Editor's Note: Please accept my apologies for this episode being posted a day late. It is based on actual events (like all episodes are) and I was waiting on clearance to use a name - that I was refused. So, I had to do some editing before posting.
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Get caught up:
The squad settled into their seats quickly and quietly. Max, wearing his new PFC stripes, realized that the joking and light hearted banter that usually preceded roll call was kept to a minimum. It was almost as if the squad – all of them – felt the “weird” building up as Christmas got closer. With Thanksgiving a couple weeks in the rear view mirror and Christmas not quite two weeks away, the “holiday stupidity” seemed to be building on the streets. It was that time of year: the squad knew that the evening shift would be busy and that a lot of the “busy” could be avoided if people stayed sober and not quite so greedy.
Eddie delivered the updates, the BOLOs, the info about who Robbery and Homicide was looking for. He gave his general warnings about being careful; staying alert; staying alive. He made a few comments about how going home alive was more important than worrying about what someone caught on a video camera. He counseled the squad to do the right thing the right way and to let the court of public opinion deal with itself.
“On a final note,” Eddie added at the end, “you should all have your new uniforms by now. There were some items that needed replacement and a few things that needed to be special ordered. That said, everyone should have everything from Elbeco Uniforms. If there’s anything you don’t have or haven’t received yet even though it’s been ordered, see the Supply Sergeant.”
And then he dismissed them. Max and Sean headed out to their cruiser. Before going out on patrol, they double checked their gear. They made sure they had everything they should have, that it was all in good working order and secured properly. On the inside of the trunk lid was a double rifle lock that held two AR style rifles. On the left side of the trunk was Max’s “go gear,” and Sean’s mirrored it on the right side. Equipment for working traffic scenes was stored in the trunk’s equipment organizer. Max’s trauma bag was on top of that.
Through mutual agreement Max drove. It didn’t take long before the first call came in.
“Unit 1095.”
Since Max was driving, Sean answered the radio. “Unit 1095, ma’am. Go ahead.”
“Unit 1095, 3209 East Elm Street for the loud party complaint.”
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Read the rest of this episode, part of Season Three, in the anthology ebook available exclusively on Amazon for kindle: http://amzn.to/2jcbPVB
