Lifer
The parking lot was empty. Except for dry weeds squeezing up through cracks in the asphalt; except for the deserted rusting basketball hoop on one end; except for rustling leaves skittering across fading parking spaces in the gathering dusk; except for oil spots shimmering with rainbow colors after a recent sprinkling, the parking lot was empty. And, because fate is resourceful, a steady gloomy rain started falling blurring any hope of discovering the mysterious body called in by an anonymous tip.
“What's in the corner by that dilapidated chain link fence?” my partner, Andy, asked.
“Looks like piles of garbage bags being buried by soggy leaves from here.” I answered. “I'll circle around for a closer look.”
“I detect movement. Do dead bodies move?”
“Nah, just rats crawling all over.”
“Better get out and take a good look. Bummer the rain is getting worse and the wind is picking up turning this into a chilly miserable autumn evening. Not even a sliver of a moon. Why is that always the way when a body shows up?” Andy complained. “Can't we simply call the coroner's office to come claim the neatly wrapped package?”
“They would love that and have our badges if it turned out to be nothing more than trash. We gotta confirm whatever it is. Sorry. Get your slicker on and take your flashlight. I'll be ready to call it in.”
I pulled the squad car up as close as I could as he prepared to exit. Suddenly, lightening flashed, thunder pealed as a hail of bullets pounded the passenger side. Andy fell back inside his head exploding and pouring gray matter all over me and the upholstery.
Reacting instinctively, I spun out of the lot laying new rubber on the old asphalt and bumping over the crumbling center meridian at the same time trying to figure from which gaping windows in the four story abandoned factory building the bullets were spewing.
Cursing under my breath, 'F—ing prank call! How can this be happening?'. Collecting my scrambled wits I squealed a U-y about half a block away and paused on the side of the street looking back at the front of the building. Like rats abandoning a sinking ship, perps were scurrying out of doors carrying backpacks and rolled up bedding. They appeared homeless but any of them were potential suspects and they were all getting away along with the weapons while I was on the horn to Central. Like a crazy man possessed I ground into gear and plowed ahead showering taser rays from my weapon aiming at legs to slow them down. So what if I hit a few with my bumper? We would need witnesses.
'Officer down. Send armored SWAT'. Was all I remember shouting into the mike.
I sped out of retaliation range and waited for back-up not knowing if any would be available. All I wanted to do was hold what was left of my friend and partner. An eighteen-year veteran of the force he was already looking forward to retiring and spending more time with his beautiful wife, Jolene, and his teen-aged sons, Andrew Jr. and Joshua. I remember watching those boys grow up.
How am I ever going to face them? As the senior officer, I'm the one who was supposed to be protecting him. Instead I delivered him into a hail of bullets. We let our guard down, Dear Boy. I don't have anyone waiting at home for me. Why couldn't it have been me with a new hole in the head. It can't even be an opened casket. No mortician can put the pieces back together.
Bleak rain continued to fall into the chill autumn night highlighted by blue and red strobing lights and streaking lightning punctuated by thunder. By the time the Captain and Lieutenant got there I know I looked like a blubbering idiot, shivering and quaking. More squads and a special weapons van soon arrived.
“D-Don't go in there without armor and shields. I-I think it was a deliberate ambush set up to kill as many police as they could. Got a fake tip about a body being found. But we were supposed to deliver the bodies. I'd say the bullets were coming from the second and third floor broken windows but so many people scrambled out of the building you may not find any evidence. Still someone could be waiting to claim more victims. I put a few down out front. Gotta go find some more. Bet those 'de-fund the police' activists are happy with this carnage. Force is already down to bare bones. Slim odds we'll be able to round up all 'em.”
“Easy, Cooper, look at yourself. You hit at all? You've done all you're going to do tonight. Lieutenant Kramer and I will handle it from here. Someone will assess how you're doing while we assess the situation.” Captain Crane commanded.
Soon ambulances were on the scene with emergency medical technicians attending to those witnesses I hit and myself. Bloody headless Andy was scooped into a body bag and our pock-marked unit was hauled in for evidence. Ignoring all my protesting I was delivered to the hospital and examined for holes. Hard to determine what was me and what was pieces of Andy.
“Really, Doc. I'm still in one piece. Only need to clean the gore off. I'll b-be alright.”
“You're shaking like a leaf ready to fall. When I'm done with you I'll assign a trauma evaluator before you crash and burn. Losing a partner like that will have long-term effects if left unaddressed. Doctor's orders. Time off while you see a therapist.”
“I'll have the support of all the guys in the precinct. I'm not sure about a shrink but I promise you I'm gonna be someone's worse nightmare once I get back on the street to find the monsters that riddled us. They don't understand what they've created. I'll never retire. I'm a lifer now. You can bet, gonna rain long-term regrets down on 'em.”
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55 comments
It feels like another story could come from this one. There are many unanswered questions, like who called in the body? Who did the shooting? Is there a master mind behind the attack? If so, will Andy's death be avenge? But even if there's not, it's a good story.
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Thanks for the suggestions but not sure I'll do a follow-up. But haven't a clue for this week:s yet.🤔
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I'm a bit squeamish about gore, but the police handled it so impulsively and gung-ho it seemed like just another ordinary day of mayhem. Nothing stiff and starchy about them. Very sad the MC lost his partner.
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Glad you liked it in spite of the gore. Sorry about that part.
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Wait. Did you write this or did I write this? Great story. Very gritty. Loved it. For the record, you can use the bumper or the brush guard of your patrol unit to apprehend suspects in Florida, I think. If it's not fully legal, I bet you just get a warning every time it happens. Ever watch those videos on Youtube of Florida cops executing PIT maneuvers on fleeing suspects? Very entertaining. Those boys don't concern themselves a whole lot with post-incident litigation. I can watch that stuff for hours.
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Guess I was going for something grittier than normal for me.Hubby didn't care for it but I'm honored you thought you could have written it. My first husband and then my oldest son were police officers so I do not support any efforts to de-fund them. They have it tough enough already. Like going into situations never knowing what to expect.
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I have a few law enforcement agents of different types in my family - including a cousin who was part of an NYPD squad that served high-risk felony warrants in the south Bronx, kicking down doors with vests on and guns drawn on a fairly regular basis. My 17 year old son is planning to be a police officer nearby here in Oakland, CA. He wants to roll in the dirt with the bad guys too. He's a tough kid.
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Enjoyed the thrill. Nice work.
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Thanks for liking.
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I always enjoy reading your stories.
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Thanks for liking this one. Hubby questioned my sanity 😭 on it.
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One Adam 12--Bad ass cop about to protrol.
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Like it 🤣
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Brilliant Mary. Great perspective. Well done.
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Tank you.
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Phenomenal, Mary! We often disregard that cops are humans too. Lately, a lot of body cam footage has been posted on the internet about what these cops go through. From petty theft, dealing with domestic cases, 5 yr old adults, and witnessing horrific things we've acclimated to seeing online. This really painted that picture for me. Well done.
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Thank you
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I'm glad to see you put this one into the contest!
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Thanks. Don't expect too much will happen with it:)
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Wow — the perfect mood for the season, and great dimensional characters and sense of tragedy and commitment.
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Thanks. I questioned whether to enter contest. Some said go for it:) Thanks for catching up on some of my other ones, too.
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I hope to catch up much better with folks now that our caregiving/cleanup duties are nearly over. If you can’t tell, I’ve been doing a lot of my writing at midnight. I’m glad you entered. I generally enter most of my stuff just to help fund the award pot. I don’t think what I write will get me a Reedsy prize, but maybe some of the opportunities you sent me ❤️😊 might help me crack into a larger audience. Thanks again!
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I hope to catch up much better with folks now that our caregiving/cleanup duties are nearly over. If you can’t tell, I’ve been doing a lot of my writing at midnight. I’m glad you entered. I generally enter most of my stuff just to help fund the award pot. I don’t think what I write will get me a Reedsy prize, but maybe some of the opportunities you sent me ❤️😊 might help me crack into a larger audience. Thanks again!
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Wow... what a way to get motivated... Poor guy, I bet the fact his partner died and not him is going to haunt him for a while...
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So true.
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I really love this one! I'd say invest that $5. I might as well sit this one out.
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Never. Yours always amaze.😄 Have you been reading the comments on Fair and True Love'?
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Just did. You're giving me too much credit. The characters were already there. I just flamed the fire. Let me know when you're ready for more. Now, which one is about the lorry drivers? I just posted one. My 3rd one for the week, I keep pulling them.
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You get all those stories read for judging, keep up with everyone else's posts, get out three stories a week, etc, etc. You're an energizing bunny. Don't pull your stories unless you are saving them for the perfect prompt. Alyce's Restaurant and Hammer Down are the raunchy type with the driver.
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Lol. One of my boy friends called me the energizer bunny - (but for another reason) You're right. I shouldn't have. will leave this one, unless no one likes it. I just got spoiled had 5 shortlists in 11 weeks and since then nothing, So, maybe I'm trying too hard. Once you've posted more than a certain number they don't seem to shortlist you anymore. Oh well. On my way to check out your truckers. Wait I think I remember them. :-) Yeah, I did. Great stuff.
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Why the decision to only shortlist two each week? So many excellent stories and it gives us poor struggling writers hope and encouragement. Doesn't cost Reedsy anything but a gift certificate they probably get extra money on if redeemed anyway.
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Your style still shines through, with those witty fast paced words. Loads of emotion from your MC. I found your descriptions conveyed with the resulting shock of the trauma, very convincing. Good read.
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Absolutely, you should enter ! What a vivid tale with great descriptions and a gripping plot. Lovely work !
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Thanks so much!
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Enter, definitely. This one really drew me in and fits great with the prompt.
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Thanks a great deal:)
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Hi Mary! So, you wanted my opinion on if you should enter the contest with this one. My answer is YES! I think stories are like a mixed bag of candy. Sometimes you get sweet ones and sometimes you get sour ones...lol. I loved the horror elements in this story! I know it's a little different from your other works, but there's enough here to know it's you through and through. It flows well and works with the prompt. I think you have a good chance if you enter. But, take that with a grain of salt because you never know what mood the judges ...
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Thanks for your take. Others are liking it, too.
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Anytime :)
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You've got a gripping piece here - intense. The atmosphere is great; you can feel the rain and tension in the air.
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Thanks. Trying to be more like yours😆 Also tried very quickly to work in five stages of grief. Denial: 'Can't be happening.' Anger: plowing down 'witnesses'. Bargaining: 'shoulda been me'. Depression: 'blubbering idiot'. Acceptance: 'become their worse nightmare...'
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The vivid imagery and raw emotions truly bring your characters and their struggles to life. Well done, Mary!
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Thank you. Should I put it in contest?🤔
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I would!
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Thanks for vote of confidence.
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Shudder, so incredibly gorey. From the trauma a new person was born. I suppose it’s the only way to stay sane.
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Was trying to decide if should have been in created creature prompt. Husband hated it because wasn't my normal style. What do you think?
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I thought it very good. I’m a great believer in trying out other genres and styles. You never know when one resonates with you out of the blue. This was very visceral, and dark. I don’t generally like horror and suspense, so for me to say I like it is a big deal. Well written, good pace, great descriptions and dialogue.
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I appreciate your input.
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