Distraction
Chapter 1
Meghan Riley rode along beside him in the RMP. She tried not to keep looking at him, but she caught herself stealing glances out of the corner of her eye. "I hope he doesn't notice," she thought to herself as she snapped her attention back to the street in front of her.
She thought back to the start of the shift when the Lieutenant had told him that he had a new partner for the shift. Glaring at her, he'd told her to sign out two radios and he'd meet her in the RMP. He also advised her that he was none too pleased about a new partner while his current partner took some personal time to deal with a family issue. She watched him storm off, something - she didn't know what - holding her gaze on him. As he turned the corner, she realized that it was his looks and posture that had gotten her attention - she was definitely attracted to this man. "This could be a problem," she said out loud to herself as she headed to sign out the radios. She'd always told herself that she would never get involved with another cop, but there was no denying that sparks had flown - for her at least.
Meg was new to the 55th Precinct, having just transferred over from the neighboring Precinct after five years with the Department. She'd heard stories about this group - the Third Watch. They were close, looked out for each other. Hell, they were even on pretty good terms with the Bucket Boys across the street. It sounded appealing after being stuck with a partner that had just been looking forward to retiring for the last five years. She wanted to go after calls, stop crimes before they happened - much to the chagrin of her overweight, jaded partner. He was content to just lay low for the entire shift if he could get away with it. She'd complained a few times to her superiors, but Manny always cajoled the brass and nothing ever came of her complaints - nothing except the disrespect and labeling of "trouble-maker" throughout her Precinct.
Her thoughts of that other time were interrupted when she heard her partner's voice. She'd been so lost in thought that she almost visibly jumped when he addressed her.
"I'm sorry, what did you ask me?" Meg asked.
"I said, 'so what made you decide to transfer to the 55th?'," he repeated.
"Oh. My old partner retired and I was looking for a change. You know, looking at the same streets day after day. I figured since I needed a new partner anyway, now was a good time for a change of scenery," she answered, her gaze lingering on him a little longer than it should have.
"What?" he asked, catching the stare.
"What, what?" she responded back defensively, looking back out her window.
"So, where do you want to take dinner?" he asked, shaking his head and changing the subject.
Before Meg could answer, the radio crackled to life.
"55-David, take a call for a group of kids hanging out on the corner of Arthur and 137. Caller states she believes they are gang members and has heard rumors of something possibly occurring some time during this evening," the dispatcher relayed.
Bosco turned the car around to head in the direction of the call. After a moment of silence, the dispatcher came back on the radio.
"55-David, did you receive that call?"
"Driver drives, passenger works the radio," Bosco said in exasperation.
"Oh! Sorry," Meg responded, keying the microphone of her radio.
"55-David, Arthur and 137," she said in acknowledgement. She stole another glance at her partner's profile and mistook his look as irritation at her rather than what it really was - another call involving gangbangers.
"Sorry, my old partner never let me do anything. Anything else I should be doing?" Meg asked him, watching his eyes dart from the roadway to the mirrors checking for traffic.
Glancing at her, he answered, "watch my back and I'll watch yours." Arriving at the destination, he pulled the car to the curb. He threw the car into park, turned off the engine and took the keys from the ignition and put them in his front, right, pants pocket.
Opening the car door, he exited the vehicle, grabbing his nightstick and depositing it into the holder on his gunbelt, and taking in the scene before him all in one fluid motion. Meg was fascinated. He moved like a natural athlete.
Meg watched him adjust his gunbelt and walk around the front of the car to address the group of older teenagers before him.
"Julio! Long time no see. What are you guys up to tonight?" Bosco said, addressing the known leader of this group.
"Officer Bosco! We ain't doin' nothin'," Julio responded jovially, along with grunts of acknowledgement from his crew.
Meg opened the passenger door of the RMP and stood up alongside the car. She started to come around her door to approach the group, but Bosco put a hand up toward her to tell her to stay put and she did. Now, she stood with her right arm propped on the top of the open door and her left foot perched on the lower part of the doorframe.
"Well, Julio. That's not what I'm hearin' from the upstanding citizens of the neighborhood," Bosco said, his eyes scanning the group of kids for any obvious weapons.
Meg stood watching her partner. She couldn't take her eyes from him. Even though he was a little shorter than a couple of the members of this group, she could tell that he had their respect.
However, because of her distraction, she didn't hear or sense the approach of someone behind her.
TBC...