Chapter 1
Rhea - Not today, Man-bun. Not today.
“I’m sorry, Sir? I don’t think I heard you correctly. Did you say ‘suspended’?” I can’t be suspended. I follow all the rules. Out of every officer in the precinct, I’m the only one who does every single thing completely by the book. “Are you sure you’re talking to the right person?”
“Unfortunately, yes, I am talking to the right person. And just so you know, I personally don’t agree with it, but I can’t do anything about it. You are being suspended for excessive use of force. Turn in your badge and gun. The suspension is for thirty days pending adjudication by the Police Commission.”
“I understand, Captain Ross, Sir,” I say, removing my badge and gun and placing them on the Captain’s desk. My movements feel jerky and stilted, and my voice doesn’t sound quite like my own. “I take full responsibility for my actions, and I’m prepared to take whatever punishment the commission sees fit.”
“Listen, Rhea.” Captain Ross takes his glasses off and rubs the bridge of his nose with one hand. “This situation isn’t going to resolve itself easily. There is a good chance that you won’t be allowed back on the force. The guy you arrested, Frank Martin, is friends with the mayor, and I’m already feeling pressure from higher up to just fire you and get it over with.”
“I don’t understand, Sir.” Why would they want to fire me? I do my job, and I do it well. “We were responding to a domestic disturbance call. He was screaming so loudly at his wife that the neighbours were concerned enough to call us. He pushed his wife down the stairs right in front of me. I couldn’t just leave him there and risk him doing worse, could I?” What the hell did they expect me to do in a situation like that?
He heaves a heavy sigh. “No, you’re right. You couldn’t just allow it to continue. It’s just that this is now a whole thing, and unfortunately, it’s usually the person whoisn’tfriends with the mayor that gets shit on in these situations. I’m only telling you this so that you spend your time wisely during your suspension. You may need to consider a different line of work when this is all said and done.”
“Oh.” All I’ve ever wanted to be was a cop. Every decision I made regarding education and extracurricular activities was made with that goal in mind. I don’t even know what I would do if I couldn’t be one anymore. It’s too bad that it always comes down to politics and popularity, even in police work. It seems like every day it becomes less about right and wrong and more about who knows who. I’d be lying if I said being a cop has lived up to my dreams of what it would be like.
“I’ll do what I can for you. You’re an excellent cop, and I’d hate to lose you.”
“Thanks, Captain. I guess… I guess I’d better get going then. I look forward to hearing from you when this is all cleared up.”
I’m sure nothing will come of this. I did everything the right way. They can’t fire me because someone doesn’t like me. Can they?
“You too, kid. Take care.” He grunts and shuffles some papers around on his desk. “Send Cross in here, would ya?”
I’m barely two steps out of the captain’s office before my partner, Kaden Cross, jogs up.
“So, how did it go?” He asks.
I’ve been worried about this meeting ever since the captain’s secretary booked it with me. If it’s possible, Kaden has been even more concerned. I’m not one to step out of line, so the captain wanting to see me was big news around the precinct.
“Oh, not too bad,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just off to start my 30 day, unpaid vacation now. Captain wants to see you too, by the way.”
What am I even going to do with myself for 30 days? I foresee a lot of trail runs in my future. Maybe I should get a pet? Like a cat. Or a snake.
“You’re suspended? What the hell for?”
“Remember that domestic disturbance call we went on last week? When I arrested the older guy for pushing his wife down the stairs right in front of us?”
“Yeah, I remember. That guy was a dick. All ‘Do you know who I am?’ and ‘You’re going to regret this’. Such an asshole.”
“Well, that asshole is friends with the mayor. And he’s saying I used excessive force when I took him into custody. Now I’m suspended for thirty days, and the whole issue is awaiting adjudication by the police commission.”
“What? That’s bullshit. I was there. You barely even touched the guy. It was a textbook arrest. You were even gentle when you put the cuffs on. You’re the most by the book cop anyone in this precinct has ever seen. I don’t think you could break a rule if you had to.”
“You know that, and I know that, but apparently it doesn’t matter. It’s OK though, I’m sure it will all work out. There’s no way they’ll fire me for something that didn’t happen.”
“I guess.” Kaden doesn’t seem as confident as I feel. “What will you do if they do fire you, though? You’ve wanted to be a cop your whole life.”
“That’s a damn good question. I guess I have something to think about while I’m on my unplanned vacation. That’ll give me something to do other than run, at least.”
“Well, worse comes to worst, I’m sure we can convince Xena to hire you at Bump & Grind. Maybe you could even get her to stop threatening people with that stupid foam sword she has behind the counter and save me some money.” He shakes his head.
You know how some people have swear jars, and you have to put in a dollar every time you swear? Well, here at the precinct we have a sword jar and Kaden is the only one who has to contribute.
“You gotta admit, though, it is pretty funny seeing her swinging that thing around and then seeing the looks on her customers’ faces. And aside from you having to put five bucks in the sword jar every time it gets called in, it’s not really harmful. We all know that it’s not a serious threat that we really need to respond to.”
“Whatever. I still think it’s unfair. It’s not my fault my sister loses her mind any time someone calls her ‘Warrior Princess’. If anyone should have to pay five bucks when she pulls out that sword, it should be our parents. They’re the ones who named her after that character, not me.” He crosses his arms and frowns. “And besides, she really should be arrested for that one of these days. She’s becoming a menace.”
