The Lamnent

Chapter 1: Irritation

Dulvey, Montana
March 9th, 2019
2:37 P.M.

Joseph Hardy had a career ahead of himself, being a police officer in a big town, with a beautiful wife and healthy lifestyle. It was like a dream come true when that badge was placed on his chest and sorted into the police academy.

Protecting the people that he cared for the most, it was his duty to bring justice to everyone in the city of Dulvey. Even if it meant getting shot at, being shot, beaten, racial slurs, and many other things that came to being a black officer.

He sat in his patrol car with his partner Nathan Lambert, who was busy holding the speedometer gun towards the busy freeway. He was just forty five and already having grey hair within his short blonde hair. They were both observing the freeway to make sure that no one was speeding like an idiot.

"Nothing like a fine afternoon, am I right?" Lambert asked, still pointing the speedometer.

Joseph tapped against the wheel, humming a tiny bit, "Yeah, I guess you can say that. It's a Friday, so be prepared to get some action. You know how college kids are these days."

Lambert snorted at that, "You bet, been doing this for twenty years and kids still don't know their lesson. You know, I've pulled over the same person five times in a row over the span of fifteen years. All DUI's."

"Seriously?" Joseph questioned.

"Mmhm, yep, took her to the station every time, all cryin and wailing, 'Officer Lambert, I wasn't doing anything! I swear!'"

Lambert then looked back over at Joseph, "And you know what I told her each time?"

"What?" Joseph chuckled, enjoying the story. He's only had Lambert as a partner for two weeks, but he was a cool mentor.

Lambert grinned at him, "I'd say, 'That ain't what the breathalyzer said.'"

They both had a good laughed at that and enjoy the boredom of sitting in a car all day watching traffic. "How on earth did she not get her license taken away?" Joseph asked him.

"Oh, I took it every time, she has money, but she don't have a good head. She's in rehab right now but that shit still gets to you. Poppin' pills and smoking dope and drinking with all your hearts content. It ain't easy getting off that shit."

"You're right," Joseph agreed, he remembered when had a joint one time when he was sixteen, never felt that high in his life. That was when he was still in high school and barely passing his classes, almost getting nowhere in life.

"Now, my son," Lambert began, "He knows what he's doing. He's a junior at UCLA right now, planing on becoming a psychologist. He don't have the time for partying because of all that studying that he does. He's damn good at it, too."

"UCLA? All the way down there?" Joseph asked him.

Lambert nodded, "Mmhm, best in the country apparently."

"That's good, at least you have a kid."

"Well, son, I wish I could tell ya something but having a kid can be a pain in the ass when they get older. You don't know what the hell they're gonna be one day unless you raise them right."

Joseph nodded again and the radio crackled to life. "All units we have a Code 30 on Bradbury Avenue, possible breaking and entering, please respond."

"That for us?" Joseph asked. "Bradbury is about ten blocks down the street."

Lambert shrugged, "Let's find out."

He picked up the radio and spoke, "10-2 this is 54, calling for Code 30, over."