Christmas Break
Chapter 1
It had been a very long shift for the young Inspector down in Bryant Street. Having volunteered for one of the Christmas shifts, in order to allow those officers with children the time off to spend with their families, Steve Keller was starting to feel the effects of his long time at work. He had put down for the long twenty four hour shift from five o'clock on Christmas Eve until five pm on Christmas Day so that he could at least get to join Mike and Jeannie for Christmas Dinner at six pm over at the Stone residence.
The shift had started off quietly enough, and Steve had torn through a pile of reports to be typed up. Little had he known that it had been the calm before the storm. As nine o'clock on Christmas Eve approached, for some unknown reason, hell had decided to be unleashed and without much warning the phones had begun to ring off the hook. Steve, Norm and Sekulovich were the only officers in the Office and Healy and Jefferson were already dealing with two other crime scenes down town. Norm, Art and Steve struggled to keep up with the phone calls and taking down details and by the time the phones calmed down there were three more crime scenes to be dealt with. Steve and Norm sighed heavily and took one each and agreed to meet up at the third just after. The next eight hours were busy ones as crime scenes were attended and cordoned off, lab boys and the coroners office informed and by the time all three crime scenes had been looked after, a very tired Norm Haseejian and Steve Keller arrived back to Bryant Street and collapsed into their chairs. Healy and Jefferson were back at the office by then and looked equally worn out. Art made them all some coffee and they gratefully accepted it and taking out their notebooks they started with their various investigations.
By the time it was three o'clock on Christmas Day they had all made great advances in their various cases and were feeling exhausted. Sekulovich was looking after the four detectives very well, seeing how run off their feet they had been and admiring the four men for sacrificing their holiday time to allow the other men to be home for the holidays with their kids so he supplied them with regular sandwiches, doughnuts and coffee to keep them going. The men were very grateful to the older officer as they wouldn't have had time to eat otherwise. Norm threw down his pen and rubbed his sore eyes and sighed heavily causing Steve to look over his shoulder at his colleague.
"You ok Norm?"
"Yeah ... Just great." he said somewhat sarcastically and wearily and then seeing Steve's unsure reaction he continued quickly." Sorry kid. Some shift huh? Why do we keep doing this to ourselves huh? Trying to keep this place ticking over while everyone else is home eating turkey and opening presents. You know we do this every year."
"Well, we do it so they can spend time with their families Norm. You and I, Art, Healy and Jefferson are the only ones who don't have any kids or family expecting us anywhere. You know that. It's the right thing to do Norm."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right kid. Don't mind me ... I'm just tired that's all. But hey speak for yourself. She mightn't be family but I have a hot date later this evening with the lovely Brenda. Ooh and is she hot. "
"Ok, ok Norm." Steve said smiling." You don't have to tell me anymore. I get the picture. Spare me the rest of the details. Huh?"
Norm laughed and getting up he wandered over to Steve's desk and taking a well earned break he sat down on the corner of Steve's desk.
"Say, aren't you having dinner at Mike's later?"
"Yeah, at six o'clock. "
"That doesn't give you any time to catch up on some sleep first ... let's hope you don't fall asleep before the starters arrive. You see I'm not meeting Brenda until ten. Gives me time to recharge my batteries before we get together ... if you know what I mean ..." Norm winked and nudged at the younger inspector.
"NORM! Enough already. Spare me anymore sordid details ok? And don't you concern yourself with my stamina. You just worry about your own. Especially after the amount of Art's doughnuts you've managed to polish off over the last eight hours or so." Steve teased, poking Norm's abdomen.
"Hey watch it kid. I'll have you know, my body is a temple and what you're poking is pure muscle." Norm added defensively.
Steve laughed.
"A temple for junk food Norm. Don't you realize the damage you're doing to yourself eating that junk?"
"Well, if the opposite is turning out as skinny as you then I'll take my chances kid. You're the one that needs more meat on your bones. Why my elderly grandmother weighs more than you do."
Steve laughed heartily again.
"Don't let the skinny fool you Norm. This body maybe lean but it's strong and fast when required thank you very much." Steve said still chuckling.
Norm smiled broadly and patted Steve's shoulder.
"I know that kid. I'm just teasing you. "
Norm walked back to his desk and for the next hour all four men busied themselves with their cases. At four o'clock, the door to the bullpen opened and Bill Tanner and Lee Lessing walked in. All five occupants of the bullpen looked up surprised to see their replacements arrive an hour early for their shift.
"What's up guys? You get fed up eating turkey and needed some real food instead?" Norm asked holding up the bag of leftover doughnuts on his desk.
Steve laughed constantly amazed how Haseejian always seemed to think through his stomach. Tanner and Lessing looked at each other and laughed too.
"No, the turkey was quite tasty actually." Tanner answered " But we just figured that as you guys have been stuck in here for the festivities so far, the least we could do would be to come in early and make sure you finish your shifts on time."
"Ooh, ooh! ... Good thinking fellas. Much appreciated. I really need to leave on time. " Norm spluttered through a mouthful of chocolate doughnut and waved his case file at Tanner looking for assistance.
Again Steve returned his gaze to his notebook and shook his head at his colleague's forthrightness. He reckoned the lovely Brenda must be high on Norm's list of priorities and then glancing over at Mike's empty office he thought about his own plans for the evening.
Mike had finished up work early two days before and had taken some well earned leave. Jeannie was coming home for the holidays and Mike had gone straight from work to collect her off the bus. He knew Mike had been looking forward to seeing her as he had been super distracted all day in work that day. Steve laughed as he remembered how Mike had stirred his coffee with his pen in one distracted moment at his desk staring at Jeannie's photograph and he had talked about practically nothing else but his beloved daughter all day long. Steve hadn't managed to see Jeannie yet as with so many men on leave for the Christmas holidays Steve had been filling in extra shifts. Mike had scolded him for volunteering so much but Steve always felt that it was the least he could do. He figured that if he was ever fortunate enough to have a wife and kids of his own he would appreciate a young free and single detective doing as much for him and he knew the other guys appreciated his efforts. It used to sadden him that he had no family to speak of to spend the holidays with but since being partnered with Mike Stone that was no longer an issue. Steve knew that he was always made welcome at the Stone Residence for Christmas and was always made to feel like one of the family.
Steve smiled as he thought about Mike and Jeannie and the thoughts of Jeannie's fabulous home cooked turkey dinner actually started to make his stomach rumble. He thought of how Mike always proudly carved the turkey and how warm and welcome he always felt when he was there. He was looking forward to heading over there soon and relaxing with the two people he cared about so much. It made all his hard work at the office seem somehow worthwhile as when he finished this shift soon he wasn't due back into work for another thirty six hours and boy was he going to make the most of every minute of his downtime.
Suddenly Steve's back and shoulders seemed to ache. He was feeling really tired and started to regret the lack of sleep he had managed to get over the last two days. After Mike had headed off early, he had warned Steve to make sure he got some rest before starting his long holiday shift but the guys had been heading over to Arnie's bar for a Christmas drink after work and asked him to tag along. Normally, he would graciously decline but with the season that was in it he didn't want to seem like an old Scrooge so he had agreed to join them, hoping to slip away after a beer or two to catch up on some shut eye.
But the guys who were scheduled for time off were in full holiday mode and anytime Steve had tried to call it a night he had been dragged back to the group reluctantly and begged to stay longer. Despite only having two beers himself the entire evening he somehow managed to have landed himself the role unwittingly of making sure that the by now well inebriated officers were safely deposited into taxis and sent home to their wives and by the time he got home to Union Street and practically fell into his bed still clothed and exhausted, he had just five hours left before his next shift started, to sleep, shower and make his way back to the Office.
Now that fatigue was catching up on him, he started to panic that maybe Norm was right. What if he did fall asleep in Mike's before the dinner was served? Jeannie would not be best pleased and he could only imagine the lecture that Mike would give him for not going home and resting like he had been told to. So in that instant he stood up and headed for the coffee machine for a double strong dose of caffeine to keep him going. He was so lost in his tiredness and his thoughts that he hardly noticed Lee Lessing approaching his desk, as he stood at the coffee table outside Mike's Office. Turning with his coffee he almost banged straight into his colleague and proffered apologies, glad that the hot liquid had not spilled on either of them and grateful that at least his reflexes were still as sharp as ever.
"Sorry Lee. I was miles away."
"That's ok. You look exhausted man. Tough shift?"
"Yeah, you could say that. How did the kids get on this morning? Were they pleased with what Santa left them?"
"Oh yeah. Smiles all round man. Except between you and me, the toy piano that Lisa got is one of the reasons I came in early. She hasn't stopped banging that thing all day man. I sure hope the novelty wears off by the time I get home."
Steve laughed and patted his friend's shoulder and took a long reviving drink of the strong coffee.
"You know it's not coffee you need my friend it's some sleep. That stuff will just have your nerves on edge man. How about you show me some of your casework and I'll continue on it while you head off early and catch up on some well needed shuteye. Huh?"
Steve finished the coffee in one swallow and placed the empty cup on his desk.
"I can't Lee. I have to be at Mike's for six. Jeannie is doing dinner for then and she HATES people being late. Sleep is going to have to wait I'm afraid. So for now, caffeine and nervous energy are all I got." Steve said smiling at his colleague.
Then together they sat down at Steve's desk and Steve filled Lee in on his latest case and what he had managed to find out so far. As Lee took the files and Steve tidied up his desk it was just coming up to five to five and four other detectives filed into the bullpen all looking like they had over indulged on Christmas food and festivities. Steve smiled, grabbed his jacket and after wishing his colleagues all the best, and wishing Norm all the best with his hot date later, he wearily headed down to the locker rooms. He changed his clothes and retrieved the presents he had bought for Mike and Jeannie. They weren't much or at least that's how Steve felt about them considering all they did for him but he hadn't had much time to go shopping with all the extra shifts he had pulled and he never regarded himself as the best gift buyer. He also had a bottle of wine and some chocolates in his locker to bring and a bunch of red roses for the chef. With all his belongings collected he headed down to the car park and prepared himself for the drive to Mike's just hoping that the traffic would be light as the time was now five fifteen.
As he pulled out of the carpark and headed down town in the direction of De Haro Street, Steve's worst fears were realized. The traffic was heavy and congested and turning on the radio he heard about a major car pile up on the Bay bridge that had resulted in things slowing down all over. Steve banged the steering wheel in frustration and cursed his luck. He was tempted to use the gumball to get to Mike's quicker but thought better of it seeing as Jeannie's love of punctuality when she was cooking wasn't really deemed as emergency protocol for using the siren even if Steve thought that perhaps it should be.
As he crawled along in the traffic, and grew more frustrated with every passing minute, he was only too grateful that at least he didn't have too far to go from Bryant Street to Mike's house. Stopped at a street corner he opened the window for some air and a high pitched scream startled him to his left. Looking in the direction the scream came from, he saw an elderly lady on the pavement struggling to stop her bag being taken by a tall hooded assailant. In mere seconds the lady had been thrown to the ground and the assailant took off with the lady's bag. Without a further thought about the traffic or where he was heading, Steve pulled his car in towards the sidewalk and exited the car at high speed. As he reached the lady on the ground other people had gathered. Satisfied that she was being cared for, he took off after the assailant with all the strength he could muster. Drawing his weapon, he stopped and pointed it after the running man.
"STOP! POLICE! " he shouted but the man kept running and as too many pedestrians got in his line of fire, Steve resigned himself to a chase instead.
Holstering his weapon again, and cursing his luck under his breath he took off after his man, struggling to keep him in sight amongst the crowd. The pursuit was a tough one. The man he pursued seemed to know the area very well and was every bit as fast and agile as himself. Dodging down alleyways and crossing busy streets, it took Steve every ounce of energy he had left to keep up with the young man, but to his credit, keep up with him he did. As they raced down the next alleyway, Steve knew he had to try to take him down soon. His energy levels were depleting and due to lack of sleep his leg muscles were protesting the pursuit. If he didn't take him down soon he would surely lose him and he didn't want that to happen. As luck would have it the robber stumbled and lost his footing briefly allowing Steve, the few yards he needed to make up the difference between them and throwing himself wrecklessly forward he tackled the hooded man and took him down. As the two men fell forward and their bodies twisted due to gravity, the hooded man hit the ground winded by Steve's weight but Steve hadn't been so lucky and the momentum saw Steve's left shoulder hit the alley wall at speed causing a blood curdling pain to shoot through his shoulder and into his neck muscles. Steve was temporarily floored by the agonizing pain but luckily, the assailant was struggling to regain his breath too having been taken down so hard by Steve. The woman's handbag lay discarded beside the young man and reaching behind him with his right hand, Steve retrieved his handcuffs and fastened them securely on his prisoner. Breathlessly and in gasps, both from the pain that was still mercilessly throbbing through his left shoulder and from the exertion of the pursuit, Steve started to read the perp his rights. Standing up gingerly and pulling the young man somewhat painfully up with him, he added, picking up the tan colored handbag.
"You know, by the way, this colour really doesn't match your outfit."
This statement was met with a glare from the young assailant who viciously spat in Steve's direction. Steve moved sideways, narrowly avoided it hitting him.
"Well, that's not very nice of you. Come on. Move it. We've got a special Christmas cell down town all decked out especially for hard noses like you." Steve said pushing the young man ahead of him and suddenly feeling tired at the prospect of the long walk he just realized they had back to his car.
"What's the matter pig? Don't you have any other pig family to spend the holidays with huh?"
"Oh well, it's much more fun chasing thugs like you all over the city and stopping you from hurting little old ladies. Beats charades anyday. Now MOVE IT!"
As they got half way back, Steve hailed down a black and white that was passing and explaining to the officers what had happened and showing his badge, he hopped in the back with his prisoner, glad of the lift. Along the way, Steve had them radio the incident into dispatch so by the time they had arrived back at Steve's car, the scene was fully attended. There were paramedics attending to the victim and another black and white was interviewing eye witnesses. Steve got out gingerly from the back of the patrol car and thanked the Officers for their assistance just as another unmarked car pulled up and Lee Lessing emerged and headed towards him.
"STEVE! You just can't take time off. Can you? I'd swear you have a radar that just looks for trouble sometimes. Aren't you supposed to be heading to Mike's? I couldn't believe it when I heard the radio dispatch say you were after apprehending a mugger on your way home."
"Yeah, lucky me huh?" Steve said wincing and rubbing gently at his shoulder. The awful initial agonizing pain had dulled but it was still aching mercilessly and Steve reckoned that with the bang it had gotten it was going to be every colour of the rainbow before very long. Then looking at his watch he saw that it was five forty five and he groaned audibly."Oh man! I'm going to be late for sure now. Jeannie is not going to be pleased."
