Episode 14
John Nolan
It had been a terrible week, and his mind messing with his feelings with Jessica and then meeting Grace caught him off guard. The timing couldn't be more worse, not that he regretted not seeing Grace again, but it made him lose his focus that he made a crucial mistake on the job.
He needed to be better.
The call came when he was fixing the mirror he got from a bargain sale on Sunday evening.
He answered it and placed it on speaker and went back to trying to slot the mirror in place. Where was that damn hole?
"Hello?" He called out.
"Officer Nolan, this is Detective Nyla Harper, I'm your new training officer."
"My.. great!" He was confused. "Did you say detective?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't that a little unusual for a detective to be my training officer?" He asked.
"I thought we should get a drink and size each other up a bit before shift tomorrow." The woman behind the call ignored him and continued speaking. "Meet me at Third Strike, twenty minutes."
Just great.
"Third strike, got it." He needed just a few more minutes to lock in the mirror. It was surprisingly heavy for its small size. "I'm going to need like thirty minutes."
"Be there in twenty, then I'm gone." The call ended.
Rude. Who does the T.O. think she is? He continued fixing the mirror. At this time he wouldn't be able to reach the bar in twenty.
Roll call came, and he appreciated Routh's insistence in seating beside him and Lucy, despite being a P2 now. He could patrol on his own, and earn the necessary qualifications for his career up the ladder. He had heard Routh was spending time after shifts earning his certifications in higher caliber weapons. He guessed Routh finally took the metro path.
"Before we begin, we have a new training officer joining us this morning." The captain stated. She looked confused and looked around, and then saw her eyes narrow as she pursed her lips. She gave a glance at Grey who nodded and headed to the glass wall that separated the tables for detectives and the briefing room.
He watched as a pretty black woman in a patrol uniform was casually sitting at a table speaking with another detective.
The woman looked up from the knock and saw Grey was beckoning her inside. She went inside the briefing room, looking confused.
"What's up?"
"You're late for roll call." Grey replied, looking unimpressed with the new T.O.
"Oh, that's still a thing?" The woman that he now guessed to be his new T.O. asked. "Oops."
"It is when you applied for the role of training officer." The captain responded. She did not look happy. "I'm starting to now doubt your intentions to become a training officer. I can clearly see you're not taking this seriously."
Zoe Andersen radiated determination, and her sheer presence was captivating. He now understood why so many detectives and senior officers found their Captain attractive. Damn, Jack was a lucky guy. He saw the admiring gaze his fellow rookie gave to his fiancé.
"Captain…" He could see how Harper had forgotten the captain was inside the briefing room. He could understand her, as he heard that it was rare for captains to join in the roll call unless it was to give an announcement. Zoe Andersen was different.
"Don't think just because you have a golden ticket that you think your position is safe. Did you take the Training Officer position because it pays higher?" The Captain continued. "The role of a training officer is a very important role."
The briefing room was totally silent, and he barely breathed, fearing that everyone could hear him. This was a verbal smackdown of epic proportions.
"Which is it?" The captain asked again. "You told me what I wanted to hear when you transferred here. Was it all a lie?"
Nyla Harper couldn't respond.
"Get out." The captain added. "See me in my office. You're not working patrol today until I can trust you."
"Nolan, patrol with Lopez." Captain Andersen ordered and left the briefing room.
"She really picked a bad time to show that attitude." Sergeant Grey shook his head. "You heard the captain, be safe out there."
"What was that all about?" He heard Lopez ask Bradford as they left the briefing room.
"She deserved it. Training new officers is a sacred duty." Bradford replied.
"Actually she called me last night." He told Lopez. "She wanted to meet me in a bar half an hour away in twenty minutes."
"Did you go?" Lopez asked.
"No. I don't know her, and she was demanding."
"Good." Lopez replied. "Let's make a good shift today boot."
"Yes, ma'am." That's one thing he liked about Lopez, she doesn't hold grudges. When a matter is over to her, it's over. He suddenly missed Talia.
Zoe Andersen
"Captain I'm sorry for this morning. It's just that I've been a detective for so long that…"
"Yet you gave that up to be a training officer." She replied. "Tell me the truth."
"My daughter." Nyla Harper looked to the side, avoiding her gaze. "I figured if I have regular working hours, the judge would grant me shared custody."
"I understand. You could have taken any assignment with better pay, and you chose one that could give you the time for your family. I admire that." She replied. "But is it fair to your rookie that you're just planning to half-ass his training with the attitude you showed this morning?"
"I'll let you out to patrol." She continued. "I'm assigning you a partner for today, a rookie who got promoted to P2."
"That stud sitting at the rookie table?" Harper asked.
She hid her smile, knowing how many women found her man attractive and so let the comment pass.
"Yes, that stud is Officer Jack Routh." She replied. "He's also got his golden ticket."
"Great, a warrior. Will that be all captain?"
"Yes. If you do well today, I'll put you back as a T.O., tomorrow with Nolan." She replied.
"Thank you, captain." Nyla Harper gave a quick nod and left her office.
She massaged her head in frustration and looked up when she heard a knock. Grey was standing there looking amused. "Have a seat."
"I'm glad I'm not the captain." Grey replied.
"Want to switch?" She asked. "I'm willing to jump back to patrol. Seriously."
"And I'll have to deal with the bureaucracy, budget hearings, and discipline officers?" Grey shook his head. "No, thank you."
"It had to be done, though." Grey stated as he sat on the couch. "Did you finally learn why she requested to be transferred here?"
"Her daughter." She replied. "She asked for a training officer position so that she could have regular hours and get shared custody. Unfortunately, she forgot that she has to be a role model to her rookie."
"She has to adapt quickly, and get rid of that mentality she did to survive for four years as a UC. It will only hurt her here."Grey replied. "What did you do to her?"
"I sent Routh to patrol with Harper." She replied. "If patrol goes well, I'll assign him to Nolan. He's the only one who can stand up to her. She would eat Chen alive."
"I'll keep an eye on her." Grey promised.
"Give Nolan a briefing too. He needs to know what to expect from her." She added.
"Yes, captain."
She focused on her paperwork and during the break she left for the bathroom before she could eat. Disappointment filled her once more as she saw the negative results in her pregnancy test kit. Her sex drive was still going strong, and she rarely left for work or meetings without her cunt full of Jack's cum. It had been nearly eight months since she became sexually active again, and she was even prepared to get pregnant when she first had sex with Jack.
She looked up a suitable doctor and called their clinic to set an appointment.
She wanted to be a wife and a mother so that she would be secure with Jack.
Nyla Harper
She got chewed out, and she felt humbled when she realized how arrogant she was when she first entered the station wearing a uniform. She didn't like wearing it, and felt embarrassed being seen wearing the dark blue uniform. She was a detective, and detectives never wore uniforms. They were past that.
That attitude cost her and after some reflection while she waited at the captain's office. The dressing down she received will be talked about for weeks in the station, if she didn't get her act together and take the job seriously.
It was no wonder her rookie didn't show up last night.
She might have earned a golden ticket to any position she wanted, but that doesn't mean she couldn't get removed from it.
Her assigned partner for today remained silent as they continued their patrol. She silently observed him, curious what he did to receive the golden ticket.
She hated being asked that question, so she decided not to ask him. Their patrol was normal. Aside from a warning from Routh when he pulled over a driver that didn't fully stop at an intersection. That was good, that meant he already knew the difference between the letter and spirit of the law.
"Who was your T.O. before you got promoted?" She asked.
"Angela Lopez." He replied.
She remembered the feisty-looking Latina observing her when she entered the bullpen. "If you were promoted ahead of time, then that means you don't have a C.I. yet, am I right?"
"Yeah, but that's what I've been working on. Between getting certified for higher caliber weaponry."
"I see." They received a 211 call and she immediately responded to the radio.
Without another word, Routh increased their speed and a few minutes later arrived on the scene. She drew her weapon and decided to see what Routh was capable of and allowed him to be primary.
Her partner for today gave a few hand signals as he peeked inside the store. She immediately understood what he meant with his hand signal, and proceeded to the left once she entered the store while he went right.
She headed to the frozen food section, keeping her head lowered, intending to flank the suspect. Meanwhile, the cashier continued to sob as she grabbed fistfuls of money and stuffed them inside a plastic bag.
"Hurry bitch!" The suspect nudged the cashier with his gun, causing the woman to sob louder.
"Please don't shoot me, I'm doing what you asked!"
"Then go faster!" The suspect demanded.
She saw from her peripheral vision her partner taking his position. She looked at him and he gave a signal, and she nodded in understanding. He had a can of peaches in his left hand, and intended to distract the suspect.
Routh tossed the can to the middle aisle, causing it to bounce around, causing a racket. The robber immediately turned around with his gun pointed at the empty aisle.
"Police! Drop your weapon!" She called out.
"Don't move or we will shoot!" Routh made his presence known. They had caught him at two angles where they could fire upon him without fear of hitting each other. The cashier had wisely ducked down below the table to keep safe.
"I said drop your weapon" Routh repeated. "You lost."
"Damn!" The robber cursed and dropped the gun on the floor. Almost as one, they moved at the same time, their weapons aimed at the suspect.
"Hands above your head." Routh ordered, kicking away the gun from the suspect. "Get down on the ground, slowly."
She was impressed. Routh didn't act like a rookie as they processed their robber. Even his written report was good, he added the necessary details without making it too tedious to read.
Unfortunately, he disappeared on his lunch break. She had been looking for him since she expected to be treated to lunch. Then she remembered he wasn't her boot. Pity.
Her job as a T.O. would have been a breeze if Routh was her boot, she would be able to focus more time with her daughter instead of worrying if her boot got her back.
She was eating alone in the food trucks near the station when she saw him walking back, with the Captain by his side. She was laughing as she looked up at him while gave her a fond smile.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She looked around and noticed no one was giving them second looks. She was pretty sure there was a rule against forming relationships with a commanding officer. Could she report her? Get the captain off her back?
As she disposed of her trash, she saw a face she had been staring at since she started today's shift. The magazines sold by the food truck had her temporary partner on the cover, looking dashing in a police uniform. She shifted a few magazines covering the other half and her eyes widened in surprise.
"What the.."
She had been in undercover assignments for so long that she had not even heard about this. Routh was on the cover of People magazine, and standing by his side with her arm around his shoulder was Captain Zoe Andersen looking like a million bucks like she came from the runway.
[Police Romance]
[The Captain and the Rookie]
"Are you buying that?" The food truck owner asked.
"Yeah." She replied as she handed out a crisp twenty. Once she received her change, she decided thethat she would spend the rest of her break reading this issue.
She learned a lot. Apparently, she had been sitting beside a celebrity cop. A quick internet search of his name showed his picture carrying Taylor Swift in his arms, as he saved her from a kidnapping.
On his first day at Mid-Wilshire, he shot a gunrunner who had been firing on them and hit him on the head. The bullet exited the man's head and also hit the passenger as well. That rumor had even reached her down in Mexico, and it was only now that she realized Routh was that rookie.
And also, he was engaged to the Captain. It was no wonder Andersen had assigned him as her partner, a poor showing from her and it would instantly reach the Captain's ears. Their age gap intrigued her, but they certainly looked good together.
Their second shift ended and she was finally able to relax. It looks like she had passed, and would resume being a T.O. tomorrow. However she needed to order more police uniforms and went to the website to make her order for pants, upper uniform, polo shirts, and jackets. She was only mildly surprised to see the power couple, modeling both men's and women's clothing on the website.
She didn't realize the captain had legs like that as she ordered shorts and exercise clothing. Routh must surely be a leg man.
Zoe Andersen
Jack had immediately sensed that something was troubling her, despite her best attempts to hide what she was feeling. She asked for him to wait and finally revealed her fears after their simple dinner.
"I got an appointment with a gynecologist." She shared with him. "We've had sex nearly every day and I still have my period regularly. I did a P.T. this morning but it came out negative."
"It's fine, If it's okay, I'll go with you to the doctor together."
"Of course, I'll want you there." She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "I'm just worried."
"I didn't realize you wanted to be a mother this soon." Jack moved her to the couch where she cuddled with him. She took a deep whiff of his scent as he buried her face in his chest, immediately feeling secure and comfortable with her man beside her.
"I'm scared you'll leave me." She whispered softly. "If I can't give you a child. What if I can't get pregnant? Will you leave me then?"
"Love." She heard Jack whisper in her ear. "I love you. Whether we have kids or not, I'll always stay beside you. We're getting married soon, remember?"
"I'm older than you." She shared one of her biggest fears. "What if some hot young thing decides to swoop in and take you from me?"
"I don't think that will ever happen. You know how I'm insanely in love with you, and not just because of your beautiful face or your sexy body."
She felt a thrill of pleasure and arousal when she heard him.
"I know, why don't I sing you a song?"
A song? He hadn't performed in a while, and she did miss hearing more of his music. It was the reason they became friends, when she first heard the beautiful melody from his keyboards.
"Sure." She smiled.
He led her to sit beside the keyboard as he turned it on. He looked up at her after testing a few keys in the keyboards and adjusted the volume.
"Ready? He asked her.
"Always."
Her man smiled, and then started playing a gentle melody while he started singing.
[Thinking out loud- Ed Sheeran]
When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
She felt her heart beat harder when she heard him sing. She missed this.
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?
And, darling, I will be loving you till we're seventy
Her eyes started to water instantly as Jack poured out his heart to her. This song was beautiful.
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at twenty-three
And I'm thinking about how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me, I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am
So, honey, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
And maybe we found love right where we are
It was too much. She couldn't take more of this. Those lyrics, that melody, his voice, and that handsome face, her heart wouldn't be able to take this.
When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way
I know you will still love me the same
'Cause, honey, your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen
She knew she was ugly crying but she didn't care. Those words were so pure. She remembered her earlier conversation and this was the perfect song to hear right now after she shared her fears. When did he write this?
And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
And I'm thinking about how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
And maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand
Then, baby, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are
This should be played in their wedding, she decided. It was just so perfect for their relationship.
So, baby, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are
Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are
She immediately jumped into Jack's arms and kissed him with as much passion as she could bring.
"Take me to bed." She whispered.
Their sex that night was tender and loving, far different from the ravenous and lustful beasts they usually were. She cried in happiness when she reached climax, and when hers died down she encouraged Jack to finish inside her as she raised her hips to meet his thrusts.
She fell asleep soon after, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she experienced but feeling warm and safe in Jack's arms. No matter what she may learn from her appointment, she was secure in her relationship with Jack.
John Nolan
"Oh god, you're one of those."
He didn't expect his new T.O. to interrupt him when he was explaining the reasons why he became a cop.
The morning roll call went on as usual, with reminders about increasing violence from a turf war between two gangs. His T.O. tested him immediately, asking him to demonstrate the checklist of a shop before patrol. He felt like it was day one all over again, but he didn't mind.
He knew his T.O. was different from Bishop, Lopez, and Bradford when she asked for an AR-15 assault rifle when he prepared their gear. He had never even shot one of those before.
Their conversation in the shop was cordial until she interrupted him.
"I'm a what?" He asked.
"A guardian." Harper explained. "You see there are two kinds of cops, Officer Nolan. There are warriors, then there are guardians. One's a hunter, the other is a nurturer. One is alive when they're in the fight, the other is happy to clock out after 12."
He pondered her words and nodded. That seems like a fair assessment. What's wrong with guardians? He didn't ask that out loud.
Her style was different and clearly not by the book. Bishop would have agreed with him when he saw a car that didn't stop when it turned a corner. She didn't allow him to pull over a car with a broken tail light.
He spotted a car that he normally would have pulled over.
"Maserati, no plates." He sighed and looked back on the road. "Let me guess, not worth getting out of the shop for."
They soon pulled alongside the car and his T.O. Looked closer at the three men inside the car.
"No, this one we stop." Harper replied. "Look at the steering column."
He spotted a rag on top of it, a usual tactic to hide a broken ignition. It meant the car was stolen.
Harper activated the siren and used the PA system. "Driver of the Maserati, pull over."
The car pulled to the side and he got out of the vehicle, and put his hand on his weapon. Harper took the lead and walked to the driver's side while he kept an eye on the passengers.
"Driver, step out of the car." Harper ordered.
"You're hot for a cop." The driver smiled.
"I know." Harper looked annoyed. "Everybody out… now."
The three men stepped out, and suddenly the situation turned more dangerous.
"Hands where I can see them." Harper had her weapon out, obviously expecting trouble. He copied her actions and pulled out his weapon as well.
"Nolan, VIN." Harper ordered while he kept an eye on the men on the sidewalk. Before he completed reporting the VIN for control to run through, the driver started to approach Harper.
"Hey. Stay where you are. Stay where you are!" Harper ordered. The man didn't listen and approached Harper. She suddenly swung her weapon and hit the man in the face with the butt of her pistol, knocking him to the ground.
One of the passengers tried to run, but he immediately pushed him down to the ground and jumped on him, with his cuffs at the ready.
Harper quickly cuffed the driver when the third passenger suddenly ran.
"Hey! Stop!" Harper ran after him, and now he had to deal with two suspects. He quickly cuffed the other passenger and started reporting the situation to the radio. He could only watch as his T.O. ran down the street and turned to the right until he lost sight of her.
Deciding to help in case she needed it, he managed to put both men in the shop and secure their vehicle. He started running down the street, looking for his T.O. while he reported to dispatch the details of the third suspect.
He turned down the street where Harper ran and found no trace of them. He looked up when he heard her voice and headed to the sound.
"Stop!"
"I said stop!"
The third suspect suddenly landed in front of him, and he could see the man had broken his foot from the fall. He looked up to see Harper looking over the rooftop, shaking her head in disappointment.
"She…. She pushed me!" The suspect claimed.
"Don't be an idiot." He replied. "I heard her asking you to stop. What made you think you could survive a twenty-foot fall?"
The suspect instantly fell silent and he used the opportunity to call for an ambulance. He treated his new T.O. to lunch, and as they ate their tacos he asked how her day was yesterday.
"It's boring." Harper replied. "We only saw action on the morning shift, a 211."
"How's Routh?" He asked.
"He's definitely a Hunter." She replied. "when did he start seeing the Captain?"
"There were plenty of rumors." Nolan shared. Naturally, Routh and the Captain's relationship was a favorite topic of gossip for both male and female cops. "But I think they had an immediate attraction to one another, and only acted upon it when Routh got shot in the vest two times."
"What happened?" Harper asked.
"Routh was the breacher. As soon as he knocked the door off its hinges bullets started flying. There was no time to dodge." He shared.
He got a taste of his T.O.'s real capabilities when she spotted a known arms smuggler named Corkscrew when she was working undercover. Now she wanted to know what he was doing in Mid-Wilshire. Her transformation was almost magical as she removed her uniform, messed up her hair, and used the soot from the shop to put eye bags under her eyes and to dirty her clothes. She was now wearing a white shirt and her jogging pants.
"Keep alert. Remember, you don't know me. Arrest me too if something happens." Harper instructed him.
He nodded, still shocked at her transformation as his T.O. walked barefoot inside the laundry mat. Even her demeanor changed and she had a loose walking gait, if he didn't know her he wouldn't have even given her a second look unless she was committing a crime.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and suddenly heard shouts from inside the laundry mat. Thinking it was his cue, he approached the business, only to see Harper jumping on Corkscrew's back.
"Police! Get on the ground!" He ordered.
Harper jumped off Corkscrew and scowled. She walked up to him and he was surprised by the very real punch she gave him. "Arrest me, let him go." She breathed.
"You're under arrest." He quickly pushed Harper against the dryer and put her in cuffs.
"The bitch just attacked me!" Corkscrew complained.
"Suck a dick!" Harper screamed back.
"Yes sir, I'll bring her to the station immediately. Can you please stay for a moment and get your statement, I have to lock her up in the vehicle."
"Go ahead." Corkscrew looked amused as Harper struggled against his grip. He forced her inside the shop, impressed at her acting.
"I'm going to have a report about this." He pretended to look tired. "I need to take your name and contact information."
"Of course, Officer." Corkscrew replied.
"I also need to verify that the number you give us is from that phone." He pointed to the phone Corkscrew had in his hand. "It's policy."
A few minutes later he was driving back to the station, keeping up appearances in case someone was watching.
"You can turn right here." Harper ordered.
He turned to a side street and parked to the side. He stepped out of the shop while his T.O. changed back to her uniform, pleased with his last-minute decision to ask for the phone number.
"Did you find out why he's here for?" He asked.
"Just that he's planning something. Not enough to get a warrant." Harper looked annoyed.
"Maybe this will be useful." He showed the small piece of paper containing the number. "It's from his actual mobile phone. I pretended that I need for procedure."
Harper smiled as she snatched the paper from his fingers. "Good work boot."
He never thought he'd be happy to be called boot. It was the first time his T.O. called him by that name. He treated Harper to lunch and sat with Chen and Routh as he shared his adventure. Lucy was intrigued by Harper's background and was the one that asked the most questions.
She had always expressed her interest and admiration for undercover police officers.
Nyla Harper
Her contacts came through immediately and she was able to tap into Corkscrew's text messages. She had a quick meeting with Captain Andersen and Sergeant Grey and they soon formed a plan to take down Corksrew's pipeline and prevent more guns from getting into the hands of gangs.
A drop would be happening, and she felt the excitement of upcoming action. What she didn't like was the role she was relegated to. Perimeter duty.
"Metro units will come in and make the bust." Sergeant Grey continued with his briefing.
She wanted to complain but then she remembered her conversation with the captain. Why was she here for? She looked at Nolan. If it weren't for his quick thinking they wouldn't have this operation underway.
She was a training officer now, not Crystal.
They were all in position, listening to Corkscrew's conversation with a buyer. Their unmarked van for reconnaissance had their officers use a parabolic microphone to listen in.
"Nice, no serial numbers?"
"Yeah, $250 a piece. That's the deal."
She heard Corkscrew's voice over the radio.
"Can you get a hundred more?"
"Sure, I got them close by, as long as you have the cash."
Perfect. They needed to get to Corkscrew's suppliers and stock.
"I'll text my guy."
"They're upping the buy, all units hold position." The Metro squad leader of platoon B ordered over the radio.
"Who is the buyer?" Her boot asked.
"Most likely it's one of two local arms dealers, Osito or Brooker." She replied.
"Osito." Nolan repeated the name. "The Teddy Bear?"
"It's a nickname, boot. I assumed it was meant to be ironic. Between those two guys, they provide sixty percent of the guns from here to Fresno." She replied.
"That many?" Nolan looked surprised. "This will be a big bust if we succeed."
"And get guns off the hands of the most dangerous gangs in the city. Our streets will be safer." She replied. "That's why we shouldn't fail."
"Wait! No!" It looked like the deal was done, and Osito was not coming. She got on the radio to plead her case but got rebuffed immediately.
That was a mistake, buyers tended to feign reluctance in an attempt to get a discount. The metro squad leader initiated the arrest, and she was too late to stop them. They had lost Osito. He would now hide and disappear after hearing of the arrest. She wanted to intervene but the thought of spending more time with her daughter cooled off her frustration.
She watched as Platoon B pulled in and immediately made their arrests.
"Hands up!
"Police! Don't move! Don't move!"
She looked out the window. She did not want to watch the arrests as they threw their only chance to get to one of the most prolific arms dealers in Southern California. That was the only reason why she was able to see a driver in a blue Mustang quickly make a U-turn. He had a grenade tattoo below his left ear.
"Hey is that…" Nolan started to speak. He also noticed what she saw.
"That's Osito." She started her car and hesitated for a moment. She wanted to make the arrest personally, but she also needed to take care of her rookie. "Call dispatch and ask for backup."
She followed the car at a safe distance and smiled when it pulled over to a storage facility.
"Where's our backup?" She asked.
A shop appeared behind them, and she noticed it was Bradford and his boot.
"What do we have?" Bradford asked.
"We saw Osito enter through that facility." She explained. "He has one of his men acting as a lookout at the gate. If we wait for SWAT they could be gone."
"Then we need to move. Vests." Bradford told his boot.
"Do the same." She told Nolan. She went to the back of the shop, happy that she had the AR-15 this morning. Bradford reported their plan to dispatch.
"7-adam-19. Requesting backup. Moving in with Harper to Osito at a storage facility in Crenshaw and Pico."
They were able to jump on the guard. Chen had cuffed him on the metal gate and removed his gun and phone and moved inside the compound. She saw Osito's car in front of an open storage locker with two of his men.
She looked at Bradford who had moved to another cover and gave her a nod.
"Osito!" She called out. "Police! Hands where I can see them!"
Osito slowly raised his hands, then jumped behind his car for cover. His men started firing their weapons and she immediately returned fire, followed by Bradford.
"7-adam-15, Shots fired. Need backup." She heard Nolan call on the radio.
It seemed like her rookie was a good shot, as he was able to take down one of the men. Osito and his remaining companion ducked into the storage locker as soon as they saw their fellow gunman on the ground.
"It's over Osito!" She called out. "Surrender!"
She watched as a weapon was thrown on the ground, followed by Osito and his remaining crew stepping out with their hands above their head.
She heard more sirens coming and she and Bradford quickly secured the two men.
"7-adam-15, suspects in custody. Need an ambulance for a suspect. Gunshot wound to the leg." Nolan started reporting on the radio again. Not bad. She could work with him. He met her gaze and her boot gave her a small smile.
Zoe Andersen
She was satisfied with today's results. They made a significant arrest that had the chief calling when word to him. Osito was the number one supplier of illegal firearms to the gangs. She felt like celebrating, and that was why she was now hugging Jack tightly as they headed to the arena on his bike.
One of the city's professional basketball teams, the Los Angeles Lakers had a game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. And they had good seats a few rows behind the Lakers bench, courtesy of the Mayor. Jack's decision to bring take his bike was smart. Parking was nearly impossible and the traffic was at a standstill.
They reached their seats after quickly finding a parking spot for bikes. Jack had gotten them popcorn and drinks, and they spent the time waiting for the game to start identifying as many celebrities as they could.
She found it amusing that she was winning, as Jack barely identified the celebrities watching the game. She thought she was bad, but Jack was way worse. He only knew his namesake, Jack Nicholson.
"You really wore that?" She just noticed the shirt Jack was wearing when he removed his jacket.
"I like it." Jack replied. He had worn the ridiculous shirt he got from Comic Con, a blue shirt with the words in big white letters saying "I'm with my boss." and an arrow pointing to the left.
"You're like a big kid." She leaned back and held his left hand with her right.
The pretty and sexy cheerleaders came out for a show, and she watched as Jack observed them for a few moments and then looked at her. More specifically his eyes traced her body. She immediately knew what he was thinking. He was probably imagining her wearing the same outfits.
"No, I'm not wearing a cheerleader outfit." She stated.
"Not completely." He replied. "They have shorts underneath, you won't."
"Is my body all you can think of most of the time?" She joked.
"Yes, when you're that hot." He admitted without shame. She let out an involuntary squeak when she felt his hand leave her grasp and put it on her thigh and squeezed her.
"Stop it!" She grabbed his hand once more and interlaced her fingers with his to prevent his hands from wandering.
The game started, and soon they were engrossed in the game. She wasn't much of a basketball fan these days but she did play in middle school and was familiar with most of the current star players. The game was close, as both were championship-caliber teams fighting to get a good record for the playoffs.
Halftime arrived with the score close and the Lakers were only leading by just six points. The halftime show started with the same cheerleaders, and then a fan was randomly selected to shoot for $1000 every time he made a free throw and was given three attempts. The crowd was happy when the fan made one count.
Then the kiss cam segment came, and she suddenly had a bad feeling. She and Jack constantly flirted and certainly looked like a couple with his arm around her shoulder and her leaning on him at times while holding hands.
She looked up at a screen and noticed the couples being shown on the big screen, with the crowd encouraging them to kiss. A few didn't, earning boos and jeers from the crowd. She watched as a camera crew quickly set up in front of the player's bench, with the camera pointed right at her.
A few of the basketball players looked back to see who they were focusing on, and then she noticed the red dot light up beside the camera lens. She looked up to see herself and Jack on the big screen.
"Kiss! Kiss!"
The people seated around them yelled. Even the players on the bench encouraged them and she laughed when Jack held up his shirt for everyone to read.
"Oh shit!" One of the players laughed. She recognized him, Lebron James.
"Go on man!" Another player hooted.
Jack shrugged and leaned in and she raised her head to meet his kiss. It seemed theirs was a bit more passionate than the other couples as she felt Jack play with her lips and they soon separated. The entire crowd cheered even louder and even the players clapped their hands.
She felt herself blushing and she wanted to cover her face with her hands in embarrassment. Jack wrapped his arm around her again and she wondered why the camera was still pointed at them.
"Wave back." He whispered in her ear.
She followed his advice and waved for a few moments and then it was over.
"Are you really his boss?" A woman beside her asked.
"I am." She replied. "He got that stupid shirt in comic con."
"You got balls, dude." A man behind them reached out and tapped Jack on the shoulder.
The players warmed up again on the court, and then a staff appeared and made her way to their seats.
"Would it be possible to interview the two of you by our courtside reporter?" The woman asked. She was wearing a headset with a microphone attached to it.
"What for?" She asked.
"It's just that we're curious about you and your companion." The woman replied. "There would be complimentary tickets if you agree."
"Sorry, we're not really interested." She replied after she shared a look with Jack. "We just want to focus on the game."
"Oh." The woman looked disappointed. "Thank you then."
The second half continued, and the star player of the Lakers decided to show his talent. Every three points he made the crowd cheer louder. She was now standing with Jack as Lebron made his fourth consecutive three-point shot.
"He's in the zone now." Jack yelled to her ear amidst the cheering of the crowd. Lebron's exploits made them pull ahead and maintain a sizeable lead against the Spurs.
Then James shot one more three. Five consecutive three points while he was heavily defended. Even she was on her feet, cheering as Lebron left the court to rest.
With a nearly insurmountable lead with the clock running down, Lebron was more relaxed and playful on the bench as he chatted with his teammates. They must have caught his attention since he leaned forward and asked a question to Jack.
"Hey man, is she really your boss?"
"Yes." Jack replied. "I even call her Captain."
"I called him boot." She decided to join in on the fun.
That set off Lebron and the team into a laughing fit. He raised his hand over to Jack, and her man quickly gave Lebron a fist bump. The crowd watching cheered.
At this point, the players on the court were bench players who rarely got to see any minutes on the court. San Antonio had given and benched their starting members with a minute to play and a sixteen-point lead.
The next morning their faces were in sports center. One of her friends called her and told her to turn on the TV and watch ESPN. She watched as these basketball analysts, a few that were former players discuss and analyze Lebron's performance. Then they focused on the kiss cam with her kiss with Jack.
"Now that's a real kiss right there." One commentator said.
"But at least we know she's not from San Antonio." Another replied. That caused laughter among the group, and she didn't get the joke. What's so funny about San Antonio? "And those big ol…"
She turned off the TV and resumed stretching before she prepared for work.
She immediately received a call from the chief when she entered her office. He was happy that she used the tickets to get more publicity for the men and women of the LAPD. Then a flurry of other calls from her friends and even her brother came, just telling her that she was featured on Sports Center and even a few other news channels. She didn't realize her simple date with Jack had turned into a big deal.
Grey arrived, looking like he had seen Nolan get stuck on a chain-linked fence again.
"What's so funny?" She asked.
"Your date with Routh went viral." Grey put a few tabloids on the table. It was a front-page picture of her kissing Jack last night. Oh god.
"That's just the tabloids. You two have turned into a meme." Grey showed her a video of Jack showing off his shirt, shrugging, and then leaning to kiss her. Wow, they really lip-locked on that kiss. They separated, and she could see her cheeks were flushed and then the video looped back again to the beginning.
"Congratulations." Grey said to her before he left her office.
Captain Reed
His son was being an ass again. He had told him several times to get back to school, but he refused. He didn't want to go out. He mostly spent all the day in front of the computer, doing god knows what.
He had recently started wearing that black trench coat, thinking he was at school. He looked ridiculous.
It had to be the result of his mother. She resisted his wishes to send him to join the marines as he did. Now he was stuck here, and he could feel the resentment his son had for his mother and to him.
"Dad?" He looked up to see his son in his office. It was strange, he rarely visited the community college ever since he dropped out last semester.
"Percy. What are you doing here?" He asked. His police officers had known of his son, and didn't question his presence.
"I'm sorry Dad." He narrowed his eyes and stared at Percy. He looked different. Did someone hurt his son?
"What happened?" He asked. "You're sorry for what?"
"This."
His eyes widened when he stared at the barrel of a gun his son was holding.
"Percy?"
Penny Teller
She always looked forward to Fridays, it was worth the extra shifts he had to take so that she could finally take up a few college classes. She even enjoyed writing the paper assigned by Professor Hottie, the group discussion really gave her a new perspective.
Even Leonard was impressed when she showed him her paper, although Sheldon was still annoyed at her professor.
"I don't understand why he refused to audition." She remembered when Sheldon sent Jack's photos to the film studio and even photoshopped his face on a Superman costume. "His participation is the key to a revival of the DC universe. "He's so selfish."
"Sheldon." She rolled her eyes at her neighbor. "Professor Routh is a police officer, it's clear he has no interest in auditioning as Superman. He's not selfish since his job is to literally serve the public's interest."
"But what about my interest?" Sheldon complained.
She parked at the college parking for students and checked the time, there were 30 minutes left before her class started but she didn't mind. Professor Routh tended to arrive early as well, and didn't mind answering questions about their subjects. She was sure the younger college girls would be there by now, looking all pretty for the professor.
It was useless. They didn't know what she knew. Her professor was already engaged. She was pretty sure a lot of her classmates would be disappointed when they learned the truth. She arrived at the classroom to see it was nearly half full. Now most of the girls took up the front seats, and she remembered during the first class she was the only one that sat on the front row.
Professor Routh was already seated behind his desk, marking the essays that were due today. It seemed like he wanted to check their progress and she put her own essay on the pile before heading to her seat.
"Morning Professor." One of the girls beside her greeted him.
"Good morning." Their professor greeted absently, his focus still on the essays.
"I think that's really him!"
"So he has a girlfriend?"
"But she looks a little older than him!"
"What's happening?" She asked.
"Professor Routh was seen in a kiss cam." One of the college girls showed her the video. She smiled when she saw the shirt he was wearing, since she was the one that pointed that to him to buy.
"That's him." She replied. The secret was out anyway. "And I met his fiancé the other week."
"Fiancé?"
"He's engaged." She replied. "His fiance's name is Zoe. She's the police captain of the station he's assigned to."
"Police captain." Her seatmate slumped back on her chair. "Wow. I never realized."
The clock showed it was nine, and their professor stood up and started his lecture.
She then started a faint scream, followed by another. She heard running footsteps outside the hallway.
"Is it a fire drill?"One of her classmates asked.
"There's no alarm." Another replied.
Then they all heard it. The unmistakable sound of gunshots.
"Everyone, lock the doors, barricade them with the desks." Professor Routh ordered.
"Turn your phones into silent mode and turn off the lights. Do it." His tone made it clear it wasn't a request and they hurriedly complied.
"Dispatch, this is Officer Jack Routh, Badge number 33186. Reporting sounds of gunshots in LA City College, Humanities Building. Will investigate, send back up." She watched their professor transform into a police officer as he pulled out his badge and wore it like a necklace and pulled out a gun from his ankle.
"Penny." She stared at those determined eyes. "Don't let anyone enter this room unless they have identified themselves as police officers. Understand?"
"Yes sir!" She nodded.
"Good, lock the door when I leave."
They waited for nearly a minute, and then they heard gunshots again.
"Police! Drop the gun!" They heard their professor's voice. Then several seconds passed. Then gunshots.
"Oh my god!"
"The professor!"
She peeked out of the classroom door, and saw her professor leaning on the opposite wall, as a few students looked over. In front of him was a man in a coat, on the floor with a gun in his hand. There was blood pooling out from under his body.
Jack Routh
Active shooting in a school was the worst-case scenario. He knew the longer he waited more lives would be lost.
That was why he decided to step out, rather than wait with his students, although the only mistake he made as he slowly felt weaker from the blood loss was that he should have checked those hiding places in the hallway. The shooter had shot him in the back after hiding in a closet, and he shot him in the chest in turn.
He looked over and he saw Penny's face looking over at him. He felt cold.
Then he saw a strange screen he had last seen months before appearing in front of his eyes.
[World – The Rookie]
[Brandon Routh Age: 24]
[Jack Reacher]
46 %
[Charlie Puth]
38 %
[Lucy Worsley]
36%