Police Force Under Siege: CHAPTER SIX

  Beth found a report from Norm Higashi in her in box and read it quickly. There was a list of officers and offenders from the Harlan County area and a financial report on the city manager which clearly indicated that he was living well beyond his means with no source of income other than his job to explain it.  His resignation had been under a cloud of sorts and it was rumored that he had been asked for his resignation.  Norm’s last note said he couldn’t find anything on the city manager, Mark Simmons, prior to his job in Harlan County.

She called a federal agent she knew and asked if she could get an unofficial rundown on Mark Simmons and gave the agent Simmons’ previous job and his current job and address. 

“I’ll get back to you judge,” the agent said and she gave him her mobile number.  Later that day she heard from her agent friend and he asked, “Do you have his prints, Beth?”

“We should he’s a bonded city employee,” she said, “I’ll get the information to you later today,” she said.

“The sooner the better,” the agent said, “And be careful about it.  If he’s who we think he is he could be dangerous.”

When she was informed Simmons could be dangerous Beth decided to check the file herself to keep attention off of fellow team members.  She called the agent back when she discovered the prints were missing from Simmons’ file.  He told her to let it be that he would get back to her.  She received a call from the local federal office a couple of hours later and the agent said someone from his office would be in Alta Vista tomorrow to check into the matter.
 
She went in and found Matt and Norm still working. “Great report Norm, very helpful but it’s late, time to go home,” she said.

“Matt do you want to come by for a drink?” she asked, “There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“No problem, I’ll follow you home,” he said and they locked the office up together.

Driving home Matt noticed a car tailing Beth and started watching it more closely.  He called Beth on her mobile and told her what he suspected and she told Matt that it could be dangerous to lay back.

“That’s an order!” Beth said.

The veteran homicide detective in Beth switched into high gear and all of her years of training took over. She recalled that two veterans were patrolling her area tonight and she asked to be patched through to them.

“John,” she said, “this is your new chief.”

“I know your voice Detective Able, what can I do for you?”

“I need silent backup at my residence, immediately,” she said.

“You got it chief.”

She knew that she had a tactical advantage because the jerks didn’t know she was on to them.  Coldly, her mind rehearsed her next set of actions, knowing she was prepared for the confrontation.

They were still a half block behind her when she pulled into her usual place in the driveway and quickly rolled out of the car and dropped to the ground.  Drawing her gun in a crouching run she reached the side of the garage just as the other car pulled to a screeching halt behind her car.  Two men got out and riddled her car with bullets while Matt braked to a stop in the street.

The thugs checked the car and swore when they found it empty and then ducked when they were caught in cross fire between the chief and Matt.  They were trying to get into their car to escape when John and the other officer pulled their patrol car into the driveway trapping them. The men tried running but the judge threw on her yard lights and they were easily rounded up by Matt and the two officers. 

The officers cuffed them and put them in their patrol car. 

Matt stalked over to the judge hands on hips and out of breath but held his peace when the other officers came over and said, “It’s Mark Simmons, our city manager.”

“Book them and hold them, a federal agent will show up tomorrow to check their prints.”  “And thank you men, good work.”

They looked at her car, “damn, he really wanted you dead,” the officer said.  Matt’s face turned white when he saw the bullet riddled car.

Within fifteen minutes Lowe from the crime lab showed up at the judge’s house and began supervising his technicians.   
 
Beth had been watching Matt’s face and said, “Let’s get the coffee pot out and set it up this is going to be an all-night session.”

As soon as they were inside the door Matt yelled, “What the hell were you doing playing the Lone Ranger?”

“Matt, calm down your warning call allowed me to prepare.  I got right on the phone and called for backup and I was ready for them.”  
 
“You knew it was Simmons’ why didn’t you tell me he was a criminal?”

“Matt, I just found out an hour or so before I came in and asked you over here to talk about it and to make sure our offices were cleared out.”

“Look Beth, you can’t catch all of the bad guys yourself.  You’re the chief now, damn it!”

“Matt, I didn’t want to discuss it in the office just to be on the safe side and it was my decision.”

A knock on the door slowed Matt down and he went to get the coffee pot and card table for the front porch while she answered the door.

The retiring chief asked if she had been hurt and she reassured him and said, “as a matter of fact I was going to dig the coffee pot out and set it up on the porch. 

“Damn it Beth the car’s wiped out!  How long were you on to him?”

“Only about an hour chief and I didn’t know for sure, I suspected,” she told him.

        “Well, from now on use a driver when there is the slightest danger,” he told her.

        She maneuvered the chief out to the porch and they sat talking while Matt set up the coffee pot.  She could tell Matt was still pissed but they could talk later.  

Headlights and flashing red, blue, and amber lights bathed her front lawn; chatter from police radios filled the night air and lab techs quietly worked the crime scene as a crowd began to gather behind the yellow crime tape. Sadly, the judge was reminded of the night they found Jose’s body in her car trunk.  This one was for Jose’s kids she thought grimly.

The chief poured a cup of coffee and sat down with Beth and a couple of minutes later the commissioner showed up and walked across her lawn to view her car and then join them on the porch for coffee. 
 
“So, whose cage did you rattle this time Beth?” John asked.

“Alta Vista’s local gang and drug connection,” Beth told the commissioner.

“Yes,” the chief said, “Our esteemed city manager,” he told the commissioner.

“Congratulations, Beth, good work,” and he shook her hand while reporters watching from the crowd behind the tape took pictures with their phones and transmitted them to the Evening Standard’s office.

Beth gestured to Matt and he finally came and joined them. 

“Evening Matt,” the commissioner said, “Congratulations to the whole team.”

“Thanks, commissioner.”  Matt sat sipping his coffee and thinking, I hate it when Beth’s in danger but that’s where she always is, right in the middle of the action.  I might as well get used to it; I’m not going to leave the team to avoid the worry.  Damn woman was the best homicide partner I ever had.

The four sat on Beth’s porch chatting and drinking coffee into the night and soon a few officers from other shifts began to filter the police tape in groups of two or three and walk up to the porch to shake the new chief’s hand.  They had heard about the action on dispatch and on the local television station and they came to quietly pay their respect and show their support for Chief Able.  Beth handled them with just the right touch of friendliness and dignity while on the inside she was aware of the growing sense of brotherhood among her men and between her and the men that would help her gain control of department operations and implement her new programs.  She was a cop again and it felt good.

(C) August 2013 Karen MacEanruig

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

Later that morning she stopped by her new office and found all of the administration offices closed for the weekend.  Her own office was ready so she called maintenance to have her desk, carpet and packed boxes brought over from the courthouse.

She was damned irritated that things weren’t being taken more seriously and called councilman Morales. “Good morning, chief, what’s up?” he asked.

“Hello councilman,” she said.

“Please call me Robert,” he said.

“Robert, were you aware that there were shots fired last night and there was an attempted break in at the school?” she asked.

“No one let me know,” he said, “What does the chief say?”

“Apparently, the administration area is closed down on the weekend,” she said, “So, nada from them.”

“Damn,” he said, “This situation requires attention.”

The commissioner walked into her office just then and said, “Morning chief, a little birdie told me that you were nosing around.”

“Hang on, Robert,” she said turning toward the commissioner.

“Spies everywhere,” she said to him.

“Something up?” he asked.

“Apparently, nothing of importance,” she said dryly, looking around at the empty offices.

He shook his head and motioned for her to finish her call.

“Robert, the commissioner is here, I’ll get back to you,” she told him and disconnected. 

“If it’s not personal, what are you and Robert Morales chatting about so early on Saturday morning?” the commissioner asked Beth.

She sighed, “There was a ‘shots fired’ and an attempted break in at Alta Vista Grammar school last night.  The second such incident in a week and a half,” she answered.

“I remember the gang activity that you intend to ‘nip in the bud,’ ”the commissioner said. “ Is your interest personal?” he asked.

He was beginning to get her goat, “Yes,” Beth said, “I had a couple of calls from frightened mothers this last week who were afraid for their children,” she paused, “Robert, Father Sanchez and I had lunch with a couple of the ladies at Casper’s a couple of days ago and we all plan to meet at the church Thursday afternoon to seek solutions before this becomes gang territory and a drug haven,” she said angrily.

“Why did they call you?” he asked.

“Stella Juarez, Jose Juarez’s widow and I discussed it, we are still in close touch,” Beth answered, “Her babies attend the school.”

“You gave the eulogy at his funeral,” the commissioner said, “I remember reading about it.”

“He was an old friend as well as a co-worker,” the judge said.

Just as she said that the weekend maintenance crew knocked on her door with her furniture from the courthouse and the other standard furniture for her office.  She thanked them in Spanish and she and the commissioner went into the conference room next door. 

“O.K.”, John asked, “What’s with the nonsense in the papers? It’s not good press for an incoming chief,” he said.

“I’ll deal with it commissioner,” she said, “In the meantime I need to form a transition team to assist me,” she said.

“That’s a good idea chief, much better than replacing shift commanders right away,” he said.

“Sorry, commissioner, any open rebellion and they’ll be replaced immediately; otherwise, I’m willing to wait until I have a clear picture.”

“All right, Beth.  You have the go ahead as we agreed in the contract. Just watch your back,” he told her.

She went back to her office and sprawled in her desk chair chewing a pencil.  She was drawing up a list for the transition team and decided the conference room would hold the team and her secretary at least temporarily.  She made of list of all the equipment and furniture she needed in the conference room and called the maintenance crew back to her office and gave them her instructions.

She called over and had her new police revolver sent to the custody of the duty officer at the firing range and went over and practiced for another hour.  They felt she was ready to qualify and scheduled her test for early Monday morning.

She went back to the office and the crew was finishing up in the conference room and it looked like a well-equipped war room to the chief.  She thanked the crew in Spanish and shook each hand before she left.  The small crew had all heard her speak at Juan Juarez’s funeral and held her in high esteem.

Beth had taken three years of high school Spanish and was fortunate enough to have been an exchange student with a family in Spain for a school year and she worked hard at keeping her skills honed by speaking the language whenever possible which was fairly easy in Alta Vista with its high percentage of Spanish speaking people.

She called Robert back but he was on the soccer field and she left a message.

When she got home she tried on her old uniform and checked herself out in the mirror.  Not bad for an old broad she decided and heard a tapping on the back door.

It was Matt and when he saw her he came to full attention and saluted her.  “Looking good chief,” he said.

“I saw the paper”, he said.

“Just the beginning, Matt,” she said.  “I’m forming a transition team and I need you as my right hand,” she told him.

“Long hours and poor pay?” he asked.

“Yep, cop work,” she said.

“Let’s barbecue,” she said to Matt and they went to raid her freezer and found a roast that Matt put on the rotisserie and russet potatoes, fresh corn, and salad makings for dinner. 

They got the meal underway and then she called Ruth at home and asked her and her niece to join them for dinner in an hour or so.  While they waited Matt and Beth made a list of potential transition team members including Norm Higashi, a computer whizz, from the serial killer case. 

While Matt barbecued Beth called Norm and asked if he would be interested in reassignment to her transition team. 

Norm was excited and said he would be honored to serve and started rattling off new ideas. 

“You sure you want to do this Norm, we’re not going to be very popular,” the chief said.

“I want it, Chief,” Norm said with conviction.

“You free for dinner,” she asked.

He laughed, “Part of your minority coalition?” he asked.

“Damn, I have to find some talented Anglo’s,” the chief said dryly.

She gave him the address and she and Matt waited for their guests on the patio while the roast filled the patio air with tempting aromas.

Beth had a chance to have short conversations with both Norm and Cynthia Channing that evening and it turned out Cynthia had interned as a press secretary at the state capital and had several classes on the subject.  Cynthia would send her a resume the next morning.

The barbecue was a success and the ‘so-called’ minority coalition grew in numbers as they all had a good time getting to know each other and enjoying the food. They agreed to meet Monday morning in Beth’s office. 

When Beth undressed for bed that night she realized she was still in her old uniform.  She laughed at herself and hanged the uniform along with the others in her walk-in closet.  She decided she’d wear her old uniform Monday morning and her sidearm if she qualified.  She would look the part when she addressed her team. She was a cop again!

 

Monday morning Beth arrived at her new office in uniform with her weapon in place and found Ruth, Matt, and Norm settling in their new quarters.  She had faxed a list of transition personnel to the commissioner Sunday and he had given her the go ahead.

 

She invited Ruth, Norm, and Matt into her office for a private discussion.  You will be my inner circle and anything we discuss is between the three of us. She stopped to explain that any infraction was cause for immediate termination. 

 

They all agreed and she told Norm with a bit of humor in her voice, “In your extra time I’d like a list of all drug related crimes in the last year and any similarities or patterns emerging,” she instructed.  “I’ll need a roster of each division with assignments and part timers clearly marked.  Include all new personnel for the last year.”

 

“No problem, chief,” Norm responded as he made clear notes on his legal pad.

 

Matt, we’ll be going over duty rosters with a fine tooth comb and finding any questions in coverage and you and I and Ruth will be going over all of the personnel files. We’ll do that here in the privacy of my office.

 

“Ruth, requisition all personnel files for the officers covering the Country Estates and Alta Vista School Divisions,” she instructed her secretary.

 

The chief called maintenance and ordered a safe for her office.  She wanted all of her notes and the material she was going over to be kept as quiet as possible.

 

“Everyone here,” shred all of your waste paper and no discussing what happens here on the transition team with anyone from outside the team.

 

When the rest of her crew came in she welcomed them and gave a little speech of gratitude for their service and stressed the secrecy of their work telling them that Ruth would be giving them their assignments. 

 

The old chief stormed into her office when he arrived at ten am, “What the hell’s going on,” he asked.

 

“Morning, Chief, its Monday and I’m at work as you requested,” she responded.

 

He sighed, “I’ve already had complaints about the files you’ve requested,” he said.

 

“Does the chief have to explain her actions to her subordinates?” she asked.

 

“No, of course not,” he said.

 

“Chief you explain that fact to anyone who calls or I’ll make it clear to everyone on the force myself,” she said.

 

He nodded and left her office.

 

Beth continued to step on toes but the retiring chief fielded questions with instructions that subordinates didn’t question superior officers annoying the hell out of officers used to operating without scrutiny. 

 

Taking the list of politicians and citizens who had already called to complain she called Cynthia Channing into the office and asked her how she would respond to the complaints.

 

Cynthia began to draft a press release stating that the new chief was happy to announce that she began work today with her recently appointed transition team and that they would be working behind the scenes familiarizing themselves with current operations until she took office on the first of next month.  The chief thanked everyone for their cooperation and assistance and said she hoped to effect a smooth transition in the police department.

 

 When Cynthia finished she gave a copy to Ruth for the new chief’s inbox.

 

Pleased the new chief O.K.’d the release and made a list of places to send a copy including the Evening Standard, each of the councilmen, the acting mayor, the union rep, and the police officers association.

 

Beth went out for shift changes that week and chatted with the men checking in but she didn’t interfere with division officers or their meetings. She was establishing her presence without creating conflict until she took office. 

 

 On Thursday she left the office in the afternoon and attended the parents’ meeting at the church hall with Robert Morales and Father Gomez.  They felt it went well with dozens of volunteers for after school activities.

 

That evening the inner circle met in her office and she ordered pizza for the group.  Norm said he had found something of interest on all drug related arrests.

 

“What is it, Norm?” she asked.“Over the last six months forty percent of the drug offenders have records in Harlan County and several are natives of that county.”

 

“How likely is that?” she asked.

 

“Extremely unlikely,” he said, “Coincidence won’t account for it,” Norm said. 

 

“Norm, run all of our personnel for ties in Harlan County?” she asked.

 

Ruth interrupted, “Judge, I mean chief, I remember reading that our city manager resigned his position from there before he came to work here in Alta Vista.”

 

“Good work, Ruth.”

 

“Norm, get everything you can on our city manager and please do it discretely,” she said, “let’s check and make sure that he’s living within his means.”

 

“He was behind the drive for part time officers, chief, I don’t like it,” Matt said.

 

“Norm, run the part time officers for connections to Harlan County or the city manager,” she requested, “Include the offenders in that match run,” she concluded. 

 

“Everyone, we’re looking for patterns in volumes of material and it looks like we have one pattern going. Keep it in mind as you do your work,” she said, “Now, go home and get some sleep,” she told them.

 

Matt, we’ll go over rosters and evaluate how well we’re covering various areas of the city first thing tomorrow.  She went home and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

 

© August 2013 by Karen MacEanruig

Please leave a comment below!



CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

Judge Able drove from Stella’s to the police firing range where she scheduled some time with a trainer to get her shooting skills back up to par for her weapons qualification. He checked out a weapon to her to assess her skills and decided it wouldn’t be long before she was ready to qualify.  She shot for about an hour getting used to handling the weapon again and then went home for a quiet evening. 

She was relaxing after a light dinner when the phone rang and, Robert Morales said hello.

“Councilman, a pleasure,” she said. 

“Call me Robert,” he said.

“I tried you this afternoon but you were unavailable,” he said.

“Sorry, Robert, I was at the firing range getting ready for my weapons qualification,” she told him.

“That’s right you were a homicide detective, chief.”

“It’s a job requirement,” she said.

“Very productive lunch, I think,” he said.

“I think we’re forging the group together nicely and we will be able to focus on the issues,” she said, “I had talked to Stella the day of the shooting so that’s why I decided to invite her to join us, Ann Montejo is her neighbor,” the judge explained.

“How long have you known Stella, judge?” he asked.

“I gave the eulogy at her husband’s funeral,” she said, “Jose Juarez was a friend for years.”

“That’s right I seem to remember reading about his death in the newspaper,” he said.

 “So these weren’t people you dug up at the last minute to snow Sanchez and me?”

“The original lunch was only with Father Sanchez and when you called I invited you at the last minute and decided the ladies would be a good addition.  We arranged to get there early and celebrate my new job,” she admitted.

“I’m glad, chief, forgive my suspicions.”

“No problem, Robert, lots of dirty politics in this city.  I prefer playing it straight,” she said.

“Glad we have that cleared up between us, how do you want to handle the meeting?” he asked.

“I think we should let the parents speak first and then as a pattern emerges we can use a blackboard to make a list of proposals.  I’d like most of the ideas to come from them and not us,” she said.

“That’s a good idea, it is their neighborhood.”

She laughed, “And we will see what Father Sanchez has to say, he is interested in sports activities at the church but is worried about personnel to run the activities.  There will be a request for volunteers in Sunday’s bulletin and I think he will bring it up from the pulpit.”

“Listen, I play soccer with a bunch of guys on Saturdays.  I’ll talk to them about some soccer supervision and coaching.”

“Now that’s the best proposal I’ve heard so far,” the judge said with approval in her voice, “That’s the kind of thing that can nip this growing gang threat in the bud,” she said.

“Grassroots movement, is it chief?”

“The people should flex their muscles more often,” she said, “Their acquiescence or opposition is what will tip the scales in our fight against gangs.”

“Promise me you’ll never run for office in my district judge,” he said.

“Good night, Robert,” she said and disconnected. 

Before going to bed the judge dug out her old police radio and turned it on very low in the background.  Might as well get used to it she decided and fell asleep listening to dispatch.

She got her paper the next morning and made coffee before opening it to the front page and saw pictures someone had taken of her lunch group at Casper’s.  She sipped her coffee and scanned the front page stories.  They stuck to the bare facts pretty much but when she got to the editorial page it started getting ugly.  One opinion piece read, “Will Mexican Coalition Run the PD?” and the letters to the editor got even nastier.  She threw the paper aside and began to pace. 

She grabbed the phone and dialed her secretary at the courthouse.  “Ruth, this is Judge Able,” she said when her secretary answered, “Is your niece still free lancing here in town?”

“Congratulations, Judge,” Ruth said, and answered, “Yes, she’s staying with me at my townhouse and getting articles published in most of the local papers.”

“She wrote a great article about me for her university newspaper,” the judge said. 

Ruth laughed, “Yes, you were one of the few white folks included.”

“I’d like to talk to her about doing an in depth on my plans for the city as Police Chief,” the judge said.

“I’m sure she’ll be excited and Ruth gave her the number to call.”

“I haven’t had time to call you Ruth,” Beth said, “Are you interested in joining me at the Police Department?” she asked.

“You think I want to stay here and break in another cranky judge?” she asked sarcastically.

“Get packing, Ruth, I’ll see you later,” she disconnected.

Beth decided to visit her new office that morning and to greet some of her old friends on the force.  Her goal was to test the waters and see how her appointment was going over with the men.  Their support was important to her, far more than the politicians or other people in high places. 

The chief took her on a tour and many of the veterans were pleased to see her and happy with her appointment.  She recognized many policemen from the serial killer case and greeted their familiar faces.  It went well the judge thought other than a few who thought the job should have been theirs or resented a woman in the position.  She decided she could work with it.

Requisitioning a weapon pending her qualification and a police equipped car for the first of the month she went back to her office and picked out the paint she wanted on the walls and decided she would bring her carpet and desk from her chambers in the courthouse.  Requesting an American and a State flag on staffs to be placed in her office she said she would send the desk and carpet over when the painting was completed and the office was cleaned.

Details settled she called Matt and asked him to meet her at Kelly’s for a steak.  When she walked in several of her old homicide buddies were there at a table drinking to her success. They stood and cheered when she entered and she went over and had shots with them until Matt came in.

Everyone recognized Matt and he pulled up a chair and downed one of Beth’s shots to catch up with them.  It was a rowdy group reminiscing and looking forward to working with Detective Able again. The young ones watched the party and several from the serial killer case told their buddies that she had nerves of steel that night in the hotel.

The judge finally said she had to eat something or she’d be hauled in on a DUI.  They all laughed and she and Matt retreated to a small table and when Beth and Matt ordered porterhouse steaks and baked potatoes Beth added plenty of horseradish, lots of coffee and then she sent a bottle of Jameson over to the rowdy table of veterans and they raise their glasses in another toast.

Hungrily, they dug right into the food and didn’t talk until they had finished and were full and sipping coffee.

“Hard day?” Matt asked.

“Picky little details,” she said, “like getting measured for a new uniform and picking out colors for my office.”

Matt laughed out loud, “Fashion and decorating? It doesn’t sound like my old partner,” he said.

She tossed her balled up napkin at him and yawned. 

“Go home and get some sleep,” he told her.

At about three am she woke up and there was a call on dispatch of shots fired in the area of Alta Vista Grammar School.  She showered, dressed and listened to the radio chatter.

The disturbance at the junior high turned out to be shots fired and an attempted break in at the school.  She wanted to go in and nose around to find out the assignments for that night but decided to wait to ask the chief.

© August 2013 by Karen MacEanruig





CHAPTER THREE

 



Judge Able was up early as usual the next morning and received a call from the chief at seven am. 

“Hi chief,” the retiring chief said, “When can you start?”

 “First, we address you as ‘chief’ until you’re out of here. Agreed?”

“Anything you say, detective,” the chief laughed.

The judge laughed at the use of her old homicide rank.  “That was kind of nice chief, detective it is.”

“You have room for me somewhere?” she asked.

“I’m emptying my office out today and tomorrow.  How about starting on this coming Monday?”

 “Thanks for your congratulations call, chief, I’ll be in touch,” she said sarcastically.

“Congratulations, Beth,” he said and then disconnected.

The phone rang again as soon as she hung up. 

“Good morning, Father Sanchez,” she said putting him on speaker.

He told her very sternly, “I’ve heard from the diocese, judge.”

“Sorry father, occasionally you have to use a two by four to grab someone’s attention.”

“Yes, well that could be said of the diocese,” he responded.

“We are to meet,” the father said, “Sooner rather than later.”

“Great,” she said, “Join me for lunch at Casper’s, at noon.”

“See you then,” the priest agreed.

The phone rang again and she was surprised to hear Councilman Morales on the phone.

“Councilman, it’s a pleasure to hear from you.  Thank you for lunch yesterday,” she teased.

“Congratulations chief, I’m calling about the drive by shootings,” he said.

“Councilman I know its short notice but are you busy for lunch today?”

“Nothing I can’t move around,” he said.

“Would you like to join Father Sanchez and me for lunch at Casper’s at noon?” she asked.

“Love to, see you then,” he said and disconnected.

She called Casper’s and made reservations for five at noon.

Beth dialed another number and said, “Good morning, Stella.”

“Beth how nice to hear from you.”

“Stella, you mentioned that several of the mothers with children at Alta Vista Grammar School are very upset about the drive by shooting.”

“Oh yes, we’ve all been talking on the phone,” she said.

“Stella, can you get away for lunch today and bring one of the other mothers with you?”

“Lunch?” Stella asked.

“I’m having lunch with Father Sanchez and Councilman Morales today and I would like two of the mothers to join us to discuss your fears,” she said.

“Lunch with a priest and a councilman?” Stella asked.

“Yes, at noon, and I can pick you up on the way.”

“My neighbor is home and Elaina can babysit for both of us,” Stella said.

“I’ll pick you up at a little after eleven,” Beth said.

“I will do it, Beth,” she said, “For the children.”

The judge wore a deep rose pants suit with very little makeup but the color flattered her complexion and her slender figure still caught the occasional second glance.

She picked the ladies up shortly after eleven and they both looked marvelous but were very nervous.

 “Judge Able this is my neighbor Ann Montejo.  She has a little boy and a little girl at the school.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Montejo,” she said in Spanish, “Just call me Beth, please.  Do you have pictures of your children with you?” she asked them.

They both glanced at their purses and shook their heads yes.

“You look wonderful,” she told them.

They smiled shyly and got into the car with Beth, “Now, don’t worry about the priest and councilman. They’re just men,” she said. 

Beth asked Mrs. Montejo about her babies and they chatted all the way downtown.  The ladies were both impressed with Casper’s where they were seated immediately.  The boys won’t be here until noon so we can chat for a bit and look at the menu she told them.

Stella read most of the menu fairly accurately to Ann and Beth said, “Before the men get here I have a little announcement to make,” Beth paused, “I have been offered the job as Chief of Police of Alta Vista and I have decided to accept.”

“Chief of Police,” they marveled, “A lady Chief of police.”

Stella caught herself and said, “Congratulations, Beth, Jose would be so happy about this.  We should celebrate,” she said.

“We will,” Beth smiled and ordered a half bottle of champagne for her and the ladies.

Stella made a toast and the ladies sipped the small amount of champagne in their glasses and Beth didn’t pour more. She wanted her wits about her for the lunch discussion. They were all chatting comfortable when Beth saw Councilman Morales enter the restaurant.

The waiter led him to the table and he was charming, “I didn’t know that I was having lunch with three beautiful women,” he said to them and bowed over each lady’s hand and took a seat.  They continued to chat in Spanish and the councilman took out a card with his office number and handed one to each lady.  “It is always a pleasure to meet constituents,” he said, “even when the subject of our discussion is a solemn one.”

Father Sanchez looked surprised as he reached the table and wasn’t quite as smooth as the councilman but acquitted himself quite well as his natural manners helped him through the introductions. 

“I would like to propose a toast,” Robert Morales said and the waiter sprang to attention and filled their glasses with the remainder of the champagne.  “To our new chief of police, Judge Beth Able,” and he raised his glass to her and everyone else followed suit.

“Well,” the priest asked, “am I the last to know of this good news?”

There was laughter at his joke and the waiter came to take their order. 

Unnoticed by the group at the table someone overheard the toast and pulled out a phone and began to take pictures of the new chief and transmit them to the Evening Standard. 

The judge thanked everyone for their good wishes and said, “I had a very good reason for inviting the ladies to lunch today,” she said.  “This is not to be a discussion about diocese politics, or city politics, or police department politics.  The reason we are here is to discuss the safety of our children.

The ladies nodded vigorously and the Judge went on, “They both have children in the effected school and contacted me about their fears.” 

The priest asked about the ages of the children and the ladies took their pictures and showed them to the priest and councilman.  They were all looking at school pictures when the waiter brought their lunch.  The ladies put the pictures away and Father Sanchez said a short blessing before they began eating and chatting together comfortably over the food. 

As they finish lunch and coffee was served the judge said, “I think it would be beneficial to schedule an informal meeting including the parents, myself, Councilman Morales, and Father Sanchez,” she said.  “Father could we use the church hall?”

He felt railroaded but he said yes, he could arrange for the hall be available.  After all she was Chief of Police now.

“How about right after school one day next week?” she asked.

“Everyone agreed on Thursday,” and the little party broke up much closer to each other then they had been which would make problem solving much easier.  The ladies were put in charge of calling their fellow parents and putting signs up in the neighborhood.  The judge signed the check and drove the ladies home thanking them and telling them how well they had done. 

© August 2013 by Karen MacEanruig