Angry Betty

by Jamie Lee Scott

  Living on the lake was different now. He didn’t enjoy it as much. No time for boating or fishing. When he wasn’t working patrol, he was studying or helping at the diner. Jake wanted to be the best cop he could be, and make his uncle proud that he’d come to work in Peculiar.

  He sipped coffee as he left his uncle’s house and got in his car. Turning on Lakeshore Drive, headed under the highway overpass to Flood Street, he looked at the clock on the dash. Even though he didn’t expect any traffic he left early, wanting to be at the station before Kate Darby arrived. She was his training officer, and she had been at the station every day that week before he was. Jake didn’t want her to think he was a slacker, even though he’d never been later than fifteen minutes early.

  He turned left on Flood Street and parked in the lot on Oak Street and low and behold, Kate’s Expedition was already there. Damn, it was like she knew. He could see her texting when he walked up to the passenger side and tapped on the window.

  She jumped like she’d been hit with a Taser, then flipped the switch to unlock the door. “Damn, you trying to kill me before the week is even over?”

  Jake climbed in the passenger seat. If she wasn’t his boss, Jake would have said Kate was gorgeous. Her long brown hair had blonde highlights, and when it wasn’t pinned in a bun at the nape of her neck, it hung in curly waves. Everything about her screamed beauty, from her creamy skin to her curves. Even with that damned vest on, he could tell she was hot. But she was also tough as nails. At least that was the vibe he’d gotten so far.

  She was a lot older than Jake, and her ex-husband was their sergeant. Gwilly never said anything, but the way he looked at her when she wasn’t watching was the way every woman longs to be looked at. At least that’s how he’d want to be looked at if he was a woman. Loved. Only Kate wasn’t looking back. He wondered if she had moved on.

  “I’m ready for my week to be over. You’re a task master.”

  Kate laughed, and put her phone away. “You’re too funny. Try riding with Gwilly for a few days, you’ll be begging to have me back.”

  She was right. Much nicer to look at than old, bald Gwilly.

  “What’s on the agenda for today?” Jake leaned back in the seat.

  “Caught a murder last night.”

  Jake sat up. “What? On my night off?”

  “Sorry, dude, but you’ll get to hang out with me and Gwilly while we investigate. Unless they move you to another car, which they might.”

  “I can’t believe I missed out.” Jake leaned back again, sulking.

  “Not that you’re glad a guy is dead or anything,” Kate said.

  “I’m not. It’s just I always miss the good stuff.” He settled into the seat.

  “Don’t get too comfy, we’ve got a meeting with Rambone before we get started.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.

  Jake followed.

  Other than grilling him and taking him to task, Kate made work easy. She talked a lot and she kept him abreast of how things worked in Peculiar. Every department had rules in addition to what’s taught at the academy, and some of them were best learned by doing.

  Kate told him all about her runner and the guy in the trunk on the way to see the chief. She turned around and tossed him the keys. “You’re driving tonight, Rookie.”

  He caught the keys but just barely, as she tossed them a bit short. Jake grinned wide. He’d been waiting all week to drive, and she kept putting him off.

  Several officers had recently moved on to larger cities and Jake felt like Chief Rambone was happy to have new blood. Then, when he interviewed with the assistant chief, Esmeralda Oliverez, she didn’t seem nearly as happy. He wondered if it was because he was white and male. Hiring him wasn’t part of their Equal Opportunity Employer quota. He didn’t see many other people applying for the job. Being a cop used to be a noble profession. The media had done their damnedest to change that perception.

  “Been a quiet week so far, other than last night, which you missed. But this is Thursday night. Even with summer, the college kids get a little rowdy.”

  “Stop rubbing it in. It sounds like a long shift for you, though.”

  “It was.”

  Six at night to six in the morning, he had to admit, he liked a lot more than days. Kate explained it was because administrative personnel got off work at five, and there was less bullshit. Also, no old ladies calling dispatch to complain that the mailman didn’t shut the door on their mailbox, or old men complaining about the neighbor mowing at seven in the morning and disturbing their morning coffee. The old men were the worst. No, old women were. Heck, it was a toss-up.

  “I thought the chief was administrative. You know, working nine to five.” Jake had yet to see him when he clocked in at six.

  “The chief works when he needs to, be it nine to five, or nine to nine. Whatever. So be prepared and make it quick. I’ve been here for a few hours working on the case from this morning. I’m ready to get in the car and catch some bad guys.”

  They walked into Chief Rambone’s office together, both sitting at the same time.

  “Officer Underwood, you ready?” Chief Rambone said.

  He thought the meeting a formality, but the look on the chief’s face, and his tone made him think otherwise.

  “I guess so, yes,” Jake said.

  * * *

  “You know, that was a pretty shitty thing to do.”

  Kate and Jake walked back out to her vehicle to start the shift.

  She just smiled.

  “Suddenly at a loss for words?” Jake teased. “That’s a first.”

  “I couldn’t exactly tell you it was something good. That wouldn’t have been any fun.” She walked around to the passenger seat. “This is going to feel weird.”

  “Thanks anyway, and I appreciate you letting me drive.” Jake unlocked the car and opened his door.

  “Don’t go all mushy on me now. We’re going to have a long night ahead, and I’m not good at mushy.”

  “Yeah, I noticed.” Jake said.

  After the meeting with Rambone and his review after his week with Kate, the captain had given them goals for the evening.

  It was only Thursday, but the way the schedule worked, it was Jake’s last day of the week. He hadn’t been on patrol the night before because of administration stuff he needed to take care of, but he was back and ready to roll. After tonight, he had three days off. Oddly, he wasn’t looking forward to it.

  As Jake drove out of the parking lot and headed back toward the lake, the town seemed different, somehow magnified, and smaller at the same time. Driving, answering the radio, and making the decisions, it was his baby. With Kate’s approval, of course.

  “Moved into your apartment yet?” she asked.

  “Oh sure, in my spare time.” Jake looked at her for a moment. “I’m moving in next weekend. I think my uncle will be happy to have the house back to himself.”

  “I’ll bet he loves having you there. We’ll have to stop by the diner for dinner tonight. I’ll bet he beams with pride at seeing you in uniform.” Kate looked out the passenger window, scanning the streets.

  “Not sure he wanted this for me. And my mom’s definitely not happy. But I’ve always wanted to be a cop.”

  “It’s not a safe, nine to five, white collar job, that’s for sure. But I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Kate seemed to be on edge.

  “Is it my driving?” Jake asked.

  “What?”

  “You’re edgy.”

  Kate raised her hands and shook them out. “I am. I want this Daniel Boyd guy so bad my mouth is watering. They went by his house earlier today, but no answer. We’re waiting for a search warrant to enter whether he answers or not.”

  Before they left his office, Kate discussed the events of the morning with the chief, and Jake sat silent, soaking in every detail, pissed he hadn’t been working.

  “I want to be there.”

  “For what?” Kate asked.

&
nbsp; “The takedown. I want to be there when you find him and slap the cuffs on.”

  “We’ll see.”

  They hadn’t been on the streets an hour when they got their first call. Alcohol, hot sun, and the lake tended to bring out the worst in people. The dispatcher radioed in a domestic dispute.

  Jake grabbed the mic. “229 responding.”

  “Use your own badge number, not mine.”

  Several other cars responded, too. They’d been taught at the academy that domestic disputes were some of the most dangerous calls. The situations were volatile, tempers flared, alcohol could be involved, and extreme caution recommended. Several deaths of brothers in arms had been on domestic calls. It had been a rough year for Peculiar’s boys in blue, losing one of their own to an enraged ex-husband.

  “To protect and to serve, whether you want it or not.” Kate said, as they went Code 3 with lights and siren.

  Jake had to admit, it was a rush to be behind the wheel and have the sea of cars split and let him through. Not a single asshole blocked their way as he sped to their destination on the other side of the lake. More often than not, he had noticed cars didn’t always pull over for law enforcement. Several times while sitting in the passenger seat all week, he felt the urge to move his foot over, slam it down on Kate’s and ram the idiots when they didn’t get out of the way. Only somehow, he didn’t think they were all idiots. Some were just defiant dickwads.

  “Okay, Jake, we’ve talked about this. I lead the way. There will be several cars and probably an ambulance at the scene. Even the paramedics will be in danger if this is a nasty one. Be alert and be cool.”

  When they pulled up, three other vehicles had already arrived. He saw a sheriff’s deputy and another Peculiar patrol, along with an ambulance. Kate and Jake parked behind the other cars, then walked to the scene.

  Sergeant Gwilly happened to be the Peculiar cop. As they approached, he said, “Officer Underwood. Darby.”

  A deputy spoke to a woman on the porch. In front of him, a man of about sixty, wearing a royal blue Speedo, sat on the lawn, his hands cuffed behind his back. He had his legs spread, leaving plenty of room for his belly to sag between them. Jake heard the deputy explaining, “No matter if you want to press charges or not, someone’s going to jail. We just need to get both sides of the story.”

  Gwilly pointed to the man in cuffs. “I want you and Underwood to talk to this guy. I’m going to take the woman and put her in the back of my car. There’s another deputy on the other side of the house, talking to the guests at this little gathering.”

  “What’s the deal?” Kate asked.

  “Apparently these two have had too much to drink, and someone landed in the fire.” He pointed to the bonfire next to the lake.

  “Alcohol involved. Hard to believe.” Kate rolled her eyes.

  “Let Underwood ask the questions. I want you only to observe.”

  Jake walked to the man sitting on the lawn, trying to look like he’d done this a hundred times. “Hello, sir. Would you mind telling me what happened here tonight?”

  The man looked up at Jake and promptly projectile vomited, liquid running down his chin onto his hairy chest and belly. He then rolled over on his side and passed out.

  “That went well,” Jake said.

  Kate giggled and said, “You have quite a unique method of getting your guy to talk.”

  He wanted to puke. Vomit and other bodily fluids tended to make his stomach turn. “Shit.”

  “Nope, that’s puke.” Kate laughed aloud.

  Everyone turned to look at them. Then Gwilly strolled over to see what was so damned funny. “What’s the deal?”

  “I don't think we’ll be getting the story from him.” Jake nudged him with his boot.

  “No need. The witnesses by the fire said the woman was the aggressor. We can take the cuffs off this guy. I’m taking the woman back to the station to book her on domestic battery.” Gwilly leaned down and took the cuffs off. The man twitched, but didn’t wake up.

  “You sure he’s okay?” Jake asked.

  From his back side, Kate leaned down and checked his pulse, then put the beer can he’d been drinking from in front of this nose and mouth. Jake could see the condensation as the man breathed in and out.

  “He’s fine.” She looked behind her. “One of you people want to come and keep an eye on your friend here?”

  “I got it,” a young girl dressed in a barely there bikini said.

  To the EMT, Kate said, “Wanna take a look at this guy? Make sure he’s not going to die.”

  The EMT, who looked to be about Jake’s age, jogged up to them.

  They all looked at each other, then a younger guy of about twenty stepped forward and said, “Are you taking my mom to jail?”

  Gwilly asked, “Is that your mom in the back of my car?” He pointed to his vehicle.

  The kid nodded.

  “You want to talk to her before we take her in?”

  He shook his head and looked at the ground.

  Jake and Kate trailed after Gwilly as he walked to his car. Kate asked, “Any more complaints on that house on M Street?”

  “Oh, yeah, I was going to tell you, I wrote up the affidavit.” He looked back at his detainee. “Why don’t you let the kid drive your car back, and you can ride with me? Easier than transferring her to your car. I hate transporting women.”

  There was protocol for transporting the opposite sex. They had to call in to dispatch with the location, log what time they left the scene, then call in again to log in arrival time. The number of minutes to get from location to location would be determined, to make sure no one made a stop on the side to do the nasty, or any other illegal stuff.

  He’d have killed to be a fly on the dashboard of that car as they drove back to the station. The M Street house had been the bane of their existence throughout the week. Calls about the traffic, the people coming and going at all hours, and general complaints that they thought it was a crack house. Jake and the other cops knew it was a crack house, but they needed proof to make any arrests.

  Jake hoped they had a warrant and were going to bust the joint, but he wasn’t privy to that conversation, though he did hear Kate and Zane discussing a warrant as they walked away.

  There were no other issues at this call, so he got back in his car to follow his bosses back to the station.

  Jake wasn’t sure why he was so eager for a big bust, knowing there’d be plenty to come in the future, but he would say later, he never expected what happened that night.

  Chapter 5

  Before they even started the shift that night, Gwilly had filled out the affidavit for the warrant on the house on M Street. By the time they did the paperwork and got the domestic assault woman into the holding cell, Gwilly had the warrant.

  The plan was to go to the house after dark, so the neighbors wouldn’t see them coming, and warn the occupants of the house. If the neighbors were buyers, they wouldn’t want their well to dry up. As Kate said, it would suck to have them flush all of the evidence down the toilet and have nothing for their efforts. It had happened before, and it would happen again.

  After a few more hours on the street and a dinner break, they assembled at the office and Gwilly laid out the strategy for taking down the house. The butterflies in Jake’s stomach had him wishing he hadn't eaten the second helping of Dutch apple pie at his uncle’s place.

  When they jumped in the car, Kate still let him drive. He worked to streamline his focus. They were going into yet another dangerous situation, and he’d only been a real cop for a week. If the night went well, he’d have three days off to mentally pat himself (and the others) on the back. If not, Jake had three days to reassess if this was really the right career. In his mind, it went down smooth, but he knew it could all go sideways in a heartbeat.

  “Things are going to happen fast. This is a no-knock warrant. We’ll be breaching the door, and all hell will likely break loose. Be alert,” Zane said before sendin
g everyone to their vehicles.

  The plan in place, and him being the rookie, he held the battering ram. A no-knock warrant meant they weren’t required to announce themselves.

  Parked halfway up the block, Gwilly gathered everyone around the hood of his car. “Bugger, you and Hanson are going to take the back. Underwood will go through the front with us. He’s big and can work the battering ram.”

  “Do we have cars at the ends of the block?” Kate asked.

  “We do. All escape routes have been secured as much as possible. There will be some runners, but we have a good idea as to the number of people in the house. Bugger has been watching since early today. He’s working overtime for us on this one.”

  “Everyone, get to your places and radio in quietly.”

  Bugger and Hanson jogged up the block and disappeared into the shadows behind the house. Luckily, this neighborhood didn’t have many fences and the house in question had only one short cyclone fence that even a five-year-old could leap in a single bound.

  “We are going in fast before we cause a scene. On my count…go.”

  Dressed in full riot gear with helmets and shields, they ran to the front porch of the house. As they ran, Jake noticed people coming out of the house two doors down. “Shit.”

  “Cops, cops!”

  Kate yelled, “Run!”

  “Go, go, go,” Gwilly yelled. “Get the damn door open.”

  Jake kicked into another gear he didn’t know he had, took the porch steps in one leap and slammed the battering ram into the front door. It splintered like balsa wood. He barely stepped a foot to the side when Kate and Zane burst through the door.

  The yelling and screaming hurt Jake’s ears. Or maybe it was the chaos of half a dozen people running in different directions. He saw three people run up the stairs to the second floor, and a few more run to the back of the house. He tried to take it all in, to know who was where, in case he needed to assist or pull his weapon.