** Inspired by the pilot episode 'Killing Ground'. Also, the episode 'Time Bomb' where Jim Street is seeing a stewardess named Sheri, played by his to be long-time wife Heather Menzies. Their on-screen chemistry deserved more. **
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Officer Jim Street descended to the SWAT Control Center with his freshly dry cleaned uniforms slung over his shoulder. Whistling, he pulled on his uniform pants, his civvy clothes neatly hanging beside his spare uniform. His shirt hung on his locker door and he reached into the accoutrement box on the locker shelf for his badge and tie clip. It was a reassuring ritual to pin his partner's badge from his days on the streets in Olympic 341 on his shirt. Harrelson had made good on Jim's request to be assigned Rob's badge number after his partner was killed in an ambush.
The box was empty. His good mood vanishing, Jim searched through his locker. His department issued badge was still in his spare pair of shoes, but Rob's badge – that he'd worn religiously since the senseless killing – was gone. A soul-deep burn boiled into anger.
Lieutenant Harrelson knew something was wrong when he saw Officer Street, normally in first in the morning, wearing only his white t-shirt and uniform pants. Rummaging through his desk drawers and swearing, the officer spun around, nearly running into him.
"Lieutenant," Jim said, looking at his watch.
"Street," Harrelson acknowledged. "Is there a problem?"
Jim flapped his arms and crossed to his locker. "It's gone. I know it was here last night. I always put it in the box."
"I'd help you, if I knew what you were talking about." Harrelson crossed his arms and watched the obviously frustrated officer.
"Rob's badge … it's gone."
The abject misery on Street's face alerted Lt. Harrelson. "What do you mean gone?"
Jim pulled out the empty box from his locker. "Gone." He threw to box back in his locker. "I always put my badge and tie clip in that box. I did last night, too."
Harrelson thought back to the evening before. They had gotten out a little late, nothing unusual or extreme. While he didn't pay particular attention as the men changed and left, nothing seemed different than any other end of shift.
"You said Rob's badge," Harrelson said.
"Yeah," Jim said, brow furrowed with distress. "You worked it out with HQ so that I was issued Rob's badge number after he was killed. His wife gave me his spare badge. I wear it every shift."
"Is that all that's missing?" asked Harrelson.
"Seems to be. My tie clasp, too. They were together in the box." Having that badge taken hit Jim like a fist to his gut.
Jim reached in his locker and took his department issue badge out of his spare right shoe. It had Rob's number on it, but it wasn't the same.
Harrelson crossed to the armory, checking inventory, nodding when everything seemed to be accounted for.
Jim walked in behind him. "Would you have an extra tie clip, Lieutenant?"
"Yeah, I'll get you one."
Jim stayed in the small room an extra minute. The other guys were in and getting dressed. He heard Dom calling for coffee.
"You mean we beat the Early Bird in this morning?" asked Dom.
Jim walked out into the Control Center. "No worms for you," he told Dom. Deke was already making the coffee so Jim sat numbly at his desk.
"It ain't worms I want, it's coffee," Dom whined.
"Hold your horses," Deke grumbled. "It's coming."
"Not horses," Dom shot back, "stallions. Italian Stallions."
Deke and TJ groaned.
"Here, Street." Harrelson held out a tie clip.
"Thanks, Lieutenant." Jim took the clip and slipped it on, completing his uniform.
"Listen up," Harrelson barked. In the ensuing instant quiet, he continued, "Street had items taken from his locker overnight. Everyone, check your belongings. I want a listing of anything missing."
Deke started for the armory door.
"Checked that, Deke," Harrelson called. "All accounted for."
Deke sighed with relief.
"What's missing, Jim?" asked TJ.
"My badge and tie clip," answered Jim.
"That you keep in the box?" Dom asked.
"Yeah. It was empty this morning." Jim poured himself a cup of coffee.
The others tore through their lockers.
"Nothing missing, Lieutenant," TJ reported.
"All present and accounted for, Lieutenant," said Dom.
"I've got everything," said Deke.
"I wasn't missing anything either," Harrelson said. "The armory is undisturbed; same for my office."
"What's with Jim's badge?" asked TJ. "Is someone going to impersonate an officer?"
"You can get a passable fake at the Army/Navy store for a couple bucks," Harrelson countered.
"How about counting coup?" Deke asked. "You know, into the lion's den."
"Makes as much sense as anything," Harrelson said. "I'll make a few calls around to see if anyone else is reporting thefts." He checked his watch. "Then we're due down at the marina for our water training – Zodiak handling, beach landing, and if the weather holds, helicopter insertion."