Chief Jerry Thomas put down his badge and his gun, locked them in the safe, and felt the world fall off his shoulders. Off duty. There were no other two words that sounded sweeter to him in the world. He took a brief shower, then dressed in casual clothes. "Should I turn my pager off tonight?" he mused, but clipped the device to his belt anyway.

He stepped into the common area of his house and called out for the kid. "Alto!" He ended up standing by the kitchen, where he'd expect a boy of that age. "Alto! Where you at, boy?" He called again, opening up the pantry and checking their stocks. He couldn't often afford takeout on a policeman's salary, even with his position, but it might be their only option tonight.

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