Read Part 1.1 here
Read Part 1.2 here
Chapter 1: The Ride-Along
Part 3: Sam
Sam was about to respond when his radio beeped, then the dispatcher’s voice filled the car.
“Report of a 10-33 at 2200 Elm convenience store,” came the crisp female voice.
Sam picked up his radio. “Show 793 responding 10-12.” He gave the code for visitors present, alerting the dispatcher to be careful what she said to him over the radio. A security alarm going off at a corner store could be a problem, but was more than likely a false alarm. It seemed a safe thing to bring Sophie along, as long as she stayed in the vehicle until he made sure the scene was safe.
He glanced over at her, sitting motionless in the passenger seat. At least she no longer looked as stiff as a board. Maybe she, like him, needed something to focus on to get through painful social interactions. Sometimes it stunk, being so introverted. Chit-chat was not his forte.
“There’s an alarm going off at the convenience store,” he explained.
“Oh. That doesn’t sound good,” she replied with a furrowed brow and a nearly reverent tone.
“Could be nothing,” Sam shrugged. “Have you been there?”
“Sure, all the time. It’s nice to not have to go all the way to midtown when I just need a few things.”
“For this call, you’ll remain in the vehicle until I tell you otherwise. Understood?” Sam tried to keep a gentle tone, even though his words were rather harsh.
“I understand,” she said softly. “I don’t want to get in your way.”
With that, Sam pulled into the tiny parking lot behind the corner store and parked the cruiser near the back door. He got out with a little pang of something like regret. This was the first time he’d had a non-relative ride along with him, and it didn’t feel good leaving her in the car. At least she was in the front and could get out if needed.
What was he thinking? She lived in this neighborhood. She’d be fine. He physically shook his head to clear those thoughts as he walked in the front door and scanned the occupants of the room.
Two shoppers stood just inside the front door as though trying to decide if the alarm meant something or not. A young Hispanic man was at the register ringing up an elderly man’s purchases. The older man looked unbothered, while the young man was fidgeting – definitely ill at ease.
The owner, Raquel Ruiz, approached from the back room. Sam had met him several times before. He was tall and rail-thin, with dark hair that was slowly graying from the temples. He was always bursting with energy and life – and right now, with worry.
“Officer Harrison! Thank you for coming. I don’t know what happened, but it won’t let me turn off test mode, so I know something triggered the actual alarm…” Raquel chattered as he led Sam to the back room where Raquel’s desk and the alarm panel were tucked in a corner behind back-stock of nonperishables.
“See? It’s not the test light blinking,” Raquel pointed. Sure enough, it wasn’t, and when Sam squinted in the dim lighting, the code scrolling across the alarm panel’s tiny display was that of a tripped alarm on a window.
“Looks like someone opened a window somewhere, Raquel,” Sam reported. Raquel frowned and rubbed his chin, then took off like a jackrabbit examining all the windows in the back room.
“Here!” he yelled, before Sam had finished silencing the alarm. Sam joined Raquel and examined the broken window. It was cracked in a spiderweb outward from a central impact point.
Scanning the area, Sam noticed a plastic crate full of batteries on the floor near the window. Bending down, it was obvious one corner of the crate was cracked, and a piece had broken off.
“Raquel? I think this is your culprit,” he pointed. Raquel squatted and muttered something in Spanish.
“I will speak to Migo about this,” he said as he rose, a severe expression on his face. Sam tamped down his amusement.
Sam followed an angry Raquel back out into the store, noting the elderly man had left, and the two gawking shoppers by the door were now filling baskets. The young man at the checkout counter – Migo, apparently – was sweating profusely. He began to speak rapidly as they approached.
“Mr. Ruiz, I am so sorry about the window,” he gasped on a breath. Raquel held up his hand, quickly silencing the boy.
“Why did you say nothing?” he demanded harshly. Migo’s lower lip trembled for a minute before he raised his chin and put his shoulders back.
“I was ashamed and afraid. I am sorry.”
Sam was proud of the boy for admitting the truth. He left Raquel and Migo to work out the particulars of whether the window would come out of Migo’s pay or not and headed back to the car.
Keep reading! Part 1.4 can be found here on 2/25/25.