Chapter 13: The Market Chase
Anjo paced back and forth in his superior’s office, his face determined and resolute. Across from him sat Captain Reyes, a stern yet compassionate figure, reviewing the evidence Anjo had painstakingly gathered from their undercover work at Dimitri's mansion.
Captain Reyes finally set down the file, looking at Anjo with a mix of respect and caution.
“You’ve done good work here, Anjo. I can see you and your team have gone above and beyond.”
Anjo nodded.
“Thank you, sir. We’ve finally got concrete evidence that ties Dimitri to Barron’s drug operation. It’s a strong case.”
The captain leaned back in his chair, thinking it over.
“Do you think Dimitri knows you’re on to him?”
“Unlikely,” Anjo replied, his voice confident.
“We were careful at the mansion. He might be feeling paranoid, but he’s not expecting us to strike yet.”
Captain Reyes tapped his fingers on the table, considering.
“Alright. I’ll approve the warrant for Dimitri’s arrest, but you have to be strategic about this. A crowded market could get dangerous fast.”
“We’ll make sure no civilians get hurt, Captain,” Anjo assured him.
The captain finally nodded.
“Then go. Bring him in.”
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At the bustling market later that day, Sienna and Garner stood nervously by a food stall, waiting for Anjo’s signal. The plan was simple: lure Dimitri to the market with a supposed "business deal" and catch him off guard before he had a chance to escape. The marketplace was packed with stalls selling everything from fruits and vegetables to clothes and trinkets, making it the perfect cover for their operation.
Sienna leaned in closer to Garner, her voice low.
“I hope this works. If Dimitri catches on, he could get violent.”
Garner gave her a reassuring smile, though his own nerves were evident.
“We just have to stick to the plan. Anjo knows what he’s doing.”
Just then, Anjo’s voice crackled through their earpieces.
“Team, Dimitri is approaching from the south entrance. Everyone stay in position.”
Garner and Sienna exchanged a quick nod, then tried to look casual as they blended in with the crowd.
A moment later, Sienna spotted Dimitri, flanked by two of his men, weaving his way through the crowded market. He was a tall, imposing figure, his sharp gaze scanning the area as he walked, looking every bit the hardened criminal. Dimitri stopped near a spice stall, his attention focused on his surroundings as he waited for the supposed “contact” he believed he was meeting.
Anjo’s voice came through again. “Now.”
Anjo, dressed inconspicuously as a vendor, moved quickly through the crowd. He approached Dimitri and, with lightning speed, slapped a pair of handcuffs on his wrist. “Dimitri Ivanov, you’re under arrest.”
Dimitri’s eyes widened with surprise, but it only took him a moment to recover. With a snarl, he wrenched his hand free, breaking the flimsy cuffs. “You think you can take me that easily, cop?” He signaled to his men, who immediately reached for their weapons.
“Garner, Sienna, get back!” Anjo shouted, positioning himself between the two teenagers and Dimitri’s henchmen.
Garner grabbed Sienna’s arm, pulling her back behind a stall. They crouched down, peeking around the corner to watch as the chaos unfolded.
Dimitri pushed over a nearby fruit cart, sending a cascade of apples and oranges rolling across the cobblestone ground. People in the market started to scream and scatter, adding to the commotion. Anjo lunged forward, grabbing Dimitri by the shoulder and trying to pin him down, but Dimitri twisted out of his grasp, shoving him into a stack of crates.
One of Dimitri’s men lunged at Anjo with a knife, but Anjo was faster, grabbing a nearby metal tray from a food stand and using it to deflect the blade. He swung the tray with precision, striking the man in the side and sending him stumbling backward.
Sienna watched with wide eyes, clutching Garner’s arm tightly. “This is intense,” she whispered, heart pounding in her chest.
“Stay low,” Garner whispered back, pulling her even closer. “Anjo’s got this.”
Anjo spotted Dimitri weaving through the crowd, trying to make his escape. He quickly tossed the metal tray aside and pursued him, leaping over crates and dodging fleeing market-goers.
“Stop right there, Dimitri!” Anjo shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Dimitri turned, smirking as he grabbed a stack of cabbages from a stall and hurled them toward Anjo. “You’re out of your league, cop!”
Anjo ducked, narrowly avoiding the flying cabbages. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, reaching out to grab Dimitri’s shoulder. Dimitri twisted around, landing a punch to Anjo’s jaw. Anjo staggered but quickly regained his balance, retaliating with a swift uppercut that sent Dimitri reeling backward.
One of Dimitri’s henchmen, seeing his boss in trouble, tried to intervene. He charged toward Anjo with a wooden crate raised high, ready to strike. Garner, realizing the danger, grabbed a nearby broom from a vendor’s stall and rushed forward.
“Hey!” Garner yelled, swinging the broom like a bat and catching the henchman off guard. The man stumbled, tripping over a pile of crates and crashing to the ground.
Anjo shot Garner a quick nod of thanks before turning his attention back to Dimitri, who was already on the move again, shoving people out of his way as he tried to disappear into the maze of stalls.
Sienna and Garner followed closely, weaving through the crowd in pursuit. “He’s heading towards the back exit!” Sienna called out.
Anjo broke into a sprint, using every bit of his strength to catch up. Finally, he lunged forward, tackling Dimitri to the ground just inches from the exit.
Dimitri struggled, thrashing wildly. “You’re making a mistake! You have no idea who you’re dealing with!”
“Actually,” Anjo said, tightening his grip, “I know exactly who you are. And you’re going away for a long time.”
Just as Anjo pulled out a fresh pair of handcuffs, one of Dimitri’s henchmen threw a glass bottle at them. The bottle shattered on impact, releasing a blinding spray of liquid that stung Anjo’s eyes. Dimitri seized the opportunity, shoving Anjo off him and scrambling to his feet.
Garner didn’t hesitate. He darted forward, blocking Dimitri’s path. “You’re not going anywhere, Dimitri.”
Dimitri sneered. “And what are you going to do about it, kid?”
Sienna’s voice rang out, filled with determination. “This.”
She grabbed a nearby bucket of fish from a seafood stall and threw it at Dimitri. He ducked, but not quickly enough; a few fish smacked him in the face, throwing him off balance.
Anjo, recovering from the spray, took advantage of the distraction and tackled Dimitri once again. This time, he managed to cuff him securely, pinning him to the ground.
As the crowd began to calm down, police reinforcements arrived, securing the area and detaining the remaining henchmen.
Sienna and Garner, breathless but exhilarated, walked over to where Anjo had Dimitri under control.
Anjo looked up at them with a tired but triumphant smile. “Nice teamwork, you two.”
Sienna grinned, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow. “Who knew fish could be so effective?”
Garner laughed, his face flushed from the excitement. “I’ll never look at a seafood stall the same way again.”
Dimitri, defeated and furious, glared at them. “You think this is over? You’ve just made enemies with the wrong people.”
Anjo met his gaze with steely determination. “Maybe. But we’ve also taken down a criminal who’s been terrorizing innocent people for too long.”
As the police led Dimitri away, Captain Reyes approached, clapping Anjo on the back. “Impressive work, all of you. This was no easy capture.”
Anjo nodded, glancing back at Sienna and Garner. “Couldn’t have done it without them. We’re in this together.”
Sienna smiled, feeling a surge of pride. For the first time, she felt like they were truly making a difference—standing up to the darkness that had threatened so many lives.
As they walked out of the market together, Garner took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
Sienna squeezed back, her heart swelling with warmth.
“Yeah, we do. And this is only the beginning.”