Inside the bathroom, I could hear Jules sick to her stomach. I heard the next hurl, as I winced, wishing it would stop.
"You ok honey?" I asked, "If it helps, I think that Chinese last night buggered me up too."
Yeah, the Chinese food, Jules thought, that must be it.
She could think of one other possibility as to why she had been sick to her stomach for the past hour, but at this moment, all she could think about was trying to aim for the toilet.
"Why isn't mom coming?" Megan asked, as she got into her dad's truck, as they drove into the SRU headquarters.
"She's not feeling too well. I'm sure you heard the events of this morning."
"Not for lack of trying." Megan said, "I had my headphones on, with my music blasted, and I could still hear her."
"When she gets going, she gets going." I said, as we turned onto Lesmill.
"How would you know? You've known her for the same amount of time that I have."
"Were you on the honeymoon with us?" I asked.
"Really?" Megan asked, with sarcasm, "That must've been romantic."
"It wasn't too bad. It was on the flight there. When we got to France and to our room, I let her sleep for the first night. Then on the second night…"
"Ok dad- too much information!" Megan exclaimed, "It's bad enough I have to hear the two of you going at it twice a day."
"Then why'd you ask?"
"I didn't!" Megan said, "And why again are we coming in today?"
"Glad you asked," I said, as I gave Megan a sideways glance, "Team one is providing security detail at the Tattoo Convention and Greg thought it would be a good idea to use the Rover Crew to cover more ground."
"That's pretty cool." Megan said, "Might get some inspiration."
"Inspiration for a tattoo?" I asked with concern.
"Don't even try dad, I've seen yours, so you have no reason to lecture me about tattoos."
"Do you know what my tattoo is?" I asked.
"No. What is it?"
"It's the military crest of the military division your great-grandfathers were in. Behind it is the ceremonial sword that your grandfather carried when he served in the Navy. You come from a deeply military family."
"And you're a cop." Megan said, "So what you're saying is that my blood runs blue?"
"Yep."
"Ok, welcome Team One, and SRU Rover Crew." Ed said in the debriefing room, with me, Spike and the Rover Crew sitting around the table. Greg sat on a small desk across the room, overlooking Ed's debriefing style.
"Tattoo Convention- lots of legit and illegitimate people, and that is why we'll have Spike, Kibs and Adele on access control. No one under the age of 17 is allowed in, unless under adult supervision. We may be looking at fake IDs, and fake names to get in, so stay sharp. Spike- bring along some ultra-violet lights to scan the IDs with. We'll be accepting driver's licenses and health cards only. Boss and Megan will be running command post, at Table 13. Table 13 is not only command post, but it is also SRU on display, so best behavior folks. That leaves myself, Perra and Val- we're alpha unit, and we'll be patrolling the floor, and responding to incidents as directed by command."
"Weapons?" I asked.
"Ideally none, but SRU Members will carry our side arms with less lethal rounds only. We'll also carry both standard and zip cuffs. The Rover Crew will carry nothing, except for a standard radio and headset. Spike- we got enough gear for the Crew?"
"Copy that." Spike said, as he lifted up a box, which had radios in it for the Rover Crew. "Took them from Team Four's equipment cage."
Me and Spike laughed.
"What's going on?" Greg asked.
"One of Donna's guys pretty much destroyed a Remmy, so she took one from our cage." I replied.
"Spike- seriously?" Greg asked with concern.
"Relax boss," Spike said, as he helped Adele with her radio, "Most of them are from ours, but we were one short, so I took it from Team Four's."
Once settled in, and with the equipment setup, Greg had Megan running the auto-transcript machine.
"Friday September 21st, 2012 at 1330 hours, Strategic Response Unit Team One and Rover Crew on scene for security detail at Toronto & Area Tattoo Convention. Alpha unit- what's your 20?"
I responded back, "Alpha unit patrolling north quad. Rolling into south, command."
"10-4 alpha," Megan replied, "Access unit- what's your status?"
"Access unit all ok and no harm, command unit- persons beginning to enter." Spike said.
"Keep the peace" Greg added.
A younger man came up to the gate.
"Sir, I'm going to need to see some identification." Adele said.
"I don't got any." He replied.
"Then I'm sorry sir, I cannot let you enter." Adele said in a firm voice.
About 20 feet away, Kibs was looking at a driver's license with the ultra-violet light, with Spike over her shoulder.
"You're good to go." Kibs said to the woman, as she passed her back the ID card, and let her in.
"Do you know what you're looking for?" Spike whispered to her.
"Yeah….I think." She replied, "Was that woman ok?"
"Yeah, she was fine." Spike said, as an older gentleman came up to the gate, "Sir, I know you're of age, but do you mind showing some ID so I can show the trainee what do to?"
The man looked at Spike, then at Kibs. "Yeah, sure." He said, as he pulled out his driver's license, "Everyone starts somewhere."
"East quad secure, command unit." Val voiced over the radio.
I nodded, as I liked Val's style.
"Alpha, I got a crowd converging on CCTV 15 yards to your west flank," came Megan, "Please respond."
Val looked up at me and Ed, who expected one of us to respond.
"10-4 command unit." She responded to Megan, "Alpha unit en route."
Once we got to the location I immediately saw a fight start to break out.
"Val, stay back." I said, "Police- stop right now!"
Almost right away, the two bare chested young men stopped fighting, as me and Ed put a pair of zip cuffs on them.
"Two men in custody," Val responded, as the crowd around the fight started to disperse, "How should I classify them as?"
"Violent behavior or public misconduct," Ed replied, "We'll take them to command to be processed, and they'll be transferred into Lock-up from there."
Val nodded, "Two men in custody for public misconduct. Arresting officers are Kristopher Perrasmith and Ed Lane. Bringing them to you command."
"10-4 alpha." Came Greg's response.
"Contact police dispatch- two cruisers required immediately at MSG Convention Centre." Greg instructed Megan.
She nodded, as she pressed a button on the radio, which would release the radio broadcast to the APB, or All-Police Bulletin, "This is SRU Command- cruisers required at MSG Convention Centre for transfer of custody of public disorderly persons."
"SRU Command- this is OPP Constable A. Coutu, I am available and close. Please advise."
Megan recognized the name of the OPP officer who had detained her, and looked to Greg for guidance.
He nodded.
"OPP A. Coutu, proceed to MSG Convention."
A few hours later, Spike could tell that Adele and Kibs were getting tired.
"Access unit- status?" Command unit asked.
"We're good. Tired, but good." Spike replied.
To Spike's left, Kibs had got a hand at reading the IDs. As she took one and looked for the signs that Spike had shown her, she didn't see any.
"Sir, how old are you?" she asked.
"It's right there." He said.
"Well, I'm asking you a question, and I'd appreciate it if you'd answer."
"Problem, Kibs?" Spike asked, as he walked over to her.
She scanned the ID through the light again for Spike to see.
"Sir," Spike asked, "When did you receive this license card?"
"When I turned 16." He answered, "That was a year ago."
"Well, sir, did you know that lying to a police officer is a criminal offense? Do you care to revise your previous statement?"
"No."
"Call it, Kibs." Spike instructed.
Kibs spoke into the radio, "Command unit, we have an access incident of an under-aged person attempting to breach the perimeter. Please advise."
"10-4 Access," Megan responded, "Dispatching alpha- Alpha unit be advised, we have an attempted perimeter breach in progress in south quad. What is your location?"
"Alpha unit in north quad." Ed responded, "Perra, Val, respond."
Together me and the Rover Crew member ran to the location of the attempted breach at gate two.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you again, leave immediately!" Spike exclaimed.
"Alpha unit sans Ed at scene of perimeter breach." Val radioed in, as she stepped into the situation, "Sir, leave now, or you will be arrested!"
Once the man's attention was on Val, Spike drew out his handcuffs and tried to cuff him, but the man was resisting.
"Stop resisting!" Spike yelled.
I drew my handgun, and ensured that the less lethal rounds were in it, "Stop resisting, or you will be shot!"
Once he knew the severity of the situation, he stopped resisting, and Spike got the cuffs on him.
"One person in custody," Val responded to command, "Alpha unit sans Ed will release subject of attempted breach of perimeter and resisting arrest to Command Unit."
Megan and Greg were leaned back in their chairs. It was nearing 5pm, which was the closing time.
Megan noticed a man approaching the SRU desk.
"Can I help you sir? She asked.
"Yeah, my son, I can't find him. I told him to stay outside while I went to the washroom and when I came out, he was gone."
"Alright sir," Megan replied, "We have a unit on the floor-we will find your son. Do you have a picture of your son on you?"
"Yeah," he said, as he pulled out his cellphone, "It's not the best quality."
"That's perfect sir."
"Attention Access unit- secure all access points and start an immediate search for a Jason Smith, 15 years of age. Picture on PDA." Megan radioed out, "Alpha unit, start an immediate search, for Jason Smith, 15 years of age- picture is on your PDA. He was last seen by his father outside washrooms in west quad."
"Copy that." I replied, as me, Ed and Val went to the last seen point to start our search.
"Val- cover west quad," Ed ordered, "I'll cover the north, Perra, you're on east. Spike- you got the access points closed?"
"Yeah, both gates closed." Spike responded over the radio.
"Spike, Adele and Kibs- patrol and secure south quad. Command- get extra uniforms on the exterior exits, make sure our guy doesn't leave the building."
Just as I was crossing from the west to the east quad, I could hear a woman's voice from the aisle next to mine. "Drop the weapon!"
"Val- you ok?" I radioed to her.
"SRU Rover Officer Valerie Pauze under immediate threat!" she radioed me.
"Copy that, I'm coming to your location!"
I cross-threaded through an exhibit where a company was showing off a long line of semi-permanent tattoos and got into the adjacent aisle, once there, I saw the threat.
"Drop your weapon!" I yelled at a man who held a long knife and was facing Val, "Drop it now, or you will be shot!"
"I didn't come this far to be stopped by a blonde wanna-be." He said as he approached her.
"Command unit-" I barked into the radio, "SRU Rover Officer under immediate threat of violence, permission for lethal."
"What's going on Perra?" Greg asked.
"We got a man holding a knife, he looks agitated, and maybe like he's looking for someone else."
"Negative on the lethal, Perra," Greg responded, "Megan, order a full evacuation and call in Team 10."
"Drop the knife!" I yelled, as I approached behind him.
The man gave up as he dropped the knife and I placed a pair of cuffs on him.
"Suspect secure."
"I got our missing person in custody!" Ed exclaimed over the radio, "At the rear exit- he was letting people in who were turned away at the gates."
"Copy that Team One," Greg said with satisfaction, "It was a good day. Let's go back to the barn."
Once back at the SRU headquarters, Adele was complaining that her side was sore.
"Didn't you tackle a guy that you thought was Jason Smith?" Spike said, as we entered the main doors.
"Yeah." She said, with a nod.
"C'mon," I said, "We'll go to an examination room, get your uniform off, and I'll have a look at it."
Once in a room, I turned and locked the door. I noticed Adele looked back at me.
"It's protocol." I said, "It's what these rooms are for, privacy."
"Do you mind?" Adele said, as she untucked her shirt, and started unbuttoning it.
"You mean checking your side?" I asked, "It's entirely professional. If you don't feel comfortable, I can get a woman to come in."
"No, it's ok." She said, as she took off her shirt, and pulled up the one side of her under shirt for me to look at it.
"No bruising." I replied, as I put pressure on one spot, "Does this hurt?"
"A little yeah," Adele replied, "So are you and Jules married? Brother and sister?"
"We're married." I mentioned, "You might have a cracked rib. You should go to the hospital."
"I'll be fine," she said, as she put her shirt back down.
"No you won't," I said, "Because I'm going to have to fill out a medical examination form recording what I did. When I put in the cracked rib suggestion, Greg will need to see a doctor's note until you're cleared for duty."
"Fine." She said, as we started to leave, "Is this the job- wall to wall action then all kinds of red lines and white forms?"
"We make sure that everyone in SRU has a clean bill of health. Makes us look good."
Lying on the couch, Jules had a thick blanket over her. It was still 32 degrees Celsius in the house, but she was feeling cold.
Food poisoning, Jules thought, it definitely isn't the food. What else would cause sickness in the morning and cold shivers? Yeah, ok, I'll be happy about it, but does Kris know? He should- he's a smart guy and he's been through this twice before. He should know what happens to a woman when she's pregnant.
But let's not get ahead of myself here. I should make sure before I go telling everybody. Yeah- I'll text Megan…
Jules grabbed her cellphone and typed a message to Jules' cellphone: 'Hey, I hope your day was good. If you don't mind, can you ask dad to stop by a pharmacy? You can go in, and tell him that I need some sort of stomach meds. What I really need is a pregnancy test.'
It didn't take long and Megan texted her back. 'Yeah, everything was good. Seriously? Why don't you want me to tell dad? You want me to lie?'
Jules sighed, as she replied, 'Yes, please. I know your dad would be happy and all, but I need to make sure before I tell him.'
'Ok' was the next reply from Megan.