages in the lobby, three in the back. We need to neutralize without collateral damage."
They approached from the side of the building, silently, in a compact formation. Gustavo was in the middle of the Alpha, with Hondo in front. The internal radio communicated rapid instructions, heartbeats seemed to align with the rhythm of the risk.
Hondo looked at Gustavo.
— "You will hold the right flank and cover Deacon's side. Maintain visual contact. Do not act without signal."
— "Understood."
2:31 p.m. – Raid
BOOM.
A light charge blew the lock on the side entrance. Smoke filled the room.
— "POLICE! HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!"
Two suspects were in the lobby. One turned around with his gun pointed.
Two dry shots fired by Deacon knocked him down. The other ran toward the hallway, but Gustavo was there.
Without hesitation, he fired two controlled shots, hitting the suspect in the leg and shoulder. The man fell, screaming.
— "Suspect immobilized!" — Gustavo shouted.
Cris, on the radio:
"Two hostages found in the back! Clearing sector three!"
Luca:
"Side hallway clear!"
The last suspect, panicked, tried to use one of the hostages as a human shield. Hondo entered the main hall, calmly pointing.
— "Let the woman go. Now."
The criminal hesitated. The hostage was shaking.
It was then that Gustavo, from the side, made a parallel approach, moving slowly. He used his firm, trained voice:
— "You've already lost. Look around. You're alone. Get down now, and you can get out of here alive."
The suspect looked around… and released the hostage.
Deacon had him handcuffed in seconds.
2:40 PM – Triumphant Exit
Outside, the civilians cheered. The scene of Gustavo walking out with his helmet still attached, his vest swinging, and his rifle pointed at the ground next to Hondo looked like something out of a movie.
Angela stood on the other side of the cordon, relieved but serious-looking.
As he approached, removing his helmet, she crossed her arms.
— "If you had died in there, I would have killed you."
Gustavo smiled.
— "But I didn't."
She shook her head.
— "That was bold. But flawless."
Hondo and Buck approached.
— "You've got talent, Silva," Hondo said. "Most rookies would have froze. You kept your cool."
Buck added:
— "Let's go over this with the Chief. Maybe you're on the right radar for the future."
Cris walked by, giving a slight wave.
— "It was a good first job in the field."
Gustavo replied with a shy smile.
— "I just did my part."
Angela looked at him with silent pride.
— "No. You did more."
Chapter 46 – Respect
Los Angeles – Tuesday, 6:45 AM
Mid-Wilshire Police Station
The police station parking lot was still half-empty when Gustavo stepped out of his black SUV, wearing his impeccable dark blue uniform, his badge hanging on his chest, and his gun holstered perfectly on his belt. The morning sun was already casting a golden light that made the buildings seem cleaner than they actually were. He took a deep breath. He had slept well, but he always woke up with that strange mix of energy and caution.
As he walked up the steps to the police station, he received waves from other officers.
— "Silva."
— "Hey, Gustavo!"
— "Big Silva!"
Greetings came from all sides. There was something different in the air since last week since the SWAT operation at the bank robbery. Gustavo's name spread through the corridors of the police station like wildfire. Many police officers, even veterans, stopped to take a closer look at this young recruit who looked like a rookie but had the soul of a veteran.
As he entered the locker room, Sergeant Grey walked past him with a slight nod.
— "Good performance last week, Silva. SWAT left a very favorable report. And Captain Anderson keeps getting compliments about you."
— "I just did what needed to be done, sir." — Gustavo replied humbly.
Grey stopped, looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
— "And that's exactly what separates a good cop from an excellent one. Keep it up."
8:00 AM – Briefing Room
In the briefing room, Angela Lopez was already sitting in one of the first rows, with her tablet in her hands. Gustavo came in, got a coffee and approached her. When he was about to sit next to her, she looked up and smiled.
— "Look who became a celebrity overnight."
— "Oh, please..." — he rolled his eyes with a shy smile. — "It was just a well-executed operation."
Angela leaned forward and spoke softly:
— "You know there are people who have spent years here and never been called to join the SWAT. And you... with less than a month on patrol. And on top of that you left with compliments. Do you realize what that means?"
Gustavo took a small sip of coffee.
— "That now I have to work twice as hard so as not to disappoint anyone?"
She laughed, shaking her head.
— "That's the spirit."
Sergeant Grey entered the room and started the day's meeting. Gustavo paid attention to the reports, but felt the growing weight of expectations on him. And at the same time, he felt prepared.
9:15 am – Start of Patrol
Vehicle 7A45 was impeccably clean. Angela took the wheel that morning.
— "Today I want to drive," she said, putting on her sunglasses. — "You've had enough excitement for a whole week. Time for a more... classic patrol."
— "Sure, Sergeant Lopez," Gustavo replied with a smile.
She gave him a quick glance.
— "Don't start with formality now. We've already shared a shootout, there's no need for that."
As they drove through the streets of the district, their conversation flowed naturally, alternating between English and Spanish something that was becoming common between the two.
— "Sabes que hablas muy bien español, ¿verdad?" — Angela said, in a casual tone.
— "Gracias. Aprendí mucho escuchando meus pais falarem português e vendo novelas mexicanas," he replied, laughing.
She laughed.
— "No me digas que aprendiste español con 'Rebelde'."
— "Peor... com 'La Usurpadora'."
She nearly spit out the coffee she was drinking.
— "¡Dios mío! Eso explica muchas cosas."
The atmosphere between them was one of trust. Lopez no longer treated him like an insecure newbie. Gustavo could sense it in the little things—her tone of voice, the way she involved him in quick decisions, and even in the jokes she now cracked so frequently.
10:45 AM – Store Robbery Report
The radio reported a robbery in progress at a convenience store. Angela responded immediately.
— "7A45 en route. ETA three minutes."
By the time they arrived, the robber had already fled, but the victim a young, frightened Korean man was outside.
Angela went to talk to him while Gustavo checked the security cameras. Within minutes, he had a picture of the suspect's face and his escape route.
— "The guy fled on foot down Vine Avenue. We have clear footage."
Angela looked at him, impressed.
— "You're fast. It would take most recruits half an hour to figure out how these systems work."
— "I have experience with surveillance systems... the DOD uses a lot of stuff like that."
She nodded. But there was something else in her eyes: a growing admiration.
1:30 p.m. – Lunch in the Police Car
Pulled to a quieter spot, they opened their lunch boxes. Angela had her usual chicken burrito and Gustavo had a lighter meal, a salad with grilled chicken.
— "Are you one of those people who eats healthy every day?" she asked, holding a piece of burrito in her hand.
— "Not exactly. But I prefer to stay focused. Healthy body, healthy mind."
— "That is good," she said.
They were silent for a moment. It was one of those comfortable silences.
— "Have you ever thought about specializing in a division?" she asked.
— "I guess so. SWAT maybe. Or maybe going into investigations. But now… now I just want to learn from you."
Angela looked at him, and for the first time since they started working together, her face actually softened.
— "You've learned a lot, Gustavo. And you're teaching me too, you know?"
Gustavo blinked.
— "Me? What?"
She laughed.
— "How to be humble with a resume that would make even a captain feel insecure."
Gustavo laughed along.
5:00 p.m. – Back at the Police Station
Back at the police station, they handed in their shift reports. Angela went to the bathroom and Gustavo took the opportunity to get some coffee. Some older officers approached them.
— "Hey, Silva. We heard you learned fluent Spanish on the radio the other day with a witness. That helps a lot."
— "Thanks, Miller."
Another one commented:
— "You should think about training the next class of recruits. We need more officers with your head in them."
Gustavo just smiled, a little uncomfortable with the compliments. He was still getting used to it.
Angela went back and got her coat.
— "Come on. My shift is over."
— "Sure."
As they were leaving, she turned to him:
— "Gustavo... you're going to go far here. Just don't forget one thing."
He looked at her.
— "What's that?"
She lightly slapped him on the chest, right on his badge.
— "This is more than just a resume and a medal. This is heart. And you have plenty of that."
He just nodded.
They walked out to the parking lot together, and as they got into the SUV, Angela smiled.
— "Mañana, lo mismo. Pero con más café."
— "Y menos burrito, ¿quizás?"
— "¡Ni lo sueñes!"
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