**Chapter Seven: The Last Stand**
The grim reality of the kangaroo court hung heavy in the air as Jack struggled against his restraints, panic coursing through his veins. Benny was suspended from the noose, his face a mask of defiance and fear, but Jack could see the flicker of hope in his friend's eyes. He knew they had to act quickly; time was running out.
"Dalton, you can't do this!" Jack yelled, his voice echoing in the dimly lit room. "The whole city will know what you're doing here. You think you can just kill us and walk away?"
Sheriff Dalton's smile widened, his expression almost gleeful. "Oh, but that's exactly the point, Marlowe. By the time anyone finds out, it will be too late. You'll both be just another set of bodies that disappear into the night."
As Dalton's men tightened the noose around Benny's neck, Jack's heart raced. "Benny, hold on! I'll get you out of this!"
Benny met Jack's gaze with an intensity that calmed Jack's storming thoughts. "You have to trust me, Jack. You're the one who can stop this. You have to make it out of here alive."
In that moment, Jack felt the weight of his friend's sacrifice looming over him. Benny had always been the heart of the D.P.S., a beacon of hope and resilience. The thought of losing him was unbearable, but Jack knew he had to find a way to save them both.
"Enough of this!" Dalton barked, his patience wearing thin. "You're both too dangerous to live. Let's end this charade."
Just as the sheriff signaled his men to pull the lever, Jack's instincts kicked in. He had to act—now. With a surge of adrenaline, he kicked the chair out from under him, launching himself toward Benny. The chains rattled as he collided with the guards, knocking one down and grabbing the other's gun.
"Benny!" Jack shouted, adrenaline surging through his body as he aimed the gun at the sheriff. "Get him down!"
But before Benny could respond, a deafening gunshot rang out, piercing the air like a knife. Jack's heart stopped as he watched in horror as the bullet struck Benny squarely in the chest. Time seemed to slow as Benny's eyes widened in shock, and he gasped, his body going limp.
"No!" Jack screamed, a raw, primal cry of anguish escaping his lips as he watched his friend fall. Benny crumpled to the floor, the noose still dangling ominously above him. Jack rushed forward, adrenaline pushing him past the remaining guards, who were momentarily stunned by the chaos.
"Benny!" Jack knelt by his friend's side, cradling his head in his lap. Blood pooled around them, and Jack's hands shook as he felt for a pulse. "Stay with me, Benny. Please, don't leave me."
Benny's breath was shallow, his eyes flickering as he struggled to speak. "Jack… I'm sorry… I thought I could—"
"Don't say that! You're going to be okay. We'll get you out of here," Jack pleaded, tears blurring his vision.
But Benny smiled weakly, a flicker of warmth in his gaze despite the pain. "You have to fight, Jack. For all of us. Don't let them win."
Jack's heart shattered as he felt Benny's strength fading. "I can't lose you, Benny! Not like this!"
But Benny's breath came slower, and a peaceful expression settled on his face as he whispered, "You know what to do. I believe in you." With that, his eyes closed, and he was gone.
Jack's world collapsed around him. The chaos of the room faded into a dull roar as he felt the weight of loss crashing down upon him. He had fought so hard to save Benny, only to watch as his friend was taken away in an instant.
Rage surged within Jack, igniting a fire that he had never felt before. He stood, the gun still in his hand, and turned his fury on Sheriff Dalton. "You bastard! You'll pay for this!"
Dalton's smug grin faltered as he realized the depth of Jack's fury. "You think you can take me down? You're outnumbered!"
"Maybe," Jack growled, his voice low and dangerous. "But I'm not leaving here without justice. For Benny!"
With that declaration, Jack charged at Dalton, the gun raised. The remaining deputies scrambled to respond, but Jack was fueled by grief and rage, his every move calculated. He fired shots with precision, taking down the corrupt officers one by one as he made his way toward Dalton.
"Stop him!" Dalton shouted, panic creeping into his voice. But Jack was a force unleashed, the pain of loss driving him forward with relentless determination.
As he reached Dalton, Jack tackled him to the ground, the two men grappling for control of the weapon. "You think you can hide behind your badge and your goons?" Jack spat, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "You think you can kill innocent people without consequence?"
Dalton struggled beneath Jack, but the sheriff was no match for the raw power of grief that fueled Jack's every move. Finally, Jack wrested the gun from Dalton's grasp, pointing it directly at the sheriff's face.
"You're done," Jack hissed, his voice filled with unyielding resolve. "The city is going to know what you did. You're going to pay for every life you've ruined, starting with Benny."
But before Jack could pull the trigger, sirens echoed in the distance, growing louder by the second. The sound of approaching reinforcements made Jack hesitate, torn between carrying out his vengeance and escaping to ensure Benny's sacrifice wasn't in vain.
In that moment of indecision, the sirens grew closer, and Jack knew he had to make a choice. He couldn't let Dalton slip away again. With one last look at the sheriff, he spat, "This isn't over." He then fled the scene, knowing he had to regroup and gather evidence against Dalton and his corruption.
Outside, the chaos of the city met him, the streets alive with the sounds of approaching law enforcement. Jack ran, his heart heavy with grief and determination, fueled by the memory of Benny and the promise he made to his fallen friend.
**Chapter Eight: A City in Mourning**
In the days that followed, the loss of Benny Thompson reverberated through the D.P.S. and the city itself. Jack became a man on a mission, driven by the need to expose Dalton and bring justice for Benny and all those who had suffered under the sheriff's reign of terror.
The D.P.S. organized a funeral for Benny, a somber affair attended by friends, family, and colleagues who had been touched by his spirit. The service was broadcasted on the radio and covered in the newspapers, painting a portrait of a hero who had given everything in the fight for justice.
As Jack stood at the podium, his heart heavy with sorrow, he spoke to the gathered crowd. "Benny wasn't just a colleague; he was my friend. He was the heart of the D.P.S., and his dedication to this city will never be forgotten. We owe it to him to continue the fight he started. We cannot let his death be in vain."
Tears flowed freely as the audience listened, their hearts breaking for the loss of a man who had brought so much light into their lives. Jack felt the weight of their grief, and he knew he had to channel that pain into action.
As the funeral concluded, Jack gathered the remaining D.P.S. members, Abe, Sadie, and a few others who had stood by Benny's side. "We're going to take down Dalton once and for all," Jack declared, determination burning in his eyes. "Benny's sacrifice will not be forgotten."
With a renewed sense of purpose, Jack and the team strategized, piecing together evidence against Dalton and the corrupt officers still loyal to him. They worked day and night, fueled by the memory of their fallen friend, preparing for the showdown that would determine the fate of their city.
As they closed in on Dalton's operations, Jack felt the weight of Benny's loss in every step he took. The pain was a constant reminder of what was at stake, and he vowed to honor his friend's legacy by bringing the corrupt sheriff to justice.
The city was on the brink of change, and Jack knew that Benny's spirit would guide them through the darkness. Together, they would rise from the ashes and fight for a brighter future, one that Benny would be proud of.
**To Be Continued...**