A Day Like No Other
"You got any plans for your birthday tomorrow, Jon?" Officer Frank Poncherello asked his partner as they sat on their motors waiting for the traffic lights to change. They were heading to Central for morning briefing.
"Nah, nothing at this stage Ponch," Jon Baker replied, flicking a stray insect off his windshield. "If Cassy's feeling up to it, we'll probably just go out for dinner."
"Cassy's not well?" Ponch inquired.
Jon slipped his motor into gear and took off. "Yes and no. Generally she's been well with the pregnancy and all but last night she was so restless. She couldn't get comfortable and her back ached all night."
"And you look like you didn't get much sleep either," Ponch commented.
"True," Jon agreed. "Every time she moved I woke up. In the end Cassy suggested I go sleep in the spare bed or else I wouldn't have a hope of functioning today."
"Think of it as a trial run, for when the baby's born. How long to go now, two or three weeks?"
"Just two weeks, but she could go into labour any time soon."
Ponch grinned. "Hey that reminds me, you got a ticket in Grossie's baby pool yet?"
"I've been trying to avoid him," he replied. "It doesn't seem right having a ticket for when my own baby is born."
Ponch chuckled. "It's all in good fun, I've got two."
"Yeah I know, but Grossie takes his pools so damn seriously; I just figured it'd be best to stay out of this one. What did you take?"
"Two days before D day with a boy and two days after with a boy."
Jon looked at him confused. "What the heck is D day Ponch?"
"Delivery day," he answered. "Apparently Grossie got the due date from Cassy and went from there. He's got a spread of two weeks either side with both boy and girl."
Jon shook his head. "He's nothing if not thorough, is our Grossie."
"Yep," Ponch agreed.
In the middle of an unusually long heatwave, this Thursday in early August was shaping up as the hottest day yet. Already the early morning sun was beating down creating a shimmering haze along the freeways. Under the cloudless Southern Californian sky traffic was backing up, cars were overheating and motorists impatient with delays were beeping their horns. Frustrated Highway Patrol personal knew it was going be another long day.
The partners turned into Central's back gates. They parked their motors and headed inside relieved to be out of the heat even if just for a short time.
Jon placed his helmet and baton on the table and sat down, glad for the chance to have a break while he waited for briefing to begin. He wanted nothing more than to put his head down and sleep; a total of four hours sleep on a hot August night was not the correct way to start the day. He resisted the urge, leaning back in his chair instead and that's when he saw him, Artie Grossman heading straight for him, clip board in hand.
"Jon," Grossie grinned, standing in front of him. "I've finally caught up with you." He put the clip board down and opened it up. "There's not many tickets left so you'd better pick one today."
"Grossie..."
"I'm not taking no for an answer Jon. What sort of pool would this be without the baby's father in it?"
"He's got a point Jon," Ponch said as he sat down beside his partner. "You don't want the little tyke to have his feelings hurt, do ya?"
"And what makes you so sure it's gonna be a boy?" Jon asked, his deep blue eyes staring at his best friend.
"Coz I've got my money on it being a boy, that's why," he declared as he pulled two tickets out of his pocket.
Jon sighed. Knowing the only way they were going to let up was by him taking a damn ticket, he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. "Okay Grossie, you win. What's left?"
Grossie frowned as he flicked through his papers. "Actually less than I thought. You've got today with either girl or boy or two weeks past D day with a boy."
Jon took a dollar out of his wallet, pondering he looked from Ponch to Grossie. "Seeing my partner is so sure it's a boy I'll take the girl."
Taking Jon's dollar note, Grossie wrote down his pick. "Jon, August 7th, girl," he stated and handed him his ticket. Happy, he grinned before going on his way to look for someone to take the last two spots.
Ponch looked at his partner as Jon put his wallet away. "Do you know something we don't?"
Jon shook his head in despair. "No Ponch, I don't. That's why I didn't want a damn ticket in the first place, whatever I picked you'd all be thinking that I know what we're having and I don't. I took the girl because you had the boy. End of story."
Ponch grinned as he patted him on the shoulder. "Just checking partner, just checking."
Sgt Joe Getraer appeared and briefing was soon underway. It was all pretty routine stuff, look out for joy riders, road works on the San Diego Freeway and be aware of hitch hikers.
Joe closed his folder. "Okay people hit the bricks and stay cool as it's gonna be another hot one out there today. Poncherello and Baker can I see you two?"
Jon and Ponch approached the podium and wondered what they'd done as nothing came to mind.
The sergeant grinned. "Relax fellows; it's nothing that you've done. As you know the trial for Mark Smith and Steven Williams started on Monday, and as we suspected their lawyers are pinning most of the blame for locking you two up on the deceased man, Ricky Punter. The trail has moved along faster than we thought and they might need you today Frank to give your evidence. The DA will see you the minute you get to court to go over your statement."
"Today?" Ponch looked worried. "I wasn't expecting to go in until next week."
"I know," Joe said. "But you're ready, aren't you?"
"Yeah, as ready as I'll ever be," Ponch answered. "At least we'll get to spend all day in an air conditioned court room. That's a plus."
"You will but I'm afraid I need you out on the roads Jon. I'm down two officers already and can't afford to have two more sitting in a court room."
"But Sarge," Ponch protested. "We've both got to be there to see those two scum bags go down."
"It's okay Ponch," Jon said. He placed a calming hand on his partner's arm. "The trial won't be over today and as long as one of us is there to see justice done, that's all that matters."
Joe looked at him closely. "It's a shame you can't go with Frank, you look like you could do with an easy day."
"I don't look that bad, do I?" Jon frowned. A professional appearance was very important to him. "Cassy had a bad night and I just didn't get much sleep."
"Don't worry, you look fine." Joe patted him on the shoulder. "There's no problem with Cassy, I hope?"
"I don't think so, she just couldn't get comfortable and her back was sore."
Joe smiled knowingly. "I think that baby of yours might be closer than you think."
"She's still got two weeks till her due date," Jon informed him.
"Babies never came when they're expected. Remember when Betty was having Christopher and how many false trips she had to the hospital? I lost count in the end."
"Oh yeah that's right and Grossie even had a pool going on that too."
Joe shook his head. "Ah Grossman and his pools, no matter how many times I tell him no betting in the station he keeps on running them." Seeing the startled looks on their faces he chuckled. "Don't worry I know all about his latest one, I've got a couple of tickets."
"What did you take Sarge, a boy?" asked Ponch, elbowing Jon in the ribs.
"I covered my bases and took one of each." He pulled out his tickets. "Let's see, four days before D day, so you'd better tell Cassy to hang on."
"Well, it might as well be you winning, as I've got no hope with the ticket I've got," Jon said, nudging Ponch back.
"Don't tell me Grossman finally wore you down to take a ticket?" Joe looked surprised.
"Yep, I couldn't take it anymore. I've got today and a girl," he replied with an emphasis on girl.
Joe chuckled. "Stranger things have happened Jon." He glanced at his watch. "You'd better get going Frank; they'll be waiting for you."
"On my way Sarge," he grinned.
The partners headed out to their motors and flinched when they stepped outside. It was still morning but they could feel the heat of the day already as the sun bore down on them. They knew it was going to be another scorcher of a day.
They rode out and travelled some distance together before Ponch turned off to go to court, while Jon headed for the Santa Monica Freeway praying for a quiet day.
Taking the next on ramp, Jon turned onto the freeway and saw straight away that his day was going to be anything but quiet. Bumper to bumper traffic sprawled out in front of him crawling along at not much more than a snail's pace. Getting in amongst the congestion he weaved his way through to try to find the cause of the slowdown.
It didn't take long. About two minutes later he came across a typical fender bender which blocked two lanes of the freeway. Two cars, one a red Corolla hatchback and the other a blue Ford Falcon, were twisted sideways across the road, their occupants still sitting inside the vehicles.
Jon picked up his radio mic. "LA 15 7 Mary 3, 11-85 required Santa Monica Freeway east of Westport off ramp, two car pileup. Backup required."
"Attention all units, assistance required for two car pileup, Santa Monica Freeway east of Westport off ramp, 7 Mary 3 in attendance."
"LA 15 7 Mary 5 ETA five minutes"
"LA 15 7 Charles ETA six minutes"
Jon took off his helmet and glasses and made his way over to the cars to check on the occupants. He tapped on the window of the hatchback and indicated to the driver to turn the engine off.
She looked up in surprise at the sudden appearance of an officer and wound down her window. "Why hello officer," she smiled. "What can I do for you today?"
"Yes hello ma'am," Jon said politely, as he leant down to look through the window. "Can I get you to turn your engine off please?"
"Oh," she said, shocked. "Is it still on?"
"Yes ma'am."
She reached down to find the key and switched it off; she looked back at Jon with tears in her eyes. "I think I've had an accident," she cried, all of a sudden realizing that she was in her car stuck in the middle of a busy freeway.
"Yes you have," Jon said softly, his heart going out to the frail looking woman sitting in the car. Grey hair, plenty of wrinkles and blue rimmed glasses, she looked to be at least seventy Jon thought. "Are you hurt, ma'am?"
"No," she answered, her voice shaky.
"Can you stay in the car for me?" he asked. "I need to check on the other driver."
She nodded.
Jon hurried over to the Falcon; he tapped on the window and was surprised to find another elderly woman very similar in appearance to the first driver.
She wound down her window straight away. "Good morning Officer," she smiled at him. "Rather warm today, isn't it?"
"Yes ma'am, it is," agreed Jon. He stared at her and realized that not only was she similar in appearance but could actually be the other woman's twin. He shook his head wondering exactly what had happened here. "Are you hurt at all?" he opened up the door.
"Oh no Officer, I'm fine. We're on our way to bingo."
"We?" he bent down, peered into the car but could only see this one woman.
"Yes Officer, my sister and I. We always go to bingo on Thursday."
"Does your sister drive a red hatchback?"
"Yes Officer, she does. How did you know that?"
"She's sitting in her car about ten feet behind us," Jon explained. "You've both been in an accident."
"Oh," she exclaimed. "I felt a bump and heard a bang, and then spun about a bit. Was that my sister who did that?"
"Yes," Jon nodded. "It was."
The woman grinned. "And she wonders why I don't like to drive anywhere with her. She's not the best of drivers you know."
"And so you drive to bingo in separate cars?" Jon asked as he helped her out. Grossie had arrived and was directing the traffic, and a tow truck could be seen further down the freeway.
"Yes, we do."
Jon helped her over to the shoulder of the freeway and sat her down on the guard rail before going back to her sister. He opened the door and leant down to peer at her. "Are you able to get out of the car?" he asked, softly. "Your sister is waiting for you."
"That was my sister I hit, wasn't it?" She trembled.
"Yes, but she's fine," Jon reassured her. "She's waiting for you," he repeated.
"Really?" She stared at him, eyes still glistening with tears.
"Yes really. C'mon it's getting hot in here. You'll feel better once you're out of the car," Jon urged, taking hold of her hand.
She nodded and let Jon help her out of the car and allowed him to assist her to where her sister was waiting. They hugged one another and began talking at hundred miles an hour, apologizing and making sure each other was all right.
Jon waved the tow truck driver into position as Bonnie Clark pulled up in her cruiser. The Falcon was secured to the truck and cleared from the freeway. Jon and the driver were then able to push the hatchback off to one side, allowing Grossie to direct the traffic back into the unblocked lanes.
Bonnie was getting the full story from the ladies when Jon returned to them. "Everything all right here?" he asked, as he wiped the sweat from his brow. After the exertion with the car coupled with the heat of the morning, Jon was sweating all over and would have given anything at that moment for a nice long cold shower.
"Everything is just fine, thank you Officer," answered Margie the driver of the Falcon. "This lovely young lady has been looking after us."
Jon grinned. "Yes, Officer Clark is one of our best and she'll be taking you home. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I need to get back to traffic duty."
They nodded and watched as he went to help Grossie direct the traffic.
With the traffic now flowing freely, Jon and Grossie were able to finish up and head off. Grossie took the next off ramp while Jon continued up the Santa Monica. Feeling the wind in his face as he picked up speed, Jon began to feel human again but knew it would be short lived. With every minute that passed the day was getting hotter, the sun having long burned off any of the small white fluffy clouds that dared to appear.
As he rode along his thoughts turned to other matters. The restless night that Cassy had and Ponch sitting in that court room, that lovely cool court room waiting to give his evidence. While Jon envied him not being out in the heat, he also knew that the day wasn't going to be easy on his partner. Reliving the nightmare of being imprisoned in that shipping container back in January wouldn't be pleasant, and Jon wished he could be there to support him. Having very little memory of it himself, and thankful for that, he wasn't needed to give evidence. But he still would have liked to be there and he wondered how Ponch was getting on.
Jon felt parched so he took the next off ramp and pulled into a gas station, where he brought a soda and a large bottle of water to put in his saddle bag. Propped up against his motor he drank the soda in almost one go, immediately relieving his thirst. If only it was that easy to fix his fatigue, he'd be a happy man.
He spotted a payphone so he dug around in his pocket, with change in hand he headed for the phone. There was one person that he could stop wondering about, his wife. Jon dialled the number for home and waited for Cassy to pick up, and waited. No answer. He let the phone ring out and dialled again, concern etched on his face when she still didn't answer. Jon looked at his watch and saw that it was close to 11am. Plenty of time for her to be up and about he thought, and he knew she wasn't planning on going out today as it was just too hot when you're eight and a half months pregnant. So where the heck was she?
There was only one way to find out, go check on her. Jon mounted his motor and headed for home.