Memory Shards

Warsaw's Charger Bravo Massacre - Part 3

I continue to look around for a bit – with little interest in my area of expertise. Most of the things here are completely out of my depth. Paul approaches me again as he returns to the R&D wing.
“Alright, time to take our leave. Forensics is about to arrive.” - He says before yawning; the signs of his lack of sleep begin to show.

“What, do they not need security anymore?” - I ask of him, a little confused as to why they asked me to come here for just a few hours.

“Yes and no, it’s more of a shift rotation; there’s a VIP coming over soon and they want a different group of officers taking care of security during their stay at the tower.” - Seems like he knew he wouldn’t need me for long.
This much would suffice in most other cases for an explanation, but at this point my curiosity started to get the better of me, so I ask, “Why is a VIP staying here now of all times?” - It doesn’t really make sense. Internally they should know what’s going on, it doesn’t make sense.

“It’s simple. This visit was scheduled a long time ago. They are trying to be careful not to tip off the local police or the media about whatever happens, so internally they decided that the visit would proceed, and they’ll record their plans after forensics cleans up the scene since everything is still in place.” - Per usual, he’s been aware about everything here since the beginning. I wonder how he gets people to tell him things like these.

“Nothing at all happened here.” - I say mostly to myself.

We begin to take our leave from the R&D department to wait in the lobby for the next shift rotation, now having no further business being here. I feel like I was left empty-handed, or maybe with something I didn’t want. It’s in my head now, it’s not going to leave.
My blood feels so cold.
Paul is helping himself to the unattended bar, while my colleagues are gathered round the entrance discussing the normal aspects of their daily life – what they’ll do later. They get loud, they’re not far from me; all’s just static to my ears.
The gilded gleam of the lobby would blind me if I threw my head back where I sit, the ceiling atop is too bright. It’s so bright further up the tower.
I sit alone in the middle of the lobby, the dark skies looming outside the tower, its clouds reel around my head. I’ve never felt so useless in my life. It’s just another day of regular police work, taking care of whatever the precinct needs us to do. I did plan on preparing to do work on my thesis tonight, preparing for a better future – different job.
The image of that gun crawled into my brain; it’s burnt into my memory.
All of a sudden, I feel like I’ve lost everything before I even had it.
I feel so.
Small.
Paul puts his hand on my shoulder, pulling me back into reality. He’s looking at the lobby’s entrance – four people approaching. Emma goes up to them and greets them like she did with me, but it seems she doesn’t get any questions from them. Red Barracuda is already done investigating the burger joint it sems, he’s accompanied by a woman in corporate attire – much like Emma’s. Alongside them walks a pale blue-eyed little girl wearing a dress that wouldn’t look out of place in a designer store’s window front.
And with them, there she goes. She – wearing those black boots, the standard issue uniform. That shirt looks so good on her. Those sharp, foxy eyes. That serene look on her face. I wonder – has Fox Hound always been this pretty?
I get up as Paul approaches them. He goes straight for Red Barracuda – they've always been closer than he is to any other one of us. I hear them from afar.
“...just a regular security gig, the VIP is to stay the night alongside her caretaker in the hotel area of the building, you’ll provide general security tonight.” - He says to both of my squamates, as Emma continues talking to the VIP.
I get closer to them. The distance feels unfathomable. It’s so quiet here. She’s so far away from me. Her eyes cut me.
“Who’s the kid?” - I ask of her, trying to break the iceberg separating us.
Fox Hound looks at me for a second in utter silence. Red Barracuda remains quiet; not wanting to interfere. I'm grateful that he can read the room so well.
“Solus Corp CEO’s daughter. Please excuse me.” - She says without so much as a hint of wanting to stay and talk. She walks away to the VIP.
Red Barracuda and I remain silent. I am half sure he’s aware, and I’m 100% sure she didn’t say a word to him about what happened at the precinct.
“I’ll be heading out now.” - I tell him while I walk towards the exit to the gilded tower.
I get the urge for a cigarette. There’s only so much I can do here – leaving would be better.
“She wants to quit the police.” - His words calling out to me, it feels like his voice grabs me from the neck as I try to escape.
I can’t face him; I can’t face his words. The pieces fell in place around me. There is nothing here for me anymore. All I can do is let things happen.
I remain still in the boundary of the night at the entrance to the gilded tower; the lights of the city lie dead atop the looming skies – and a dark wind blows.
“See you around, Red Barracuda.” - I walk away, I can’t look back. There is nothing there for me. Not anymore.
An hour has passed – I'm halfway through my shift, already back in the cruiser. The southwest side keeps you on edge at every moment, at every turn. Things are changing; usually there would’ve been something to take care of, like an active shooter situation, a store robbery, or even a murder. But tonight, there’s only the quiet streets and dimly lit sidewalks. It’s been years of this, and when it’s not cruising down the empty city streets of this part of town, I’ve served my purpose to aid the police. It wears me out, but if I sit idle doing nothing, I’ll rust. I’m just trying to do my job.
Everyone here has been kind to me. I’ve gotten to know a lot of good people, many who’ve come and gone as fast as they entered my life. I’ve gotten to have an education, thanks to this job; something not a lot of people from the southwest side can say. Realistically nothing stops me from just continuing to do this job. Keep on keeping on, but I just know I can’t do that. Even if the plan is to stay here as long as needed until things change...
There's more to life than killing lawfully.