Looked like it was going to be another lazy afternoon here in the city, Rebecca thought as she and a rookie cop by the name of Michael Winterbourne sat in her cruiser parked in an adjacent alleyway facing toward city park.  While she gnoshed on a doublemeat cheeseburger and sucked down a chocolate shake rather hungrily, she listened to the idle chatter coming over the scanner.  Sounded as though there was nothing to be in a hurry about.  Mostly just routine traffic stops and all.

Finishing what was left of his fries, her partner Thorton leaned back in his seat, giving a yawn and a lengthy stretch.

[color=ed1c24]"Too tame for you, rookie?"[/color]  Red asked swallowing down her last bite.  She crumpled up her burger wrapper and threw it out the window.

[b]"Hell, Baghdad was more lively than this."[/b]  The man replied with a chuckle.

Red rose an eyebrow.  [color=ed1c24]"Military man, huh?  What branch?"[/color]  She asked.

Michael smiled, [b]"Marines.  Served about oh....four years in Iraq.  Went right into academy after I got discharged.  You serve too?"[/b]

Red nodded, [color=ed1c24]"Army for me.  Eighth Platoon, Bravo Company.  Afghanistan.  Would've made Delta if I didn't take a damn bullet to the leg, but being a cop ain't so bad.  At least I get to be on SWAT."[/color]

[b]"Yeah, door kicking and drug busting!"[/b]  Michael laughed.  [b]"That's the life right there.  Only problem is you don't get much action like that in this city, maybe the occasional theft, but that's about it.  You ask me, it's way too damn peaceful here."[/b]

[color=ed1c24]"Yep."[/color]  Red had to admit.  She frowned slightly, [color=ed1c24]"Gotta agree with you there, rookie.  Seems like instead of busting crooks all the time, we're just filling out paperwork for the chief.  Sure does get boring after a while."[/color]  She sighed.

Suddenly, as if to answer their pleas, the radio cracked with static before the dispatcher announced,

[i]172 David, we have a robbery in progress on 573 Sycamore Street.  Suspect was last seen on foot carrying a large, brown leather purse heading east.  How copy, over?"[/i]

Red could not grab the mic any quicker, squelching it and giving a curt reply, [color=ed1c24]"10-4, Dispatch!  We're on our way, over and out!"[/color]  She started the cruiser and flipped on the lights and sirens, hastily buckling her seatbelt with a wide grin.  [color=ed1c24]"'Bout damn time!  Hang on, rookie!"[/color]  The cruiser tore out of the alleyway soon after, tires screeching and sirens blaring.