Men of the Law and Shield: Chapter 4 – Subverting the Job

Chapter 4 – Subverting the Job

Today’s a more casual day on the job as we do things Max’s way, in conjunction with other squads and organized by the Secret Intelligence Bureau, or SIB, in a joint sting operation against a local gang. Right now, we’re in position and simply having a meal to blend in with the rest of the customers.

“Do you know the meaning of being casual, Kurtis?” Max asks.

“This is casual,” Kurtis says.

“A blazer and a dress shirt, pants, and shoes are business casual, if anything.”

“I can’t help it if I always dress to impress. Do you ever get out of the same getup of a long trench coat and accompanying dress shirt, tie, and pants?”

“It’s the outfit people recognize me by. That, and a lot of people on the streets wear this outfit, so I blend in perfectly.”

“You look like the stereotypical image of a police detective,” Cole says.

“Yeah? You look like the spitting image of a tough cop or army veteran. Besides me, Xander is the only other one who looks like we might not be cops.”

A man in a fedora and striped suit walks over to us with the waiter who is serving our food and drinks. He asks us, “I hope you’re enjoying your time here, gentlemen. Don’t worry about the bill. It’s on us for your service to our country.”

“See? Even he knows who we actually are,” Kurtis says.

“Relax. He’s a friend. How do you think I got the information we needed today for the SIB and the operation?” Max asks.

“Let me know if you need anything else. I am happy to be of service.”

Kurtis looks at the man as he walks away. Once he’s gone from earshot, he asks, “Is he a man of honor?”

“Who cares? If he’s helpful to us, then that’s all that matters,” Max says.

“They do like serving us free food. I’ve even gone to Angelo Delicato’s restaurant in Amore Fraterno and got treated when I told them that I was a veteran and a cop,” Cole says.

“They’re trying to buy us out,” Kurtis says.

“They’re good at it.”

“Xander, what do you think?”

Put on the spot, I quickly say, “I think the food’s good.”

“Besides the food.”

“I think we should keep our minds on the operation at hand and deal with the kinder criminals when the time comes.”

“He has a point,” Max says.

“Tch. Yeah, you’re right.”

Just as we’re finishing our meal and making small talk, our radios buzz, signaling that the operation is about to begin. We go outside the restaurant and confront our targets, who are passing by. Other squads are arresting other suspects who are just arriving on site, while others head into the restaurant to get the rest; however, gunfire starts erupting from it.

“We got runners heading out the back of the restaurant! Head after them! The restaurant is under control,” someone says on the radio.

After handing off our targets to the transport team, my squad runs around the block to cut off the fleeing suspects. We catch them, point our tasers at them, and tell them to give up. They don’t and run into different parts of the alleyway, forcing us to split up to get them. Kurtis and Cole go together, while I go after the others with Max. Chasing after the suspects, we run through a connected series of apartment rooms, shops, kitchens, and storage rooms. The suspects ahead of us knock over shelves, boxes, and throw people at us to slow us down, but we push through and catch what and who are thrown at us, so we aren’t slowed down that much.

Eventually, the suspects start running out into the streets, where they turn to try to shoot at us, only for them to be shot in the leg. Turning my head to see who shot them, I see the man in the pinstriped suit waving at us with two other well-dressed men next to him. Max smiles at them as we arrest the suspects and haul them off.

“It’s always a pleasure to see justice in action,” the man in the pinstriped suit says.

“I owe you one, friend,” Max says.

“Forget about it. I’m the one who owes you for keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

Kurtis and Cole round the corner with four suspects whom they bring to the transport team. With the operation complete, the man in the pinstriped suit offers to have us over again for a celebration dinner that he’s going to pay for again, an offer Kurtis refuses. Instead, Kurtis treats us to one of his favorite diners in the city. We see what we did on the news, and people in the diner even come up to us after seeing us on TV to thank us for our service.

“You think this is better than the food at that guy with the pinstriped suit’s restaurant?” Cole asks.

“You don’t like the food here?” Kurtis asks.

“No, it’s good. I just thought the other place was a bit better. Heck, here you have to pay the bill too.”

“I can handle a forty-dollar dinner for four people.”

“You just don’t want to be treated by a man of honor, do you?”

“I prefer not to have a white-collar criminal hold over the favors he’s done for me.”

“They’re not bad people.”

“As far as you know. The most skilled saints hide their worst sins in the dark.”

A man who looks both drunk and drugged up enters the diner, waving a gun around and asking for the cops who are on TV.

“They ruined my life!” the man says as he fires a shot into the air. “Where are they?! I saw their cars outside!”

The man starts shooting in different directions, asking if the cops are in one direction or the other. Kurtis holds up his hand to us as Cole, Max, and I draw our pistols. He stands up in full view of the man, whose eyes widen when he looks at Kurtis. Before the man can say anything, Kurtis quickly draws his gun and shoots the man in the chest, killing him instantly. We call an ambulance to take away the man’s body and then sit back down.

“That guy was okay to kill on sight?” Cole asks Kurtis.

“He was putting people’s lives in danger and going to shoot us as well,” Kurtis says.

“So, why is it okay now rather than when I did it?”

“The situation. I recognize him. He’s a repeat offender who refuses all the help he gets, no matter how often he gets arrested and beaten down for his actions. Just as the sinner who is sorry for his actions after being shown the error of his ways is always shown mercy, the sinner who refuses to be corrected multiple times is eventually given the justice he is due and is eternally punished with no hope of redemption. Even God has limited patience with people like that. Am I right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Damn right I am. Let’s get out of here, boys.”

As we leave, the people in the diner thank us for taking down the crazed man. It’s then that I know this job is where God wants me to be. Despite everything crazy that happens, and the times when nothing happens, switching to a lot of things happening, I think this is where I belong. I pray for the strength to spare and save lives, and to bring those deserving of punishment to justice.

 

The End