It had been a botched job. A stupid job. Some false leads, some whispered confessions, an unreliable source.

They'd all been led to a trap.

Bullets had flown. They'd lost men... and jesus. As Javier stepped through the cold, dark warehouse, the dust settled. It was quiet. Murphy was on the other side of the room, checking the bodies.

The realisation hit Pena like a tidal wave.

They'd brought the fucking kid with them.

A teenager, a skilled external for the force. Good at finding secrets. Even better at keeping them. They'd been with him on the job. And now... where the hell were they?!

"Kid?! Hey... Kid?!"

A gasp. A choked breath. Their body was strewn in the corner, blood staining the once clean shirt. Their gun was discarded, just out of reach of their limp outstretched hand. Javier knelt down as fast as he could, hand clamping over the steadily flowing wound. Bullet holes... peppering their chest.

"Shit."

He was staying calm. Completely calm. Ignore the blood, ignore the laboured breathing.

"Stay awake... c'mon. Can you hear me?!"