“Mm-hm,” he doubted with pursed lips.
“For real!” Taylor insisted through laughter. “I kid you not.”
“I’ll just bet you—”
The commander’s words were stifled by the dispatcher’s voice.
“2612?”
A female voice responded to the dispatcher’s call. “2612.”
“Stand for the final cast…units in 26, and units on the citywide, there’s a call of shots fired at 10659 South Halsted Street. Anonymous caller says that they heard seven to eight shots coming from the currency exchange. Caller states that one offender fled from that location, a male, white, about six feet, wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans, and a black baseball cap. The offender fled eastbound on foot from Halsted. No further information in the 26thdistrict, Zone 15. Radio is clear.”
“Show 2612 en route, Squad,” the female officer responded.
“10-4, 2612.”
“2610 en route,” a male voice chimed.
“10-4, Sarge.”
“2622, hold me down for the assist,” a familiar female voice added.
Recognizing her best-friend Maria’s voice and her beat number, Taylor didn’t wait for the commander’s instructions. Without hesitation, she hit the MARS lights and flipped on the siren. She drove as fast as she could to the scene. Maria had been shot while on duty before, but Taylor had taken off that day. So, secretary or not, she would be there to have her friend’s back.
Commander Evans reached for his own radio. “2600,” he called.
“Go, Boss,” the dispatcher responded.
“En route to the shots fired.”
“10-4. Gotcha going.”
Taylor turned the corner and proceeded down Halsted. She was three blocks away when she heard someone on the radio shouting. “Emergency!”
“Standby, everybody! Who called for the emergency?” the dispatcher asked urgently.
“2612! Foot chase!”
“Where ya at, 12?”
“Southbound. On… on Emerald… from… 108th.” The officer’s breathing was labored as he ran, but he continued. “Male white, long hair…” The officer took a breath. “Blue hoodie…gun!”
“2622, coming up Emerald, Squad!” Maria shouted.
Taylor’s heart was racing as they turned the corner on 109th. She slowed to a creep so she and the commander could have a look around. They were searching for the officers in pursuit of the armed offender. As they crept down the side street, the radio went eerily silent. She fought a panic attack when she couldn’t locate Maria or the other officers.
“There!” the commander blurted.
Before Taylor could see what he was talking about, or even come to a complete stop, her boss had jumped out of the car and fled down the alley.
“Commander, wait! Commander!”
Either he didn’t hear her, or he was ignoring her.
Taylor slapped the gear shift into park and hopped out of the still running squad car. She keyed the radio. “Squad, 2600 is in foot pursuit. He’s running southbound through the east alley of 109thStreet.”
“2612, Squad let 2600 know I’m coming from the other end.”
