GUARDIAN

[ C H A P T E R O N E ]

Detective Shirley Elizabeth Leroy adjusted her glasses as she walked into the precinct. She needed to report to the police chief for her next assignment before she'd head back to her apartment.

A young white male officer stood next to her cubicle with his arms folded while he sported a smile in his lips as he saw her approach.

"Hey Ernie" she said in manner of greeting to her friend and next door neighbor, officer Ernest Darcy Black.

"Hey Shirley" Ernie stood straight giving her a mock salute "How's it going detective Leroy"

"How bout I whip your ass Darcy and see if you gonna like that white boy" she growled making Ernie laugh then stop when he saw the look of righteous anger on her face

"Nah I'll pass and Shirley? You might wanna check in with the chief, heard he's wants you so badly" Ernie teased again.

"Eww Ernie that's gross"

"Yeah whatever Church girl" He teased her then turned serious "But for real Shirley he wants to see ya" he turns to see Shirley moving towards the chief's office.

"A'ight Darcy but I already knew that and mind your business kid" she yelled causing the other cops to give her an amused look.

Walking into a hallway that had doors liked up on each side she stops when she gets to her destination and then knocks on a wooden brown door that had Martin E Wilkinson tapped on top to let everyone know it's owner she paused as she waited for Wilkinson to call her in.

He didn't disappoint.

" Come in Leroy" A gruff voice called from the inside.

Shirley pushed open the doors and stepped into the chief's office.

A potbelied, bald, bespectacled, overweight white man in his mid sixties wore frown, his Salt and pepper mustache twitch with annoyance of being disturbed making Shirley wonder if Wilkinson hadn't really summoned her.

Chief Wilkinson would have pulled off a very handsome and happy grandfather look if it wasn't for the permanent frown etched to his face whenever he saw her. And Shirley would swear the old bat had it out for her.

"Leroy Sit" He ordered motioning her to the chair opposite his and Shirley knowing better, plonked her ass to the chair.

"There's a meth lab downtown Sully, a Mexican Cartel runs it and they've got runners supplying to the kids at the local High school. I need you and O'Reilly to handle it and get me whatever bastards running the business, you've got forty eight hours Leroy and it's starts now, now move get me those criminals the mayor's up for reelection and I don't need him bugging me" He spat the last line out just like he does whenever Mayor Clinton Browning's name came up.

"Chief you know I don't roll with Par'ners so i'mma pass on this O'Reilly dude whoever that guy is" Shirley protested.

Wilkinson knew this was coming but he was well prepared for Shirley "O'Reilly's your partner Leroy and that's final, you either go with him or kiss this assignment goodbye, Now any complaints?" Wilkinson baited knowing how much Shirley wanted the assignment.

Shirley felt her jaw tick in anger and irritants "No Sir" she drawled out sarcastically but Wilkinson ignored her knowing he had won the round.

"Good go get me those drug dealers and I might consider giving you that private office you've been yapping on about.

" Sir yes sir " Shirley grumbled giving him a mock salute as she felt him relishing on his temporary victory.

" Now get your ass outta here"

❄️-❄️

Sam O'Reilly was stuffing his mouth with chocolate sprinkled donuts while he leaned on an old bronc while casting a weary glance on the approaching female detective who sort of was a legend at the precint and who had been dubbed super cop by the press as she handled every assignment like it was easy as ABC.

To be honest O' Reilly was intimidated but there was no way in hell he was gonna make it easy for the kid. She was yet to prove herself to him.

He took a greedy bite from the donut "You're late kid" he huffed showing his dislike for tardiness.

" I ain't, It's just you're early" Shirley said to the Daniel Craig look alike.

"Narcissistic b***h" Sam muttered in anger.

'These kids these days had it easy' O'Reilly mused. They had cases handed easily to them making it easier to get to the top while the real men like him fought hard to get where they were, handling from one shitty case to another.

Shirley heard him loud and clear and for the life of her she felt her anger rise at the judgemental look in his eyes.

"Listen O'Reilly, I've been a detective for the last coupla years now and one damn thing i don't like is y'all lookin' down on my ass like I'm worth nothin' 'specially when I do a much better job than y'all combined a'ight, I don't like you and fact is I don't do well with par'ners cos y'all a pain in the ass, now what I expect ya ass to do is find a damn way to git along with me or you stay outta my way, cos i'mma do this with or without you ass, am I fuckin' clear"

"Great and she's mouthy too, tell me Leroy how's a white girl like ya talkin' like a.."

"Like a n***o was that what you was bout to say" Shirley spat "newsflash you bad mouth my people and I finna make sure your ass die down that meth lab and ain't nobody gon save ya"

O'Reilly was impressed, Leroy was as savage as they came "Hey chill Leroy, didn't know you ass so sensitive, I was just messing with ya" He took a bite from another donut as Shirley made her way toward the passenger side of the truck.

"But seriously kid, I ain't seen a white girl named Shirley Leroy, it's hilarious" O'Reilly started the truck.

"Tell that to my mama and O'Reilly? Shut up and drive"

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