[Let The World Burn] Chapter 2

Instructions

Hicks told everyone to go to the courthouse to see if there's any leads on where they might've taken Annie ... The squad piled inside of Black Betty. Once the back door shut, they made their decent to the courthouse. The ride was quiet, except the muffled sound of the trucks roaring engine and blaring sirens. Deacon had his eyes closed. His hand was gripping his silver cross pendant, his habit for when he felt anxious. "Deacon..." The man opened his eyes and slowly turned his head, looking right at Hondo with such a cold stare, it made him go loss for words. Deacon then looked away while slipping the pendant back in his shirt. He rested his hands on his legs and realized that his right leg was bouncing slightly. Nerves. Something Deacon never truly felt in a long time. Most missions were fueled by adrenaline. But this one is going to be fueled by determination and quiet rage. Hondo kept his eyes on Deacon, noticing a big change in his friend's demeanor. Of course, he understands that Annie was his wife. Someone who he loved and cared for very much. Judging by the way Deacon's face turned somber, Hondo bets he was thinking about all the worse case scenarios. So he tried again. "Deacon...I know how much Annie means to you. We all do. But we all know that she's one hell of a fighter, and I'm damn sure she;s not going down without a fight.." Deacon didn't respond at first. He just stared at the floor of the truck with his hands clapsed tightly together on his unleased legs. His brain processed on what he said, then he looked at him with a deadpanned expression. "It's four armed men against one defenceless woman..." He said, his voice an eerie calm. "Don't say the odds without the facts..." Hondo just stared. "I'm not. I'm just trying to help you focus on the bright side---" Deacon scoffed. "Bright side?" He chuckled coldly. "There isn't a bright side in this situation..." Everything became silent once again. "Thirty seconds out!" Tan called from the driver's seat, after a few minutes. Deacon rolled his shoulder and took a deep breath, while unclasping his hands and held on to his rifle with a tight grip. ... Tan parked the truck next to a patrol car near the front entrance of the courthouse. The squad got out and assembled at the side of Black Betty. "Okay team here's the plan.." Hondo started. "Powell, Alfaro, you guys guard the perimeter. Make sure no one gets in or out. Dead and Tan you're with me to question witnesses--" As soon as Deacon heard, he immediately turned and quickly made his way to the courthouse entrance. "Deacon, wait!" Tan called, but the ol' SWAT Sergeant was already inside. ... Hondo and Tan went inside the building, walking around trying to find Deacon. They cut a corner of a hallway and found him talking to Diana, who was sitting on a chair, sobbing and shaking as an EMT gave her a check up. "It all happened so fast. I-I mean, one minute Annie and I were prepping for the mock trial and the next thing we knew, there was gunshots and loud voices....then she was taken..." Diana explained, with a shaky voice. Deacon watched her wipe the tears from her eyes, before he took a deep breath to ease his racing pulse. "Did the bad guys say where they were heading, or give any hints?" He asked. "No....." Diana sniffed. "B-but there was this on guy...he must've been the leader of the group. He yelled: 'pigs like you don't deserve to decide on an innocent person's fate! You all serve to injustice' " Deacon straightened his posture before he looked back, noticing Hondo and Tan standing behind him, listening to everything. "So we know what their motive is now..." Tan started. "Targeting lawyers for injustice..." Hondo added. "But why law school? Or Annie? W-why her?" Deacon asked, feeling a little perplexed. "Because they don't want any more lawers making decisions.." Hondo replied. Seems like a dark motive. But why?