Dr. NoSleep

The bat crashed into the side of the joint and it collapsed inward.

Tony screamed and hopped away on one leg.

Emery lurched at him, knocking him to the ground before Tony could defend himself.

As they wrestled on the floor, I stood up and stepped over.

Blood and broken teeth poured out of my mouth, oozing down my chin.

Holding the bat upside down, I smashed the top into Tony's face, repeatedly, until he stopped moving.

I straightened, realizing I had been hearing even more gunshots the entire time we'd been dealing with Tony.

Granted, it couldn't have been more than a minute.

Motherfucker!

Salazar yelled from downstairs, voice booming with anger.

This second shout came from outside.

I hustled to the ensuite bathroom, which overlooked the front yard, and peered through the small window.

A sheriff's department cruiser sat in the driveway behind my Lincoln, headlights on, light bar off.

Changing my angle, I saw Salazar standing over a white cop who lay sprawled on the grass with two gunshot wounds bleeding red down his police vest.

His hands shook as he tried to change his pistol's magazine.

Salazar kicked the cop's weapon away while reloading his own pistol.

Then he pointed the gun at the man's head and pulled the trigger.

The cop's head jerked back, brain matter splattering the unruly grass.

As Salazar turned around to come back inside, I ducked out of the way, hoping he hadn't seen me.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I met Delia's gaze.