Chapter 1

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" Lieutenant Joe Kingsley's voice was calm but tense in her earpiece. From her position at the abandoned warehouse, tactical police officer Raelyn Lewis could hear the shots easily enough. They sounded like firecrackers that might never stop. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest beneath her vest, but her hands didn't shake. She knew her job and was determined to execute it to the best of her ability.

She peeked out from behind the building to see what was happening. The situation outside the New Hope Church had spiraled out of control within seconds of the tactical team's arrival. The local police had gotten there first, and rather than dispersing, the group of kids had brandished their weapons and stood their ground.

It was like something out of a horror flick. Too many people with guns facing a slew of armed police officers. No way this would end well. The gunfire proved it.

More shots rang out, and even from here, she saw bodies crumpling to the ground. Not just those from the group of armed kids who'd started this mess, but there were at least three police officers down too.

Bad. This was really bad. The worst street riot she'd ever witnessed. And considering she'd grown up in a low-income housing project in Chicago, that was saying something. Chicago had a worse gun crime rate than Milwaukee, although you would never know it based on the scene unfolding today.

"We need to get the crowd under control," Joe said. "I want them surrounded. Jina, get in position."

"Roger that," Jina said.

"Moving in," Raelyn replied, agreeing with his command. The tactical team wasn't one for sitting around and watching. She quickly stepped out from behind the building. Her position near the abandoned warehouse happened to be closest to the church. Grayson was on the other side of the church, and several of her other teammates were stationed in other areas. Jina, their sharpshooter, was making her way to high ground as ordered, but Raelyn didn't know how long that would take.

There wasn't a second to spare. Keeping her head down and her rifle wedged up against her shoulder, she ran into the street. "Police! Drop your weapons! Now!"

At least five kids turned to see her heading toward them. Rather than dropping their weapons as ordered, one lifted his gun to fire at her. Thankfully, the bullet went high. She didn't hesitate to return fire, hitting him in the lower abdomen. The force of the bullet finding its mark had him dropping his weapon. She took aim at the next perp, but it seemed as if the reality of the situation had finally hit them because the four remaining kids turned and ran toward the church.

Oh no. She was not going to allow them to use the church as a hideout. Not when there was a half dozen bodies littering the street.

"Four perps, possibly armed, heading inside the church," she said into her mic as she broke into a run. "One down with a belly wound, he needs a bus." Her step faltered when she reached the young man she'd hit. He was lying on the ground sobbing in pain as he held his hands over the wound in his abdomen.

He didn't look a day older than sixteen.

"Apply pressure," she said, resisting the urge to kneel beside him. "Ambulance will be here soon." It wasn't easy to ignore his pleading eyes, but she didn't dare stop to provide aid. Those kids who'd run inside the church were likely armed, the way everyone in this disaster seemed to be. For all she knew, there were innocent people inside the church.

People who could be used as targets or hostages.

Covering the distance without delay, she swiftly mounted the three steps leading up to the main entrance. Keeping to the side, she drew the door open. Staying back, she listened intently and braced herself for the sound of gunfire.

Hearing nothing, she peeked around the corner. The interior of the church was dimly lit, making it difficult to see clearly. Easing around the doorway, she stepped farther into the church, still holding her weapon ready. She took one step up the center aisle, sweeping her gaze from left to right, then abruptly stopped when she saw one of the four boys who'd come inside, holding a mixed-race man dressed in a black shirt and slacks with a white collar around his throat at gunpoint.

"Stay back!" the kid shouted. "I'll cap him!"

"You don't want to do that," the dark-haired man said calmly. He was young, maybe her own age of thirty, and didn't appear the least bit alarmed. "Killing a man leaves a stain on your soul. God is watching over you."

"Shut up!" the kid shouted, looking nervously from side to side. Was he expecting backup from his friends? "You! Stay where you are, pig!"

Raelyn did as the kid demanded. She forced herself to sound reasonable. "Okay, I won't come any farther. You're the one calling the shots here. What's your name?"

"Drop the gun! Do it! I swear I'll shoot him!" The kid's wild eyes seemed to bore into her. Maybe he was on drugs, which would explain at least part of this debacle.

She didn't want to lower her weapon, but the serene and startling blue eyes of the pastor being held hostage gave her hope that he knew this kid. That even if the punk ran off, they'd be able to track him down later. "Okay. I hear you. I'm lowering my gun, see?" She made an exaggerated movement of pointing her weapon downward and then bending to set it on the floor. "No reason to shoot. Who are you? What's your name?"

"Shut up!" The kid's eyes were wild with fear and false bravado. If it wasn't for the handgun, which appeared to be a Glock, pressed firmly against the pastor's side, she'd have rushed him. The kid clearly hadn't thought this through. Now that he had the pastor as a hostage, he didn't seem to know what to do.

Time to help him out. She was the tactical team's second hostage negotiator. "What do you want?" Raelyn kept her voice soft and not threatening. "Money? A ride out of here? Just tell me what you need, and I can help you. I'll call my boss, and he'll bring us whatever you want."

"Money! Yeah, I want money!" The kid's eyes brightened. "I want a million dollars."

"I can get you money," she agreed, trying not to roll her eyes. "But you must know I can't get you a million dollars. There isn't a bank out there that has that much cash on hand." Typical teenager who didn't have a clue as to how the world worked. "How about a thousand dollars and a ride?"

The light in the teenager's eyes dimmed. Then suddenly a weariness crossed his features. "Forget it. You can't help me. No one can." The heavy note of despair in the teenager's voice hit like a sucker punch to the gut. He looked as if he'd lost everything. What on earth had happened out on the street? Before she could ask anything more, the kid deliberately turned the barrel of the gun toward her. Gut instinct had her hitting the floor seconds before the weapon reverberated in his hand. A bullet whizzed past her head. She kept moving, scooping the rifle up from the floor and rolling to her knees, bringing the barrel around to return fire.

"No!" The dark-haired man with blue eyes and light-caramel skin abruptly stepped into her line of fire.

"Move!" She glared at him with annoyance, then jumped to her feet and rushed past him toward the back of the church. But it was too late.

The armed kid was gone.

"What is wrong with you?"The pretty cop whirled on him, anger sparking in her amber eyes. "Why did you let him get away?"

"He's just a kid." Isaiah did his best to remain calm, although the sound of gunfire had taken him back to the night he'd almost died.

To the night he'd heard his grandmother's voice telling him to go to the light. Followed by God's voice telling him it wasn't his time.

"He fired at a police officer," she snapped. "I don't care if he's a kid. He attempted to shoot a cop. Not to mention holding you hostage and threatening to kill you."

He glanced at the name tag that identified her last name as Lewis. "He was scared. Can you blame him? They were surrounded by cops out there."

"Yeah, I can blame him." Officer Lewis stepped closer, getting right in his face. "He shouldn't have a gun or threaten to kill people. Especially a cop. And I should arrest you for aiding and abetting a criminal."

He nodded sagely. "You could do that. But those charges won't stick. By the way, we haven't met. I'm Pastor Isaiah Washington, and this is my church."

Her eyes widened briefly before narrowing again. "I don't care if you're the Pope, I'll toss your butt in jail."

"This isn't a Catholic church. We're a Christian nondenominational church, so all are welcome." Isaiah spread his hands. "Even you, Officer Lewis."

There was a flash of something he couldn't quite identify in her gaze, before she said, "Knock it off. I want that kid's name. And the names of the others who came inside with him. Right now!"

Isaiah slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't give you that information."

"Can't or won't?" She took another threatening step toward him, her expression grim. "Do you understand how serious this is? There are injured or dead police officers outside, along with other dead civilians, many of them barely old enough to drive. I want the names of those kids who ran through here, or I will place you in handcuffs."

She had no way of knowing that this wouldn't be his first arrest. Granted, it had been ten years since he'd done time in jail. Yet she didn't really understand who he was or the role he played in this community. Over the years, he'd become a leader within the city, someone that people looked up to for hope. For guidance. For acceptance.

He'd answered God's call. Every day was a gift. One he intended to cherish.

Isaiah held her gaze. "You have every right to arrest me. I can't stop you. But you should know that the new mayor and his extended family all belong to this church, which is a sanctuary for those in need. Even those who may step across the line of the law. Trust me, I understand better than most the seriousness of this incident. The mayor is just as anxious to stop the violence in the city as you are. Hence the recent rejuvenation of this church."

"I highly doubt that the mayor cares more than I do about the violence in the streets," Officer Lewis said in a curt tone. "I'm the one risking my life out there every day. And those cops who were injured didn't ask to be shot and killed by a gang of ruthless kids either."

That was true. He understood the dilemma she faced; he didn't like thinking of the police officers and other innocent people who had lost their lives today. And the ironic part of this entire situation was that he'd made the call to bring the police here in the first place.

A decision that had blown up in his face.

Waves of despair threatened to overwhelm him. It seemed like every time he made a bit of progress, something like this slapped him back down. For months now, he'd been trying to do the right thing. There would be no end to the violent crime until the entire city cracked down on the illegal guns and drugs. He knew that better than most.

And that was exactly why he wouldn't give up. He would not ignore God's calling. After seeing the light and nearly dying on the street, he'd turned his life around. After getting out of jail, he had worked in a drug rehab facility as a peer counselor, then slowly integrated himself as an informal leader into the community. He preached about God's love, peace, and light. This church and his congregation—small as it might be—were important to him. And those kids who'd run through the place were young enough to be saved. Something he knew wouldn't happen if they were tossed in the system.

He held up his arms, placing his wrists together. "Go ahead and arrest me."

He'd assumed she was bluffing, but in a swift move, she'd slapped a pair of silver cuffs around his wrists. "Pastor Isaiah Washington, you're under arrest for aiding and abetting a criminal." Her gaze didn't waver as she went on to read him his rights. That, too, brought a flashback to when he'd been lying in a hospital with his ankle cuffed to the bed after undergoing surgery to repair the bullet wound in his chest. He'd been too doped up on pain meds to really appreciate his rights, but then again, it hadn't much mattered.

When she finished, she added, "Stay here." After gently pushing him toward one of the church pews, she walked away, speaking softly into a radio that was little more than an earpiece.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn't help smiling wryly at his predicament. He didn't think the DA's office would press charges against him, but then again, the insurrection that had taken place outside the church was horrifying in more ways than one. So much death and destruction. For what?

He lifted his gaze to the crucifix on the wall above the modest altar. If he was to spend more time in jail, so be it. He would take whatever punishment the legal system deemed fit. He could only hope and pray that he'd be set free sooner rather than later.

The pretty cop headed outside, no doubt bringing in reinforcements. He wasn't that concerned with being arrested. She was just trying to make a point.

Yet his job was to save lost souls.

A full ten minutes passed before Officer Lewis returned. He rose to his feet to meet her halfway. "I'm ready."

She scowled as if annoyed by his calm attitude. Her job wasn't easy either. And he could acknowledge that it was far more dangerous.

"The situation is under police control. Let's go." She tugged on his arm and drew him through the church and outside. The scene that greeted him nearly sent him to his knees. Several bodies were lying on the ground in pools of blood. So much like the way he had once been.

He froze, unable to move. To take another step. Had he caused this? Was this all his fault?

Lord, help me! Show me Your way!

"Pastor Washington?" Officer Lewis glared at him, her brow furrowed with suspicion. "What's wrong?"

He couldn't conjure the words to explain his role in the death and destruction he faced. He looked down at the ground, then dropped to his knees to pray.

Another crack of gunfire rang out. The pretty cop threw herself on top of him, slamming him face down on the concrete steps as the area erupted into chaos.

"More shots fired!" someone shouted.

Stunned, he tried to lift his head, but Officer Lewis continued to hold him down. And that's when he realized that for the second time in his life, someone had just tried to kill him.