I do not own anything related to Lucifer, DC Comics, Vertigo, or Sandman series, either thru television, written books, or film. Everything belongs to Tom Kapinos, Fox, and mentioned above. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter One
Song(s): Drinking in LA (Bran Van 3000)
Early April
345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…
"It is a beautiful day looking out the studio window here in downtown Los Angeles California, and if you're working today, take your lunch outside folks, it doesn't get any better than this. Clear blue and not a cloud in the sky…"
Grabbing the remote for the small thirteen-inch television, twenty-one-year-old Miriam Tyler watched the screen go dark before tossing it onto the red futon couch.
"Keys…keys…keys…keys…"
Spying her keyring and mobile phone peeking out from beside the coffee pot, she scooped them up quick before slipping her sunglasses onto the bridge of her nose. Slamming the apartment door closed behind her, she nearly tripped over the thick bundle of Examiner and Times newspapers as she felt the vibration in her back pocket.
Mom wants to know if you are coming home this weekend?
Staring at her brother's text, Miriam thumbed a quick response before bounding down the three-floored staircase that led to the broken front door onto 1st street.
"Aaron, she needs to take a hint that I have a life here in LA and not on the farm in Fairfield" she muttered as she rounded the corner of the parking garage. Unlocking the door to her dark blue Honda Civic, she tossed her tan colored Jansport backpack onto the ripped fabric of the passenger seat before turning the engine over.
Right, Forensic Toxicology at ten, and Basic Bloodstain at two
"Then potluck with Dakota, Paul, and Lauren" she spoke out loud, before turning onto San Pedro.
Rolling down her window as she felt the heat of the sun against her arm, Miriam reached her fingers forward and switched on the radio.
Yeah, we got 3 tickets to the Bran Van concert this Monday night
at the Pacific Palisades. You can all dial in if you want to answer
A couple of questions, namely,
What is Todd's favorite cheese.
Jackie just called up and said it was a form of Roquefort.
We'll see about that...
Give us a ring-ding-ding! It's a beautiful day!
"It certainly is" she smiled, taking the ramp for the US-101 South that would take her to Cal State. Catching her reflection in the review mirror as she removed her sunglasses, she poked at the corner of her eye, wiping away a smudge of mascara before taking a deep breath.
"One year and four months left of school. Then graduation, then application submission to the LAPD, six months training to become an Officer, then….dream come true" she lectured to herself as she thought of the twenty five item to do list hanging above the IKEA work desk in her bedroom. She had always been the organized one between her and her younger brother with her life plan always detailed into lists as physical reminders of her dreams.
And the LAPD was the biggest so far.
Pulling into the student parking lot, she took the last space near the west side just as her mobile started to ring.
Unknown number
Squinting her eyes as she swiped her finger across the screen, she heard nothing as she brought the receiver up to her ear.
"Can I speak to Miriam Tyler please?"
"Speaking?"
"Ms. Tyler, my name is Susan Holmes, I am one of the Community Initiative Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department out of the North Hollywood prescient, and I would to inform you that your application submitted last year to participate on a Ride Along, has been approved."
Feeling her heart beating fast as a wide smile began to spread across her lips, she could barely contain her excitement after a year of waiting for a response.
"This is excellent news!"
"I apologize for such a long wait as I see your application is dated from last June, but we had to completely revamp the program to make sure our Officers, those riding along, and the community were as safe as possible" Holmes spoke as she flipped through the pages of Miriam's application.
"May I ask when you are planning to apply to the LAPD?"
Shifting in her seat as she knocked her knee against the steering wheel, Miriam glanced out her window as she watched some of her fellow students crossing the lot towards the college. "I am in my third year at Cal State with one more to go, so probably not until the fall of 2024?" she replied, catching the time on the dashboard.
"And are you applying to be a straight Officer? Or applying to go into Forensics?"
"I'm completely my Bachelor of Science in Forensics, but I haven't made up my mind yet" she offered, looking at the time again.
Class starts in ten minutes
"Well, I'm sure that will give you some exposure to make sure becoming a Police Officer is what you really wish to do."
Clicking her tongue against the inside of her cheek, Miriam straightened her back as she heard her mother's voice…
"Why would you ever want to be a Police Officer Miriam? It's such a dangerous job and just last week two Officers were killed outside of Sacramento"
"I know it's what I want to do" she spoke firmly as Holmes tapped her pen against an open date and time in her calendar.
"So, it looks like we can have you ride along with an Officer next week, on Thursday at two?"
Unzipping the front pouch of her bag, she took out a pen and started to write on the back of her hand.
"Bring two pieces of identification, one with a photo and any questions you may have for the Officer. You will fill out paperwork to ensure liability and the Officer will go over all procedures to be followed."
Hearing the line go quiet, Miriam fumbled a quick text to her roommate before grabbing her bag.
"Yes…yes…YES!"
…
California State University, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA…
Lecture Hall
"As we already know, blood is a tissue that circulates within the human body and assists with every other part. From function, to transport, to oxygen, to movement, you find red blood."
Tapping her pen as she watched the re-constructed digital bloodstains changing shape, Miriam felt a nudge against her arm as she looked to her roommate.
"You told everyone coming to bring only vegan right?" Dakota whispered as Miriam nodded her head.
"I turned your coffee pot off by the way" she sneered, tracing the tip of her pen over the already traced letters spelling out LAPD. "I got a call from the LAPD before I came in, I'm scheduled to go on a ride along next week."
"Now, we look at three angles of impact: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma with their trigonometric equations."
Focusing her attention on the Professor upfront as he clicked the slides from blood to math equations, she couldn't stop crossing and uncrossing her feet beneath the long desk as she started to write out the first of her many many questions for next week.
…
345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…
8:03pm
"I brought an extra bowl of mac and cheese, this one made with nutritional yeast and jalapeno havarti soy."
God I would love a steak and baked potato with sour cream
Smelling heavy curry as Lauren displayed a bowl of couscous with lentils, Miriam took a seat on the red futon as her boyfriend Paul moved next to her.
"Do you want to come stay the night at my place tonight?" he questioned, taking a deep sip of his Molson as Miriam chewed on a piece of naan bread.
"Um, actually, I have to finish a paper, and get a start on an assignment Professor Pavel just handed out this afternoon on points and area of convergence" she lied, catching the slight glaze falling over Paul's eyes as she reached for her own beer.
"Right, well, it's been over two weeks since you've been to my place and I'm kinda getting the feeling that you don't want to see me anymore."
You're right Paul
"I have a job, school full time, and I'm volunteering to make sure I am as ready and attractive as a candidate as I can be, so excuse me for not having time to sleep in your twin bed" she spat, sipping her beer once more.
"Right, the whole Police Officer thing. Remind me again why you want to do such a shit job that pays crap and puts a target on your back for everyone with a knife and a gun?" Paul questioned, not bothering to hide the distain in his voice.
I want to help people. It's not about money at all, it's about people…
And I believe that I can help people
Rising to her feet as she let her plate drop onto the coffee table, Miriam ignored her beer as she turned towards the kitchen and caught eyes with Dakota.
"Hey, you not eating?"
"Paul is pissing me off" she spat, ripping open the fridge door, scanning her eyes for anything else to eat.
"I'm actually surprised you two have not split up, being so different."
"I'm only twenty-one Dakota, I never saw the two of us getting married and buying house" she whispered, closing the door before moving down the hallway.
I don't see any of that stuff
All I see and want is the LAPD
"Is that selfish?" she whispered, moving into the small dark bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she flicked on the switch and sat down heavily on the closed toilet seat, running her fingers through her shoulder length dark brown hair.
"I've wanted to be a Police Officer since I was twelve, and come hell or high water, I am going to make it."
…
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