"So the new precinct chief sent you to accompany me in to work today, huh?" he said, nonchalantly.
"You've got a reputation as a maverick, Action. The Chief wants you reporting for duty on time and in the right place instead of haring off on a wild goose chase or one of your hunches."
"I get results....detective?"
"Datta. Results or no, The Chief plays it by the book...straight down the line. Come on, let's go or we'll be late"
The desk sergeant looked Action up and down. "So you're Action, are you? Well we've heard a lot about you...about how you like to play by your own rules."
"Sometimes your rules don't work so I resort to mine" replied Action.
"The rules are rules, Action! You won't be cut any slack here, we run a tight ship. Now report to the squad room to pick up your assignment"
Action sauntered off to the squad room; this place was packed with uptight stiffs...cops more used to finding lost kittens and helping old ladies across the road. Not his scene but after he fell foul of the D.A. who wanted to bust his a-ss he had to keep his head down at this new place.
In the squad room he got handed a piece of paper which had his assignment on it: Check on a break in down Oasis Springs way. Wanting to get away from the stale environment of the precinct house, he grabbed a squad car and made his way to the crime scene.
The house was smart; all mod cons and the home of 4 young professionals. None of them were in when the break-in happened but a couple of televisions and a stereo were taken. Action dusted for prints but also noticed some strange graffiti was sprayed near the side wall of the house.
Detective Datta came and checked out what Action was doing. "It's just meaningless scrawl, Action, why bother wasting film on it?"
"It ain't meaningless...look, this scrawl is here but it's also in the back garden. This is the sign of the perp; their calling card."
"Or it could be neighbourhood kids" Datta replied.
"Check out the neighbourhood...all neat n' well off. Do you see any graffiti anywhere else? No, this is a gang sign"
"Anyway, Action, we've got a witness...we need to interview her"
Action took a couple of more photos and followed Datta in to the house. He was surprised to discover that the witness was none other than his neighbour, Suzy Kent.
"Well, well....Suzy. Now what's a happening chick like yourself doing around Oasis Springs on a warm, Tuesday morning" he said, slyly.
"I was here doing some research on a story I'm writing for the magazine" she replied.
"So tell me what you saw?"
"Well, I saw two people leave the house: They wore balaclava masks and dark blue overalls. I saw them carrying a TV into a grey van and that's when I ran down the street to a phone booth to call the cops"
"Anything you noticed about the two figures you saw?"
"Yes...they were both really skinny. But they seemed strong enough to lug big TVs into the van"
"Really skinny eh?"
"Thanks, Suzy, that's something to go on....OK, anything else you remember, give me a call. You know where to find me" he said with a wink.
After gathering the clues, he headed back to the precinct house to file his preliminary report. Action was experienced enough to know that the best person to pal up in any new precinct house was the head of forensics. Heading over to the lab, he met the very person: A fifty something lady who looked like she took no nonsense from dumb rookies.
"So you're Action...how's your first day on the job?" she said.
"It ain't my first day on the job, but my first day at this joint is OK...listen, here's some prints I lifted from the scene plus this camera has film that needs developing. I think we're dealing with an experienced gang here."
"OK, I'll look into this. My you were thorough" she looked impressed with the print slides he gave her.
"That's my gig, baby" he said with a wink before leaving.
Action headed for the records department to view some mugsheets of suspects but the Sergeant stopped him. "Now where are you going, Action?"
"Following up on what I found at the scene" replied Action.
"Not so fast...you turn over what you found to the senior detectives. They'll take it from here" replied the sergeant.
"Hey, this is my case!"
"Not anymore it isn't. You do what you're told or it's off to Traffic Division for you. Now you type up your report, hand it over and then it's a shift on the front desk."
The sergeant left and Action pounded the desk...hard. He had little choice in the matter...he was on his last warning with The Chief and the D.A.
After doing what he was assigned, he had the boring job of manning the front desk. As well as the little ladies who'd lost their shopping on a bus, he was surprised to find Suzy Kent had entered the precinct.
"Hey there, Suzy, are you sure a sight for sore eyes!" he said.
"Hey, Action. Listen, do you have some free time?" she replied.
"For you, I have plenty...what is it? More leads from that crime today?"
"Well, no. I was wondering if you knew anything about the Landgraabs or the Fengs...you know, if there's any evidence of criminal activities in their backgrounds."
"I could do some digging around....but you'll need to help me with something as well." He produced a copy of the photo he took at the crime scene...the one with the graffiti symbol. He'd secretly taken it from the lab once it had been processed, figuring that he'd be taken off the case. "This symbol...I'm sure it means something. Some kind of gang sign or calling card. Can you do some investigating of your own and see if anyone's seen this before?"
"Sure, I don't know...not seen it before...but I'll ask around"
Suzy sauntered off and Action watched her leave. "She's more than just a fashion reporter" he thought to himself.
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