Before The Dreamer - The Rookie

Two - Tim*

"Hey, I'm sorry, Bradford; Dispatch just got a call about a domestic situation. All the other units are unavailable, so could you figure it out? As soon as one becomes available, I will send them your way. Hopefully, it will be soon. I know you just got off a 28-hour shift; I wouldn't be asking you if I didn't think it would have been a big deal."
"Yeah, I can. Do we have any more information?"
"All dispatch said was that there was a mother worried about the emotional and physical safety of her daughter and said that her 17-year-old son was threatening it."
"You got it, Grey; I'll leave now with lights and sirens."
"You are a good man, Officer Bradford."
"I try to be."
After completing a grueling shift at work, I felt utterly drained. The day had been exceptionally challenging, and to make matters worse, my sergeant informed me that I needed to respond to one final call before I could finally head home.
Our department was dealing with a severe staff shortage, and the workload had become overwhelming. Numerous retirements had resulted in a lack of personnel, leaving us with minimal recruits from the academy. This meant we would be understaffed for almost a year, adding strain on the already overworked team.
The call was close to where I lived, just a block or two away, so the drive back home would take little time. When I arrived at the address I'd been dispatched to, I immediately recognized it as the house I passed by every day and night.
Over the years, I often noticed a little girl and her older brother playing in the front yard. The sound of their laughter and the sight of their smiles always brought a sense of positivity to my day. Without fail, they would wave at me whenever they saw me. I could also know that I brought happiness to their day whenever I waved back at them with a huge smile.
As I approached the house, the elderly lady dashed out, her distressed cries echoing. Despite her sense of urgency, her words were muffled and indiscernible.
"What seems to be the problem, ma'am?"
"My daughter is in danger, and my son is going to hurt her!"
"Is there anyone else in the house?"
"No."
For some reason, there wasn't as much panic in her voice as I thought there would be, but I just brushed it off, still curious and confused.
I quietly entered the house and went up the stairs. There were only three doors up there, yet only one was open. I assume that is the one her son is in.
"LAPD, I am coming in."
"Please help me."
Someone on the ground spoke faintly, but I heard something like a light rocking. I checked all around the room, and the last place I checked was the closet.
When I opened it, there was a small girl in there, in a fetal position, rocking herself back and forth, trying not to cry.
"Hey there, my name is Tim. Are you okay?"
"My name is Jana. Yeah, I guess I'm not the one you need to worry about, but my brother is my mom hit him. Like a slap, he was holding his face, but she had hit him a couple more times, and he hadn't moved for a while."
"Was your brother trying to hurt you?"
The little girl suddenly tensed up and swiftly closed the door upon hearing footsteps on the stairs. It seemed apparent that she was trying to avoid being found. I couldn't help but wonder if there were concerns about parental abuse.
It did all add up in my head; the less I would see the children out to play, as if they were locked inside, to avoid any contact with anyone. It was as if the mother was trying to keep these kids under her spell. As I contemplated this, the mother unexpectedly entered and began questioning my presence and intentions.
"Why haven't you arrested him yet? He should be in handcuffs."
This moment was when I knew that there were signs of parental abuse; I mean, yes, the obvious, but also locking the kids up, and if they don't follow suit with what she does, they get punished for it.
"I can't do that, Ma'am, your son is unconscious."
"It doesn't matter. You are questioning if what I told you is the truth!"
"No, I am not, Ma'am, but it is illegal to cuff someone while they are not conscious."
I had just lied through my teeth to get her to shut up. Hopefully, it is people like her that just anger me to a whole other level, like you can't see that he isn't going to do any harm because you knocked him out.
"If you don't do it, then I will."
"Ma'am, do you want to be arrested too? Then I suggest you stop questioning me and go back outside."
"Fine."
Thankfully, she had returned downstairs, and the front door shut a minute later. I moved back to the closet and opened it again.
"It's going to be okay, Jana; tell me what happened?"
"Is my brother going to be okay?"
"Yeah, he just got knocked out, but he will be alright."
"That's good."
"Tell me what happened, Jana?"
"I- I'm not completely sure. I mean, I know that today is my brother Chris's 17th birthday, and he had come out to my mom about his feelings about boys, and she completely ignored him and tried to kick him out of the house."
"Wow, okay, what happened next, Jana?"
"She said that he was poisoning me with his thoughts. He had told her that he wasn't. I'm not sure what happened next, but I know she had slapped him and hit him a few times, and as soon as she heard the sirens, she changed. Like she was acting like she was the victim in the situation."
"Has your mom ever been violent before?"
"There have been a few times, but-"
The next thing I knew, the mother was standing right behind me. I can feel her breathing down my neck. I could see that Jana looked terrified. I couldn't blame her. With everything I think is happening in this house, I would be scared if I were Jana.
"What the hell do you think that you are doing?"
"Ma'am, I'm just reviewing the scene. It's my job."
There is my cue to stand up in my spot and grab the handcuffs out of my belt.
"Ma'am, you are under arrest for child abuse."
"Now hold on here-"
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court."
I guided her to the stern-faced officer stationed outside the bedroom, and he solemnly proceeded to articulate her rights.
From the corner of my eye, I observed the subtle movement of a young boy named Chris. Jana rushed to his side without hesitation, clutching him as if her existence hinged on it.
The unbreakable bond they shared was tangible, and it was evident that Jana held Chris in the highest regard, much like I treasure someone as profoundly as she cherished Chris.
"Jana, I promise I'll never let that happen to you again, okay?"
Jana was still visibly shaking. I just opened my arms, and she ran straight for them. She held on tight. Nothing could get her to let go.
"I- I- I don't know what I will do now. Where am I going to go?"
"I'm not sure, but at least for tonight, you could stay at my apartment with me. I know it would be a little weird, but I feel like I have known you your whole life, waving at you and your brother daily. Would that be okay?"
"Yeah, I would like that. Are you sure, though? My mom says I'm a burden."
"Oh, Jana, you are not a burden. I promise you. Okay? And you can call me Tim."
As we spent time at her house, an eerie quiet filled the air, with no sound escaping her lips. It was understandable, given all that she had experienced. I could sense the inner chaos she must have been battling.
All I could see in her was a vulnerable, frightened child grappling with unraveling her world. I was determined to shield her from further harm and vowed to exhaust every effort. Jana's predicament struck a chord within me.
Though my childhood presented its share of trials, they were distinct from Jana's, yet I couldn't help but notice certain similarities.