In still waters - стр. 24

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!" the children exclaimed in unison.

"Alright then, let's do it!"

They all cuddled together on the couch, Nick in the middle with the children snuggled against him on either side. As the familiar theme music filled the room, Nick felt the day's worries begin to recede, replaced by the simple joy of being with his family.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" Edward's voice, tinged with amusement, roused Nick from an unexpected slumber. He felt a small finger poking his stomach gently.

"Did I fall asleep?" Nick mumbled, blinking in confusion.

He had been so exhausted, yet so content, that he hadn't even noticed drifting off. Nearly an hour and a half had passed, the movie long since ended. Kate, he realized, had already gone to bed.

"Okay, kids, time for bed," he announced, stifling a yawn. "We'll finish the movie another night."

After tucking the children in, Nick headed to the kitchen for a glass of water before turning in himself. As he reached for a glass, his mobile phone, left on the kitchen table, began to ring. The caller ID showed it was Christian.

"What could have happened now? It's 12:10 AM," Nick muttered, a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach.

"Hello, Christian. What's up?"

Christian's voice crackled through the speaker, urgency evident in his tone. "Nick, you need to come in right away. Bradley Force and Sheriff Jeffrey have been brought to the station. Jeffrey burst into the house of a guy named Peter Gomez – apparently, he's a drug addict and a friend of Bradley and Steven. Jeffrey started shooting up the place with his pistol! Thankfully, no one was injured. The neighbors heard the shots and called it in quickly. Steven Cooper and Peter managed to escape in the chaos."

"Christ," Nick swore under his breath. "I'm on my way."

"Alright, I'll meet you there."

As Nick hung up, he realized that any hope of sleep had vanished. He didn't wake Kate, not wanting to burden her with this new development. Instead, he quickly changed back into his work clothes and headed out into the night, his mind racing with the implications of Jeffrey's reckless actions.

Upon arriving at the station, Nick learned that Jeffrey and Bradley had been placed in separate holding cells. He instructed the officers to bring Jeffrey to the interrogation room, ensuring that the sheriff's weapon – the pistol used in the shooting – had been properly confiscated and logged as evidence.

The interrogation room was a stark, windowless space that seemed designed to unsettle those brought within its walls. Dark blue paint covered the walls, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. A large table dominated the center of the room, flanked by four chairs. Overhead, a long fluorescent lamp cast a harsh, unforgiving light. Behind a two-way mirror, two officers stood ready to observe the proceedings.