"Order when you're ready."
Picking up his unfinished sandwich, Kazimir takes a bite as he listens to the person's order.
"Two chicken melt bowls, correct?"
"Yeah." the person on the other side of the speaker replies.
"Any drinks with that?"
"No."
"Okay, $15.28 at the first window."
Walking over to Kazimir, Pierre takes a bite of the sandwich and brushes his hand on his sleeve.
"Have you gotten—
"Is that Nia?!"
The two detectives turn to the counter as their colleague stands at the front.
"Can you take over for me really quick?" Kazimir asks, handing his headset to Pierre. "Thanks, man!"
Walking to the front, Kazimir lifts Nia's chin up and gives her a smile.
"What's a pretty lil' thing like you doing here?"
"Oh, Kazimir!"
He watches as she shyly grins.
"You really do look beautiful, Nia. What's the special occasion? Lunch near the beach or at the park?"
"Now while I do prefer lunch at the park, I just came here to help you and Pierre once you both catch them."
"I'm great now that you're here." the young man says.
"Oh, is this where you work?! Thanks again for letting me borrow your GTR to pick up my little brother from school, bro! The other kids loved the revs!"
Kazimir looks up to see his close friend Liyusk standing in line and gives him a smile.
"No problem, man. Anytime."
Nia turns around before turning back to Kazimir and nods.
"Well that was sweet of you."
"Yeah, I met him at a gas station and he told me his little brother was a big fan of the car. Crazy how small the world is for me to see him again."
"It sure is. I'll let you go ahead and take his order. Talk to you later."
As Nia steps out of line, Liyusk steps forward, proceeding to lean against the counter.
"So that's Nia? I can't blame you for not wanting to share her, I would do the same."
"She's mine, too. She's currently staying with me since her house keeps getting vandalized and shot at. She cooks and cleans; amazing woman. I'm not passing her up."
"I don't see a ring anywhere, though."
Kazimir sighs as he randomly taps on the ordering screen.
"Be patient with me. She doesn't want marriage right away but I think I'm on the right path of getting her closer."
"You better make it big as hell. And quick. First man she meets with more money, you can say goodbye to her."
"I tried proposing before and she said no. She said I had to work on myself."
Liyusk laughs.
"You seem normal to me."
"I don't know. I guess what she's trying to say is that I should start asking her what she prefers rather than just buy her something and it isn't her preference but something I'd assume she would like."
"I cannot blame you one bit, bruh." Liyusk says, looking over at Nia. "Sheesh."
"You want something to eat or not?"
Hearing the ticked off tone in his friend's voice, he gives Kazimir a nod.
"Just a hash brown with scrambled eggs."
"$5.99."
"I'm sorry, bro. If I had the chance—
"Liyusk, shut the fuck up and swipe your damn card."
"Okay, okay. You're sure providing the average Waffle House experience, huh?"
Swiping the card, Liyusk places it back into his wallet as Kazimir rips the receipt out of the machine and throws it at him.
"Now I'm starting to see what she meant by working on yourself."
"I clearly told you that she wasn't up for sharing and you're still looking. Exactly why I didn't want you to know about her."
"Kazimir, a man is going to look when you're around and when you're not around."
"Yeah, a random man. Not one of my closest friends."
"You should be glad that I am looking. You don't want to end up with an "as long as you're happy" girl, do you?"
The detective groans and crosses his arms.
"I don't care. No, I do care, but that's—you know what, just look at her. At the end of the day, she's still going home with me."
"Is she letting you tap?"
"No, but she likes hugging and giving me kisses."
"Maybe physical touch is her love language."
Kazimir shakes his head as he leans against the countertop.
"I don't wanna use her for sex. She's really an amazing woman, Liyusk. Her ex-husband abused her and I don't wanna remind her of him."
"Ahhh, she sounds clingy."
"She is. Sometimes, she'll snuggle into me if it's late at night before she goes back to her own room. It's like she wants to open up to me but at the same time she doesn't."
"You just gotta be patient with her. Can't force anything."
"Lots of talking yet no working!"
"Maybe 'cause no one else is here, genius." Kazimir replies as Pierre walks over.
"Anyway, our suspects who work here should be arriving in the next thirty minutes or so. Uzini just told me that he'll have Nia check their car while they're clocked in."
"Why does he have to send her out to do that? What if she gets hurt? She should be inside."
"Kazimir, that's her job she was assigned to. I know you like her and all but you're talking differently. What's up?"
"He's in his feelings." Liyusk says, poking his friend's arm.
"I wish I could've already married her. I would've put a bun in her oven so she doesn't have to come here to work with you clowns."
"Woahhhh!" Pierre and Liyusk simultaneously yell.
"It's true. She doesn't deserve to be around dirty men like you two."
"Like us?" Pierre rhetorically asks. "You're one of 'em, too. How do you even know if she wants children?"
"She told me. She talked about wanting to become a mother someday and I'll be the one to make that happen."
Pierre rolls his eyes as he looks over at the young woman.
"Okay, but how do you know if she even wants you as the father?"
"I have my suspicions. I know what she wants in a man and I have everything."
"Everything except the green."
"I'll pick up—
"Cizetto!"
Turning around, Kazimir watches as the employee who showed him around hands him a phone.
"I've just spoken to your boss who wants you to go help with a homicide on 592 Lynn Street."
"What? Why me? Why not Pierre?"
"I don't know. Probably because a customer didn't have a complaint for Pierre."
Groaning in annoyance, Kazimir takes off the apron and hat, handing it to the man before walking out of the door.
"Is he always like that?" an employee asks.
Turning to each other, Liyusk and Pierre give each other a smile.
"Yep, that's our Kazimir."
—————
Pulling alongside a curb, Kazimir watches as his new co-worker, Xolani, stood over the body.
"Hey, Xolani. Uzini has you out here too, huh?"
She turns to the young man, before turning back to the body.
"Uh, is something-
"Why didn't you let me help with the report on that baby?"
"You're still stuck on that? Xolani, you didn't seem like you were up to par on doing any reports."
"Kazimir, I didn't join this force for everyone to do my work for me. I joined to make a change."
"So did I."
She laughs and shakes her head.
"Miss me with that bull. Anyway, the victim is an undercover officer for the city of Reyun. Allegedly, he was here on duty to help with busting a sex trafficking ring but someone found out his true identity and now we're here. The body must've just been placed here because he's at least had to have been dead for about four days now."
"Sounds like someone knew him personally and was waiting for him to show up here. Otherwise, the ring leaders would've taken him as well."
"Exactly. He also has several stab wounds located on the front and sides of his neck."
"And they're all located at a lower angle. So whoever killed this guy definitely knew him personally and had to have been shorter than him. Hmm, I'm thinking a failed date?"
"Most definitely a failed something." Xolani replies, watching as the coroner took the body away.
"Detective Syre!"
"Officer Jinnes."
"Where is the report on this man? Didn't I tell–"
"First of all, you shouldn't come over here speaking to her like she's below you."
Turning to Kazimir, the officer gives him a dirty look before spitting on the younger man's shoe.
PUNCH!
Stumbling backwards, Officer Jinnes places a hand up to his jaw, immediately feeling blood on his fingers.
"Don't do that again, understand me?"
The officer nods before walking back over to his car.
"He's an officer who needs to die, too." Xolani mutters. "Definitely has no business being in law enforcement."
"Has he been treating you unfairly?"
She gives Kazimir a small nod.
"But of course, that comes with almost every job. We should get back to the station to work on this report."
Walking alongside the young woman, Kazimir could almost sense her feelings of anger.
"You know, there's a lot of disrespectful people in this department. Just have to show them you're not one to be messed with."
"Which I do, but this is getting out of control. He's the fourth person to talk to me like I'm a clueless idiot!"
Looking over at the man and back at Xolani, Kazimir gives her a warm smile.
"You know what? Why don't we all head someplace to grab a bite to eat before starting on this report? It seems like it'll be long and besides, there shouldn't be any hard feelings between us all. We already have enough to deal with just by being part of the law in this city."
"Kazimir, are you serious?"
"I am. Everything's on me, including the drive there. Gas is pretty pricey these days."
Turning to the officer who was now leaning against his car, Xolani sighs.
"I don't know."
Laughing, Kazimir opens the passenger side of his car door for the young woman to get in.
"There shouldn't be any room in your heart for hate, Xo. I'll be right back."
Leaning against the window, Xolani waits for the two men to come back to the car.
After a few minutes, the door to the driver's side opens and Officer Jinnes climbs into the back seat.
"And where are we going? And why is this car so small?!"
"Oh my gosh, can you shut up?!" Xolani angrily shouts.
"Can you?! I swear, this is why the department shouldn't hire bitches."
"HEY!"
Punching the man in the face, Kazimir gives him a weird smile.
"Watch your language, bro."
Hopping in the driver's seat, the young man starts the car before pulling off down the road.
"So does anyone have any music suggestions?"
Silence fills the car as Kazimir waits for an answer.
"No? I guess I'll put on my playlist."
After about a half hour, Xolani speaks up.
"This is dumb, Kazimir. He clearly doesn't wanna be here."
"Oh, but I'm sure he'll enjoy our time spent together."
Watching Kazimir drive past the city's "thanks for visiting" sign, the young woman raises a brow.
"Uh, did you forget to take an exit or something?"
She watches as a smile begins to form across the young detective's face.
"Nope. We're almost there. Trust me you'll like it as much as I do."
"Kazimir, where're we going for real?"
Quickly pressing the lock button on the car door, Kazimir laughs and shrugs.
"You'll find out. Like I said, we're almost there."
"This isn't fun—
"Xolani, calm down. This part of the city isn't quite safe."
"There aren't even signs of human population here! Heck, we aren't even in the city anymore!"
"Where are we headed, boy?" Officer Jinnes asks from the backseat.
"That's for me to know and for you two to find out."
Leaning forward, the older man begins to wrap an arm around Kazimir's throat, quickly being knocked unconscious by an unsuspecting fist.
"Kazimir, he's unconscious!"
"Let the bastard sleep. Besides, why're you worried? He was the one disrespecting you, am I correct?"
Xolani doesn't answer, looking at the man beside her in a concerning way.
"Am I correct?"
"I mean, yeah."
Driving a few more miles, Kazimir eventually pulls over to the side of the road and opens the passenger door for Xolani.
"Splash that bottle of water on him once I get him on the ground. Make sure he's fully awake."
Dragging the officer out of the car, Kazimir drops him onto the grass and Xolani pours some water on his face.
PFFFFTTTT!
Officer Jinnes quickly sits up, taking a deep breath.
"Where the fuck are we?!"
"You're asking the wrong person."
"See, you two are getting along already!"
The two look up as Kazimir walks over to them, his hands strategically placed behind his back.
"Back away from him, Xolani."
Standing up, Xolani backs up from the man and Kazimir motions for her to come over to him.
"You ever been hunting, Xolani?"
"No."
"Then today will be your first day."
Removing his hands from his back, he reveals a machine gun with an auto sear.
"We'll give you a five second head start!" Kazimir says, looking down at the older man.
Handing the gun to Xolani, he walks over to the officer and gives him a smile.
"IT'S YOU! YOU'RE THE MOTHERFUCKER'S WHO'S BEEN KILLING ALL OF OUR OFFICERS IS YOU!"
"And the motherfucker is giving you a five second head start."
Standing up, Jinnes points a shaking finger towards Xolani.
"Don't you use that thing on me, young lady!"
"Now she's a young lady? A couple minutes ago she was a bitch."
"You shut the hell up!"
"You have approximately two seconds left."
The man begins to run as Kazimir walks back over to Xolani.
"Kill him, Xo."
Smiling as a flurry of bullets rang throughout the air, Kazimir laughs as the man falls to the ground.
"You know, you're pretty smart. Except you fucked up on one part of that homicide case."
Xolani continues to look over at the dead man lying face down in the tall grass.
"That body was 4 hours old, not days. You were that man's failed date, weren't you?"
Looking into the far distance, Kazimir watches as pairs of red and blue lights make their presence known.
Grabbing another machine gun from his trunk, the young detective closes the door for his passenger before getting back inside the driver's seat.
"Where're we going now?!" Xolani asks, watching as the lights appeared closer.
"Somewhere quaint."