Disclaimer: Early Edition, its characters and whatever else is owned by Tri-star and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is, was or ever will be made off of this.

This story takes place early first season.

Another day, another dollar. Well, that's what I would have said if were the end of my shift, but it's only the beginning. The very beginning.

The cleaners did a good job with my baby. I can still smell the Armor All on the interior vinyl, the light orange smell of the exterior car wax and the lingering smell of ammonia from the Windex on the windows. They even replaced the little green tree air freshener.

The vinyl squeaks as I slide into the drivers seat. My baby roars to live as I turn the ignition. After making a few adjustments to mirrors I shift the car into drive and began my day as a taxi driver in the Windy City.

"TAXI!!"

The tires squealed as I slammed on the brakes, stopping short. A short, skinny man wearing a charcoal colored suit and overcoat stepped into the street with one hand in front of him and in his other hand is a cup, coffee I presume. I really hate when people do that, they are just asking to get hit.

"Hey! You almost made me spill my coffee."

Yup! I was right. Coffee. Okay, maybe it wasn't the hardest thing to guess after all a lot of people drink coffee this early in the morning. And it was a Starbucks cup.

"Where to?" I asked as he got into the cab.

"The Blackstone Hotel."

I pushed a button on the meter and pull into the stop and go flow of Tuesday morning traffic. I of course don't mind, but the passenger in the back seat seems slightly irritated by it.

"Don't you know any shortcuts? I can walk faster than this," he complaint. "I should have walked. It was only a couple of blocks away..."

"So why didn't you?"

"With an attitude like that you're not gonna get a -- Hey! Stop! There's Gary... Gary!! HEY GAR!!"

Like I know who Gary is.

I watched him from the rear view as he leaned out the window and called to a pedestrian running down the street carrying a fire extinguisher, a box of frozen White Castle burgers, and what looks to be a pool net? It's a little early for a scavenger hunt, it being only about 6:45ish.

"Stop the car!!"

I stopped. After all, the meter was still running and I get paid either way if were moving or standing.

"Chuck!!" Gary yelled. "Why are you in a cab? Where's your car. I need a ride!"

"Gar! Buddy! I was just on my way to see you but your out and about pretty early. It's only 6:50, " my passenger replied.

"Yeah I know. Get out." Gary opened the back door and grabbed Chuck's arm. "I need this cab..."

Gary looks like a nice, clean-cut guy with his navy pea coat and white turtleneck, like something out of the LL Bean catalog.

"What?" Chuck protested but Gary had already pulled him halfway out the car.

"5.75" I said flatly. I'm not going to get into this. I've seen people fight for cabs, but being pulled out of one was a first.

"Will you excuse us for a moment..." Mr. Bean stuck his head into the cab. He pulled Chuck out all the way and pulled him aside and away from my prying ears.

I couldn't really make out what they were saying. You see I'm really bad at reading lips and they were talking in hushed voices. From what I can figure, it had something to do with the newspaper that LL Bean had in his hand. He kept pointing to it as they continued their private conversation. What did my passenger call him? That's right Gary.

It's none of my business anyway. So I reached over and turned on the radio. I hoped to have found some music, but at this hour most stations play morning talk shows.

"Can you get me to Lincoln Park Zoo really fast?" Gary got into the cab with all his stuff. He had a slight problem getting the pool net into the back seat, but after a few tries he finally got it.

"Sure, but the other guy's got to pay his fare first..."

"Never mind that... I'll pay it..."

I watched him for a moment. He has this look of desperation in his eyes. Gary must have really wanted a ride. "Sure you're the boss..."

We drove off, leaving my first passenger on the curb looking mildly miffed.

"Gar wait!" my first passenger hollered.

"Don't stop, just go!" my new passenger ordered from the back seat.

I did what he asked and didn't stop. His friend on the curb looked irked, but that's none of my concern.

Things were going pretty smoothly until I turned onto Lake Shore Drive. I remembered reading something about a major construction project by the Department of Roads and Highways. Today's paper said it was really going to snarl up early morning traffic. We are now stuck in the results.

"Take the highway it's faster..."

I silently nod. The traffic there was bad, but we were moving slightly faster. My passenger has said nothing more to me. He was too engrossed in reading his newspaper.

"You know the Zoo isn't open..." I broke the silence between us. I kept one eye on him from the rear view mirror while the other watched the road.

"Huh?" He looked from reading the paper.

Funniest thing though, I read today's paper as I took the EL to work, but the one he's reading looks different. It's the headlines. Maybe he's reading a later edition of the paper, or it could be yesterday's. I never got around to reading that one.

"The Zoo is still closed," I repeated. "It doesn't usually open until ten-ish, if even that. But if I remember correctly they're closed for renovations, construction or something like that..."

"It's construction. They're building a new fence for the Waterfowl Lagoon..."

"You work for the zoo?"

"Uh... No... Damn..."

Before I could ask another question we pulled up to the front gates of the zoo. I watched him stuff the newspaper into his jacket, mumbling to himself.

"Is everything all right back there?"

"... Mumble, mumble, cat, gripe, gripe, paper... Huh... everything's fine..."

Uh, okay, this guy's a little strange, but it's early in the morning. Maybe he's just having an off day. He looks like he was rudely awakened and hadn't had his first cup of coffee. Heck, he still has bed head.

I pull up to the entrance and stop the meter, but Gary hops out the cab and says, "Keep the meter running. I'll be right back..."

"Wait... I just can't..."

Gary reached into his pocket and threw his wallet through the driver side window. "There's seven hundred dollars in there. I'm not going to fare jump on you. You can hold that as proof." He ran off towards the zoo.

Okay, I won't lie, the thought of taking his wallet and leaving did cross my mind. That's six hundred and seventy one dollars left from his fare that could have went into my pocket. But momma didn't raise a thief. She raised a snoop.

He wasn't lying. There was closer to eight hundred and a couple of major credit cards, the usual pieces of ID and a couple of pictures. The pictures are nice. There were two in there. One is of Gary and a woman holding each other affectionately. On the back of the picture there's an inscription. It said "First Anniversary". So, he's married. She's pretty. I pushed the first picture back into the wallet and look at the next one. It's a picture of him and my first passenger at Wrigley. Hmm, I guess they are really good friends.

About fifteen minutes later he comes back, covered waist down in mud, and with feathers in his hair.

"Stupid ducks..."

"Um... Never mind..." I was about to tell him that he couldn't get into my cab like that, but I didn't have the heart. Sigh, there goes my freshly cleaned vinyl. I'll have to stop back at the garage again. I hope he's a big tipper. "Where to now boss?"

"Take me to Old Town, West Willow Street.."

TBC