1 Chapter One: Just Because It Works, Does Not Mean Its a Good Idea

 The police station was busy with sounds and movement. Phones were ringing, keyboards clicking and clacking. Officers were blurry flurries swiftly carrying paperwork throughout the rows of desks. Muddled words floated through the building, mainly of the newest case or news story.

And it's always been quite the hopping place. Today though, as I shuffled into the main part of the station, one shoe on and the other foot sopping wet with mud, the room actually fell eerily quiet. Officers and detectives alike stared and muttered to anyone beside them.

"Think he'll be fired?"

"Do you believe what him and Bell did at the bank heist?!"

"Dead man walking."

These phrases were a few among the many that I actually heard. Each one jabbing at me, making me feel even more nauseous. Today is the day. The meeting with the captain.

"Why are you so late?" My gaze rose and my eyes locked onto my partner as he rushed towards me. He was a fairly good sized man, at six foot and one inch and probably weighed in at two hundred twenty-five pounds roughly. He had jet black hair and fairly tanned skin. His eyes were a wonderful deep hazel with golden like flecks. "Where the hell is your shoe?!" His voice was low and had a slightly harsh tone in it, that hinted slight concern. He definitely had an intimidation factor.

"Well... the giant puddle down on Third street demanded a sacrifice." I found myself staring into his eyes, and he groaned. He definitely didn't seem to amused with me.

"Seriously Dino, what the everloving fuck happened to it?!" His accent tinted words demanded an answer.

"Gone. I mean it Vas. It's back on Third street." Crossing my arms across my chest, I shifted off my muddy socked foot. "Aren't we supposed to be in a meeting?"

"Fine.. Yeah, actually we are." Vas spun on his heels and hastily strode to the chief's office, I stayed hot on his heels. I truly did not want to enter, but I did not want Vas to go in alone.

"About time boys. Sit. This is a long overdue chat." The chief sat, legs crossed and fingers interlaced, in her plush leather chair, her shoulder length brunette hair tied back in a tight ponytail. "And close the door behind you."

Fear and dread filled my entire body, and I began to shake even more now then when I first stepped into the station. I felt my stomach do a flip.

"Yes ma'am." Vas swung the door closed rather gently before ushering me towards a seat. He sat down next to me.

"Explanation. Now." Her piercing green eyes tore into both of us.

"Well... Chief.. To put it into simple terms--"

"That way was much faster and definitely more efficient!" I blurted, interrupting Vas. Her cold gaze seemingly locked onto me.

"That way could've killed innocent people! That damned way could have killed you both!!" She practically yelled, seething with rage. "Or do you not think about that?!"

"Yes, we did. But they were moments from getting away for the fifth time in two months! Dino made a last ditch effort to bring their bank robbing to a halt." Vas spoke with a certain level of power in his voice. He never allowed anyone to harm me, be it emotional harm or physical harm. Not in his presence at least.

"So it truly was your idea?" Her voice had become as cold as her gaze.

"As usual." I spoke quietly and did my best to avoid her soul tearing eyes. This was probably my very last remark as an officer of the law, but then she let a sigh slip from her lips.

"Dammit Vespa... We've discussed this multiple times now. You cannot pull that damn heroic act! All your ideas thus far have put lives in harm's way, and even put you in the hospital!!" Her voice took up a new tone. Irritated. I could understand why. You'd think at twenty-seven years old, you'd stop doing the one thing that ticks off your superior the most. I have become quite shocked that I haven't been fired yet.

"I... I understand ma'am." I kept my voice soft and my gaze low. These so-called heroics were actually alternative methods, that actually worked!! But everyone shut me down. Vas kind of did, but not nearly as much as he could.

"If you understand, then knock it off!!" Her eyes flicked to her computer screen that sat to her right, our left. Then they came back up to scour Vas and I yet again. "I am not going to fire either of you. Not yet."

"Thank you, Chief." Vas gave a nod, and she held up her left hand, telling him to politely shut up.

"But you are now demoted to street patrols only for a while, time undetermined. You will also have one of the old squad cars. You two will only be allowed to work on cases if absolutely necessary." She then spun her chair enough to face her computer.

"Yes ma'am." Vas and I spoke in unison as we rose to our feet and beelined for the door. We closed the office door behind us.

"You know that went fairly well." Vas turned his head to look at me.

"I'd say so too. Not one mention of my missing shoe, either." I shot Vas a crooked grin, and he chuckled rolling his eyes. Patrols honestly were usually quite interesting. Especially with Vas.

I slid into my chair, rolling back away from my desk a bit. Vas flicked the door closed with ease. I fumbled with my right side bottom drawer to free the extra pair of shoes that tended to live inside my desk. I gave a tug at my mucky sock before wiping my foot off.

"Alright... We have Avoca avenue to... First street as a patrol route." Vas was holding a small sheet of paper. Avoca to First was new.

"Maybe Chief Kelley caught on?" I slumped back in my chair. Dry socks felt absolutely wonderful on my chilled feet.

"Just maybe..." He gave a small laugh. "Or she just needs this area covered now." He dropped the paper back atop his desk.

"Shall we?" I slid my feet into the dry shoes, and yanked myself to my feet, using my desk as an anchor.

"We might as well." Vas snagged his jacket off the back of the door and opened the door. "Wonder which car she's given us."

"Ain't that a good question..." I mumbled a bit as I began to walk behind him. That was kind of the only downside to this round of patrols. My rather successful plan one hundred percent destroyed our cruiser. Our brand new cruiser. So knowing the chief, it would probably be a nineties... Part of me hoped that it would be anything other than a S.U.V., whilst the other part just prayed for it to not be that tiny little Chevrolet Caprice. It was the patrol car I took my ride-along in.. And it thankfully was retired before Chief Kelley became chief.

"Well morning boys! 'Ere to pick up ya new wheels?" A cheery voice greeted us as we stepped into the parking garage from the sketchy elevator. He stood behind a slab of bullet proof glass, his round glasses reflected the fluorescent light directly at us.

"Morning Deputy Piers. We sure are." I flashed him a semi-happy smile. Deputy Piers happened to be an older gentleman, nearing retirement he'd turned sweet to pretty much everyone.

"Good! I happen to have the keys right here for ya. I'm sure you'll like her, she's quite the classic." Piers snatched up a small keychain with a single key tethered to it.

"A classic, huh?" Vas gently took the key from Piers. He drove more often than not. And it wasn't that I couldn't, I just preferred not too.

"Yeah, she is. It's... a slight walk to get to her. Very last car on the right." Piers motioned in the direction of the main cruiser parking lot. Each spot had a number, each car was assigned a number. "Feel free to put her in 112's spot."

"Aight, thanks." I gave a wave before jogging to catch up with Vas, who was eyeing the spot numbers, trying to find the number that was scribbled on the keychain.

There were fifty active cruisers and patrol cars. Currently forty-nine since ours met an untimely end this past week. There were also ten extra cars on property. Although that number is about to go to nine with us taking one of them as our patrol car. Each one had some fantastic story about the days they were active. Our cars never even made it long enough to have fantastical stories that play in our minds when we sit in the seats for the last time.

"Number eighty-two..." After some time Vas paused in front of the last car. "It's a classic for sure... In... some sense." Sitting in front of Vas, in spot number eighty-two, was a Ford Crown Victoria. 2000's model, dusty, but practically undamaged.

"An old Crown Vic interceptor! Awesome!" I circled the car, it was absolutely a neat car. Probably the third or fourth oldest car on property. And given the amount of dust layered on it, it hadn't moved in the last decade.

"Let's go." Vas grinned at me before unlocking the car and sliding behind the wheel. I quickly followed suit, a smile spreading across my lips.

"Now, remember Vas," I paused, mockingly sounding like a mother reminding her child, "if we get arrested it's your fault." I shook my finger at him before clicking my seatbelt. Vas laughed and rolled his eyes yet again at me, as he started the car. Sliding it into gear, he began to drive to the exit of the parking garage. Today was shaping out to be a hellava better day than I previously thought.