--Briefing room Mid-Wilshire Station--
As I walked into the briefing room right when I sat down Grey walked into the room.
"Everyone have a seat. Today is a special day for our rookies. 'Cause today we switch things up. That's right. Everybody gets a new training officer. Nolan and Alverez, you'll be riding with Officer Lopez. West, you'll be riding with Officer Bradford. Chen, you'll be with Bishop. Alverez . But learning how to navigate a new T.O. is not your only challenge. By the end of next shift, I expect every rookie to uncover something personal about their training officer, something they don't want you to know. This will be a test of your investigative instincts and your fortitude. Best insight will win a day off. Worst one handles Saturday night cavity searches. That's it. Good luck."
As Nolan and I met up with Lopez before walking out of the room Nolan and I headed to kit room while Lopez, Tim, and Bishop met off to the side. While we were getting our stuff Nolan started off with the questions.
"So, what's Lopez like to ride with?"
"Yeah, like I'm gonna give you a head start." Jackson sassing Nolan before looking at Lucy. "Tim's gonna eat me alive, isn't he?"
"You? No. You're a rock star, a legacy who excelled at the academy. If Tim could create a cop in a test tube, it would be you."
Looking between them. "No, I one hundred percent doubt that will happen. He's gonna set out to dominate you and prove that you aren't all that by testing you consistently. "
"Is it too late to change my answer? 'Cause, uh, that." Lucy stopped and pointed at me while speaking to Jackson then turning to Nolan. "Oh, hey, what about Talia? Any tips on how to get on her good side?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Jackson's right. No head starts." He spoke to her then they all looked at me."
"Leave me out of this I have been with all three and while I do know some stuff there is nothing I'm going to share." I spoke up before walking away with the trauma bag and warbag and the beanbag shotgun. leaving Nolan with the rest of the gear.
After making it to the shop before Nolan I dropped my gear off in the back then made way to the passenger side. When I got in I looked over to see Nolan and Lopez in a stare down before Nolan spoke up.
"Oh. Uh, usually Officer Bishop has me drive. She feels it's a better way to evaluate how I"
Before he could finish Lopez cut him off. "This is my shop. I drive."
As he made his way around the shop he looked up and stopped when he say me in the front with the door open. "Sorry Nolan you get the back seat this time." I said while smiling at him booting him to the back seat, but before he can start moving Lopez spoke up.
"I was raised by a single mom. Everything I own was a hand-me-down from my four brothers, so I care about what I wear and how I look. Now you don't have to spend the next two days hunting for insight."
"I don't think that's how Sergeant Grey wanted me to gain insight."
"Are you a teacher's pet, Boot? 'Cause I thought I was gonna get a change of pace with you."
"Uh, no, ma'am. Just looking to get the most out of the experience."
"Good. Because if I win you Grey's day off, you're gonna fix my garage door. I heard you were a contractor."
As Nolan made his way to the back seats. "Yeah, no, happy to help. Probably gonna need a little more than "She likes nice clothes" to win this thing." He paused to speak before stepping into the back seat "So, where are we off to?"
"Court. I have to testify in a trial. Should take a few hours." Lopez responded before giving him a look before he could start talking "Quiet time, starting now."
I started to chuckled before buckling up as we pulled out of the garage.
--LA courthouse--
As Lopez pulled into the parking space we get out making our way to the courthouse.
When we got into the court house Nolan started to look around the infrastructure.
"Never been to the courthouse before. This is exciting."
"While I have never been inside a courthouse recently I don't like it here already." I spoke looking around at all the different departments around us while we were looking around Lopez greeted someone before looking over to us.
"This is the only place in L.A. where you can find all the law enforcement agencies together. LAPD, Highway Patrol, Sheriff's Department, everyone acting like the top of the food chain. See that guy with the comb-over? They call him Hot Stuff. Know why?"
"It's got to be for a dumb reason right? There is no way everyone decided to call someone hot stuff." speaking while looking at him.
As we continued forward to the courtroom she had to appear in she laughed "Right its not a cool name it's dumb reason just like you said Officer Alverez. 'Cause he somehow managed to get sriracha in his eyes while he was driving. Ended up in Echo Park Lake." then pointed to a different Officer. "Oh, and that's Officer Davis. She collects American Girl dolls and uses them to recreate scenes from 50 Shades. She's single, if you're wondering."
"Thank you. How do you know all this?"
"Ah, well, if you want to keep secrets, don't work in law enforcement." Lopez looked in between us as she spoke before disappearing into the courtroom.
After a moment we sat down on a bench outside the courtroom looking though his rook book. After about an hour passes two officers walk past us with a prisoner in orange jumpsuit. When they get to us Nolan sneezes which the prisoner responded.
"Bless you."
"Thank you" Nolan responded as he looked back down to the book between us to resume studying. Shortly after the officers rounded the corner we hear grunting before what sounded like a body hitting the ground after a second we get up as we creep closer Nolan paused then quickly turns around for what I can only assume is is rook book. As I get closer I move my hand to my holster right when I round the corner the prisoner crashes into me launching me off my feet landing on my back as he corrects him self he takes off again Nolan. As I get up and start chasing after the prisoner with Nolan leading us as we get closer Nolan starts dropping pages he then stops and goes to collect them allowing me to pass him. As he gets to the stairs I hear Nolan about the prisoner shortly after an alarm starts going off. As I get closer the prisoner gets to the stairs when I get into the stairwell I see the door to outside close, but by the time I get there and outside all I see is people milling about I keep running to the street but after I make it and look around i still don't see his jump suit.
After a minute I lean down to catch my breath then start walking back to the court house running into Nolan. "Dude Just leave it then come back for it or just leave it in your locker.
Shortly after we get inside and run into Lopez who I couldn't tell was either disappointed in us or relieved. After a minute the three of us met up the Deputies to give the description and find out who it was that escaped.
As Lopez walked up to us. "Sorry. We tried to catch the guy. But he had a good head start on us and by the time we made it outside he was gone."
"Well, now we got to find him. Fugitive's name is Nestor Garcia. He's a mid-level drug dealer looking at 10 to 20 if he's convicted. Residence is in Boyle Heights. I volunteered us to check it out. " When she finished speaking she looked at Nolan's rook book in all its messy state " Leave that in the locker next time."
"Officer Bishop suggested-" But before Nolan could finish he got cut off by Lopez.
"Do I look like Officer Bishop?"
"No."
"Grey switched it up so you guys get a different perspective. Mine is you do your homework at home."
We then started walking to the shop when we got there I switch with Nolan Lopez drove off.
-- Nesters House --
When we get to the house that was last listed for Nester we get out and start walking to the front door.
"Do you, uh, date cops? I'm not asking - I mean, just trying to get some insight. You know, that, um, CHP officer at the courthouse was hitting on you." Nolan asked getting a funny look from Lopez before she answered.
"It's not worth it. That guy can run around racking up trophies, but I date one cop, and I get a rep, so I fish in other pools."
I followed up with my own answer. "When I served I've know people that have dated, married and spilt the minute someone finds out you are dating the same pool you work the others around you start spreading rumors." I finished talking right when we get to the front door with Lopez leading then knocking while yelling. "Nestor Garcia, police. Come out."
I walk past her as she knocks and peep though the window. After a minute no one comes to the door and while looking around spotting a kid with a lemonade stand.
"What if we were to talk to the local merchants?" Nolan asked nodding to the lemonade stand.
"All right."
We step off the porch and then walked down to the kid. When we got there Nolan started the conversation with a purchase to get the kid to be a little more open.
"Hey, how much?"
"A dollar."
"A little steep, but all right. Thank you." Nolan said grabbing a dollar from his wallet before trading it for some lemonade then taking a sip.
"Mm. Didn't expect it to be so, uh, thick." After Nolan took a sip his face contorted as I can only guess it being pretty sour. After that Lopez picked up the questions.
"You know the family next door?"
"Sure. The dad's a drug dealer. My mom gets really talky when she has Chardonnay."
"Have you seen him around today?"
"No, he's probably at the thing."
"What thing?"
"Buy some more lemonade and I'll tell you."
"Are you trying to extort a law enforcement officer?"
"No, it's basic supply and demand. I have something you need, so I can set the price." The kid spoke smugly.
"At least he's getting a quality education." With Nolan dropping his two cents into the conversation before Lopez spoke again.
"Too bad he won't get the same one in juvenile detention. You got a permit for this lemonade stand?" she said threating the kid but before she started said anything else. I handed him another dollar saying "I'll take some Nolan still looks thirsty. Just spill it kid before we have to call your mom to get you from the police station." grabbing a new cup before handing it off to Nolan who looked attacked.
"He's probably at his daughter's 15th birthday party today." The kid spilled after a couple of seconds of Lopez looking menacingly at him.
We walk back to the shop and start driving to the hall where is daughter's party currently is.
When we get there we walk into the ballroom and see Nester escorting who we can only assume is his daughter to the middle of the dance floor for a dance.
Nolan asked about the party after spotting Nester. "There he is. What's the party for again?"
"His daughter's quinceañera. - 15th birthday." Lopez responded.
"Oh, sorry. We don't get a lot of those in rural Pennsylvania. It's fun." Nolan said as he was looking around and after seeing Nester and his daughter start dancing. "Aww. He escaped custody to share a dance with his daughter. That's kind of sweet."
"It's selfish, 'cause now her memory of this is gonna be us arresting him in front of her entire family. He did it for himself, not her."
"That never occurred to me."
"That's because you had a dad who was around."
"Let me guess. Your dad was M.I.A., show up when it's convenient, bring a toy, act like a savior."
"It was a stuffed animal. Last one he brought, I fed to the garbage disposal. And then he got cancer."
After they stopped talking I asked. "So do we let them finish the dance?"
"Of course. I'm not a monster." Lopez responded to us as Nester looked over and spotted us off to the side and stopped dancing. I waved my hand at him motioning him to finish that we are willing to wait for him with this. Then he looks between the three of us and then nods at us before he continues dancing.
After the dance he walked over to us and whispered.
"Thank you for letting me finish the dance."
"We are not monsters of course but lets go outside if you run I will tase you till you pee your self in front of everyone here. We don't want to arrest you in front of the whole family but if we need to we will." I spoke to him before we escorted him outside the the ballroom before cuffing him frisking him then setting him in the back of the shop before heading to the station to rebook him.
After we dropped him off then we stopped at some food trucks to meet up with Tim and Jackson. While we made small talk waiting for Tim and Jackson. After a couple of minutes Tim showed up with a squeal of tires.
"LOPEZ!" He yelled as he got out of the shop storming over to us.
"Give us a minute." Lopez spoke to Nolan and me shooing him away.
"Why? What's going on?" Nolan asked all confused before Lopez glared at him.
"Just do it."
After he walked away I leaned in. "Is this about Jackson freezing up? I recognized it on the day officer Bradford was shot"
She hesitated before nodding at me. As she nodded Tim got to us
"The hell were you thinking letting me hit the streets with a broken rookie?"
"He's not broken."
"He froze when the bullets started flying. You gonna tell me the same thing didn't happen with you the day I got shot?"
I sighed "Yes he froze behind the squad while Lopez shot back."
"I thought I helped him get past it."
"Well, you didn't. Now he's my problem. Not for long."
"I lied to Andersen to cover for the kid. If you out him, my career is over, too."
"Well, that was stupid." Tim responded immediately before pausing before planning "All right, look. I know just the neighborhood to take him to. He'll self-destruct by the end of the day, I'll catch him on my body cam, he'll be done. No one will know about you."
"His father's a commander at Internal Affairs."
"I don't care. Boot's a menace."
"This is exactly why I didn't tell you. You think Jackson's father won't blame you for the kid's failure? This is political whether you like it or not."
"What do we do? Leave him on the streets? Hope he doesn't get you killed?"
"No. I don't know. He could be a good cop, h-he's smart. He has instincts you can't teach. There's potential."
"Tim. What are you gonna do?"
"Officer Bradford wait." I called out to him grabbing his attention.
"What Alverez"
"If you can't fix him after today I know how to." I stated looking between him and Lopez.
After I said this to Tim I grabbed his and Lopez's attention they stepped closer and focused on me. "What do you mean you know how to fix him." Lopez asked
Looking back and forth between the two. "We shoot at him our selves." sticking my hand up before they could interrupt me.
"What do you mean we shoot at him our selves Boot." Lopez asked like I grew a second head.
"Yes we take him to a range with defilades or to some where that has armored steel and shoot at him from one side while he is on the other side of it. Yes I know this sounds dumb but it is only a last chance thing we could do if we run out of options" I answered them.
They looked at me like I was crazy and had just suggested we kill a baby.
Tim was the first to answer. "This might work if what I have already planned doesn't work we can do this."
Lopez looking at him now. " NO we are not doing this."
"As much as you are saying no it you know that this has a pretty high chance of success if Tim can't fix Jackson. I am against this as much as you are." I responded back to her.
After a minute she looked at us "Let me think on this that is dangerous thing to do." before Tim walked back to his shop. When he got there it looked like he sent Nolan away.
we walked over to Nolan as Tim drove away from us.
"You think we can help Jackson right." He questioned me before looking over at Lopez with the same question.
"We can only hope" she responded before walking away to our shop.
--Mid-Wilshire Station--
We pull into the garage and after a minute we got out of the shop.
"Guess you were right about cops and secrets." Nolan said.
"Yeah, I should've taken my own advice."
"For what it's worth, you covering for Jackson was a stand-up thing to do."
"It was selfish, not noble. I did it to protect myself."
After Nolan left Nolan and I grabbed all the gear we had and headed to the kit room to return our gear after doing a once over on all the paper work we have then breaking off and heading to the locker rooms.
--Next morning at Mid-Wilshire Station--
As we were getting ready after the briefing the captain called for us as we were walking we met up with her.
"Lopez, Nolan, Alverez."
"You wanted to see us?"
"The quinceañera felon you picked up yesterday, Nestor Garcia? He's requested to speak with you three."
"Why?"
"A.D.A. thinks it's connected to a plea deal he's trying to cut. She's bringing him in from the courthouse now. You let me know how it goes."
"Yes, ma'am." Nolan answered
We looked at each other then made our way downstairs to the interrogation rooms entering the one that Garcia was in.
"I want to thank you for yesterday. That dance meant a lot to my daughter, and the fact that you let me finish, that means a lot to me. So, to reward you, I have a gift. A drug deal is going down this afternoon large shipment, the kind of bust that'll get you noticed."
"And you're just giving us this because we were nice to you?" I asked
"No, I'm doing this to reduce my sentence. But I'm giving it to you because you were nice to me. So, you'd better hurry up, call the D.A. to make a deal, because the exchange is going down in two hours."
We looked at him then each other before getting up and walking over to Grey to get into contact with the DA to get a deal set up.
After a bit we had moved to the briefing room. We gathered around a model of a parking lot.
"Okay, according to Garcia, the exchange is going down at Stoneson Home Supply on Sunset." Grey started us off.
Lucy questioning the location asked Grey. "They're gonna make a drug deal in the parking lot in broad daylight?"
Before the other the could answer I spoke up and answered." It's the chaos of a full and busy parking lot to hide what they are doing. This box store makes the perfect cover for the exchange."
"At 1500 hours, a car loaded with 80 kilos of cocaine driven up from Mexico will land in the parking lot. The driver will walk away. A runner for the buyer will climb behind the wheel and drive off. The whole thing takes 90." Grey continued
"According to Nestor, the shipment is in a red Civic with Nevada plates." Lopez added some details about the car.
"Now, the parking lot only has two access points, here and here. Officer Bradford, you'll be parked out of sight over there. Officer Bishop, you'll have all eyes on this exit here." Grey stated as he was pointing at the model we had set up out
"And what about us, Sergeant? What's our position?"
"We need to know exactly when the car lands, so we need eyes on the whole parking lot. You will be with me here." Grey responded to Nolan and pointed out a spot for us to sit with a wide view of the parking lot.
"Okay folks get to the squads and get us this bust stay safe." Grey said before we all broke up and headed to the shops to get to the shopping center.
--The shopping center--
as Nolan and I 'pulled' Sgt Grey over I got out and walked over to Greys driver side leaning in to make it look like i was questioning him before I straighten up with my ticket book in my hands making it look like I'm starting to write him a ticket. with Nolan on the passenger side scanning the parking lot.
Grey pulls out a scope and starts to scan the parking lot before talking into the radio. "I think I see our welcoming party. A RAM, three Hispanics inside, heads on a swivel. No sign of our red Civic yet. Stand by."
After a couple of minutes Grey picks up his radio. "Here we go. Red Civic, Nevada plates, entering parking lot." after he spoke he motioned for me and Nolan to get back into the shop. I looked over and saw the red civic in question and the guy getting out Nolan hopped into the front driver seat while I got into the back as Lopez picked up the radio when she saw a different man get into the car.
"Go, go, go!" With that Lopez peals away from the curb and stops in front of the red civic preventing it from exiting. But the civic reverses and flips around jumps the curb and drives through plants and starts driving away.
"7-Adam-15, going after the red Civic." When we heard Bishop we got out to arrest the men in the truck, but before we could get out completely the men started to shoot at us hitting the a woman that was between us in the leg knocking her down causing us to hide behind our shop. When I saw the woman shot I holster my gun before running back to the shop to get the trauma bag and ran to Nolan's side before yelling.
"I'm opened up!"
"Let's go! we got you!" she yelled back and started to push the men shooting at us covering me until I got to lady and started to pull her to cover behind a car as Nolan and and Lopez covered me I pulled on some gloves treating the woman's gun shot holding pressure I looked at her.
"I need to get back and help them take this" Handing her more gauze. " and keep pressure on the wound when we secure the scene then we will get you to an ambulance." I finished speaking then stood up and dropping the used gloves before drawing my weapon before helping return fire with Nolan and Lopez.
Nolan looks back at the trucks then looks at me. "I can make it. I can get in there."
"Cover me reloading." Lopez yelled out
"I got you"
Nolan Looked at Lopez and me "Ready?" both me and Lopez nodded
"Yeah. Got you. Go"
After she said that Nolan dropped down and started to crawl across the ground under our cover and the suspects before grabbing his ankles and yanking on him knocking him down. Lopez and I ran up and when we got there we saw Nolan handcuffing the suspect and clearing the gun. When he finished Lopez and I dragged the man out and search him we finished I ran back to the woman grabbing my radio.
"RA requested on our location for a gun shot."
After I finish I put on new gloves and start holding pressure and I start dressing her wound waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
--Mid-Wilshire station--
We all stood in a line as Grey started to question us about the mission he gave us. He started with Jackson.
"The moment of truth is upon us. End of shift. Time to come clean. What did you learn about your T.O.s? Officer West."
"Sorry, sir. I was unable to gain any insight into Officer Bradford."
"That's disappointing. Officer Chen?"
"I, too, failed in my assignment, Sergeant."
"All right. All right, Officer Alverez what about you can almost say anything and you could win."
Looking at Lopez before steeling my nerves. "I can't sir. all the information I may or may not have discovered about all my TOs is something I will not spill these officers are men and women that will be trusting me and I must trust so I can't in good will or faith sell anything out to anyone that even includes you. Sir "
He stopped for a minute looking at me before nodding at me without saying anything else. "That leaves you, Officer Nolan. You can literally say anything and win the contest."
"Sorry, sir. Just as stumped as the others."
Hearing all this Grey shook his head before settling on to me. "Okay, fine. So no one wants extra credit. I guess we'll start at the basics. Tomorrow morning, Officers Nolan, Jackson and Chen you will have a quiz on your rook books. Study hard, 'cause 80 percent is considered a fail in my house. Officer Alverez Officer Lopez looks like you two get tomorrow off Dismissed."
confusing me and Lopez as I didn't spill any secrets. "Uh, Sir, why I didn't share anything about Lopez with you."
"No you didn't but you got the true meaning of the game I had planned you are going to be working with everyone here at any point in time if you sold any of them out it would have showed me that you would sell someone out for something." Grey spoke up then motioned around while he continued. "Look around you earned their trust tonight with your answer."
As I looked around I saw the look of trust in the officer's eyes. "Thank you." I said to Grey then looked over to Lopez as she walked up to me with Bradford.
"Good Job, Alverez." She said while holding her hand up for a shake.
Tim walked over to Lopez. "Looks like I fixed your rookie for you."
"Thanks. And I didn't get you anything."
"The only thing I need is for you not to lie to me again."
--sitting on Lucy's car at Nolan's house--
I just showed and I waited for 2ish minutes before I heard and saw Lucy coming down the hill to the street. When she got to the car she saw me.
"Don't hate him or be to hard on him. I saw how much you mean to him. and before you cut me off let me finish. assuming by the way you came down the hill you and him just broke up. Yes?"
Lucy nodded as she was sniffling.
"Come here." I held up my arms pulling her into a hug.
"Clear your mind you need to see that it hurt him just as much is it did you I saw how hard it was for him too."
"You were spying on us?"
"No , but I felt it when he finished talking to Bishop. Do you think she only talked to you about it. He is thinking of you when he did this tonight I know because I have seen these relationships before. It ruined the woman's rep much more then you think they got marked as a slut or as someone that anyone could sleep with and it is a hard thing to disassociate with it." I spoke my piece before backing up. "I will see you next shift Lucy call me if you need me I promise to come. sister." I finished by patting her head eliciting a giggle from her before stepping away to my car.