"What did you do to Penny Lang?" Pete grinned and went back into his apartment. There was no way that he would tell that tale so easily. Afterall, he's avoided giving anyone the details so far and Penny's next victim could figure out how to handle her. It was probably the worst thing he ever said or did to a date, but it was his only hope to get rid of her.
After another cup of coffee and a hot shower Pete got dressed and sat down at the desk in the corner of the living room. He'd really rather be outside taking another walk in the park, but the bills needed to be paid. Sally had given him the job with the excuse that she was lousy at balancing a checkbook and he wouldn't want her to miss the due date on his parents' mortgage. Pete didn't buy that excuse for a minute and considered it hitting below the belt, but he took pride in the fact that he had never overdrawn his checking account. The sound of kids playing basketball outside made the dreary task worse.
Pete was finally starting to take his walk when out of the blue someone shouted, "Catch it, Coach". One thing about being a cop was that it did teach you to react quickly, which in this case meant that he caught the ball instead of getting hit in the face with it.
"Not bad for someone out of practice". Benji said as he led most of Pete's PAL team towards him. "Me and the guys thought you might want to shoot some hoops with us.
"We can play a little four on four", Pete was already taking off his jacket. 'just keep your elbows away from my gut."
"No problem Coach", Eli chipped in "we'll play a clean game."
"Yeah", Carlos was already pulling off his shirt saying "Shirt and skins. Me. Eli, Bobby and Tony are skins."
As they split into teams, he was surprised that David was there. He hadn't seen David since before the shooting. Strange how he once assumed that Judy's son would become his stepson.
The kids did take it easy on bumping into him; letting him get a few rebounds unchallenged, but they were playing to win. After Pete's team took the first game, the teams were shuffled so that he now had Eli and Tony on his side. The next game was called halfway through when Mrs. O'Brien, carrying cups of lemonade, arrived.
"You boys should know that he isn't well enough to play." Spoken as she passed out drinks to the team. "I ought to give you a good whooping."
They all looked contrite until Tony decided to tease Pete. "Hey coach, aren't you too old to live with your mother?"
The boys burst out laughing while Mrs. O'Brien huffed. Benji elbowed Carlos. "She looks too old to be his mother. Granny maybe"
"As long as she's not his girlfriend cuz…." Whatever Bobby was going to say got cut off as Mrs. O'Brien held the drink tray sideways like an extra wide baseball bat.
"Hooligans! The lot of you." She glared down at Pete, who was trying extremely hard not to laugh at her. "Peter Malloy, you need to teach these boys to respect their elders."
Pete lost it, blurting out a laughing "Yes, Mother". He was positive that the only reason she didn't swat him with the tray was because she still worried over him. As she left, they could hear her muttering Irish curses under her breath.
The boys stayed for another hour filling their coach on everything that's been happening with them and asking if he would be able to coach the team this year. Pete smiled, he had missed this part of his old life.
"Eh, I think I can put up with all of you for another year."
O~O~O
Pete arrived home from his physical therapy session just as the bells rang at a nearby church. After years of living near the church he rarely noticed them anymore except when he had his mind on his possible visitors today. It was four o'clock; night watch was starting. He figured he had a few hours before Jim and Kasak arrived, if they did. He went into his apartment, took a mild pain medicine and fell asleep.
A knock on the door woke him up. According to his wall clock it was ten minutes past five, way too soon for it to be his partner and the rookie unless something had gone terribly wrong.
"Pete, are you in there?" Jim's voice confirmed Pete's fears. He opened the door to find an angry training officer and a terrified rookie.
"If I have to be." Pete motioned them in as he went to the coffee pot for a fresh cup. He had brewed it before his nap, knowing he would need it later. Malloy filled a mug for himself and Reed then motioned for Larry to stand off to the side. The silence in the room was unnerving as Pete took his sweet time drinking his coffee. Kasak looked like caught catfish right before you slammed its head against a rock to kill it. Finally, Pete spoke.
"Watch started an hour ago, so what are you doing in my apartment at five fifteen?" He leaned back against the wall not taking his eyes off Kasak. "I'm waiting for an answer rookie."
"I'm not sure why ji…un Officer Reed brought me here, Sir." Sweat began to trickle down the side of Kasak's face. Pete crossed his arms and stared down the rookie. "What were you doing or saying that made your training officer bring you to my home to correct you? Officer Reed is one of the best we have, so what can't he get through that thick head of yours?"
Larry seemed to shrink, sweating like a horse after a full gallop. He stared at the floor. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He paused for a moment. "Actually, I know what you've been doing." Pete turned his attention to Reed.
"Partner, I didn't expect you this soon. What did he do?"
"He tried Ed's famous run to the door. Woods tackled him before he got himself shot." A nod of his head sent Jim downstairs to get the jackets.
"Officer Reed tells me that you don't agree with his methods, instead preferring Wells' Superman theory of police work. Did you almost get yourself shot following his example today?"
Kasak made no attempt to answer.
"You're lucky. No one was there to prevent Wells' half-witted stunt. What he did that day was stupid, reckless and not at all worthy of the Medal of Valor. I know for a fact that his wife threw out his Purple Heart."
Jim, who had returned with the box, stood back while Pete scared Larry so badly that Jim hoped there wasn't a puddle on the rug.
"Reed and I were back-up that day. Wells' came in Code 3, hit the curb and ran towards the front door of the house. If he had bothered to do the job right, instead of charging like Sgt. York, he wouldn't have ended up laying in a no man's land on the shooter's front lawn. Show him the jackets Partner."
Under Pete's careful watch, Jim unsealed the bag and handed the jackets to Larry. They smelled of gunpowder and blood and made the rookie cough. Jim warned him to watch out for the pieces of glass that were still embedded in Pete's heavier leather jacket. Jim told him how he and Pete had risked their lives to rescue Wells. Larry, obviously considering whatever he did earlier, looked like he was about to vomit. Jim handed him a wastebasket as Pete continued.
"Wells got a trip to the hospital, a shoulder full of buckshot and an angry, terrified wife. Reed and I were the only ones who won commendations that day." Pete's voice took on a softer, lecture tone to it. "Wells' exaggerates his deeds, leading good young cops to do the wrong thing. I don't want to see you in a casket because you failed to follow procedures. Understood?"
Larry wiped his mouth and nodded.
"Now, I would like to get back to my nap. If you ever get the urge to follow Wells' example, stop and wait for your training officer to tell you how to handle the call."
Jim reached out to shake Pete's hand. "Thanks Partner. I think you got through to him."
"You're welcome Partner."
Kasak turned his head quickly as he heard the two friends say goodbye, but he didn't ask.
