Tuesday, November 27th
"Roll call in the Bullpen... roll call in the Bullpen," said Lieutenant Chaney over the loudspeaker with his ominous Big Voice. We all filed in for the cold winter's night. Many had broken out the jackets and watch caps which were standard issue for the season. I, however, preferred the sweater with a turtle neck. The jacket was too bulky and I hated it. I only used it when it really got cold or snowed hard.
The Bullpen was set up more like a classroom. There were three rows of tables, six tables deep. Each table could sit three. At the front was a podium for the Watch Commander flanked by two tables full of papers, reports, and files. Behind him was a whiteboard that ran the entire length of the wall. It was massive, containing not only a ma
Wednesday, November 28 Wednesday, November 28 The sun had vanished, and it was cold, rainy, and slushy. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and this wasn’t the weather for the holiday. The last time Maxine called in sick was four years ago. The cough had progressed to body aches, chills, sore throat, and a fever of 101.6. This morning during a spasm, she brought up blood with dark yellow phlegm and wheezed. Of course, she didn’t want to see a doctor, which caused an argument. I was concerned that she might have pneumonia. She needed to be seen by a physician for antibiotics and breathing treatments. At one point, I thought I was overreacting from the witchery and threats of spells and curses. I couldn’t shake what the vagrant said on the bridge about pins, urine, and cork. My inner voice replayed his words over and again. The more I heard it, the more I remembered. Take your wife’s urine an
Thursday, November 29 - ThanksgivingShe spent the night in isolation, awaiting results of blood cultures taken by Center for Disease Control. Her parents had gone, forced from the floor, but trying to move me would have been a mistake and they knew it. I just sat there, in uniform, outside a Plexiglas room waiting for some sort of diagnosis or explanation.I'd fallen asleep when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Keegs. His ICU nurse had let him onto the floor. He simply sat next to me, tapped my leg and didn't say a word.For the next five hours, Keegs and I made very little small talk. He brought me up a few cups of Joe and a bagel, but then we would sit quietly, waiting.Finally, at six a.m., the doctor
Friday, November 30Black Friday and second watch were working a double. It's one of the nuttiest days of the year, at least for the day shift, and not in a good way.I pulled into the driveway of the caretaker's house, Potters Church when I got a text from Maxine's mother."She's still in a coma. She's seizing again. They tried to bring her out. Please come quick.""Shit!" I said and rubbed my face in frustration."I need answers. Major Case is not helping. I'll be right there,"I texted back and then got out.The smell of old was very present as I knocked on the thick wooden door. It was ancient, as was the house. Five years ago the city decided to restore it, but that smell
Monday, December 10"Good to see Maxine back, " said Keegs as we pulled into the Super Wawa, past the gas pumps, and into a parking stall right in the front of the store. It was snowing harder now, almost three inches as darkness had fully set in. "I forgot to tell you... You know that nurse I've been with? The ICU nurse?"I nodded, afraid of what he was going to say. I didn't want to hear any more about his sexual conquests."She told me that some woman, kind of strange looking, got admitted to her ward four nights ago. She had a high fever and a massive amount of pain. They can't figure out what's wrong. Know what her name is? Marigje Arriens Crowningshield!"I stared at him. "What? No... You're kidding, ri
Wednesday, December12thAfter roll call, we made our way to the weapons vault to check out our shotguns. While waiting in line Maxine playfully brushed up against me. We were all celebrating a little bit of a victory. Yesterday morning, after I visited Casper at his abode, a Shadow Posse mule was busted with meth, salts, and oxy. At least for now, Casper was out of business.I caught hell and got an official reprimand in my file for confronting Casper, especially since Major Case detectives were staking out his place. They saw the whole thing, my father signing the reprimand himself. On the record he was pissed, but in reality, he was proud."So I was thinking," she said with that playful smile and those alluring eyes. "How about we go u
It took hours before we were cleared from the scene. The girl's body was finally removed and taken to the Medical Examiner to confirm the cause of death. As if the needle in her arm wasn't enough. This shift was never going to end! I dropped Keegan off at the House to do the paperwork and reports. I needed more answers and there was only one place I could get them.It was just after dusk and night had not yet fully settled in. The snow was piled high from the plows and shovels, pushed from the roads. I could barely find the driveway. Going to the church had become an old habit. All too familiar. And I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. The house was well lit and as I pulled up, the porch light came on. The door opened and the old man was waiting for me before I got out of the car. He welcomed me in and led me straight to the kitchen where we sat at the kitchen table. He was quiet as he
Friday, December 14Driving the beat, seeing the wreaths on the streetlights, the businesses decorated for the season, the tree lots, the Menorahs, the busyness of the shops and stores, did nothing for me. There was a time when a night like this, a winter's landscape, brought me great joy, excitement, and peace. Tonight, however, there was none of that. No excitement or making merry of any kind. There seemed nothing but brokenness, despair, confusion, and emptiness. Everything that had gone on – all that was happening – made me completely exasperated. The guilt, the condemnation over the death of the grounds keeper... it was almost too much for me to bear. It was my stupidity, my arrogance in opening my mouth to Casper that got him killed."Central to Six-three David and a unit to back... Domestic i
Saturday, December 15Foot mobile is definitely hostile... She's wired... hell, Sergeant... She's just a kid.Where was I? It was Nasariyah... I could smell it, feel it, but it didn't make sense.Garbo, you're cleared hot on that Haji... Take her the hell out!That was my Team Leader's voice, Theo. I was back in the Humvee... But I was shot. I know I was... I can remember it, can still feel the pain.Jesus Christ, Garbo... take her the hell out. I don't have the line of sight.... What the hell are you waiting for?I didn't want to look at it. Relive it. I never want to see that fa