In My world
Chapter One-A New Ally
"The suspect is running down Market Street!" called Captain Leeland Stottlemeyer into his radio as he ran down the street and made a sharp left hand turn. Not too far behind him was Lieutenant Randy Disher. His tie was flapping over his shoulder. He had his gun drawn and was aiming at the back of the suspect. The suspect glanced back at them, smirking. He jumped over a garbage can and stumbled a bit, turning down a long alley way. Suddenly, they both heard a loud clopping noise against the asphalt. They glanced behind them and spied a female police officer riding a 16 hand dark bay horse at a full gallop. They flew by them and charged down the alley way. Startled for a moment, Lt. Disher and Captain Stottlemeyer exchanged looks before following suit.
As they got near the end of the alleyway, they were shocked to find the female officer already handcuffing the suspect. She roughly shoved him toward them and beamed.
"There you go guys" she said cheerfully.
OFFICER MARNIE SULLIVAN
I stood inside Captain Leeland Stottlemeyer's office. I was a bit nervous actually. I'd heard a lot about how wonderful Stottlemeyer was and how he worked with Adrian Monk, who was the greatest detective in the world. Stottlemeyer's partner, Lt. Disher, leaned his hip against the desk, with his arms folded over his chest. I'd taken off my riding helmet and let my shoulder length blond hair cascade against my shoulders. It fell in soft waves over them. My hazel brown eyes moved from Lt. Disher, to Capt. Stottlemeyer.
"So apparently, they're adding a mounted officer to detectives?" Capt. Stottlemeyer said slowly.
"Um, not all just this division. I was assigned to you," I said. "It's basically a trial. They feel that a mounted officer could give chase a bit easier being the horse is faster than humans."
I blushed slightly.
"So basically they feel we're slow" Lt. Disher said. I moved my eyes onto his.
"Oh no! It's just…easier…I-I mean…" I stammered nervously. Capt. Stottlemeyer held a hand up.
"It's fine Officer Sullivan. You're welcomed to come along on cases. I'm sure you're aware that we work with Adrian Monk. He's a bit persnickety about things."
I nodded. "Oh yes. I've heard all about him,"
Capt. Stottlemeyer nodded and was smiling a bit. I was dressed in a pair of navy slacks and a lighter blue uniform shirt which was tucked into the waistband of the slacks. Around my waist was a gun holster, which held my 9mm Smith and Wesson, handcuffs, keys, mace, and everything else. My badge and Id was clipped over the left breast pocket along with my name tag. The patches on my arm sleeves read SAN FRANCISCO MOUNTED UNIT above the left arm and the other patch was the San Francisco police department shield. I had black leather boots on my feet that came up to my knees. I had carefully placed my helmet on the chair. My name is Marnie Sullivan. I'm 29 years old. I've been on the mounted unit for over six years. I rode a sixteen hand gelding named Chase. He was my partner since I joined. The department wanted to try a different tactic with homicide detectives, though I don't know why. But I followed their orders. It came from the higher ranking officers.
Just then, the phone rang. Capt. Stottlemeyer answered it. Lt. Disher came over to me.
"So Chase is your partner right?" he asked leaning in a bit. I nodded.
"That must be cool," He said grinning. I relaxed a bit more and grinned back nodding. Capt. Stottlemeyer looked up at us.
"Let's go. We got a possible homicide,"
I was sitting atop Chase. I had gathered up the reins as I leaned forward slightly in the English saddle. My feet were in the stirrups and as I shifted my weight, the leather creaked. Chase's ears were flicked forward, listening to the commotion that was going on at the scene. His head slightly swiveled around watching a silver Jeep Cherokee pull up. I had snapped the chin straps on my helmet. A blond haired woman and a man stepped out. I recognized them as Adrian Monk, and his assistant Natalie Teeger.
Natalie squealed slightly and came over.
"Oh my Gosh! He's gorgeous!" Natalie said as she stood by my left leg and began petting Chase. I grinned down at her. Adrian kept his distance and was covering his nose.
"Hi. I'm Marnie Sullivan. I'm working with Lt. Disher and Capt Stottlemeyer for a bit. I'm really from the mounted unit," I said beaming at Natalie. I dropped one strap of the rein and extended my hand down for her. She happily shook it.
"Oh it's nice to meet you! Who's this handsome boy?" Natalie said turning her attention onto Chase.
"This is Chase," I said softly affectionately ruffling his mahogany mane.
"Natalie! Don't pet that!" Adrian Monk said edging toward Capt. Stottlemeyer and Lt. Disher. Natalie rolled her eyes and ignored him. I heard Capt. Stottlemeyer cough.
"People, we have a potential homicide over here. You can all pet the horsie afterwards," he said, his lip twitching. He was an older man, about five feet, six inches. He had gray hair that was slightly balding and a mustache over his lip. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and tie. His badge, which was clipped to his belt, glinted in the sun. Lt. Disher was about six feet. He was thin and had wheat brown hair, cropped a bit short and blue eyes. He was in a silver grey suit and tie. His badge was also clipped to his belt. Adrian was just as I had imagined from the stories and rumors. He had curly black hair, and dark brown eyes. He was dressed in tan slacks, a matching tan suit jacket and a plaid shirt buttoned all the way up to his neck beneath it. Natalie was pretty with chin length blond hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in a navy skirt and a light blue blouse. I gently clicked my tongue and spurred Chase a bit forward, so I could clearly see what was going on. Chase's hooves gently clopped against the dark asphalt. He flicked his tail and let out a soft snort as I pulled up alongside a dark blue Ford Crown Victoria. I was able to see what was going on.
A body was covered in a yellow tarp. Adrian Monk crouched down beside it and gently pulled back the edge, exposing a brown haired girl beneath it. Her head was turned, so the cheek was pressing against the ground. A blood pool had gathered by her mouth. Her arm was bent at an unnatural position. I raised a hand to my mouth and let out a low gasp. All eyes suddenly rose to me.
"I-I knew her," I stammered. "Her names Katie Horn."
Capt. Stottlemeyer consulted a small pad. "She's right. Katie Horn, 26. She lived on the fourth floor of this apartment. How did you know her?" All eyes were locked on me now. I shifted in the saddle again.
"Katie was my daughter's baby sitter,"
I turned my face away. I couldn't look at the body of her. Chase shifted his weight onto a different hoof and let one ear cock back.
"Captain I don't think this girl committed suicide like the paramedics thought. For starters, if she was pushed from the window, glass would be scattered around the body right? And another thing that head wound was not self inflicted. It was at the base of her skull. How could anyone hit themselves in that spot?" Monk asked slowly.
Captain Stottlemeyer looked around. "Alright everyone this is officially a homicide scene. I want prints and two officers to head up to the young lady's apartment. I want clues, anything,"
Everyone began scattering. The scene was quarantined off by the yellow and black police crime scene tape. Natalie came over and stood by my leg. She looked up at me.
"You have a daughter?" she asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. She's 10. Her names Chelsea," I said softly and I reached into my pocket. I pulled out my wallet and showed her a picture.
"Oooh she's so cute! I have a daughter too, her names Julie. She's fifteen," Natalie said proudly. We began talking animatedly until Monk slowly came over. He pressed the top of his wrist against his nose and watched Chase warily. Chase swung his head around to watch Monk. Both ears were pricked forward. Chase gently nudged Natalie's hand. Natalie chuckled and rubbed Chase's velvety nose.
"He's certainly a ham!" Natalie laughed. I laughed too.
"Mr. Monk he won't hurt you," I said beaming at him. "I'm Officer Marnie Sullivan. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
I knew he didn't shake hands well so I didn't offer it. Monk watched as Chase extended his nose out and lightly lipped at Monk's sleeve. Monk jumped back 4 feet. Natalie and I chuckled.
"That's his way of saying 'hi'," I said laughing and rubbing Chase's neck. Monk was frantic, attempting to wipe the sleeve clean. Lt. Disher came over and stood by Natalie, stroking Chase's neck. He looked up at me.
"I hear you have a daughter," he said softly smiling. "How is she?"
"She's good. It's just a shock to find her baby sitter dead. I-I don't know how I'm going to tell her," I said sadly. My stomach was churning. I could feel bile rushing up the back of my throat. I quickly dismounted, tossing Natalie the reins. I clamped a hand over my mouth and made a beeline to the bushes. I heaved and vomited. When I was finished, I wiped my mouth clean with the top of my wrist. I sensed someone behind me. Startled, I turned around and bumped into Lt. Disher.
"You ok?" he asked anxiously.
"Y-yeah I guess so," I said and straightened up.
"Listen if you want, I can have one of the officers bring Chase back to the stables and we could drop you off at home," Lt. Disher offered softly, his blue eyes studying me. I had to admit, he was pretty damn cute. I smiled and nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Lt. Disher put a hand on my arm before heading back. I saw one of the officers come over to Natalie and take Chase's reins. About 6 minutes later, a police horse trailer came and they loaded Chase onto it. I removed my helmet. I shook my hair out. Once Chase was heading back, Lt. Disher came over to me and led me toward the Ford Crown Vic. Natalie grinned at me but had a worried expression on her face. Monk gave me a nod and a half smile.
Lt. Disher drove me home. He pulled into my driveway and put the car in park. He shut off the engine. My house was a two story Victorian style, with an arc driveway. I climbed out of the passenger seat and headed up the stairs to my front door.
"Wow nice place," he commented in awe. I smiled.
I opened the front door and entered, with him following me. I put my keys onto the table and let a low whistle out. It was Chelsea and I's little signal when I returned home from work. I heard feet pounding down the stairs and immediately, she came into view, grinning broadly.
"Mommy!" she cried happily and threw her arm around my waist. I hugged her tightly.
"Hey Chelsea! This is Randy Disher, he's a police officer too," I said introducing Randy to Chelsea. Chelsea released her arms from around my waist and turned to Randy, who smiled and waved shyly. Chelsea squealed and hugged him too, throwing her arms around his waist. Randy awkwardly hugged her back. When Chelsea released him, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room. I looked back at Randy.
"She loves cops. So she'll hug anyone who is one," I said laughing. Randy followed me into the living room. I flopped onto the couch with Chelsea beside me and Randy on the other side of her.
"Honey, I have to tell you something very bad," I said in a soft and quiet tone. My expression was solemn. Chelsea's grin faded and a serious look came over her face.
"What is it?" She implied curiously.
"Um," I said slowly. "Remember Katie?"
Chelsea nodded.
"Well," I said tentatively raising my eyes to Randy's. "Katie had an accident…and she won't be coming back."
I looked at her for a bit letting it sink in. Tears formed in Chelsea's eyes. She burst into tears and slumped against me. I hugged her to me. Lt. Disher swallowed.
"Um, I need to get back. I'll see you tomorrow?" He said slowly getting up. "I can show myself out"
I nodded.
"Nice meeting you Chelsea," he added kindly gently touching her arm. Chelsea' peered at him from under my arm. Once Randy was gone, I cheered up Chelsea by putting on her favorite movie and we ordered Chinese food out.
I had changed out of my uniform and pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top with spaghetti shoulder straps. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, with a few shorter strands that hung down. I had gone to bed about 11 pm. I was tired and exhausted. I heard a crash down stairs around midnight. Alarmed, I sat up in bed and grabbed my gun off the night stand. I clicked back the hammer and carefully crept into the hallway. I made sure Chelsea was alright by opening her door a crack and peeking in. She was sound asleep.
Relieved I closed the door quietly and continued down the stairs. There was a man dressed in black delving through my drawers with a flashlight. I flicked on the light and stood in an isosceles firing position.
"Freeze!" I shouted aiming the gun at his back. The man froze and put up his hands defensively.
I had no idea there was a second guy standing in the living room until a hard object was slammed against the back of my skull. My back arched backward momentarily as darkness crept into my peripheral vision and I fell forward unconscious.
"She's coming around," A voice said above me. I moaned and blinked a few times. I raised my hand to my forehead. After a few moments, my line of vision cleared. I spied Capt Stottlemeyer, Lt. Disher, Adrian and Natalie peering down at me anxiously. I slowly sat up, seeing red fireworks going off behind my eyes as searing pain shot through my skull.
"Oh God," I groaned. "What happened?"
"Apparently, you surprised two robbers. They knocked you out," Captain Stottlemeyer said peering at me nervously. "Thank god we got the phone call before they could've done something even worse."
As the fog cleared in my brain, alarms went off. "Chelsea! Where is she?" I asked frantically looking around.
"She's fine she's with another officer," Lt. Disher said. I carefully got to my feet and spied Chelsea sitting with a female officer. Immediately, Chelsea spied me and rushed over. I scooped her up in my arms and hugged her tightly.
"It was actually Chelsea who made the call," Captain Stottlemeyer said grinning proudly at her. He reached over and gently touched Chelsea's cheek. "She must've heard your shout. All we can guess is that the robbers took off. Chelsea saw you lying unconscious and called 911. She remembered Lt. Disher's name and told the dispatcher to get in contact with him."
I squeezed her even more. She blushed and giggled.
I set her down. She beamed at Captain Stottlemeyer and gave him a hug too. He was blushing a bit and awkwardly patted her on the back.
"We'll keep an eye out in case they come back," he said as Chelsea went over to Natalie and they began talking. I nodded. I had no idea things would get even stranger.