Officer Doherty

A Day In The Life

POV: Doherty

Wednesday through Sunday mornings I had a routine. I like routines it gives me control. I go to the gym at 8 am followed by breakfast at the dinner down the street. Most people don't like to be alone let alone eat alone but it gives me time to think. Plus the service at McBride's was always good. Danny was the owner, he was a nice enough guy. The place was not totally above board but I was always off duty there. Danny had grown up here, like me. The south side of Chicago was not always easy so we were bonded. He was a traditional Italian tough guy. The word was he put in a few good years with the mafia and in return got the down payment for the place. Now he is living out his golden years serving sausage and gravy to hipsters. The south side was the new up and coming neighborhood for the alternative crowd. He always had a cute young girl working the counter, one was never around long but I never asked why. This morning Tiffany was working. She was nearing her expiration as she had been here for at least 4 months. She was decent and always gave me an unreasonable amount of attention. I wasn't interested. You could tell Tiffany was the type of girl who had been around the block. I made her nervous I could see it when she poured my coffee. 

I tended to have that effect on women which is why I could never settle down. I made them quiver with a light touch of my fingers but long term I was never good enough. Monogamy was not my strong suit. I was good at getting women but not resisting them, at least the attractive ones. I was walking home like usual. McBride's was only 5 blocks west of my apartment. I lived in an old converted fire house. Ironic given my profession. Plus the fire pole came in handy when the nights got long and the company was questionable. 

I would turn on the news and jump in the shower. Take a quick nap before getting ready and head to work. I liked having a uniform. Besides the obvious that people respected it and women found it attractive it made life simple. I took  my time getting ready, not excited for the night shift. The shifts had been long lately and the days were starting to blend. I headed to the presaint and it felt like home when i hit the doors. It smelt like cheap coffee and cleaning supplies. There was silence in the noise. Constant radio chatter and the sound of Velcro Kevlar vests being put on. I met up with my partner Mark. He was the life of the party back in the day but now with a teenager and newborn at home he seemed to always be tired. Either way I knew I could count on him.

We were patrolling Wriglyville tonight. There was a Cubs game and everyone knew that meant a lot of MIP's and fights. Both of which result in lots of paperwork. Mark and I tried to keep a low profile because of that. We didn't get involved unless we had to. No use in punishing a young kid for having a few too many.  We drove around the majority of the night and answered a few basic calls but until after the game things are pretty calm. Summer in the city was always a good time and games like this always drew a mixed crowd. Families, college kids, and even businesses would make it out. 

It was the 6th inning and we were driving past the main entrance when someone caught my eye. She was beautiful but simple. It didn't seem right for her to be alone in the city this late. She must have caught Marks eye too because he stopped the car. Before we could ask if she needed help two people joined her. One man and one woman. You could tell this was a business group. I couldn't help but think how distracting it would be to sit across from her during a meeting.

She has to be in her early twenties. She had long brown hair, the way the curls fell against her skin made me sit up. Her body was slender but she was swollen in all the right areas. My eyes roamed to her lips as Mark pulled away. She was on my mind all night. When the game let out I suggested we do some walk through's of the bars around the field. I wanted to see her. I don't know why but she was in my head and it made me angry to think of what she could be doing right now.

I was giving up when Mark perked up. He hit my shoulder and pointed clear across the bar. It was her and the group of people she was with. Some were old and some were young but they seemed to get along well. I made my way over to the table unsure of what to say but my feet kept moving...