by Anthology
Bellying up to the side bar where a line of stools had white pieces of paper taped to the backrests with RESERVED bolded on them made me feel pretty important. I took off my coat and was greeted immediately with a dark draft and a kind smile.
“I can always count on you to be the first one to show.” Jordan’s bubbly personality hadn’t changed since the first time Gavin and I had met her while we were riding our bikes around our old neighborhood in the first grade.
“Chad should be here any minute and I cannot believe the girls didn’t beat me.” I threw my coat and scarf over the back of the chair at the end of the row. “How has it been working here?”
Jordan’s face lit up as she whipped her short black bangs off to the side. “I fucking love it. Kyle is awesome and so is the rest of the staff.” Jordan pointed to the front door, making me turn to see Chad Tomlinson walking in with his Ollie is my Homeboy shirt on.
Chad took the seat next to me. “Hey man, how’s it going? Haven’t seen you around the station lately.”
I took another sip of my beer. “McBee and I have been working a lot of nights lately. We completely got the short end of the stick on that one. How’s the new lady? Word is you’re falling hard and fast.” I usually couldn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone’s love life but being knee deep in the holiday season and the never ending grin that was plastered on Chad’s face, I just couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the magic of all of it. I was usually that smart ass jerk friend that was quick with a backhanded compliment or witty remark and I kind of enjoyed that part of my personality, it just was starting to get a little lonely. With Gavin wifed up and Brayden having a new baby, the days of shooting the shit with the guys and talking about our weekend conquests were far behind us.
Tomlinson burst with excitement, turning to me like a middle school girl about to gossip about a schoolyard crush. “Charlie is freaking amazing. Tiny dynamo with killer curves. I'm hook, line, and sinker into this chick, man.”
Raising my glass in the air, Chad met his to mine. “Cheers to that, man. I am happy for the both of you.”
Jordan slammed another draft of my favorite milk stout down in front of me. “Thanks.” I grinned at her.
Shooting over a quick wink, she glanced down at her watch. “Where the hell are the girls? They better not be late.”
I held up a finger to her. “Give me a second, I will check on them.” I walked passed the three barstools with reserved signed taped to the back of them waiting for the rest of my crew to arrive. Right as I was about to hit the green button to call McBee, her bright smile captivated me. My partner had turned into one of my best friends over the last year and I hated to admit it to myself, but there was a small ember of something more lighting a fire in me.
“Hey.” I spit out, helping Jessica take off her coat and throwing it onto the chair that was piled high with all of our outerwear.
Myla and Karla took their seats, leaving Jessica and I to sit in the middle next to each other. It was normal, but in that moment I felt nervous.
Get a grip, man.
She’s your partner.
Completely off limits.
Chad hugged McBee as Myla leaned onto the bar to get into my vision. “We wouldn’t have taken so long if the babysitter hadn’t gotten stuck on the train. Sorry.”
I shrugged. “The national anthem hasn’t even started. I think you’re good.”
There was a minute left in the third and the Otters were down by one point. Gavin had the puck, missing the shot right as the buzzer rang. In unison, we all slammed our fists onto the bar. As fans, we had all been spoiled with win after win, a loss was bound to happen, but it was still disappointing.
Right as Myla was starting in on her rant about the bad calls the referees had been making during the game a few guys at the other bar across the restaurant started yelling at each other. Chad, Jessica and I all jumped into cop mode as a bottle smashed onto the bar top and punches started to fly.
Tomlinson and I grabbed each of the drunken hooligans as McBee called in the brawl. One guy’s eye was busted open pretty badly and the other was bleeding profusely from his swelling lip. They were both struggling, cussing profanities at each other and us. The overwhelming aroma of vodka emanated from them as I tried to get some straight answers from them.
“All right hot shots, care to tell us what this was about?” Even though the three of us were off duty, the police officer in us never really was. The meaning of “protect and serve” was always pumping through our veins.
The one I had by his shirt collar spit onto the floor at my feet. “Fuck you.” He growled as Jordan handed him a clean towel to help soak up some of the blood gushings out of his eyebrow.
McBee got right up into the dude’s face. “Check your attitude pal. I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with right now.”
The douche that Chad had in almost a headlock, tried to wriggle free as he yelled. “Fucking cunt. I’ll kick your damn ass too.”
“Wrong answer,” I laughed as Gabi walked into the bar. I loved how badass the women in our department were. They were tougher than a lot of the guys and I had to give them props for it.
Gabi strutted in, hands on her belt. “Everything ok here?” She glanced around at the three of us as we continued to keep the two hot heads apart.
“I think you can handle it from here.” I slapped Gabi on the shoulder, getting close enough that only she could hear me. “It was just a drunken fight, no big deal.”
We shook hands. “Thanks, guys. See you around the station.”
McBee
King's Plaza was bustling with last minute shoppers as the holiday spirit started to seep into my pores. There was something so magical about the decorations and lights everywhere with people hurrying around in their hat and coats trying to find that perfect gift for their loved ones.
“Are you and Sean going to be able to make it to our Christmas party this weekend?” Myla asked as she eyed a gorgeous gold necklace in the window of Kay Jewelers.
I shook my head before sipping my green tea latte. “Sean and I are working the Marcie Mazzola Foundation charity concert at the Times Square main outdoor stage that night.”
Myla frowned as she sighed, leaving the stunning necklace. As she walked a few paces away, I snapped a picture and text it to Gavin.
Me: Your wife was checking this out just now. Just in case you need ideas.
Gavin: You are a lifesaver, Mcbee. Tell Sean that he needs to keep you around.
Me: Don’t worry, I tell him daily that you guys would be lost without me.
Gavin: Complete understatement. Thanks again.
Me: No problem
Myla turned to me. “That freaking blows. I really wanted you guys to be there. Maybe get you two stuck under the mistletoe.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sean Whistler is my partner and best friend. That is it. Trust me, he thinks of my as his kid sister.”
Myla rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say, Jess. Is it at least going to be a good concert?”
I couldn’t help but get giddy thinking about getting to work a benefit that two of my all-time favorite bands were going to be performing. “The Hysterics and Three Ugly Guys are going to be there, so I am pretty stoked.”
“Damn, that is going to be an awesome show.” We made our way into Macy’s to find a new cologne for Gavin. The smell from the different scents started to give me a headache as Myla looked around for the perfect new fragrance for her man, finally settling on Beardbrand Spiced Citrus.
“Have you thought about what you are going to get for Sean?” Myla asks as the sweet, older attendant started to gift wrap her purchase in red and silver paper.
I shrugged. “I am at a complete loss. Last year we gave each other meaningless gifts since we hadn’t known each other for too long yet. But this year, I want to get him something better than just a gift card.”
Myla tapped her finger to her lips. “I’ll try to come up with something too. Maybe
I could get Gavin to help.”
I started to back away from the counter, muttering, “Thanks,” right as I bumped into another shopper behind me. “Sorry.” I whipped around right into the broad chest of a tall man with stitches over his eye.
“Don’t mention it.” The man said, putting his hands on my shoulders to help steady my footing.
Myla narrowed her gaze. “Hey, weren’t you at the Cask and Barrel watching the Otters’ game the other night?”
The man’s face turned a million shades of red instantly. “I thought you two looked familiar. Leave it to me to shit talk to the one guy in that bar that actually wasn’t all talk.”
I got lost in his deep brown eyes for a few seconds before trying to laugh off the situation. “Trust me, I have seen a lot worse.”
He laughed with me for a second. “Well, that’s a relief. I’m Vinny, by the way. Thank you for helping me not get my ass handed to me the other night.”
“I’m Jessica and stopping ass beating is actually in my job description.” His eyes captivated me again while his smile whisked me into la-la land.
“You’re not a cop, are you? I thought all lady cops were butch and had man hands.” His smile widened as I giggled along nervously.
Myla cleared her throat. “Hi, I’m Myla.”
Fucking cock block.
“Don’t tell me you’re a cop too.” Vinnie shook Myla’s hand.
“No, just McBee over here and I have to say, her hands are as far from manly as they come.”
I noticed him glance down at my bright red nails making me feel overly self-conscience of man hands. For all, I knew I actually did have gross man hands. Being a police officer did take away a small portion of my femininity every once in a while, but that was only because I didn’t take shit from anyone and men could be sexist pigs from time to time.
Whistler
“Here you are, one soy pumpkin spice latte and a spinach fold over.” McBee slid into the passenger’s seat of our squad car handing me my breakfast order. “Do you know how awesome I am?” She glanced over at me with a coy smile as she blew on her steaming egg and cheese sandwich.
“Here we go again.” I teased, taking a bite of my pastry.
Jessica started laughing as I pulled out into bustling New York City traffic. “Do you know how much shit you would get if the rest of the department knew that you have the taste buds of a nineteen-year-old sorority girl?”
Rolling my eyes, I grunted at her as the sweet smell of our lattes took over the vehicle. “A man that is not in touch with his feminine side doesn’t know how many tasty things he is missing out on in the world.”
A rusted out white van clunked next to us. Looking over I couldn’t help but notice that the driver was talking on his cell phone. I flipped on the lights and siren, pulling the jalopy over. “They made that one easy.”
McBee ran the plates. “Not the most savory of characters in the world but they don’t have any warrants out on them or anything.”
My gut was telling me that this was going to be an interesting stop, to say the least. The van resembled that of what people joke about being a rapist van – whited out windows, rust everywhere, scratched and dents all over the place.
Walking up to the driver’s door, I tapped on his rolled up window with the back of my flashlight. Jessica stood at the ready by the right side of the van, waiting for my signal.
As the window cranked down, the driver attempted to grin at me. The lack of teeth and the rotting of the ones that were still there screamed years of drug use. “What is the problem officer?” He asked with a very even tone.
“You can’t be on your cell phone while operating a vehicle,” I stated. “License, insurance and registration.” Peering passed the driver I looked to his passenger who was sweating bullets. “I need your license as well.”
With shaking hands, the passenger got his identification out of his wallet and handed it to me. I glanced into the back of the van to see an old metal Christmas tree stand, one that resembled the one that my family had while I was growing up. “You boys off to get a tree?”
The driver looked at me like I had six heads. “No, sir. We’re heading to do a little last minute shopping.”
I walked back over to the car and McBee met me. “Warning?” She looked over at me, waiting for the cue to start writing up a ticket for them or not.
“Yeah. It is Christmas after all, right?”
She nodded. “That is very non-scrooge of you, Whistler.” She flashed me her sweet smile – the one that even made her eyes smile – and I melted. Ever since the other night, I couldn’t get my partner out of my head. Thankfully, she seemed completely clueless to my new crush and for all intents and purposes, I had every intention of keeping it that way.
Handing the driver all of their information back, I leaned onto the door with one elbow. “I am going to let you two off with a warning but keep that phone in your pocket while you’re driving.”
The passenger leaned over, looking me dead in the eyes with his pupils dilated and sweat beading on his forehead. “But, Ricky, how is the mothership going to be able to find us if we don’t have the calling device out.”
The driver shot me a nervous glance. “You have to excuse him, sir. My brother here isn’t all with it upstairs, if you catch my drift.”
“You boys be safe now.” I tapped my fist on the door of the car and made my way over to Jessica. As we got back into our squad car I let out the rolling laugh that I had been fighting since that passenger opened his mouth.
“What?” McBee nudged me as I hugged the steering wheel, tears welling up in my eyes.
“They’re looking for their mothership.”
Her jaw dropped. “There’s never a dull moment in this job is there?”
McBee
“Ready for you first concert?” Sean asked as he turned the engine of our cruiser off.
Unbuckling my seatbelt, I raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t think I can hack it, Whistler?”
Sean rubbed the back of his neck before reaching for the door handle to get out of the car. “It’s just a big event. They’re a whole different animal than our normal beat.”
We started walking towards the area where the tour buses were about to pull in with the bands and their crews all loaded inside. “I guess I am just going to have to stick close to you, then. Oh, captain, my captain.” I hooked my arm in his for a brief second to finish out the joke, but he pulled away from me.
“Sorry?” I dug my hands into my pockets feeling a little scorned.
Sean nudged me with his elbow. “There are going to be a lot of us here, I don’t want someone to get the wrong impression.” The frown that consumed my partner’s face was engulfing. I had never seen him look so disappointed in the time we had spent together and I had no idea what he was actually upset about. We always joked around when we were working – I guess concerts are really that different.
I had to force myself to not start fangirling as I watched the members of The Hysterics start to descend the stairs of their gigantic bus, making their way backstage.
The drummer, Dane was hand in hand with his wife, Fallon and I totally melted on the spot. I was so stoked to be working an event where I would finally get to see them live for the first time.
“I hope they play The Lifespan of a Firefly,” Sean whispered over to me as we both watched them walk only feet away from us.
“No way!” I punched him in the shoulder.
Taking a step back, he gave me a bewildered look. “What the hell?” He asked while rubbing his shoulder.
“How did I not know that you were a fan too?” I started to let a little of my crazy loose a little.
Sean gave me a small crooked grin. “I have been following them since that concert where Dane broke his hand on that douche, Kenneth Rhodes’ face and Fallon had to play for him.”
Most of our night was spent keeping drunken concert-goers from becoming a drunk and disorderly mob. It was a trying job,
to say the least but I hadn’t had so much fun working in a while. Right after Three Ugly Guys played their encore, The Hysterics took the stage, opening with Sean’s and my favorite song. I swayed to the music as I sang every word of the chorus to myself.
It's a dull kind of pain that just sits in my heart and weighs me down
And you're the only one who can fix it
It burns and erupts at the worst times
Stinging old wounds that have already been licked clean
Right when headway is made, the darkness crashes again
Closing in on my starlight
Little flicks of magic extinguished one by one
The firefly's lifespan gets tested over and over
Thankfully, she is inked into existence for all eternity
As the song came to an end, someone crashed right into me. Spinning around on my heels, I was face to chest with that same guy from the bar and mall, Vinnie.
“We have to stop meeting like this and lookie there you actually are a lady cop. Prettiest one I have ever seen. Definitely, no man hands there.” Vinnie’s words slurred together a little as Sean got into his defensive mode.
“How much have you had to drink tonight, sir?” Sean’s chest was puffed out as he was about to get into Vinnie’s face.
Vinnie through his hands in the air as I stepped between them. “Sean, this is Vinnie. He was one of the guys in the fight the other night at the bar and then Myla and I ran into him at the mall afterward.”
Sean growled in my ear. “You can’t let punks like this think we’re their friends when they act like fucking ruffians.”
“Ruffians? What has your panties in a twist, Whistler?” How flustered Sean was getting over us running into this guy was completely out of character. Usually, he was the first on to jump in with a witty comment or perfect little jab.
“Yeah, Whistler.” Vinnie was not helping matters and right then Sean was getting ready to fly off the rails.
