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Policemen
Don’t
By
BAW
The
flu was ravaging Cascade, especially the Police, the Fire Department, and
related services. Officers who had recovered, or who had as yet escaped it, had
to pitch in to take up the slack.
This explains why Det. Lt. James J. Ellison, Officer of the Year and member of
the elite Major Crime unit, along with his partner Det. B. Jacob Sandburg, Ph.D.
(Psychology), were in uniform driving a black-and-white. Patrol was simply
spread thin, and--the flu epidemic also impacting upon the criminal
element--there was very little to do in Major Crime once their paperwork was
caught up.
Spotting a redhead in a black sports car make only a rolling stop at a four-way,
and driving off in excess of the speed limit, Ellison gave chase and soon pulled
her over. Leaving his partner to call in the plate, he approached the car. After
a brief colloquy with the driver, he snapped his notebook shut and returned to
the car, his face flaming.
"What happened, Jim?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on, Jim."
The only reply was the grinding of teeth.
"It must have been something, Jim. What could that girl have said to so
discombobulate a big, tough, ex-Ranger like you?"
Jim turned even redder.
"Give."
When Sandburg used that particular tone, Ellison could not refuse.
"I was approaching the car in the usual manner. She said to me. . . "
"What, what did she say?"
"She said, 'I know why you stopped me. You want to sell me tickets to the
Policemen's Ball.'"
"And you said. . .? You didn't. . . ?"
"Yes, Sandburg, I automatically said, 'Policemen don't have balls.' She
just looked at me---rather the same way you're looking at me now. I just wanted
to disappear."
Sandburg said nothing. He was laughing too hard.
About a week later, the two men were back in the Major Crime bullpen, when a
tall, attractive redheaded woman came in. She walked right over to the pair.
"Detective Ellison?"
Reluctantly, Jim looked up; yes, it was the same woman.
"Detective Ellison, I'm sorry I did that to you. I was cutting things
close, and I would have been late for my shift at the hospital if I'd had to
deal with a ticket. It wasn't a nice thing to do, though, and I hope you can
forgive me."
Jim had gone stonefaced. His partner was starting to turn purple attempting not
to laugh.
"And, as an enducement, I'd like to take you to the annual Cascade Memorial
Doctors' & Nurses' Scholarship Ball. Or, if you'd rather not go with me,
I've two tickets for you to take someone else."
"Well, Doctor? Nurse?"
"Nurse. Katherine Gowan, Trauma. Call me Kate. Please, Detective?"
"Of course. And you may call me Jim."
"Thank you!" she exclaimed, handing him the envelope, "My
number's inside. Call me!"