Human Frailty, a Detective Mike Bridger novel Read Free Page B

street, she pulled the car to a stop and shut
everything down. Steve and Gillian got out of the warm car and into
the cold and very quiet street. Steve shivered slightly in his
shirtsleeves. Gillian pulled the zipper on her jacket up a bit
further and they both started walking up the street towards the
reported address.
    They were wearing their Police issue stab
proof vests and carried all the necessary tools on their belts
should any danger present itself.
    Steve felt bulletproof, his size and
training he thought would see him through most problems.
    Gillian felt vulnerable; it was not because
she was a woman, but because she knew that her job and human nature
would someday put her in a situation that would be beyond her
capabilities. Because of this, she was always cautious and took
every precaution she could. Never take anything at face value, she
always told the new officers that she took under her wing.
    She had been cautious this evening to park
down the street from the address, one thing she did not want was
someone to take a pot shot at them as they pulled into the
driveway. Better, to approach on foot and assess the situation.
Complacency could cause complications she did not need.
    Steve had started to jog ahead a little as
they neared the address, eager to get inside and sort out the
situation, or maybe just get inside and warm up.
    Just wear a jacket like every other normal
person, Gillian thought, as she upped her pace to keep Steve in
sight.
    Steve was at the door knocking when she came
through the gate. She could see his defensive posture in the way he
held himself.
    It is good to see you taking this seriously,
she thought. Although Steve had been in the job long enough to know
what he was doing, she still felt the need to watch out for him as
she would for anyone she worked with.
    A shadow was plainly visible behind the
glass panel of the door.
    "It's the police, open the door please",
Steve called. The shadow did not move.
    Gillian came up the front stairs and stood
off to the side of the door and slightly behind Steve.
    "Open the door, we need to check everyone is
alright", Steve said a little louder and more forcefully.
    Gillian put her hand on the hilt of her
baton, feeling the hard reassurance in her hand. Her other hand
unclipped the fastening holding her pepper spray in its case. Never
be complacent. The shadow faded a little as if someone was backing
away from the door, retreating or retrieving a weapon, it was hard
to tell. Her breathing increased slightly.
    "I know there is someone inside I can see
your shadow, open the door please or I will have to force it
open."
    "Fuck off out of it, no one called you, we
don't need you here."
    The voice was male, his speech slurred and
full of attitude.
    "Open the door and let us be the judge of
that."
    "Fuck off, I don't want you here and neither
does my Mrs."
    "Can we speak with your wife?" Gillian
said.
    "I told you to fuck off, do you not
understand what I'm saying piggy. Are you thick as pig shit or
something...? Ah ha, pig shit...ha ha."
    Both Gillian and Steve heard the male
sniggering to himself as if he had said something funny.
    "What do you want to
do? ” Steve
asked Gillian.
    "From the neighbor ’ s report it sounds as if it
was a pretty noisy fight, we have to make sure that the wife is
alright.... We're going to have to get inside", Gillian
replied.
    Steve looked at the door; it was wooden with
a frosted glass panel at the top. There was only one lock, an old
Yale type. A front door only kept honest people out. It opened
inwards as all front doors do. "I can force this open pretty
easily, and then we go in and grab him first,” he said, already
tensing his body for the impact.
    The voice behind the door continued to
snigger and yell obscenities.
    Gillian used her radio to request another
patrol for backup.
    Steve took a step back and delivered an
accurate blow with his size 11 boot to the area of the door
surrounding the lock. Inside the