Page 411 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Another bang. Then Vance’s voice somewhere beyond:

“POLICE! HANDS!”

Chaos erupted. Nathan spun. Tried to run. Bell grabbed him badly. Elliot moved automatically. Caught Nathan’s open cuff chain. Pulled. Nathan stumbled. Hit the doorframe. Elliot forced him down. Not throat. Not head. Arm behind back. Control. Nathan struggled. Elliot tightened enough. No more. Promise. Bell stared.

“Nice.”

Elliot looked up.

“Don’t.”

Bell almost smiled. Officers flooded the hallway. Vance first. Weapon drawn. Nathan immediately stopped struggling. She stared at Elliot holding him down. Then:

“Get off.”

Elliot did. Immediately. Good. No. Not that word. He stepped back. Officers restrained Nathan fully. Vance looked at Elliot.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

True enough.

“Bell?”

“Alive.”

“Ronan?”

Elliot’s pulse jumped. Vance looked toward the stairs.

“He’s fine.”

“Where?”

“Downstairs.”

Elliot moved. Vance blocked him.

“No.”

His entire body tightened. She pointed toward his wrists.

“You are still under arrest.”

Fuck. Reality again. Elliot looked down. No cuffs currently. Bell had removed them for consultation. Still custody. He could not simply run downstairs. Ronan appeared at the far end of the hallway. Alive. Hair a mess. Shirt torn at the shoulder. One bruise forming near his cheek. Elliot stopped. Ronan saw him. Everything else disappeared. He walked closer. An officer tried stopping him. Vance said:

“Let him.”

Ronan reached Elliot. Looked him over.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“Actually?”

“Yes.”