One-Eighty-Seven
"Dispatch, suspects have stopped and are exiting the vehicle!" Judy exclaimed into her radio, simultaneously unbuckling her seat belt and leaving her car.
She stepped out, using her door as cover as she drew her weapon.
"Hands-!" She began, but was silenced when the individuals opened fire with automatic weapons.
She ducked behind her door just as several bullets tore through the metal effortlessly, some entering through the windshield and rebounding through the interior as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Shots fired! Shots fired!" She cried into her radio, persuading herself to reopen her eyes.
The continual bursts of fire precluded her discharge from cover. Cringing in fear as the bullets relentlessly tore around her.
But as she held her position, she could hear additional sirens resounding as more units approached. This goaded her into action, rising unto her feet, she returned fire. Intentionally aiming only near the suspects to drive them into cover.
However, one with precise aim and a cold disposition stood unabated, accurately pumping rounds center mass, which effectively ceased her fire as she fell lifelessly to the pavement.
Three months earlier...
Judy and Nick both sat within their squad car, currently waiting at an intersection as the small orb of light shined red. The radio was also silent, only officers informing dispatch their availability as they went on break or did other things. So, they sat together in a growing silence, but chatted sometimes to staunch it's growth and to kill the boredom.
"Carrots, what are we doing again?" Nick inquired from boredom, yawning and stretching his arms. His eyes slitted with languor behind his aviators, with his brow flat with disinterest.
"Bogo assigned us to traffic...so, here we are." She replied, herself partially bored. Her expression loose and tired as well.
Nick didn't respond for a few moments as he took off his shades and rubbed his eyes, his eyebrows centering as they grew irritated.
"Hey...as thrilling as this is, you wanna just do something else? Or go somewhere?" He asked, sighing a bit afterwards.
"Not gonna happen, Nick. I don't think Bogo would appreciate his newest recruit shirking his duties..." She replied, throwing a quick glance over to him as she drove; the light finally shining green.
"..mm..." He replied. Beneath his shades, his eyes already half closed.
They continued on, driving patiently through the boundless network of the city's streets.
"And besides, we have an ANPR camera now. So, we should get at least something to do..." She stated, her eyes still on the road.
But as she didn't receive a reply, she glanced over to him to find him resting his head back, nearly asleep as his mouth slightly drew open.
"Hey, Nick." She spoke, rapping his shoulder with her knuckles."Get up, we can't be sleeping on the job...Nick!" She continued, raising her voice.
Soon, he picked his head back up, blinking under his shades as he sighed once more.
"Alright, alright. Stop hitting me..." He spoke, slightly annoyed.
There, she refocused her attention on the road.
"Just wait a bit, we'll get something..."
Silence was drawn forth, and they wouldn't talk for some time. Occasionally, one would strike small chitchat, but it wasn't enough to draw Nick away from being tired. As time would pass, she would often catch him with his head slumped over, already beginning to snore until she woke him up. Though she didn't blame Nick for his lethargy, ever since their shift started it had been slow, and, according to Nick, they were uselessly dragged out of bed at an ungodly hour just to waste time driving around.
"Oh yeah? Do I make up for it?" She asked, an amused smile lifting up her lips, glancing over to the still waking fox.
He yawned at first, but let his smug smile tilt his lips as he stretched.
"I wouldn't inflate your ego too much, Carrots." He replied, sighing as his shoulders rested. "Your company alone isn't that great..."
"Oh, coming from a fox who lived on the streets for twenty years. I bet the only company you had was that sullen little fox you hang around with and a bottle of liquor." She quipped back.
His smile remained, and he only turned to her. His brow flat with amusement.
"Yeah, still better than a patch of weeds and some beetles."
She shook her head, glancing back at the street.
"Actually, I had a lot of siblings back there, thank you..." She exhaled through her nostrils, before her brow rose. "Too many...God knows no one ever went lonely." She chuckled a bit.
"Hmm…." His glance falling back forward, his lips straightening out. "I assumed that was exactly the reason why someone would. I bet there was at least one feeling left out of the majority." He said, echoing his thoughts.
Her eyebrows centered, before she glanced at him.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, think about it. 200+ kids? And two parents? Someone was overlooked at times..."
She remained in thought, her ears laying back.
"Huh...I never really thought about that way."
"Of course not. You were the one they pampered and nursed like a-" He paused for a short moment. "What do they call baby rabbits?" He asked, glancing over at her.
"I was not pampered." She objected, ignoring his question. She pinned her eyes on him. "There was plenty of times where I was disciplined."
"About what? Not eating all the carrots?" He smiled once more.
Though she only replied to his grin with a slight frown, her nose twitching before she looked back at the road. He let loose a couple of loose chuckles, he loved annoying her.
"Love ya, Jude..." He said, mockingly.
"Shut up..." She replied.
He chuckled once more to himself, and let the discourse come to an end. He reclined into his seat and closed his eyes once more. His smile, by slow degrees, fading away.
Another few hours passed, and they kept on driving. Or she did, as Nick kept sinking back into slumber, despite how many times she'd have to hit his arm to wake him up. But she gave in eventually, allowing him to sleep as she remained awake. At least one of them had to do their job.
She was stopped at another intersection, with another light which seemed to be annoyingly defiant as it still beamed red.
She sighed, resting her head on her fist as she propped up her elbow against the window. But just as she skimmed through her thoughts, the computer console chirped, and she glanced over. And as soon as she read it's contents on the screen, her frame surged with joy and she smiled largely. The emotion completely transforming her features, her ears perking as her eyes widened.
She then turned towards Nick and gripped his shoulder with an ecstasy and energy that matched that of a child, and vigorously rocked the weary fox back and forth.
"Nick! Nick get up! We got an ANPR hit! Come on! Nick!" She exclaimed.
He began to stir as she drove, accelerating to catch up with the vehicle in question.
"Wha...what?" Nick spoke, too tired to properly speak.
"Get up! The ANPR picked up a car!" She said, before mildly containing a shrill of excitement as she turned right on the corner. "Yes! Finally! Let's do this!" She spoke, before turning once more towards Nick and pounding his shoulder. "Come on! Get up! Get up!" She exclaimed once more.
"Ow! Okay! I'm up, Judy!" He exclaimed, thoroughly agitated as his expression tensed. He leaned forward, resting his head on open palms. "Jeez, would it kill you to just tap on my shoulder?" He complained, rubbing the sore area.
Judy ignored his complaint and activated the lights, the car ahead of them obeying; pulling over to the side as Judy followed and parked directly behind them.
"The car was tagged as a stolen vehicle! Let's go!" She said, before almost leaping from the car in excitement.
But as she unbuckled her seat belt, she reflected before she fully extended the door; pausing for a couple moments.
Soon, she closed the door once again, and glanced over to Nick, smiling. He caught her look after he was finished rearranging his shades. To which, he leaned back and blinked twice in slight confusion before speaking.
"What?" He said, a bit hesitant.
"You should do this one." She replied, her smile never fading.
"What? Why me?" He inquired a little defensively.
"I wanna see if you still remember anything from the academy. Seeing it you're so willing to shirk your duties...I thought I should test your knowledge." She said, her smile turning into a teasing grin.
"What about you? You're not some seasoned detective, you're just as new as I am." He countered.
"I just solved a case of 14 missing animals." She jeered, smirking. "Bringing them all back, safe and sound."
Nick scoffed, rolling his eyes behind his shades.
"Just solved? You do know that was over five months ago, right?" He jabbed back.
"Aw, is that a hint of jealousy in your voice?" She replied, still grinning.
"Oh please, jealous of you, Carrots?" He said, glancing at her with a smile. "As if being a 4 foot rabbit was of any merit?"
"More than you can dream of, Wilde." She replied, before leaning back into her car door. "Now go on, we don't want our car thief to start thinking of anything."
He gave her a long stare, before his brow rose and he sighed.
"Alright, alright...fine..." He gave in, unbuckling his seat belt and opening the door. "But you're paying for lunch this time..." He added.
"Fine." She said with a smile; she knew just the place that Nick hated.
Nick then leaned out of the car before closing the door and rounding the front end of their car.
He made his way up to the driver's window as they rolled it down; a panther sat within it. His demeanor was cold and hardened, his features tense with a vertical line drawn between his eyebrows.
His eyes alone seemed capable to burn through Nick's shades with his demeaning glare. But, before Nick could accost him, the panther was choleric and brusque.
"What do you want?" His voice a clear bass, it plainly agitated.
Before Nick began, he took a few moments to observe the situation. His car was unkempt, clothes and old food boxes lay scattered within it. Not to mention the stench that wafted from the interior. His nose wrinkled; resembling much of a pig-sty.
'No accounting for taste...' Nick thought as his eyes went over the specific brands.
And the panther himself seemed incongruous to his setting, save for the trash itself, the car didn't seem befitting to him, as it was a stark contrast to the panther's demeanor and semblance. It was too small for the panther to actually fit comfortably inside.
Nonetheless, his eyes flitted back towards the driver, and he began his questioning calmly.
"Afternoon, sir. I-"
"Why didn't the driver come out?" The panther spoke, cutting Nick short as he glanced into his rear view mirror. "Was she too much of a bitch to talk to me herself?" He sneered, knowing how much he'd irked Nick as he scornful smile grew.
But before Nick could resort to his instinctual retorts, he remembered to remain professional, keeping control over his words.
"Sir...An attitude like that will not get you far with me..." He then spoke sternly, his features tensing.
"Then it'll make two of us when you cut the shit...what do you want?" The driver replied, impatient as his brow furrowed.
"You were pulled over because we have a suspicion of this vehicle. May I see your license and registration?" Nick managed to reply collectively, flexing his fists down by his sides.
A few moments passed before the driver sighed.
"Fine..." He said.
Visibly annoyed as he had to commit to some physical exertion. He reached into his back pocket, and pulled out his wallet, sliding out his license.
"It's my daughter's car..." The driver said as he handed over the card. "Mine's in the shop still...I had to take her's to work...Her name's Kara..." He finished.
Nick didn't reply, his eyes glued to the details of the license. After skimming through, he handed it back.
"Excuse me, I'll be right back..." He said simply.
The driver began to say something out of agitation, but Nick curtly walked away. Pretending he didn't hear a sound when the driver swore. Nick approached Judy's window, and it rolled down as he leaned in, folding his arms on the door while he sighed in partial relief.
"Man, he's a real dick..." He started.
"Really? How bad?" She inquired.
"Well...I wouldn't want to see things from his point of view, seeing I couldn't get my head that far up my ass in the first place..." He replied.
She scoffed, shaking her head.
"Alright." She said with her lips upturned. "You don't have to swear..." She spoke.
"My bad..." He said, sighing as he glanced at the car again, before turning to Judy.
"Anyways...Driver's name is Burnett Montarac..." He began."Male, Panther..." He spoke as Judy typed the name into the console, searching into the subject records database.
Moments later he came up. And they observed his record.
"He's 29 years old...He has a valid 27, and a negative 99...but he has priors with assault, and grand theft auto..." Judy spoke, reading out loud, her eyes focusing with concentration.
Nick paused for a moment, thinking to himself before speaking.
"Uh...I'm sorry, but...a 27 and a 99. That's uh...uh, what's that again?" Nick said, slightly confused.
Judy glanced over to him impatiently. "Really?..."
"Hey, I'm tired!" He exclaimed, his arms spreading wide. "Plus, this jerk here isn't helping." He said, sending his thumb in the direction of the suspects' car.
She sighed once more, shaking her head.
"It's 10-27, and a 10-99. It means he has a valid license, and he's not wanted..." She spoke. As she did, Nick nodded as it restored his memory.
"Right, right...I remember now...what name pulled up with the car?" He inquired.
"Uh..." She began, typing once more into the console. "Kate Trot..."
Nick reviewed the information in his mind and leaned out from the window.
"Alright, I'll be back..." He said, strolling towards the car once more.
But he halted once the car's tires shrieked as they burned against the road, it propelling forward and away. Nick immediately made an 180 degree turn, darting back to the car and sliding into his seat just as Judy gave chase.
Hitting the gas, she swung the wheel towards the left to exit the side. The car's engine roared as they accelerated, and their sirens cried as they weaved through traffic.
"Dispatch, we're in a pursuit with a gray sedan! We're heading east on Mayweather road! Requesting additional code 3 units, over!" Nick spoke into the console radio, leaning to the side to speak properly into the receiver.
Moments later a familiar voice crackled back through.
"10-4, 1-Adam-12, alerting units within your vicinity..." Clawhauser spoke.
They continued, accelerating at dangerous speeds in pursuit with the vehicle. Nick leaned back, clinging onto whatever was nearest as his heart palpitated through his chest; his anxiety growing.
They followed close behind the suspect, but his anxiety spiked each time she managed to blow past dormant or moving cars, sliding dangerously close to each one.
"Hey, could ya slow down? Judy?" He said, slightly raising his voice as they careened through congested streets. "Judy? Judy!?" He began yelling, throwing quick glances over to her as she was unresponsive.
But she didn't hear his words, her attention primarily focused on the pursuit at hand.
"Judy?!" He yelled once more.
But she gasped as her eyes widened, slamming down on the brakes. Ahead a terrible noise of grating and clashing metal broke in the atmosphere, as the car ahead careened into a large truck, t-boning it into a slow spin before resting to a stop.
Judy and Nick jerked forward as the car lurched from the sudden decrease of speed, but their seat belts locked, and restrained them from making contact with the dashboard. Then the car jerked back, rocking a bit before resting.
The gray sedan was wrecked, the whole car almost completely compressed and mangled with debris from both vehicles littered around. The truck only suffering minimal damage.
After a moment to collect their heads, they both quickly undid their belts, exited the car and darted towards the wreckage. Nick followed Judy closely behind, both of them shocked and anxious for the people involved.
Nick checked on the suspect as Judy checked the welfare of the civilian. He ran to the door of the sedan, and began trying to pry it open. Though it proving difficult as it shrunk to nearly half it's size.
Smoke surged from the engine, hissing as it wafted white into the air and into Nick's lungs. He coughed harshly momentarily, but continued nonetheless. And after a few moments, he managed to swing the mangled door open.
He peered in the cab, seeing the panther unconscious and horribly bloodied. His heart seized, and his breath caught in his throat as he glanced into the grisly mess of the driver's face. Soon, he backed away and spoke into his radio.
"Dispatch, suspect has 10-50'd, we need EMS straightaway!"
The additional squad cars arrived, some of the cops making way towards each wreck as others maintained the roads. He shrunk away as other larger cops took his place, hauling the driver from the vehicle and unto the ground where they attempted to treat the suspect with the little they had.
Nick stood not too afar off, only spectating as he dreaded to draw too close. He watched as an officer pressed rhythmically into the panther's chest, attempting to resuscitate him.
But his eyes inevitably drew back to his face, taking in the horrid details. The driver's eyes were rolled to the back of his head, which itself was partially caved in.
Blood pumped out of the crevice in rivers which coated nearly the entirety of the panther's face. The red liquid spilled dark on the ground as it began pooling, and pink bubbles swelled from his nostrils and popped as his body convulsed.
Nick quickly turned away in horror mingled with disgust, his stomach twisting around as he attempted to clear his mind and to keep himself from losing composure.
Judy was kneeling down beside the victims of the other car, a family of two. A father who had a stream of blood from his brow, but disregarded it as he hovered over the unmoving body of his son.
Soon, the EMS sirens could be heard approaching at last, wailing into the mid after noon air.
Nick's eyes stared vacantly out the window of the station, while Judy worked on the report of their encounter. His mind sank deeper into his thoughts, and the world around him was muted. His mind still replaying the scene in his head.
He snapped it from his thoughts though, and turned from the window.
Don't lose your head now, Nick.
He closed his eyes and began to breath through his nostrils, his eyes reopening; his mask donned once more.
Judy was approaching with two mugs of coffee in her paws, her expression slightly lifting as she smiled; it was a small one though.
"Hey..." She said, handing a mug down to him. Though he inwardly sighed, he didn't have any desire to consume anything, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful, so he accepted it anyways.
"Hi." He replied, smiling before he took the cup. "Thanks."
He tipped the cup to his lips and drank generously, letting the warm liquid slither down his throat.
"Well, I'm almost done with the report..." She said, sighing.
"Yeah? That's good. Afterwards, we could go get lunch still, you hungry?" He replied, still smiling.
Judy took a moment to peer at his features. She couldn't get a read on him, it was Nick's first pursuit, and he wasn't even shaking still. Even after what had happened. She descended with the thought. It was slightly unnerving how good he was with the masks he wore.
"Ah, not really..." She replied, sighing.
"Why not? Not looking forward to buying it?" Nick spoke, another smug grin on his face.
She only scoffed off his remark, her head shaking slightly. She remained silent for a moment before she glanced back at him.
"Well, I gave you your coffee. I have to go back and finish the report." She replied, turning back.
"Alright, take your time, Jude. I don't mind doing nothing..." He said while leaning back on his seat.
Take your time...I'm not going anywhere...
Once more, they sat together in their cruiser. Judy drove, and Nick was the passenger. However, the atmosphere was different, despite how Nick wanted to contrive the pretense that it wasn't. She felt that his attempts at humor and his bites of sarcasm were forced, slightly. Just as a show.
He was probably inwardly brooding, more than likely over the event which occurred earlier, and was just trying to maintain a guise to help him forget. But, instead of prodding at him and re-opening old wounds, she kept her thoughts to herself, and remained silent as they drove.
Dusk quickly approached, the sun retiring from it's work as it neared to the horizon, with the sky darkening to a deep red orange. The radio was silent for some time, until Clawhauser's voice unexpectedly crackled,
"Any units in the vicinity, we have reports of a possible 187. Please respond for the further..."
The transmission quickly latched their attention, both of them glancing towards the console before exchanging concerned looks, as they knew what the code meant. Moments later, Judy procured the receiver, speaking into it.
"Dispatch, this is 1-Adam-12. We'll take that..." She answered.
"Roger, 1-Adam-12. Civilian reports a possible homicide near Highway 15, respond Code 3, over."
"10-4, Dispatch. We're on our way..."
There, the siren and lights activated once more. And they were carving their way through the city streets. However, not without Nick inwardly dreading what could come next.