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“I know you do. Hernandez is about 10-17, maybe two minutes out. Be safe.” She clicked off the air, and I clipped the radio receiver to my chest. Hernandez was en route, but he wasn’t here, and I couldn’t wait for him. The lieutenant was going to have my balls over this going in solo. I pulled my service weapon out and approached the house from the side, looking for anything suspicious. Lights were on inside, and I could hear yelling and items being trashed. I got up against the house and made my way up the porch and to the door. I banged loudly, identifying myself as my heart pounded in sync. “Open the door. This is Sergeant Rumson with the NYPD.”
“You just had to call the police, didn’t you, bitch? Always running your god damn mouth.”
I heard a whimper and nothing more.
“Open the door, Mr. Steward. Let’s talk about this.” I banged again, and the door
remained shut. It would be my luck this joker owned a shotgun or something. Rita couldn’t get alimony or my pension from me, but this scumbag might get a round off.
“I ain’t fuckin’ opening anything. This is my house, you pig asshole,” he bellowed, refusing my second request.
My radio clicked, and chin down, I answered it. “A little busy right now.”
The fuzz of air buzzed through, and Colbie replied, “Hernandez’s car just got clipped down the street. I can’t get Hudson to answer.” She wanted me to stand down and wait, but I couldn’t, not with the cries now coming from inside, and god only knew what this guy was doing. It was obvious Mrs. Steward was no longer safely hiding in the closet.
“10-4, dispatch. I’m going to need 10-33 and a 10-40. Suspect might be 10-32.” I needed everyone we had on standby and to approach with no sirens and flashers. This guy was hot; he could have a gun, and the last thing I needed was the cavalry coming, throwing gasoline on the fire.
“10-4, Sergeant. On standby, waiting for your call.”
Good girl, Colbie. My adrenaline rushed, blocking out sound, putting me on autopilot mode. After this call, I was going back to the station to kiss the fuck out of her. Screw Rita. I wasn’t going to wait for formalities when I’d already given her everything else I had. Calls like this made me realize how precious the important things were.
“Last chance, Steward,” I called, banging my shoulder into the door. It opened on the second thrust of my shoulder with its shoddy construction. The kinetic energy of the door opening pushed him back, forcing him to stumble and trip over the cracked coffee table and tossed sofa cushions. We scuffled, and I used my weight, propelling him to the ground. He dropped the bat he’d been holding onto, and I used my knee to keep him face down as I gripped his arms, slapping handcuffs on his wrists.
“Holy shit, Rumson! You couldn’t give me a hot minute to get down here?” My backup leaned over, catching his breath. He obviously ran down here from his fender bender and just in time.
“Can it, rookie. Check the residence. I’ve about got him secured.” I nodded at Joey Hernandez, a rookie patrolman, who I’m learning has good instincts and a solid work ethic. He checked the first floor before heading upstairs while I sat on the idiot who threatened his wife moments ago. Mrs. Steward sniffled, curled up in ball in the corner under a ripped cushion, tears streaking her face.
I pulled up Mr. Steward and read him his Miranda rights, which he dismissed before I hauled him outside. At this point, Hudson rolled up in his car. The guy was about as helpful as a tit on a bull. “About time you showed up. Where the fuck were you?” I was annoyed this could have gone down a hundred different ways, and Hudson just sat there like a dunce.
“Bro, I had a prowler report. I couldn’t leave until I cleared it.” He squirmed under my glare, and I pushed Mr. Steward into the back of the car, ignoring his excuses. I needed tonight’s shift to be over. Screw the paperwork from this call. I could finish it up next shift on my downtime.
I reached for my radio, “Colbie, I’m cleared from the scene and bringing the suspect back to HQ for processing.”
“10-4. See you soon.” Colbie ended the transmission, and I left the scene, leaving Hernandez to take care of the wife and Hudson to fuck something else up.
“You got the hots for the radio girl?” Steward guessed from the back of the car. My face must have given something away and I kicked myself for showing this dumbass anything. His obnoxious growl tested my patience. I wanted nothing more than to slam my vehicle into something and propel this jerk through the windshield. Bad enough my fist clenched, wanting to lay him out.
I gritted my teeth. “Do yourself a favor and exercise your right to remain silent.”
“Whatever, cop. We both know I’m going to get out tomorrow on bail anyway, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He laughed, and the urge to stop the car short at the next traffic light overwhelmed me.
I made a note to myself to make sure Hernandez got the wife to file a restraining order and seek safety if she could. We both knew Steward would get out tomorrow, but that didn’t mean I had to leave him anything to go home to.
I left Steward in the holding cell, depositing him none too gently, and made my way toward the call center. Inside, Colbie was answering an overnight parking call, and I knocked on the window to get her attention. Her head looked up from the screen, and she waved. The call ended, and she pushed her headset down, giving me a smile that made me happy I was able to get back safely. She gave me a reason to want to come back after shifts like this.
“Glad to see you’re okay.” Her sweet voice is muted against the chaos of the call room.
“Thanks,” I said, kicking my boot into the door jamb like an awkward teen.
“Colbie, take your break, you’ve been on since your shift started,” the Lieutenant in charge of the dispatchers grumbled, and Colbie bounded out of her seat to join me in the hall.
“Rough call tonight, huh?” she said, and I nodded, guiding her toward our informal break room. My hand hovered over her back, but I gripped my fingers, resisting the pull to touch her.
“Could have been worse. I’m glad Hernandez showed up. Damn kid must have sprinted his brick-house of a body those few blocks to get to me.”
“He did when he heard the call. Some idiot clipped his car at the stop sign. A kid who shouldn’t be driving, and he let him go so he could get to you. Joey is a good guy.” Colbie poured herself a cup of coffee, sugar, no cream, and I followed, making one of my own.
“Glad he was on tonight. Now Hudson, he’s a train wreck.” We chuckled and rested against the table sipping our coffee.
