21:45 Hours
The headlights from the RMP reflected at us from Ray's front window. This would be the perfect place to unwind and help Max decompress.
I put the car in park and called us out of service. Max had her head buried in her phone. I waited a few seconds before turning off the car. When she didn't acknowledge where we were, I spoke up.
"Echo-six-kilo to battalion command. How copy?"
"I'm sorry, sweetie. It's something that Kool-Aid said. I've heard it before, but I can't remember when."
I smiled at her and chuckled. She used the nickname I gave to the girl with the purple streak. Brilliant!
"Sagacious Inquisitors. I've heard it before, in college."
I shook my head, unsure of what to say. I got out of the car and hoped she would follow. Whatever she was looking for had her engrossed in her phone.
I tapped on the hood and went to the passenger door. As I opened it, she put her phone in her pocket a
Wednesday, November 21 Keegan was back from the sin bin. That meant we could get some good old-fashioned American street violence. It had been a quiet watch. Wired and tired, I counted down the minutes to its end. Keegs was still unsettled about Tommy Parker's suicide, having mentioned it several times. He couldn't sit still. He fiddled with his pen, went through an entire pouch of chewing tobacco, and made me stop so he could smoke. I understood the cause of his anxiety. The past few days saw a multiple homicide shooting, a necromancy ceremony, and an old homeless guy with a witch's bottle. We Drove to Potter Church, hoping to kill the shift in peace. I backed into an opening in the trees, killed the lights, and opened my window. We were across the street from the groundskeeper's house. The lights were on, and a lone street lamp stood in the front yard. The home predated the War of 1812 and was a historical landmark.
Thursday, November 22 19:06 HOURS Winter had finally arrived. Keegs, Marcello, and a few others had volunteered to work security at an annual private gala. So, I got to ride with Maxine. The aftermath of the Rottweiler shooting found me in a quick round with IAB. Whenever you discharged your weapon, an investigation was forthcoming. They asked about the circumstance, what conflict resolution tactic we used, and questions about the girls. The ER report said Keegan shot the husband in the bicep. Not that anybody cared. Even IAB shrugged it off. I found it odd when they asked what started it. They flirted with my answer, careful not to show why they asked. I only knew what I heard when we entered the house. I told them about witchcraft, Sagacious Inquisitors, and threats against the Coven. Satisfied, at least in the now, they let me go. Max and I slowly cruised the strip, the coms silent as the radio played o
Tuesday, November27th 14:55 Hours Lieutenant Chaney's voice resounded over the loudspeaker as he announced roll call in the Bullpen. I closed my locker and headed to the squad room. They changed the uniform of the day for the winter. Many had broken out the jackets and watch caps that were standard issue. I, however, preferred the sweater with a turtleneck. The coat was too cumbersome, and I was not fond of it. I only used it when it actually turned cold or snowed hard. This was Max and me's first official briefing as husband and wife. When I left the locker room, I saw her chatting with Marcello. I walked behind her, put my arms around her collar, and kissed her cheek. She turned and smiled. Our faces must have looked priceless. I still felt the effects of this morning's lovemaking. I knew Max did as well. If I could, I'd take her back into the locker room. Keegs, of course, noticed, flung his head backward, and sighed
Tuesday, November27th "Roll call in the Bullpen... roll call in the Bullpen," said Lieutenant Chaney over the loudspeaker with his ominousBig Voice. We all filed in for the cold winter's night. Many had broken out the jackets and watch caps which were standard issue for the season. I, however, preferred the sweater with a turtle neck. The jacket was too bulky and I hated it. I only used it when it really got cold or snowed hard. The Bullpen was set up more like a classroom. There were three rows of tables, six tables deep. Each table could sit three. At the front was a podium for the Watch Commander flanked by two tables full of papers, reports, and files. Behind him was a whiteboard that ran the entire length of the wall. It was massive, containing not only a ma
Wednesday, November 28 Wednesday, November 28 The sun had vanished, and it was cold, rainy, and slushy. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and this wasn’t the weather for the holiday. The last time Maxine called in sick was four years ago. The cough had progressed to body aches, chills, sore throat, and a fever of 101.6. This morning during a spasm, she brought up blood with dark yellow phlegm and wheezed. Of course, she didn’t want to see a doctor, which caused an argument. I was concerned that she might have pneumonia. She needed to be seen by a physician for antibiotics and breathing treatments. At one point, I thought I was overreacting from the witchery and threats of spells and curses. I couldn’t shake what the vagrant said on the bridge about pins, urine, and cork. My inner voice replayed his words over and again. The more I heard it, the more I remembered. Take your wife’s urine an
Thursday, November 29 - ThanksgivingShe spent the night in isolation, awaiting results of blood cultures taken by Center for Disease Control. Her parents had gone, forced from the floor, but trying to move me would have been a mistake and they knew it. I just sat there, in uniform, outside a Plexiglas room waiting for some sort of diagnosis or explanation.I'd fallen asleep when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Keegs. His ICU nurse had let him onto the floor. He simply sat next to me, tapped my leg and didn't say a word.For the next five hours, Keegs and I made very little small talk. He brought me up a few cups of Joe and a bagel, but then we would sit quietly, waiting.Finally, at six a.m., the doctor
Friday, November 30Black Friday and second watch were working a double. It's one of the nuttiest days of the year, at least for the day shift, and not in a good way.I pulled into the driveway of the caretaker's house, Potters Church when I got a text from Maxine's mother."She's still in a coma. She's seizing again. They tried to bring her out. Please come quick.""Shit!" I said and rubbed my face in frustration."I need answers. Major Case is not helping. I'll be right there,"I texted back and then got out.The smell of old was very present as I knocked on the thick wooden door. It was ancient, as was the house. Five years ago the city decided to restore it, but that smell
Monday, December 10"Good to see Maxine back, " said Keegs as we pulled into the Super Wawa, past the gas pumps, and into a parking stall right in the front of the store. It was snowing harder now, almost three inches as darkness had fully set in. "I forgot to tell you... You know that nurse I've been with? The ICU nurse?"I nodded, afraid of what he was going to say. I didn't want to hear any more about his sexual conquests."She told me that some woman, kind of strange looking, got admitted to her ward four nights ago. She had a high fever and a massive amount of pain. They can't figure out what's wrong. Know what her name is? Marigje Arriens Crowningshield!"I stared at him. "What? No... You're kidding, ri