"Team one- hot call! Abduction at gunpoint into a vehicle, marker Delta Bravo Tango Foxtrot One Eighteen- last seen going north on Markham."

"Come on sleeping beauty!" I yelled up the stairs, as I fiddled with the collar on the grey SRU uniform.

The psych evaluation wasn't too bad. Pretty much the same as the last time, only this time Toft grilled me about the Priority of Life Code, and other SRU Codes of Conduct instead of my medical history.

I wasn't able to read his reaction too well, but I think the commander was even ok with me coming back. He had to be in the room to witness me signing my Pardon Contract, which would pardon my previous code of conduct incident and waive my rights to retain my employment with the force if I violated the Code again.

"You talking to me?" Jules asked, as she came down the stairs in full SRU dress. She planted a tight kiss on me, as she continued walking into the kitchen. "Better get that out of the way- won't be able to do that at work."

"No- I was talking to the other one." I said, as Megan came out of her room.

Once downstairs, I made her stand at attention, as I looked over her uniform.

"The back of your shirt is wrinkled." I said, "You got another one?"

"Dad- no one is going to care." She said, "Can I go already? I'm going to be late."

"They're going to care, Megan. If you come in for your first day looking like a lazy slob, they're going to treat you like one."

"Dad- its college."

"College or not- this might make or break your career."

Megan's first day of college. Damn, I'm proud of her.

Once at work, the team changed into our workout gear and started our workout in the gym.

"So- what's it like?" Ed asked me, as he finished his bicep curls, and moved onto the rowing machine.

I finished my set of leg exercises and then I answered Ed. "What are you talking about?"

"Your daughter's first day of college is today, right? What's it like, to know that in two years she'll have her basic police training, and she can start at the Academy?"

"I'm proud of her. You know? What's Clark doing this year?"

"Ah, he's staying in high school for his victory lap. He wants to get all of his music credits."

"You proud of him?" I asked.

"Of course- but I don't know why he couldn't go to college to get his credits."

"He probably has his reasons." I comforted Ed.

"Yeah, he better." Ed said.

Over to the other side of the gym, away from Ed and Perra, both Jules and Spike were focused on cardio on the fixed bicycles.

"Do you think it's going to be weird- working with him?" Spike asked.

"I don't know Spike. I wouldn't think so. We did it for a month before Perra left SRU."

"You remember how that ended up, right?" Spike reminded.

"Yeah."

Greg came over. "Why are we whispering?"

"We're not." Spike said, "We're just talking."

"Talking about what?" Greg asked, as he took a spot on a bicycle across from the two.

Greg followed Jules' stare, and looked back behind him, to see where she was looking.

"You picked a good spot Jules. You can see everything from there, right?"

Jules looked at Greg darkly.

"Just my observations, Jules."

Megan sat down at the desk she was assigned in the classroom. She'd be expected to sit in this exact spot anytime she is in this classroom for the next two years.

She looked around, and noted and it was only her and one other girl who wore their college police foundations uniform.

Two instructors went up and down the rows, collecting the information of each student. She already knew that they'd expect to see a driver's license and first aid certification card, but she also had out her firearms license card.

Finally the instructor made his way to her.

"Nice touch." He said, as he poked the uniform with the end of his end, as he noted something in a large blank space beside Megan's name on the roster, "Not very many recruits wear their uniforms on the first day."

"To be honest- my dad made me. Said it would make or break my career." Megan answered.

"Sounds like a man who's done this before. What's his name?"

"Kristopher Perrasmith." Megan uneasily answered; curious as to if her instructor would recognize her father's name.

"Sargent Perrasmith, from down in Toronto's 52nd?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"He's a hell of a nice guy, and was a pleasure to work for. I was a Border Services officer with him."

Great, Megan thought, this guy knows my dad. Great…

After their workout, we suited back up into uniform, and Greg wanted to see us in the debriefing room.

"Lady and gentlemen," Greg said, as he pressed a single button on the remote for the projector, " Lars Quin- wanted for assault of the 3rd degree, reckless behavior involving a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, and most recently, murder."

"Terrific." Ed said.

"Guess who gets to knock on this guy's door." Greg asked.

I raised my hand.

"Yes, Perra?"

"Us?"

"You bet." Parker continued, as he scrolled down Mr. Quin's rap sheet, "Known to be residing at 1377 Parkdale."

"Whoa, " I said, "What's this guy doing in a high class neighborhood like that?"

"Where they be a murder, there be a money." Spike said, as we left the debriefing room and to get into the SRU trucks.

I drove one SUV, with Jules as my second. Spike rode with Ed and Greg.

Jules motioned to go radio silence, so I turned off the radio. "What's up?" I asked.

"You ok?"

"Why would I not be?"

"It could feel weird." Jules said.

"It's not." I said, as I gave Jules a quick smirk.

We turned the radios back on just in time, as Ed was starting to broadcast- "Low and slow. Myself, & Perra- alpha on front entry. Boss, Spike and Jules on Bravo securing the perimeter."

We got out at our location. I met up with Ed, with the CQB kit in my bags.

"Perimeter secure, bravo?" Ed asked, as I removed the door sledge from its spot and readied it.

"Hold, Eddie." Greg informed.

"Black wall secure." Came Jules.

"White secure."

"Scarlatti on Red." Spike radioed in.

"On four-" Ed said, as he pulled out a flashbang, and pulled the pin, "One, two, three-"

I brought back the sledge.

"Four."

That was my command, as I let the massive weight of the sledge do its work of breaking the door off of its hinges, and onto the ground. Just a second later, Ed dropped in a flashbang, followed by our dynamic entry.

"I'll take the basement." Ed said, as he went downstairs.

I jumped up the small set of three stairs onto the main floor. "Police- SRU!"

"I got action on black wall, alpha-" Jules radioed in, "Bathroom!"

"Copy that." I replied, as I ran down the hallway, and kicked in the bathroom door, to see Lars Quin trying to open the bathroom window.

"Police, SRU! Do not move!"

"You got joy Perra?" Ed asked from down the hall.

"10-4."

"Put your hands on your head, and do not move." Ed said, as he entered beside me.

Knowing Ed had my back, I approached Lars, who had thrown his arms up and placed his hands on his head.

I got my cuffs on him, and I radioed in, "Lars Quin, in custody."

"Ok- any other branches of policing?" the instructor asked.

He had made a flow chart on the whiteboard , starting from basic training, and into what jobs you could get with what training.

"What about anything off of Tactical Police Training?" he asked.

Immediately Megan's hand went up, at the same time, as the other girl who wore her uniform.

"Yes-" the instructor said, as he looked down at the student information sheets, "Kelly?"

"Strategic Response, or SWAT."

"And Megan? What were you going to say?"

"I was going to say the same thing." Megan replied, who gave the other girl a sly look behind her back.

The instructor seemed pleased, as he wrote down another branch off of Tactical Police Training.

"Can anyone tell me what purpose a Strategic Response Unit provides?"

This time, no one put their hands up- only Megan did.

"Megan?"

"The Strategic Response Unit is a specialized unit within a police force that combines the skills of master marksmanship, squad tactics, above all- suspect profiling."

The entire class looked at Megan.

"Very impressive Ms. Perrasmith." The instructor praised, "What makes SRU different from SWAT?"

"For Special Weapons and Tactics units, their objectives are to use their tools- special weapons and tactics to their advantage to control the situation. While the same holds true for SRU, they are different in the way that they profile their suspects and will either engage the suspect in a psychological or tactical manner. That being said, the primary objective of SRU is to peacefully work out the disturbance in hope that the suspect remain unharmed. Lethal situations are always considered to be a last resort."

"That was amazing Megan." The instructor applauded, "How do you know so much about Strategic Response Units?"

"Because my dad and my step-mom are both SRU Officers with the TPS."

"Really?" the instructor said, with a renewed enthusiasm.

The cruiser pulled up to the front of the home, and the officer got out and opened the door for me.

I put Lars in the cruiser.

"Good job Perra." Ed said, "We patrolling now, Parker?"

"Team One- hot call!" came Winnie's voice over the radio.

"What do we got?" Ed asked, as we jumped back into the trucks.

"Abduction at gunpoint into a vehicle, marker Delta Bravo Tango Foxtrot One Eighteen- last seen going north on Markham. Suspect unknown, but I'm working on it. A friend was with Jessica Whissle when it happened."

"Ok, Winnie," Greg said, "But an APB out for the vehicle. Follow in stealth, do not engage. SRU only."

"I'll review red light cameras." Came Spike's voice.

"Copy that." Ed said, "Perra- take the highway and head south on Markham, and I'll head north from our location. Hopefully we can contain and stop this."

"Winnie- I'd like to talk to Jessica's friend, you still have her on the line?" Greg asked.

"No, but dispatch flagged her cellphone with GPS. I can track it, and you guys can stop by."

"Ok- where is it?"

"She's at the Scarborough Town Centre." Winnie said.

"Boss, we're close." Jules said, as she rode with me, "Perra can drop me off, and I can talk to her, press for details, that way he can continue."

"Winnie- we got a name yet?" Greg asked.

"Yeah, vehicle is registered to a Jamie Douglas."

"Jamie Douglas?" Jules asked, as she worked on the laptop, "Winnie, you sure? That's a woman's name. Sure there isn't a miscommunication?"

"Negative Jules, Jessica was taken at gunpoint according to her friend."

"Boss- we need to talk to this friend." Spike piped in.

"Too late," I said, as I sped past the turnoff for the Town Centre, "We're already past. Send a uni for details."

"Copy that." Ed replied, "You got eye's yet Spike?"

"The vehicle is a yellow Pontiac Sunfire."

I pulled off the highway at Markham, and used the lights and sirens to make people stop around me so I could go as fast as possible around them.

"I got her!" I said, as I witnessed a northbound yellow Sunfire, "Do you want me to pit?"

"Go for it, Perra." Ed commanded.

I quickly spun the wheel, and crossed the cement divider, as I got behind the Sunfire.

I started to inch closer, but suddenly I saw the driver's side window of the Sunfire roll down, as Jamie threw her hand out with a small pistol and fired back to us.

"Bravo taking fire!" I yelled.

"Fall back!" Ed instructed, "I'm right behind you Bravo. Keep the pressure on- Team Six has secured the next intersection and has deployed spike strips."

I continued driving and in the distance I could see that the next intersection had indeed been cleared, and had several police cruisers and Team Six's SRU trucks littered on either side.

The suspect must've seen it as well, as she turned and skidded into the parking lot of a grocery store.

"Call it Spike." Greg asked him.

"1528 hours- Strategic Response Unit Team One called to and involved with armed abduction of Jessica Whissle by a Jamie Douglas, driving a yellow Pontiac Sunfire, marker Delta Bravo Tango Foxtrot One One Eight. Suspect is fleeing police custody and driving erratically."

The police foundations instructor got all of his students into the weight and fitness training room.

"Ok," he started, "Anyone who did not participate in this morning's lecture, I want 300 crunches."

Immediately at least 5 people went to the foam mats and started working on their crunches.

"Everybody who didn't show up in uniform- including those who didn't participate- I want 5 minutes of cardio!" Go, go go- go, go, go!"

Suddenly, before everybody else had started their exercise instructions, Megan realized that only she and Kelly remained- the only two who both participated in the lecture and showed up in uniform, remained.

"Now, normally," the instructor said, as she approached the two, "We get a lot more recruits who wear their uniforms on the first day."

"What do you want us to do?" Megan asked.

"I like your energy and enthusiasm Perrasmith and Wordsworth, I think you'll both be up for the job."

Megan looked over to Kelly, as she recognized the last name, but paid more attention to the professor.

"What job?" Megan asked.

"The both of you are going to be Class Sargent. I'll get your new epaulettes after lunch. You'll be expected to maintain a high overall exercise score, as well as oversee your classmate's exercises. On top of that, you'll be required to hand in a report at the end of each week. The report should contain your observations of your classmates, as well as any concerns yourself or your classmates bring to your attention. I assume that both of you applied to a Rover Crew?"

Kelly shook her head no.

"I did sir." Megan replied.

"Which one?"

"The SRU Rover."

"Following in the footsteps Perrasmith?"

"You could say that."

"I'll fast track your application and see to it that you get a spot. It really motivates the rest of the recruits to apply to Rover Crews if they see that their Sargent is on a Rover Crew."

"Anything else?" Kelly asked.

"Not yet."

"Keep the pressure on bravo!" Ed yelled over the radio, "Rolling roadblock, boss?"

"Negative." Parker replied, "Too frantic. We need to stop this, ASAP. Winnie- we still got Team Six?"

"No," she responded, "Got an armed domestic downtown."

"Call into Durham, see if they can get their chopper in the air, get us some intel." Greg asked, "Spike- that car have a PA?"

"No- the car's too old."

"Ok- what are you thinking Eddie?"

"I got it." Ed said, "Bravo- corral the vehicle back onto the street via the north entrance. Alpha will be waiting, and we'll shoot out the tires."

"Copy that Ed." I replied, as I gave the vehicle some gas, and edged the Sunfire into the direction I wanted it to go.

It didn't take too long to get it back on the street, but instead of taking the north exit as planned, the vehicle decided to use the west exit.

"No solution alpha, no solution!"

"Get closer." Jules said, as she grabbed her MP5 from the back seat, "Ed, I can take a shot on the rear tires from my position."

"Do it, Jules." Ed said, "It won't do too much- that car is a front wheel drive, but it might slow her up enough."

"Roger that." Jules said, as she rolled down her window and leaned out with the firearm.

I got into position, and Jules carefully took her shots, both of which crippled the rear tires.

"Good work Jules." I commented, as I continued the pursuit, with Ed's SUV behind us, "Ed- she's all over the road and endangering herself and others- how about we get more cruisers down here to restrict some traffic?"

"Good idea. Spike?"

"On it." Spike replied.

"That's the inspector," Greg said, over the radio, as he picked up his ringing cellphone "Pay attention team."

"Sarge."

"Inspector Stainton." Greg said, "What do we know? We got Durham's chopper?"

"Yes, and no."

"How's that?"

"They have a chopper available, but right now, it's flying over the lake."

"So we don't have a chopper then." Greg said, "Anything else?"

"Nope."

"Thanks, inspector."

"Thanks?" I said over the radio, "We have nothing-"

"Perra, watch out!" Jules screamed.

I looked forward, as I saw the yellow Sunfire swerve off to the right, as the car started to wrap itself around a light pole.

I pounded the brake hard, as I came to a stop to the left of the crash, as Ed came to a stop to the right.

Immediately, me and Jules got out of the vehicle, firearms drawn and approached the carnage.

"Police, SRU!" Jules yelled, as she made her way to the driver's door.

I covered Jules, as she reached in and grabbed the single handgun that was used by Jamie Douglas.

"We need an EMT!" she cried out, as she handed the gun back to me.

I quickly cleared the magazine and the round in the chambered and bagged the evidence. Within seconds I broadcasted over the radio, "Emergency Medical Personnel required at motor vehicle accident. GPS co-ordinates transmitted through transmitter 78416. I repeat, medical personnel required immediately."

"Pull her out Jules." Greg said, as he was taking about our suspect.

I assisted Jules; as we pried open the driver's door. Using the seatbelt cutters on my knife, I cut the seat belt quickly.

Jules shoved up a piece of the dashboard and the airbag, as I pulled Jamie out, and onto the ground.

I checked for a pulse. Nothing.

"We need a defib!" I yelled, as Jules scrambled back to the truck to get a defibrillator, as I started mouth to mouth CPR.

Within minutes, the EMTs arrived and started to work on Jamie. As they put her on the stretcher, I cuffed her one wrist to the side of the gurney.

I'm not even a day in, and I already have enough work! Megan thought to herself.

She was on break between her General Policing class and her elective- Police Tactics, a relatively new class that was being taught by ex-SRU members.

Great- even more people who'll probably know my dad, or my step-mom.

She poured herself into her notebook that she purchased that she was using to write her observations of her classmates in General Policing. Already, three students talked to her, saying they might quit. She tried to talk them into staying, and they told her that they'll think about.

Now I know what dad was talking about- Sargent's really do have a lot of paperwork.

"And after Officer Jules Perrasmith shot the tires of the suspect's vehicle, the driver, Jamie Douglas, became extremely erratic in driving behavior which was the result of the Motor Vehicle Incident, therefore causing the death of Jessica Whissle." Greg said, as he went over his Critical Incident report with the team.

"Anything else to add?" Ed asked.

"I'm writing down that I suggest that Jamie Douglas be charged manslaughter." Greg added.

Winnie walked into the room.

"Sarge." She said.

"Winnie- what's the good news?"

"No good news sir, the hospital just called. Jamie Douglas was just pronounced dead."

I drove home. Jules was in the passenger's seat, as she looked out the window. I could tell she just wanted some quiet time to herself, so I gave it to her.

Once we were home, we changed into some simple clothes. Ed was picking us up, and we were going out to the bar.

We waited on the couch, and Megan came in.

"Hey Megan," I said, as she sat down across from me on the chair, "How was your first day?"

Jules seemed interested in the conversation, but she didn't move a muscle from where she laid down, with her head on her favorite shoulder- my left.

"I don't know how you did it dad- it's hard."

"You'll get used to it. Just try working out on your own time, and you'll see the benefits."

"That part was easy- it was the paperwork."

I smiled. "We're going out to the bar. You want to come?"

"Can I have a drink when we get there?"

"Are you 19?" I asked.

"I will be in a month."

"Then no," I said with a laugh, "You still want to come?"

"I need to relax, so yeah."

"Get changed, Ed's picking us up in five."

Once at the bar, Greg ordered a beer for everyone, except Megan, although he ordered her a non-alcoholic beer.

"Thanks Mr. Parker." Megan thanked him.

"Don't call me that," he said, as he let Spike back into the booth after he got back from the washroom, "Makes me feel old."

"You are old." I said, "You have a son in University."

Everyone laughed.

"Very funny, very funny," Greg said, "You two shouldn't talk." He said, as he pointed to me and Ed, "Your son is doing his victory lap and Megan is a new police recruit at Humber."

We all cheered to that.

"Ok, guys- seriously." Greg said, "We connect, respect and protect, but no matter how well things go, how perfectly we shoot, how fast we go, or how many computers we use- there will always be some that we can't save."

"For the ones that we can't save." Ed said, as he raised his bottle in their honor.

We all clinked our drinks with his, as we all drank to the people we couldn't save- or can't protect. We drank to the lives of Jessica Whissle and Jamie Douglas.