Dedicated to Brendan Deneen and Vince Mitchell, who simply wouldn’t let this Vacation end…
“They gotta be fuckin’ kidding,” Rodriguez said.
Jack Murphy looked at his partner. Rodriguez was holding the latest in protection offered to the cops who did the precinct’s dirty work: a rigid Kevlar body shield that also covered the back and sides of the neck.
“As if I’d ever let one of those animals get anywhere near my neck.” Rodriguez grinned. “How about something a bit stiffer and lower to protect the crown jewels?”
The night desk sergeant, Miller, walked into the locker room.
“Rodriguez, you will wear it. You too, Murphy.”
Jack turned to the sergeant. “Did I say I wouldn’t? I’m for all the protection I can get.”
“Even if it makes you look like a fuckin’ turtle?” Rodriguez asked. “Once a stupid mick, always a stupid mick.”
Jack waited until Miller left the room. “Wear it, don’t wear it. But Rodriguez—do you have to advertise to the world, to the damn desk sergeant, what you’re going to do?”
Jack liked David Rodriguez as a partner. Plenty of experience, but with enough of a rebellious streak that he hadn’t been able to get transferred from this precinct to someplace better.
Though these days, where exactly was better? Did “better” even exist?
“So fire me. I’m an honest cop.” Rodriguez slammed his locker shut and twirled the combination lock.
Billy Thompson walked in. A rookie, barely weeks on the job, and looking as if he didn’t know what the hell to do with his eyeballs.
“Hey,” Jack said.
Thompson nodded, then as if remembering to respond: “Oh, hey.”
Rodriguez took a few steps closer as if smelling fresh meat. “Bad night last night, Billy boy?”
The rookie started working his locker. “Yeah. Pretty bad.”
“Where’s your fucking partner?”
Rodriguez looked over at Jack, probably loving that he had an audience for this.
Which is why I should walk the hell out of here, Jack thought. As if things weren’t bad enough.
“He’ll be here,” Thompson said. “Just running late.”
“Could be, amigo. Could be. But sometimes, you know, one bad night out there on the streets, rolling and strolling with the Can Heads, is enough.” Rodriguez slapped the shaken rookie on his shoulder. “Not to worry, hm? There’s always some other young fool who wants to be part of what’s left of New York’s Finest.”