January Gets Her Gunn

Chapter 8-1

Chapter 821 Aug 1982: 2315:

“Peter Seven, you have a burglar alarm at Fourth Street Liquors. The clerk called in and said it was a smash and grab.”

January glanced at Gunn, who nodded as he reached for the microphone. January made a bootlegger U-turn in the middle of the block, after turning on the warning lights, but not the siren. She drove fast but skillfully, until she was within three blocks of the scene. Then she turned off the warning lights and slowed to the speed limit. They both scanned the sidewalks for a possible fleeing burglar without success. Carlos was already at the scene when they arrived.

“The clerk says he probably didn’t get anything because a piece of plate glass fell on his arm and cut it. He dropped the bottle he had grabbed. It’s smashed on the floor.” Carlos, talking with his hands as usual, pointed out the items as he spoke.

January could see some blood on the sidewalk. She shone her flash light along the walk and saw more blood drops going west. “That’s bright blood, possibly an artery was cut.”

“Let’s see if we can follow the trail.” Gunn started walking west following the drops. January followed.

“Shouldn’t we take the bricks?”

“Good idea. I’ll get them and catch up to you.” Gunn turned back to the RPU.

January followed the blood trail to the corner. She looked around and finally saw a drop of blood on the sidewalk going north, about ten feet from the corner. Must have a handkerchief or something over the wound. She was slowly making her way along the sidewalk sweeping the beam of her flash light across the sidewalk and part of the asphalt, when Gunn caught up with her.

“I think he put something over the cut or it isn’t as bad as we thought. The drops are a lot further apart,” she reported to Gunn as she accepted the handi-talkie from him.

“Sounds reasonable to me, Six Bravo.” Gunn grinned at her. “Or maybe that should be Brava. That’s good Spanish.”

“Are you trying to get my goat, Gunn?” She had put the head set on and was checking the volume.

“Not me, Officer Farrell, I have no interest in livestock.” He was giving her the grinning ghoul stare.

“You’re humbug, Gunn. Besides, that was my line. Get your own, Spook.” She had to pull his chain, before he got too frisky.

Gunn made a courtly bow, “Yes Your Majesty.”

“Let’s find the bleeder.” January started on down the sidewalk. She found another drop and pointed at it.

They followed the blood drops across Second Street and down to the alley behind the business buildings facing Second. There was a vacant lot with a lot of brush from there to First Street. They found no more drops of blood on the sidewalk to First. They started back tracking in the vacant lot about five yards apart. They found nothing by the time they got back to the alley.

“Okay, Jan, you go up the alley as far as the Avenue. Then go towards First. I’ll move over five yards and start back towards First. There’s a lot of places to hide back here, so we’ll have to go slow.” January nodded. “Be careful Jan.” She noticed he stood a minute watching her move up the alley. Then he turned and started back across the lot.

January moved up the alley. Be careful, he said, I believe Thad is changing. She was not only sweeping the flash light beam along the ground, but was shining it into any dark place that could be a hiding place. She had gone about a half a block, when she noticed a narrow breeze way between two buildings. She shone the light into the breeze way, but it was full of trash. She moved closer to get a better look. She saw the shoe first and then the leg. There was a smear of blood on one of the buildings. At the entrance, she could see the whole person, one arm flung above the head with a bloody bandana tied on the forearm near the elbow.

“Police officer, come out of there!” She commanded loudly. No response. Again she announced that she was a police officer and ordered the person out from between the buildings. Drawing her pistol, she clicked off the safety, and then she kicked the nearest foot. Still no response. She put the safety on and holstered her pistol. Reaching down she felt the skin of the leg. It was cool, but not cold, yet.

“Six Alpha. I found him. Apparently he’s unconscious, but not dead. He’s here in a breeze way about half way up the alley. We need an ambulance.”

“Ten-Four, Brava. I’m on my way.” Then she heard Gunn give Dispatch the location and request an ambulance. She looked across the lot and could see Gunn’s flash light bobbing.

He’s running! January turned her flash light towards Gunn.

“Gotcha.” His voice came through the head piece. January looked at the figure lying in the breeze way again. He hadn’t moved. Sticking her flash light in its holder on her belt, she grasped both feet and with a heave started pulling him out of the narrow space. With the man out of the breezeway and on his back, January checked for pulse at the carotid artery on the neck behind the ear. She felt a faint slow pulse. Using her flash light, she checked the eyes. They were unglazed.

Gunn came running up. “He’s alive but barely,” January announced.

Gunn nodded and knelt by the bloody arm. He removed his handkerchief from his hip pocket and tied it tightly over the bloody bandana.

“Here’s mine.” January offered a white handkerchief. Without a word Gunn took it and tied it tight next to his. He then checked the man’s pulse, while January shone her flash light on his watch.

“Yeah, it is pretty slow, but right now I think he’ll make it.” Gunn started feeling the man’s pockets. He withdrew a scuffed up old wallet from the left hip pocket. It didn’t have much in it. A couple of pornographic pictures, scraps of paper, and a Social Security Card. He took his notebook out of his shirt pocket and copied the information off the card. He then replaced the card and wallet.

“Thad.” January spoke up, her light shining on the sole of one of the man’s shoes. “I’ve seen a drawing of this shoe on a burglary report.”

Gunn got up and stood beside Jan. “You’re right. I think it was the El Serape Burglary, Saturday night.” He knelt and started removing the shoes. “We’ll find out. Good work, Jan.”

“I knew those drawings were significant so I studied them. Then I finished reading your manual and really understood how important shoe prints are. So I thought, why not practice, while we wait for the ambulance. But thanks for the compliment.” She touched Thad’s shoulder for a second.

“It was no compliment, Officer Farrell, it was an accolade. You earned it.” Gunn stood with both shoes in one hand. “Our Supplement Report will show that you noticed the shoes. Okay?”

“Aye, aye, sir!” Jan came to attention and rendered a military salute.

“January Farrell, you would make a damn good partner, if you weren’t such a wise cracker.” Gunn gave her the Spook look.

The ambulance pulled into the alley followed by a pumper truck. “Saved by the cavalry.” January put on her sweet innocent smile for Thaddeus Gunn.

* * * *

19 Sept 1982: 2130:

When January walked into the police station, she saw Lt. Davis, the patrol commander standing by the Dispatch window, talking to the dispatcher. He looked up and saw January. “Ah, Farrell, just the person I wanted to see.”

He turned back to the dispatcher, said something, then walked over to where January stood. The lieutenant was smiling. “Let’s go down to my office.” He started down the hall with January following. At his office door he opened the door and motioned January in. “Sit down, the smoking lamp is lit.”

January sat in a chair in front of the desk and waited. I don’t think I’m in trouble.

The lieutenant shut the door before he moved around his desk and sat down. He took a pack of cigarettes from his shirt and offered her one. When she refused, he smiled and took one and lit it. “Well Farrell, you’ve done remarkably well with your training. I know it’s a little soon, but the chief feels it’s okay and I do too. Now, think about this before you answer—could you handle an area on your own?”

Oh, my God! That’s scary. I know I’m pretty good, but am I ready? I just don’t know. January sat there a minute, then reached for her cigarettes. Lt. Davis didn’t seem surprised. After lighting one, January straightened her shoulders. “Yes sir, I believe I could handle an area assignment. I know I haven’t been on the Department long, but Thad Gunn is a pretty exacting instructor. He’s generally let me make the decisions the past few weeks.”

“Good. Gunn said you are a quick study. But then you have your experiences as a probation officer and a Marine MP to help. That’s a big plus for you. We have a man-power problem, but what police department doesn’t. We’re growing as a city, times are changing, and we have more work on our hands. Right now our Detective section is so swamped we have to add more people in that office. Phil Hunt has been promoted to Detective. That leaves me a man short on the Third Shift for Patrol. Tonight will be Phil’s last shift as a patrol officer. I need a patrol officer starting next Thursday in Area Five. Jan, you’re it.” He pointed his finger at January.

Whee! January’s heart began to pound. “Lieutenant, I’ve got to admit, that’s scary.”

“Sure it is. I was scared the first few shifts on my own. I just knew I was going to screw up. But Jack Bowen was my sergeant and Norma Pruitt was back-up. I worked like hell to not let them down. Sure, I did a few dumb things. It comes with the territory, but Jack straightened me out.” He smiled. “I know you’re going to screw up sometimes. I’ll send you nastygrams and Wilson and Rogers will have talks with you, but you’ll do all right. You’ve got what it takes.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. I appreciate what you’ve said.” In the quiet of the office, January found herself able to breathe normally again. She took a couple of deep breaths, just for the calming effect. Yes, she could do it; she would do it.

Davis waved his hand. “I don’t snow folks, Jan. I say what I think.” He grinned. “By the way, Marcel Nadeau will be your new partner. He’s a good cop, though he’s got a Gallic temperament. He gets a little excitable at times, but it’s nothing to worry about. When the crunch is on, he comes through.”

“Thank you, sir.” Excitement escalated the longer she sat there. She wanted to get up and dance a jig, to holler out loud, but she knew she had to keep her cool. It was expected and she could control herself when she needed to. But later…look out!

“Okay, Jan, Wilson, Rogers, and Gunn know about it. They recommended you highly.” He stood up. “Go on and tell Gunn goodbye. Enjoy your last shift with him. And good luck, young lady.” He stuck out his hand. January shook it and then left the office. She almost danced to the squad room.

* * * *

20 Sep 1982, 0545:

The shift had gone fast, a typical Sunday night with domestic fights, shoplifting, curfew violations. Mostly the area cars handled all their own calls, though Gunn and Farrell backed them up. They took a few calls for tied up area cars. Gunn didn’t say much throughout the shift, letting Farrell drive and make the decisions. When they pulled into the Station, Gunn touched her arm.

“Just a minute, Jan.” At first, he wouldn’t look at her, shifting in the seat as if he had ants in his pants. Suddenly he turned to her. “Congratulations on getting an area car. Don’t worry about things. We’ll back you until you get the confidence. Marcel is good. He has a new pet peeve every week, but it doesn’t interfere with doing the job.”

He shot the words out in sharp bursts, as if he had to speak fast before he changed his mind. Pausing, Thad fiddled with the clipboard in his lap.

“The lieutenant said he was excitable.” January commented.