CHAPTER 80: The Secondee

Detective John Action walked into the squadroom at 13th Precinct HQ and saw a very smiley Sergeant Kitchen at his desk.

"Hey Sarge, you look like the cat who got the cream...and then some" said Action.

"I was on a date last night with an old flame....you could say it went very well" Sergeant Kitchen repolied.

"You sly old dog, you!" said Action, lightly hitting the Sarge on the arm with a manila folder he was holding.

"Heh, heh!" said Sarge.  "Heads up, Action, we have a new secondee to the Precinct.  A cop all the way from Munich...that's in Germany."

"I know where Munich is, Sarge.  So did they goosestep their way to work today?  Does he wear a monocle and have a square head?" Action said with a naughty smile.

"In fact I have a perfectly shaped head....and I DON'T wear a monocle" said a woman's voice behind him.  Action turned to see a tall, willowy redheaded woman wearing a lab coat right behind him.

"Oh, sorry...just a joke there" he said.

"Uh-huh?" said the woman, unimpressed.

"My name is Bibi Stahler and I am on secondment from SOKO Munchen....that's Munich, by the way"

"I know.  Well, my name's...."

Before Action could finish his sentence, Bibi interrupted him.  "Detective John Action of the 13th Precinct, Sim City.  You have been in the police department for 18 months after transferring from the United States Marine Corps.  You have the Commissioner's Commendation Medal, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.  Born in..."

"So you've read my file, great.  Did you do that for everyone in the department or did you single me out for special attention?" said Action, returning the compliment of interrupting her.

"Only those senior members of this precinct.  You have a reputation for tough policing, gut instincts and an impressive arrest record"

"That's not all that's impressive about me" said Action, suggestively.

"...but I noticed you haven't kept up to date with the latest forensic procedures.  In fact, you're due a refresher course on the subject" said Bibi, in fluent English but with a slight German inflection to her accent.

"Well....I could make myself available for tutoring if you're an expert in the field" he said, again suggestively.

"No need.  This booklet will cover what you need to know and we have suspects in custody that need fingerprint processing...you could start there and learn on the job" she said, handing him the booklet.

"Yes Ma'am!" said Action, mock saluting her.

"Oh man, did you even wash today?" said Action to the suspect he was meant to fingerprint.

"Well, you try giving yourself a proper clean with that small basin in there!" complained the suspect.

"Write to your congressman, I don't care" Action replied.  "Right, you know the drill...give me your right hand"

"Oh yeah, then what am I going to use to eat with?"

"You're a regular funny guy" said an unimpressed Action, grabbing the suspects hand and referring to his official notebook on correct fingerprinting procedure.

"I am impressed, Detective Action" said Bibi after he had completed the fingerprinting and handed her the file.  "You managed to complete the task successfully"

"It's just getting a mucky cook's fingerprints onto a pad of paper...nothing to it" he replied, nonchalantly.

"OK, quit the banter" said the Chief.  "We've got a group of people out front kicking up a storm about a fight at an art gallery of all places.  Their spokesman making the complaint is a close personal friend of the Mayor's and he's threatening all kinds of complaints if we don't sort out his problem.  Action, Stahler, quit yapping and see what the fuss is about"

"It may be just a load of pretty pictures to you but some of those were priceless artworks!" said a very irate voice in the precinct lobby.

"Alright, what's the problem here?" said the Chief

"Are you in charge?" said a very flamboyantly dressed man.  "My name is Diego Lobo and I wish to make a complaint on behalf of the artistic community of San Myshuno.  We have been attacked, vandalised and....mocked!" he said, his voice almost breaking with emotion.

"Did you recognise anyone who did the vandalising and....mockery?" said Action.

"No...they wore ski masks.  They were absolute hooligans!"

"They were!" said another man, less flamboyantly dressed than Mr Lobo but still in a manner that suggested he was a struggling artist"

"OK, so what did they do...specifically?" asked Bibi

"Well, they burst in to a private viewing of my friend's exhibition, started shouting 'DEATH TO THE BOURGEOIS DEGENERATES!" and proceeded to smash some of the artworks, particularly the sculptures, or else pour black paint all over the paintings.  They're ruined! RUINED!"

"Hmmm" said Bibi.  "This sounds similar to the kind of anarchist gangs that spring up in various parts of Europe.  Tell me, did any of them have any kind of European accent?"

"Well...come to think of it, I think one of them sounded French" said Diego, thinking about it.  "But what are you going to do about this outrage?" he demanded.

"Chief...I'll look into this matter." said Action.

"OK...but it sounds like Stahler might have some useful experience and knowledge about these kind of anarchist gangs.  I'll assign her to your case as well"

"OK, Chief...but first we're going to need a full statement from all of you..." said Action to the Lobo and his colleagues "and then Officer Stahler here will lead a forensic team to go over the gallery where this happened"

"Oh, do I have to recount that horrible scene all over again?" said Lobo, exasperated.  "I need to sit down and catch my breath!"

Action took down statements and Stahler went with a crime scene team to dust for prints and look for other clues.  Already the feeling was that it was the work of a political group and Action started to compile a list of suspects already on file.

When the shift was over he headed over to The Blue Velvet for a couple of drinks and to recharge his batteries.  He noticed that Suzy Kent was sitting at the bar.

"Hey Suzy...all on your lonesome?" he said, sitting down next to her at the bar.

"I'm here with some work colleagues" she said.  "And you?"

"Just winding down after a long shift....say, you're a journalist"

"Well, mostly a fashion journalist"

"Sure...but you've been working on other articles.  In your researches, have you come across any European political agitators in the city?"

Suzy thought.  "Nothing comes to mind....I did witness a demonstration against the Landgraab Corporation from bulldozing down a residential district."

"Hmmm, I need to hit the streets again to find out more" said a resigned Action.  "But that's tomorrow...tonight's a different matter, let me buy you a drink"

Action and Suzy enjoyed another round of drinks but he was getting tired and needed to head home.  On his way his attention was drawn to one of the Lothario Kittens standing outside of The Blue Velvet.  They must be having some kind of special event down there, he thought.  He pushed thoughts of tiredness out of his mind and headed back to the bar.