"Just take a deep breath, ok?...I know…I know. There's nothing you can do right now. Just keep your wits about you…right, I bet… I know. I will too. You be safe. Good night."
Drawing in a deep breath, Mike lowered the phone receiver, holding it against his chest for a few seconds of foreboding worry, then returned it to the cradle before facing Jeannie again.
Five minutes earlier, they'd enjoyed a quiet evening, waiting for the Hungarian goulash to finish cooking, conquering a crossword puzzle together while he read the sports section of the San Francisco Telegraph.
Now, with a renewed sense of apprehension and doom flooding his weary body, Mike stepped toward the big bay window overlooking DeHaro Street, his experienced eyes identifying each and every vehicle parked down below, before closing the curtain an extra few inches.
Never taking her eyes off her father during the intense phone call, Jeannie bit her lip insecurely, sensing trouble brewing a mile away.
"Is everything alright with Steve?", she asked worriedly, already knowing the answer just from the bits and pieces of the conversation she'd picked up.
"No. Not really…", Mike mumbled and returned to the phone, his eyes glazing over as he contemplated his next steps, then dialing the phone number for the Dispatch Operator he knew by heart, "Earl? Earl, this is Mike Stone. Yeah, yes I am fine. Kind of. Listen ah…I need you to put out an APB for me. Dark green sedan, possibly an LTD. No known license plate number. Driver has been described as Caucasian male, dark suit and tie. Suspect is considered armed and dangerous, proceed with extreme caution. I also need you to contact Staff Sergeant Morris and see if he has two patron units available, one in front of my house, one in front of Steve's apartment. Tell him I will fill in his superior as soon as I get off the phone with you. Yes, I understand. Yes…anything will do. Tell him if he only has one unit available to head over to Steve's place. Absolutely. Thank you."
With a sigh, he hung up the phone, eyes fixated on his phone book, his right hand nervously running over the black cover as if to contemplate calling up another chosen set of helpers.
"Mike, what in the world is going on?", Jeannie pressed more firmly this time, turning around on the couch to watch her father, her fingers digging into the soft cushions of the headrest.
"I am not sure.", the Lieutenant answered after a few moments, then glanced back up to look at his daughter, "But something tells me that…that Steve and I have just been…tagged."