Short stories - slices of life

Christmas in Los Angeles

Prompt:

My best friend and her kids gave me a prompt to write a Christmas story, and this is what I came out with. The prompt was: USA, beach, panda, gloden color, basketball, in a detective novel style.

Summary:

Louise and Jules are called on duty in Venice Beach for a robbery two days before Christmas. The clues are scarce, Jules doesn't like working during Christmas, Louise doesn't like when Jules is upset. Will they be able to wrap this investigation up in time to spend Christmas with their families?

____________________________________________________________

Part 1. December 23rd, 2023.

A grey dome of clouds covered Los Angeles. The evening temperature was fresh but not that cold, considering it was almost Christmas. Only a few people were still outside in the area of Venice beach. Some walked their dog on the beach or the front walk. Some were out for a late run. Some kids were even still playing basket ball in the sports ground. For the shops and small restaurants along the front walk it was almost time to close. The employees were cleaning, tidying stuff and cashing up the cash register away from prying eyes.

It was almost quiet except for a siren blaring from a police car, coming at full speed on 17th avenue. The black and white Dodge Charger parked at the end of the street, just behind the front walk. Two cops were inside, a man and a woman. The woman behind the wheel cut the engine and run her hand in her short black hair before putting on her police cap. Her blue eyes were sharp despite the dark rings under them. The blond man in the passenger seat sighed heavily as he unlocked his seatbelt.

" You alright ? " the woman asked.

" I'm fine Louise. I just wish there was a Christmas truce. "

Louise scoffed. " Come on Jules, it's Los Angeles. This city will never know a truce. "

" I know but seriously ? Who robs a cannabis dispensary two days before Christmas and shoots the owner ? "

" Well, that's our duty to find out. Let's go. " Louise unlocked her seatbelt as well and they both got out of the car.

They walked together the short distance to the shop. The paramedic truck was already there, doors opened. It was a small shop with a white and green facade. The sign read " Venice Kosh ". It smelled strongly of cannabis, no surprise. The inside of the shop was also painted green. Two meters from the font door, the glass counter displayed infused cannabis lemonades, pre-rolls of all sorts and even some lollipops. The wooden shelves behind the counter should have been full of products too but a lot were missing or were scattered on the floor.

Three paramedics were knelt down beside a big guy with brown skin, very short hair and a stubble. A tattoo of a forest covered all his right arm. The paramedics had him seated against the counter. His tee-shirt has been removed and they were attending a wound on his left shoulder. A black eye was already visible on his face and his lower lip was cut and bleeding.

Louise knocked on the metallic door. " LAPD ! How is he ? "

The youngest paramedic rose up and faced them. " He's been shot in the shoulder. The bullet went through, the wound is quite clean. We're patching him up and bringing him to hospital for routine exams. He'll probably need surgery. The doctor will decide once we know exactly what the damages are. "

" Okay so it's not that bad. Can we talk to him before you take him away ? " Jules asked.

" Yes, he is already under painkiller. No more than 5 minutes though, he still needs to get to the hospital quickly. "