Men of the Law and Shield: Chapter 3 – The Exciting/Headache Part of the Job

Chapter 3 – The Exciting/Headache Part of the Job

Today, I’m doing traffic duty on one of the busier roads of the city with Cole in my police car. Nothing’s been happening so far, so we’ve just been talking on and off and looking at our phones.

“What did we do to get punished with such a boring task for today?” Cole asks me.

Not exactly knowing what to say, I guess, “Kurtis just told me that he trusted me to be on my own today with you.”

“He trusts you to be on your own with me? What’s that supposed to mean? Am I dangerous to be around?”

“No, I don’t think he meant that.”

“Well, it is true. It’s probably why Kurtis wanted you to drive. I’d chase anyone who goes ten miles over the speed limit and hope we’d get into a car chase. Speaking of which, are you paying attention to the speedometer?”

Looking at it again, I say, “Yes, I am. No one should be speeding around here since we’re so visible and most people here respect us and the law.”

“I can’t believe the so-called officers who just hand out tickets all day. I’m glad President Campione finally helped implement changes to stop giving raises to certain police precincts that would fish for tickets or make as many convictions as possible, false or otherwise, to get pay raises. Things are much stricter now to get those raises. The head department for the whole country double-checks the situation behind all your tickets and arrests to make sure they’re all legit.”

“Yeah.”

“What? That doesn’t interest you?”

“It does. I’m just more interested in our job and what we’re doing.”

“This is more interesting to you?”

“No, I mean that I’m more interested in our job as a whole and what it involves. Everything outside of it, I leave to God and His providence.”

“Hmm. That is a good mindset to have, but my mind can’t help but wander to different things because I’m bored. Here, I was thinking that joining the police after the military would be more exciting.”

“You’d have to go to one of the more crime-ridden cities for that. Even there, crime is at an all-time low because of all the benefits and upgrades President Campione has been giving us.”

“I didn’t want to move outside of my home city because I wanted to make sure it’s safe for my friends and family. I guess I got what I wanted by seeing that things are mostly peaceful here, but still. I’m itching for some action.”

“Be careful what you ask for.”

“Yeah, okay, Kurtis. I don’t need to be reminded of that.”

Suddenly, a car passes by us going twenty miles over the speed limit, while dodging through traffic.

“Thanks be to God! Chase after them, Xander!” Cole says as I activate my sirens and hit the gas.

Cole radios over to police headquarters about the speeding car and where we are, as I chase after it. Thanks to President Campione, our car is fast enough to match any custom race car, so we quickly catch up to our target. Still, the car refuses to pull over, so I use the car’s loudspeaker to tell the driver to pull over. After a few seconds, the car turns a corner and then goes faster through a residential area.

“Now we’re talking!” Cole says before he radios police headquarters that we’re chasing a driver who refuses to pull over.

As we chase after the driver, Cole leans out of the window and starts firing his pistol at the car, hitting the body of it to scare him. It does nothing, and the chase continues onto the boulevard. From the boulevard, we head onto the highway where there’s more room for me to ram the car and take him out. Getting close to him, I hit his rear end, making him lose control and hit a wall; however, he keeps going. The hood of his car is starting to smoke, and thanks to Cole’s continued shooting, one of his front and rear tires is shot out. Still, he tries to get away from us, and even pushes through police cars that are blocking his way off the exit.

The car is finally starting to slow down, and yet the driver keeps pushing it as far as he can. He eventually drives through a warehouse door and crashes inside. Cole radios where we are as I park my car on the sidewalk, take out my taser, and start making my way into the warehouse, only to be met with a hail of gunfire. I trip and fall on the ground trying to avoid the bullets, and then immediately get up and behind my car.

In the chaos, I use the car’s loudspeakers to tell the shooters, “Stop shooting and surrender, or we will use lethal force to bring you in alive or dead!”

“They already made their choice! You don’t need to play this entirely by the book, Xander!” Cole says as he pulls our higher-powered weapons out of the truck of the car.

Cole takes out his bulletproof shield and a handheld submachine gun and hands me a high-powered rifle. Since we have no other choice, we fire back at the suspects, hitting several while they fail to hit us. I go more for leg and lower-body shots, whereas Cole is aiming for the upper body and head. Because of the new laws, we aren’t incentivized to try to take anyone alive if they try to seriously harm us. Trying to kill an officer is an automatic death sentence in most, if not all, cases.

With the shooters at the front cleared, Cole pushes up and says, “Get behind me, Xander.”

I do as he says and keep my eyes open for any threats. A few more start appearing, and I try to take them down before Cole does so he doesn’t intentionally kill anyone else, though he still does kill a couple before the area is clear. Backup and ambulances finally arrive, and I hurry the aiding officers to restrain the shooters that are still alive and rush them to the ambulances. Sweeping the warehouse further with Cole reveals an amateur drug operation that was happening here. Later in the day, my squad interrogates everyone we’ve taken in alive, and they tell us a bit more about their drug operation and that they hated the driver Cole and I chased for drawing us to them.

Speaking about the driver, he’s still alive and was under the influence of drugs when he was driving. He’s recovering in the hospital, confesses the same things that his friends did, and pleads for us to give him a light sentence since he’s still young. We tell him that’s for the judge to decide and leave him to go back to the office to rest.

I plop myself down on the couch and say aloud, “I’m glad that’s all finally over!”

“How did he do, Cole?” Kurtis asks.

“Excellent, sir. He shot even more bad guys than I did,” Cole says with a smirk, as if he’s an older brother who’s proud of me.

“Do you know why he did that?”

“To give them what they deserve.”

“No. It was to save them from you.”

“…from me, sir? For what purpose?”

Cole looks at me, looking for an answer or more to help.

“Look at me, corporal. I know how you operate. I don’t even need to read your report to know that you shot to kill, while Xander shot to incapacitate. It's why I had him with you. You’re not a soldier anymore. You’re a cop. We’re supposed to bring them in alive, not just kill them.”

“Even if they’re shooting at us?”

“Yes.”

“That’s bullshit. President Campione made it so it’s a death sentence if anyone tries to kill us. We gave them their chance, and they spat in our face. I fought, sacrificed, and killed for this country, and I refuse to let scum like them ruin it!”

“You know what’s more important than killing, Cole? Saving lives. I don’t care what the new rules say. I don’t care that the criminals that you brought in were bottom-of-the-barrel leeches of society. Those few who were killed could’ve had a second chance at life, and you denied them that.”

“Is that why you’re mad at me?”

“I’m mad that you didn’t even try, unlike Xander here.”

Cole and Kurtis have a stare-down until Cole finally says, “Okay, sir. I’ll take your advice next time, but don’t blame me if someone dies while I’m trying to defend myself or save someone’s life.”

“I won’t.”

Kurtis walks away while Cole slumps into his office seat. He looks over to me, and I just shrug.

Max walks over to me and makes a surprised expression, and whispers, “Who knew a job well done could end so dramatically?”

“Kurtis just has his way of doing things, and so does Cole, is all,” I say.

“Whatever the case is, keep up the good work, Xander, and I’ll do the same so you don’t outshine me.”

Max leaves the office while Cole and I sit in silence. At least our squad gets a boost in reputation because of what happened today. When to kill suspects and criminals has always been a point of contention between Kurtis and Cole, and I hope and pray that it doesn’t tear the squad apart.

Men of the Law and Shield: Chapter 2 – The Process of the Job

Chapter 2 – The Process of the Job

Today, our squad is tasked with patrolling through the streets as a city-wide festival is happening. Cole and Max are patrolling in one area of the festival while Kurtis wants me to be with him in another. Right now, we’re near a police stand where officers are both standing by to help people in need, trying to recruit more people, and signing people up for the police academy.

“It’s always good to see people interested in joining,” I say.

“Eh. The academy will separate the fakes from those who are really meant to be officers,” Kurtis says.

“Really? You think some people aren’t earnestly joining?”

“Yes, I do. Because of the rumors surrounding the new president, they think joining the police is a short way to join the mafia, or the family, and they’ll get all the benefits associated with it. Sure, you may get honor and government pay, but more is expected of you as an officer than with the alternative. You have more eyes on you, and you’re expected to be more restrained and by the book rather than acting on your own conscience.”

“Hmm. I guess you’re right.”

“Damn right I am. Now, don’t keep your attention on them and just watch the crowds.”

“Are you expecting trouble?”

“I’m always expecting trouble. There’s always a law being broken somewhere and someone out there for a warrant for their arrest. The smart ones stay out of view, committing their crimes in the shadows, or using events or crowds like this as a distraction to move around or get what they want.”

“I’ll keep my eyes open, sir.”

Some time passes, and I see Kurtis intently staring into the crowd.

“Did you see that, Xander?”

“No. What am I supposed to see?”

“Follow me.”

Following Kurtis, he goes up to a woman and grabs her wrist, saying to her, “I saw you grab that doll off the vendor’s table. Put it back, and I’ll act like you didn’t take anything.”

“I’m sorry! I just took it without thinking since my daughter wanted it, but I couldn’t afford it. I can hardly afford to get by as is, but don’t mind my ramblings. I’ll put it back,” the woman says.

We’re now noticing the little girl with the woman, who looks related to her and looks curiously at us. Kurtis stares at her, then brings her back to the doll vendor’s table, asks how much the doll is, and pays.

“Was that doll taken? I don’t remember selling it,” the vendor asks.

“It’s paid for,” Kurtis says before taking the woman away from the crowd and telling her, “Don’t teach your daughter the wrong lessons or else you’ll regret it later in life. People can be more charitable than you think if you ask them for help. Understood?”

“I understand! Thank you so much, officer!” the woman says.

Before the woman can tell her daughter to thank Kurtis, the daughter hugs and thanks him.

“You’re welcome,” Kurtis says with a smile.

The two walk away with smiles on their faces.

“That was very nice of you, sir. Why were you so gentle with them, if you don’t mind me asking?” I ask.

“Did you really look at that lady? Notice the tone in her voice and choice of words? Some people commit crimes without thinking, based on emotion. Something small like that shouldn’t put her in jail or even a fine,” Kurtis explains.

“Oh, okay.”

“Are you thinking I’d punish her based on what the law says? I’m a by-the-book kind of man, but I’m not heartless. We have to apply the law appropriately, not blindly without thinking about the circumstances and people associated with it.”

“Yes, sir…”

In the crowd, I notice something weird happening. Kurtis notices my attention being taken away from him and turns to where I’m looking.

“I see what you’re seeing, Xander. I’ll let you handle this one.”

Going to what I see, I grab a man out of the crowd.

“Hello. Excuse me?” I say.

“Y-yes, officer? How can I help you?” the man asks.

“I remember your face on the news and in our database. You have a warrant.”

“I know about that, but it’s for minor stuff, isn’t it? I just owe some parking and speeding tickets, is all.”

“Your warrant also includes violence for some fights you got into.”

“Those were because I was defending people I knew. Is that so wrong?”

“I don’t know, but I do know that a warrant issued for violence means that I have to take you in, regardless of intent.”

I grab the man’s arms and cuff his hands.

“Ah, come on. If you know about them, then you know I’m a good person!”

“A good person doesn’t have to say who they are or try to avoid the consequences of their actions. Now, come on, and stop making this difficult.”

The man keeps trying to excuse everything he did as I take him to a nearby group of cops to take him to the police station for processing.

After they leave, Kurtis says, “Why didn’t you go easier on that guy in comparison to the mother? I know the situation behind his warrant and that he was actually protecting and fighting for the people he cared about.”

“The mother was willing to make up for her mistake, while that guy was trying to avoid the consequences of it,” I say.

Kurtis pats me on the back.

“Good work. If you had let your empathy get the best of you, I’d hit you across the head. Besides, he shouldn’t have tried to take justice into his own hands. He could’ve gotten more than himself and the people he was after hurt and caused more trouble for the people he cared about.”

“You’re right. I guess you really know the difference between a true and a false confession.”

“Yes, sir. I need to know it for when I go to confession. I wouldn’t be able to call myself a Catholic otherwise.”

“I’d call you a fake one if you said you didn’t go at all. God blessed us with both examples of confrontation that I wanted to show you today. Glory be to God!”

“Glory be.”

Some time passes, and nothing else seems to happen in the crowd. Kurtis guesses that the public displays of us picking out and dealing with people are scaring the others who may be thinking about stealing or crossing our path. Police headquarters calls us and tells our squad that an incident related to the man with a warrant we just arrested has just popped up, and since we handled him, we get the honor of handling this new situation. We thank them, and the squad heads out in two separate police cars to the house we’re told to go. Now in a poor area of town with broken sidewalks and doors and windows with metal bars over them, we come across four people arguing with one another, and the argument quickly turns violent as they shove one another, throw punches in the air, and get louder, saying they’re going to hurt the other.

“Police! Break up your fighting and tell me what’s going on. One at a time,” Kurtis says.

Both sides complain to us about what the other did, then start complaining to one another again as if we’re a minor inconvenience to their fight. They start pushing one another again, and this time, one of them pulls out a makeshift-looking gun that explodes into pieces as soon as the trigger is pulled, making sharp pieces of metal fly into the faces of the four people. We start to arrest them and then ask them where they got the makeshift gun from. They mention the man I arrested at the parade, giving us a reason to go to his house. We call for backup, who take away the four people while we go to investigate the house.

The man’s house isn’t too far from here, so we walk there on foot after getting the address from headquarters. Going to the one-story house, we find the door locked, so Cole breaks it open with his battering ram.

“Whew! This guy must be really a gun fan or sprays his home with gunpowder-scented perfume,” Max comments.

“He has all gun models on these walls and figures of fictional characters holding them. Safe to say he’s a big fan. Oh, he has one that I’ve been searching for,” Cole says.

“You two can fangirl about guns with your mutual friend later. Let’s head to the basement. See if that’s where he makes his defective toys,” Kurtis says.

The door downstairs is also locked, but because it’s metal, Cole’s battering ram can’t break it down, so Max uses his lockpicking skills to open it for us. Inside the basement, we find a bunch of gun pieces and a variety of ammo, bags of cash, and a handwritten list of contacts with codenames.

“Didn’t think I’d find nice photos, a kitchen, and a bed down here. It’s like this is where he really lives,” Cole says.

“Look at the photos. Two of them are the people we just saw in the fight,” Max points out.

“Look over here, boys,” Kurtis says, bringing our attention to a shooting range.

At the shooting range, we find a bunch of broken weapons, some dried blood, medical supplies, and pictures of people with bullet holes in them, some of whom are two of the people the other two were fighting with.

“Looks like he’s not the best at making guns,” Max says.

“Yes, but he still makes them, and obviously has targets,” Cole says.

“He has a whole list and plans,” I say, finding a list of names and plans.

I bring attention to a mess of papers I find on a table with bullets and gun pieces on them.

“This guy has an entire war plan with targets, Plan As, and Plan Bs,” Cole says.

“I recognize some of these faces from the news and warrants. From what I can see, it looks like he’s trying to take over this neighborhood and drive out the criminals,” I say.

“He was planning to murder them, and given that one of the people that he knows has one of his custom guns, it means that the others are involved. Let’s see what they have to say,” Kurtis says.

The squad goes to interrogate everyone we arrested, and everyone who’s involved with the man who makes these makeshift guns admits that they were going to rid the neighborhood of criminals. They admit to being criminals themselves, but justify it by saying they’ve turned over a new leaf and will prove it by using their guns to protect the neighborhood, just like the men of honor. Despite their claims, everyone involved is going to be charged with conspiracy to murder by default, given what they say and the evidence we found.

After we arrest everyone involved with the conspiracy, Kurtis pats my back, back at the office, and says, “See how one thing leads to another? This is all because of you, and you deserve all the credit, Xander.”

“Thank you, sir. Just doing my job,” I say.

“Don’t say that. Otherwise, you won’t get anything,” Max comments.

“You don’t get anything because you’re always rewarding yourself.”

“It ain’t a sin to reward yourself for doing a good job.”

“Then start doing a good job like Xander here, and you can reward yourself all you want, and get your legs off your desk.”

Kurtis throws Max’s legs off his desk, making him fall off his chair. Cole laughs at the sight, and Kurtis and I try not to laugh, while Kurtis helps Max off the floor, and Max quietly thanks him and promises to do a better job.