The warm early June evening would have been fantastic for a stroll in the park, or touring the local pubs with his brother, but that wasn't planned for tonight.
No, Ludwig was working, and some idiot just had to try robbing a convenience store while he was parked just across the road. One thing after another led to Ludwig and Kiku chasing the burglar's old beater car down the streets of town.
"Does he really want to drag this out?" Ludwig groaned as he drove, while Kiku paged dispatch with updates on where they were.
The burglar impulsively turned left at the next intersection, so Ludwig went to follow him. Upon turning the corner, however, Ludwig hit the brakes. In his haste to switch lanes and turn right at the next street, the burglar had slammed his vehicle into the one next to it, pinning both cars against one parked at the side of the road. As Ludwig slowed their car down and parked it beside the crash, the burglar opened their car door, leapt out of the wreck, and made a run for it.
"Stop right there," Ludwig shouted as he left the police car, but the burglar kept running towards the street corner.
"Follow him, Ludwig, I'll check the other driver," Kiku directed, "Bella and Raivis are on their way to help."
Ludwig bolted around the far side of the crash, and followed the burglar as he rushed past the onlookers, rounded the corner, and disappeared from sight down the next street. Ludwig spun around the corner in pursuit, only to pause in confusion when he couldn't see the burglar anywhere. He grabbed his radio and prepared to report it, before he heard voices shouting down the next alley to his right.
"Hands up, bitch! Step away from the car, and give me the keys!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
Ludwig rushed over to the entrance of the alley, and looked down to see the burglar trying to drag a young woman from her car. The woman was putting up a fight, and before Ludwig could intervene, she swung a punch at the burglar's face, hitting him right in the nose. As the burglar backed away in pain, the woman then kicked him in the groin, making him fall to the ground in agony. Ludwig finally approached, and the woman turned to him.
"Officer, thank goodness you're here," the woman pleaded, "This man suddenly showed up, pointed his gun at me, and demanded I let him take my car."
"Yes, he also just robbed a convenience store and crashed into another vehicle," Ludwig added on as he kneeled down to keep the burglar pinned to the ground and pulled out his handcuffs, "Are you alright, miss?"
"Yes, I'm okay," she answered, "He didn't get to hurt me at all."
"Well, that's a relief," Ludwig commented, as he cuffed the man.
"For you, maybe," the burglar spat out, "She attacked me!"
"You threatened her first," Ludwig pointed out as he heard a vehicle approach, "She has a valid case for self-defense."
As he pulled the burglar back onto his feet, Ludwig saw that a police car parked at the alley entrance, with Bella and Raivis climbing out to help.
"Please stay right here for a moment, miss," Ludwig instructed the woman, "We'll need to talk to you."
He saw the woman nod before he pulled the burglar along towards his other coworkers.
"Good job catching him, Ludwig," Bella acknowledged, "And the woman over there?"
"She's a witness," Ludwig explained as he handed the man off to Raivis, "The burglar tried to steal her car, but she fought back."
"Go ahead and question her," Bella ordered, "We'll get this guy packed up."
Ludwig nodded to Bella before turning back to head towards the young woman. As he approached her again, he finally took note of her lovely appearance. She was wearing skinny jeans, and a nice red shirt under a black jacket. Her long, straight blonde hair was tied back and draped over her shoulder.
"If you don't mind me asking, miss, have we met before?" Ludwig asked as he pulled his notebook from his pocket, "You look awfully familiar."
"We actually just met earlier this week," the woman replied, "I am the waitress from the Phoenix Cafe."
"Ah yes, Maddie, of course," Ludwig remembered, "I almost didn't recognize you with the straight hair."
"That's okay, I normally keep it curly anyways," Madeline shrugged off, "My hair cooperates with whatever I do to it, though, and I like straightening it for special occasions."
"And what was tonight's occasion, if I may ask?" he pried.
"My friend set me up on a blind date that turned out horrendously," she explained, "The guy was an absolute boar, and I never want to see him again. Luckily, another friend called me in the middle of the date, and pulled me out of there. She has a work emergency, and asked me to grab a couple boxes of files from her office."
"Is that why you're parked in one of the sketchiest alleys in town?" he queried, noting the boxes in the back seat of the car, "At one of the most dangerous times of night?"
"Well, you did just see first-hand that I can defend myself," Madeline justified with a smirk, "And besides, even if I couldn't, there's always brave and strong police officers like yourself to protect me."
"I suppose that may be true," Ludwig accepted, noting the way she explained herself, "You do have the choice to press charges, if you wish."
"I don't think that will be needed," Madeline turned down, "He didn't really get the chance to hurt me, and I was able to stop him. You can just note me as an anonymous Good Samaritan."
"That would certainly be allowed," he allowed, "I still need some contact information, though, in case your testimony is needed for court. Can I get your full name and phone number, please?"
"Oh yes, of course," she complied, "My full name is Madeline Aurelle Williams, and my cell is 857-389-4206."
"Perfect, that's all I need for now," Ludwig confirmed as he finished writing the information in his notebook, hesitating before continuing to speak, "If you don't mind me asking, Maddie, would you oppose to your number being called for non-police matters?"
"That would depend on the matter at hand," she countered, "Why do you ask?"
"Because if you're willing, I'd like to ask you out for coffee sometime," Ludwig proposed, stuttering a bit as he tried to fight his nerves and get the bold words out.
"You mean, you're asking me out on a date?" she pinned down.
Ludwig nodded, feeling the blush quickly grow on his cheeks. Madeline gave him a scrutinizing look with one eyebrow raised, appraising him as if to decide if he were worthy prey. Finally her face relaxed.
"I'm normally very picky, but you certainly have potential," she judged, "I suppose a coffee date would be worth a shot. I'd be happy to meet you for coffee sometime next week."
"That would be wonderful, Maddie," Ludwig said, "Would there be a good time to call?"
"Sunday afternoon is when I get my work schedule for the following week," Madeline elaborated, "You should call me that evening to see when my days off are."
"I can definitely call you then," Ludwig accepted, "I suppose we're about done here, you're free to leave."
"Wonderful, my friend must be waiting for me," Madeline remarked as she went to get into her car, "I'll hear from you soon, then."
"Have a good night, Madeline," Ludwig said as she sat in her car and shut the door.
Madeline started up the car, and began to pull forward. Ludwig turned towards the alley entrance, and motioned for Bella to let Madeline drive through.
Perhaps he had to work on this lovely June evening, but Ludwig doubted that even Gilbert could land a burglar and a date in a 5-minute span like he had.