The Next Generation: The Legacy (Book 3)

Chapter 5 -A murder and a love triangle.

Chante

Day two started so much better. I wasn’t late for one, and I didn’t trip over my training officer when I walked into our morning briefing. I made notes and didn’t waste time on what the other officers were doing. I was their only rookie, which was a little strange for such a busy station. After the briefing, I grabbed our kit and met Officer Campbell in our squad car.

As we pulled out of the parking lot at the station, I felt nervous. We had a rough first day. I knew that things here were not great, but I didn’t expect to get shot at on my very first day.

“Are you even listening to me?” His voice pushed through my thoughts and I sighed deeply.

“I’m sorry. Yesterday was …” I didn’t even have words to explain it. “Well, it was a little overwhelming.” A nervous laugh escaped through my lips, and I was surprised to see him smile.

“Yes. I could tell you that it wasn’t normal, but…” He shrugged. “Sadly, in this part of town, that was a normal run-of-the-mill day for us. Are you scared?” He frowned and I shook my head.

“No. I’ve always known the job is dangerous. It is just different in real life compared to what I imagined.” I looked out of the window.

“Are you disappointed?” He frowned, and I knew what he was getting at.

“No. I guess it just isn’t entirely what I expected, but I’m happy with my decision to join the force.” I was. It was the only thing I ever wanted to do. Each year my mom had to make me a police uniform costume for Halloween and I would tell everyone who would listen that one day I would carry a badge and a gun and protect them. All they had to do was call and I would come. “I think in my childhood I imagined officers as superheroes, and it’s a little difficult to let go of that image.” I laughed as I thought back to those days and noted the smile on his face.

There was no time to continue our conversation as a call came in. It was the same house we went to the day before because of the domestic disturbance and when we arrived, we could instantly tell that something had seriously gone wrong. The guy was lying on the front lawn, not moving. Beside him there was a blade covered in blood and I called it in while Officer Campbell called for back-up.

There was no pulse on the guy and I shook my head while he called for the coroner. We made our way onto the porch, and he called out that we were there just in case that crazy woman came barging at us. We heard a noise in the kitchen and carefully made our way there. I was shocked at the sight of her.

She was covered in blood, but it was as if she didn’t even realize it! She was busy making tea and looked up innocently when we walked into the kitchen. I scanned her surroundings for any possible weapons, as we kept our firearms on her just in case.

“Miss Smith, what happened?” His voice was so calm and soothing I almost gaped at him. That was not the same one he used with me in the squad car! It was almost as if he cared!

“He slept with that slut next door. She can have him now!” When she looked up her eyes were filled with tears and my heart broke for her, but I had to remind myself that she was a criminal in this case! She killed a man!

“Why don’t you put down the mug, so we can talk?” He moved a little closer, but she lifted the mug. I took a step back, but he kept his ground.

“I just want to drink my tea in peace, and then you can take me.” She was so damn calm it scared me. With her eyes filled with tears, she walked over to the dining room table and sat down sipping her tea. “You know? I don’t know how long processing is going to take and when I will be able to have my next cup of tea. I also don’t know if they have my brand in prison, so I just want to take this small moment.” Freddie had closed the gap between them.

“That’s okay. I’m just going to put these cuffs on you in the meantime, okay?” He moved carefully as he put his gun away and took out the cuffs. She held out her hands, and he put them on. We heard sirens outside the house and he breathed deeply. “Go outside and tell them we have it under control here. Let’s get that body covered a.s.a.p.” I nodded and made my way outside.

I met with our back-up and brought them up to speed. The scene had to be secured outside, and we had to canvas the neighbourhood for any witnesses, but what happened was pretty clear. As I walked back onto the porch, I noted the young woman next door crying on that porch and I made my way over. It quickly became clear that she was the neighbour Miss Smith spoke about, and I handed her to one of the officers for a statement before returning to my partner.

He was on his way out with the suspect. Her arms were now cuffed behind her and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her as we loaded her into our car. She might be a murderer, but we had no idea what drove her to that point. The man in her life had clearly been cheating. The young woman told me that he was planning on leaving Miss Smith.

I decided then and there that I hated these kinds of cases! Nobody was right! Everyone got hurt in the end. That made me think about my dad and I wondered for a split-second if I should go and visit him. He might have had a good reason for his betrayal. I hadn’t given him the benefit of the doubt.

“Hey, great work with the neighbour!” Officer Campbell joined me and I smiled, thanking him.

“Thanks. What do we do now?” I frowned.

“I don’t know. You tell me.” He smiled. “You are the one fresh out of college.” He laughed and I couldn’t help but smile. He was a great teacher. Asking me questions to test my knowledge but at the same time giving me the opportunity to put that knowledge into practice.