To Protect and Pleasure
"What does your husband think of that?" Officer Randy Boyles asked his partner, looking out the passenger window at two teens talking on the sidewalk. He and his partner were on their shift, driving down various streets, just making sure everything was ok. Randy had only been a cop for a year and for the past six months had been assigned to his senior partner.
"He really, really wants kids," Officer Jess Newman said. She'd been on the force for ten years and was looking for a promotion soon, something to get her off the streets and into a more important roll. "I mean... really. I think he's tracking my cycles on the calendar himself."
"Damn! That's serious. What are you gonna do?" he asked.
Jess shook her head as she turned the corner. "I don't know... I don't want to break his heart," she said. "I just don't feel ready to leave my job. And I can't really be a mom and work like this. I'm thirty three. I still have a little time. I just wanna wait for a promotion and a desk job before having kids."
Randy was only engaged, so he really wasn't thinking about the repercussions of having kids just yet. At twenty four he had so much time before he had to worry about that.
"Be advised," a call came over the radio. "Possible 594 at 1115 Willow Street. Suspect is female, five foot, blonde hair, wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans. Available units please respond."
Randy picked up the mic. "Copy that. Adam Ten responding." He set the mic back on the cradle.
"Ten-four. Adam Ten Responding," the dispatcher echoed.
"That's the warehouse district," he said.
"Mmhmm," Jess frowned. "Always some kind of shit going on down there. It's almost like clockwork. I can't tell you how many times I've been called there."
The warehouses were all arranged in rows on both sides of Willow Street, with the parking lots connected. Jess pulled into the entrance, close to 1115, and started circling the building, looking for access points.
As they rounded the back corner, Jess saw that the window to the back door was broken. It appeared that this and the warehouse next door were both unused. That always seemed to draw problems.
She stopped the car near the door. "You go around to the front."
"Ten four," Randy said, opening the car door and jogging back around the building to the front.
Other than the broken door, the back contained several garage doors, used for loading and unloading goods. None of them seemed disturbed.
Jess got out of the car and walked to the door. She slowly pulled it open as she drew her gun. She stepped carefully inside, her eyes scanning for any movement, any danger. Each step through the door crunched as she stepped on the broken glass. This area of the building was strictly lit by the light streaming in through the door.
The back entrance had several offices as well as a mail room but all were empty. The entire area was littered with old desks and chairs that were used by the old tenants, as well as some trash that came from who-knows-where. She continued down the hall and through a set of double doors into the main room.
She stepped into the three-story room which was lit by the sun shining in through the windows near the ceiling. The place was almost completely empty, except for some cardboard boxes and broken furniture littered about the floor.
She heard the metallic clacking of a spray can being shaken and turned towards her right. A young woman was facing the wall, her back turned to Jess. The wall was partially painted and it looked like the young woman was moving to a new color. A can was in her hand and she held it aloft, ready to spray.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Jess said suddenly, startling the young woman.
The blond immediately dropped the spray can and ran towards the front of the building, away from Jess.
"FREEZE!" Jess yelled in her most commanding tone and the young woman stopped cold in her tracks. "Hands in the air. Don't... fucking... move."
Jess approached the woman, her eyes continuing to scan to see if there was anyone else with her. When she reached the young woman, she grabbed her by her t-shirt at the neck and pushed her against the wall.
"Hands on the wall," she commanded. As the young woman complied, Jess holstered her weapon. She grabbed handcuffs from her belt and clasped them around the girl's right wrist. Then she pulled it behind the girls back, along with her left arm and cuffed her wrists together.
The girl looked over her shoulder, and Jess recognized her. "Officer Newman... good to see you again. You're looking good today."
"Hi Sarah," Jess replied. "I thought after the last three times we were past this." Jess started patting the girl down, looking for any weapon or drug paraphernalia. "Do you have any weapons or sharp objects of any kind?"
"No... Hey, easy!" Sarah said, objecting to how forceful Jess was being. "You know, I'm just trying to stay busy."
"What's in the backpack?" Jess asked walking over and picking it up. She opened the top as she walked back over to the young blond.
"Oh... just kid stuff," Sarah said. "You wouldn't be interested."
"Oh, yeah... I wouldn't be interested in this at all," Jess laughed, reaching inside. "Spray cans... and, oh, jewelry... cash... and... what's this? Credit cards! What's all this?"
"I found them," Sarah said. "I was taking them back to their rightful owners. Trying to be a good citizen."
"Sure you were," Jess said, shaking her head. This was far more serious than simple vandalism.
"What am I getting arrested for this time?"
"Vandalism... trespassing... and possession of stolen goods," Jess said.
"Vandalism?" Sarah laughed. "I'm just trying to brighten up the place. Don't you think it needs it?"
"Do you know how stupid you sound?" Jess spat at her, angry that this... this girl... was being so flippant. "It's the same thing with you. You're defacing someone's property. And that's illegal."
"And I guess with fascist pigs around you make the rules," Sarah said, getting angry and defiant.
"You have the right to remain silent," Jess started reading her Miranda rights.
"I'm twenty two, I'm not an idiot," Sarah spat. "We've done this before. I know my rights."
"You have the right to an attorney," Jess continued.
Seeing and hearing what was happening in the big room, Randy joined them, holstering his weapon as he approached. "What's going on?" he asked Jess, then recognized the young woman. "Sarah? What in the hell are you doing here?"
"You know her?" Jess asked, surprised.
"Yeah, she's my kid sister," Randy said.
Jess smiled and nodded. "Well, well, well... the spoiled brat that you've told me about. Well, your kid sister has been getting into a lot of trouble with the law lately."
"Protect and serve my ass, huh Randy?" Sarah spat. "Why are cops like you two busting my ass for decorating when there's real bad guys out on the street? Do you just enjoy harassing people? Do you, like, get off on it or something?"
Jess jerked Sarah by her arm. "You better watch your mouth, little girl, before you write a check you can't cash."
"Whatever," Sarah said, rolling her eyes.
"Let me talk to her, Jess," Randy said. "We don't need to take her in."
"Fuck you, Randy," Sarah spat. "You're just as bad as she is. You get a hardon just thinking about handcuffing people."
"Bitch!" Randy said, getting angry at her. She always got what she wanted. Everything... like the car she wanted when she turned sixteen... the college she wanted when she graduated. It was like their parents idolized her... their little precious Sarah.
Jess looked at Randy, as if not so sure about not taking her in. "You know... I've been dealing with spoiled brats like her... every... day. This is the fourth time I've busted her, and she just comes back for more."
"Are you going to let me go or not?" Sarah said, aggravating Jess even more.
Jess walked up to her, putting her face an inch from the girl. "You know what... the world doesn't give a shit about you. The only one that's gonna change that is you. Trust me. Act like a vandal... a criminal... and that's the only way they're going to see you. You'll never be good for anything."
"So what!" Sarah spat back. "What do you fucking care? Are you going to let me go or are you going to take me to the station? I'm bored with you!"
"Sarah, shut the fuck up for once, ok?" Randy could see how aggravated his partner was getting and knew that it wasn't going to go well for her if she kept up this defiant attitude.
"Every time we go through this... it's always the same," Jess said. "And we keep doing it again and again and again. Well, this time, we're gonna try something a little... different."
Jess spun the girl around and grabbed the cuffs, sliding her key into the lock to open them.
"You're letting me go?" Sarah asked, rubbing her wrists.
Randy could see something in Jess' eyes that bothered him. She was as angry at Sarah as he was, but she looked... like she was planning something devious. "What are you doing, Jess?" he asked.
"Take off your clothes," Jess told the young woman as she put the handcuffs back on her belt. Randy looked at her, shocked, but intrigued.
"What?" Sarah asked, shocked. "No! I want a fucking lawyer."
"Do you see any lawyers around?" Jess asked, quickly looking to one side, then the other, mocking her.