Good Cop

Chapter 1

     I sip from a steaming hot cup of coffee as I walk into the police department. My workplace was slowly waking up. Sleepy police officers were arriving, the sun was rising outside, and someone was placing fresh boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts on a table. 

"Morning, Johnson," my co-worker Harold says.

     I mumble my own greetings and grab a glazed doughnut from an open box. My chair creaks as I sink into it. The chief wasn't here here yet, so I could relax for a while. I take a long sip from my coffee, hoping it gives me the energy to make it through the day. Not like I would need it. I would probably just be assigned to parking duty again. Nothing exciting there. I haven't been here for very long, so I do the boring shit while the senior police officers do the cool stuff like busting drug dealers and the occasional car chase. Oh well. I'll get there some day. 

     Minutes run into each other as police officers continue to arrive and the amount of doughnuts decreases significantly. I check my watch and frown. Ten past six. The chief was never late. Just then, the door slammed open, and a big man stumbled in huffing and puffing. The chief. Finally. 

"Hey everyone," he bellows, "Sorry I'm late. Someone slept in longer than he should have."

   My eyebrows furrow in confusion. Who was he talking about? Himself? I look around at my co-workers faces. They seemed just as confused. The chief noticed our puzzled expressions and laughed.

"Don't yall remember," he said, "A new recruit is comin' in today, and here he is!"

 The chief smiled proudly a pushed a kid in front of him. "This here is my son, Spencer, and he'll be joinin' us"

Spencer put his hand up in an awkward wave. "Hi."

     His son? Joining us? I look Spencer over. He seemed like was still in his teens, and unlike his dad, he was pretty scrawny. In fact, the only resemblance between the two was their red hair and blue eyes. He didn't look nearly old enough to join to police force.

Harold seems to have the same thought. "Um, sir? How old is he?"

"Just turned twenty-one," he replies. "Fresh out of the police academy."

     I share a look with the police woman in the desk closest to me. She shrugs as if to say "If he says so."

"Um, may I get a doughnut?" Spencer asks.

     The chief pats him on the back and points him towards the doughnut boxes. He starts assigning jobs, once again giving me parking duty. This time it was a shadier part of downtown Brooklyn. I guess that was a bit more exciting that usual. After he is done giving out assignments, he dismisses us to do our jobs. I get up and and start walking towards the door when someone taps me on the back. I turn around to see the chief standing there with an arm around his son.

"I was thinkin' maybe Spencer could join you today," the chief says. "You see, I've got some work to do, and the others are doing things that I don't think Spencer is quite ready for yet"

     I look at the kid, who smiles at me sheepishly. If I actually had a choice, I would tell the chief no, that I worked better alone, but I didn't have a choice. I stifle a sigh and shake Spencer's hand, which is cold and sweaty like a dead fish.

"Of course, sir," I say. "I'm sure he'll be a big help."

     The chief grins and pats Spencer on the back, nearly knocking the air out of the poor kid.

"Behave," he says before walking away.

      Spencer looks at the ground and shuffles his feet. I notice that he has sugar around his lips from the doughnut.

"So, I'm Spencer," he says.

I roll my eyes, "So I've been told. C'mon, we're working parking duty today."

     I stride towards the door, and Spencer stumbles after me on his short little legs. 

"Whats your name,"  he asks.

"Damon Johnson," I reply.

"Oh, that sounds cool," he exclaims. "So do ever do, like, crazy shit? You know, gun fights and stuff?"

I scowl, "No. Mostly parking duty."

He shrugs. "Yeah, that does seem pretty boring. But I guess you are pretty young. I bet we'll both get to do the awesome stuff once we're older."

"Sure," I mumble as I take the car keys from my pocket and walk into the parking lot. I unlock my car and we both get in. Spencer continues his chatter as we approach downtown Brooklyn. This was going to be a long day.