Sympathy for the Devil

part one

Sirens were wailing in the distance in East Harlem. The noise growing louder as Bill, pent up with nervous energy, walked down the graffitied streets to the police station in which he worked. Finally, about to take on the first big case at the station since he was transferred to in New York City. He was originally from Newark, born and raised. Although New York City was just a ferry ride away, the big city still felt daunting. Especially in 1978, the streets were rough, every corner was a wrong turn if you weren't lucky.

Bill walked in the station, the scent of coffee and cigarettes welcoming him. The secretaries and assistants all in a tizzy getting the paperwork through from the weekend. Though when he walked by, no matter how busy any of them were, they cocked a head in his direction to say hello. He politely smiled at them and he could literally see how they just melted. It was silly. A fresh young face in the station must have been a hot commodity for their daily water cooler conversations.

He arrived at his desk, way off in the back of the place, shrugging off his gray suit jacket, draping it across the back of his chair. Moving the morning paper aside, he started to look at random papers to look busy. He glanced up hoping to see that his lieutenant finally arrived so he'd get assigned to his case today. He was eager to get off paperwork duty, to finally get a uniform, and ride around in a cruiser. It's what he did in Newark, protecting the community and chasing down criminals. He reached ranks quickly at the old station because he was passionate about the job. Not many people liked it, he was still new only a few years on his belt, it ruffled the feathers on the more seasoned deputies. Especially, when he got promoted.

He was called in by the sheriff after a long day cruising the streets of Newark. Had a nice conversation over his achievements and was asked, then and there, if he was interested in working in NYC. That, there was a station in a shortage and he thought Bill was just the right person to send over considering all the crime and drugs in the city. The station only wanted the best and the sheriff felt confident that his best was Bill.

He was buzzing with excitement upon his arrival to his new job in the Big Apple but failed to realize what a mighty beast he was up against. The station even had a different hierarchy of order. He didn't get his NYPD uniform as he expected on his first day. Instead, he was regulated to paperwork, a way for his superiors to feel him out, to see where he best fit. After two months of sitting at his desk reviewing files and regretting relocating his whole life, he took matters into his own hands. He started asking the secretary's what areas were lacking in the department and what were the bigger crime issues in the precinct. It was drugs, more specifically, cocaine and in 1978 it hit an all-time peak. Everyone and their mother were snorting the stuff. The ladies were happy to speak on more secure matters with him just to be next to him. He knew it wasn't fair to lead them on, to charm them, but he didn't have any other ground to stand on. At least he made good conversation with them. He hardly talked to anyone. Patricia was his go-to girl, she always had the dirt, the good kind with the evidence to back to back it up. She was the oldest out of the secretaries, the mom of the bunch, and he liked especially that she didn't ogle at him as he spoke.

"They're needing people to work with criminal informants," she said hushed to him a few weeks ago. "Somewhat of an undercover deal. I think you'd be perfect for it."

Bill nodded contemplating on it. "How should I go about getting the job? I'm dying here. I made a case to get off paperwork duty a week ago now and no one's gotten back to me."

"I know sweetie," Patricia frowned a bit, hearing out his frustration. "It gets busy? I don't know what to say? It's New York City there's a lot going on."

"If there's a lot going on then why am I still sitting at the shabbiest desk in this joint?"

"Bill," she said in a stern motherly way.