SWAT Team at My House

Last month I sat down and decided on some topics for blogs. This week's blog was supposed to be about a day in the life of an 1800's rancher's wife. Then the SWAT team ventured into my back yard last week and the topic changed.

Tuesday morning started out as normal as could be. I got up, got dressed, got the kiddie ready for school and then saw a police car drive past my house. I didn't think anything of it, thought that he was merely patrolling the neighborhood. A few minutes later, I back out of the garage to take the kiddie to school and said police car is parked just past my driveway and has someone in a blue car pulled over. I think he caught someone speeding through the neighborhood and proceed to school, where along the way, I see another police car parked along the curb. Strange, but I still think nothing is the matter.

I drop the kiddie off and go back home. The police car is still parked alongside the curb. Hmmm.... wonder what he is doing. But I forget about him as I round the curve and approach home, where the first policeman now has the trunk and driver's door of the blue car open. Great--he's searching the car. I go inside and call the hubby, tell him what's happening. He says to stay inside, so I forget about walking the dog and get to work. Minutes later, the police car is now parked in front of my house, minus the blue car, and the officer is sitting behind the wheel. I think he's filling out paperwork. But then, minutes later, he's still there. Okay, something is up. But what?

Minutes later, my neighbor directly across the street calls and ask what's going on. I say, "Oh the police car in front of the house", which has now backed up past my driveway to where he first had the blue car pulled over. My neighbor, Steve says, "Not him. The other police cars two houses up from me. There are about seven of them." (Here I should mention that I live on a curve and cannot see the house he is referring to.) I tell Steve to call our other neighbor and ask him, because I saw him outside when I came home from school. Maybe he knows something and for Steve to call me back. A minute later, Steve calls back and says our neighbor is not answering the phone. I say I'll go over and see what's going on.

Crossing the street, I see the police car, and as I make my way to the porch of the neighbors house, I can see all of the police cars--unmarked. My neighbor's wife tells me they have been here all morning and are getting out their gear and guns. Interesting that I'm still calm. I go home, call Steve to let him know and then call the hubby. Again, he says stay inside. Then my other neighbor, Dora calls. Steve called her hubby, he called Dora and Dora calls me. So I tell her what I know and we get to gossiping about what could be happening and whose house they police are watching. Then I have Dora call our other neighbor because I do not have her telephone number.

Some time, not much, passes, and the hubby calls back. I have nothing to report, except I do ask him if he has the number to the people on the side of us. He'll look it up and call back. While he is looking up the number, I see Steve leave his house in his car. I wonder where he's going, and don't have to wonder for long. He calls and says he's going to work, to let him know if anything happens. I ask where is wife is and she's home. Then I see my other neighbor leave. The hubby calls back. He can't find the number to our other neighbor's. I say I'll go over when I see one of the police cars go down the street. Then another and then a third one. All unmarked cars, until the fourth one rolls past the house and stops. I'm still on the phone with the hubby, and see the officer get out and walk between our yard and the neighbors. My heart drops--is it our neighbors?
But no, the officer gets back in his car and drives off. The hubby says stay in the house. Heck no! I have to see where they are going.

Around the street behind us, I see them. Back in thehouse, I go upstairs to the back window where I see two SWAT men. Weapons are drawn and aimed at the house directly behind me. Not good. A 70 year old lady lives there with her son. The SWAT Team approach the house, stop about midway and then back up to their car. Two more cars are across the street from the house. Now, I'm worried about my neighbor getting hurt when all of a sudden it hits me--if bullets start flying or someone runs out the back door, my house and yard are closest for escape and bullet holes.

So, I get the dog, lock up and leave n the car. I go up the street, turn around and watch. I see some of the SWAT team getting out more gear, to include their big shields, and guns and start back down the street. I think I see a police car pull into my driveway. Because of the curve, I am not sure. I creep down the street to have a look and still can't see. So I back up, park and then see another SWAT man walking up the street, searching backyards with his weapon drawn and aimed. That's enough excitement for me. I leave and meet the hubby at Target, where he says he got in touch with the neighbors alongside of us. They are hiding out in their garage and will call when it's safe to come back.

About one p.m., Lorelle calls and says it is safe to come home. So the dog and I venture back, stoopping along the way to greet the neighbors out walking and checking out the police cars that are still here, along with all three news channels. Lorelle tells me the person the police were searching for was not in the house--thank goodness for my 70 year old neighbor. Luckily, she left the house early in the morning, the police stopped her and wouldn't allow her to go home.

The story ends with the police having found the person they searched for the next day at a different house. All is well and quiet by me, just the way I like it. Someone told me I have to put this story in a book, but who would believe me? I write western hstorical romance. Then again, if I substitue the cars for horses and the SWAT team for a posse, who knows?

To see a pic of the SWAT at my fence, visit me at Facebook. Have a great week!