*Flashback triggered here...
abclost.proboards40.com/index.cgi?board=rpggame&action=display&thread=1166779215&page=3Big Mike pointed through the windshield to a muddied up SUV parked at an angle on the sidewalk further down the street.
"We got better things to do." Ana-Lucia replied, looking bored.
"Actually, no we don't. We're on traffic duty for the next week thanks to you and your mouth. Captain's making sure you know who the boss is. And since you dragged me down with you, I say we book it." He answered, slightly annoyed at her lack of enthusiasm.
"Fine." She said, steering the car over and parking on the road next to it. I'll write it up, you check the plates. Call for a tow while you're at it."
She got out of the car and went to look inside the vehicle. Nothing out of the ordinary. A few folders on the back seat and a take away coffee cup in the front, other than that, it was empty. Expensive and empty. She notcied the muddy wheels and followed the trail of dirt back along the sidewalk with her eyes. Shaking her head, she flipped open her logbook and began writing out a ticket.
Rich people think they own the world...think they can park wherever they damn like...."Oh ... you're not serious!" A female voice raised up far behind Ana from the entrance of the office building the SUV was parking right in front of. As she turned around she probably saw just what she expected. A yuppie bride with high heels, bleached hair and a purse worth her monthly income. She was coming over to the car as fast as she could.
Ana glanced up from her logbook to see what could only be described as 'high maintenance' walking towards her. She rolled her eyes and continued writing, not looking at the woman while she talked.
"Ma'am, you're parked in a pedestrian zone." Ana said plainly.
Sarah walked over until she stood right next to her. Ana could see her nervous face.
"Look ... I realize that, but it was only for a minute. And there's not even a pedestrian around!" She clearly didn't feel like that was a big deal.
Ana glanced up from her book.
"It's still illegal." As if to emphasise her irritation, she ripped the ticket from the book and placed it under the wipers on the windshield.
Sarah twisted her eyes.
"Well you could hand it to me too as I am here in person! And I could pay it right now and maybe this ridiculous day has finally come to an end." She was just about to get her wallet out of her purse.
Ana saw her go for her bag, and instinctively she reached for her gun. Not taking it out of her holster, just resting her hand on the butt. When she saw it was only her purse she was getting out, Ana relaxed.
"I don't care what kind of a day you've had. You park on the sidewalk, you get a ticket." She put her pen back in her pocket.
"I got it the first time!" Sarah replied a little rude. She opened her wallet. A few creditcards and cash glanced out of.
"So how much? And don't get it the wrong way I'm not trying to buy you, I wanna pay for your pension!"
Ana was getting more and more annoyed with this woman. She felt like she was being talked down to, and Ana hated that.
"You think flashing me your gold card's gonna make the ticket go away?" She gave her a look of contempt. "You can pay for it like everyone else does. Down at the impound."
Sarah got a slight touch of horror in her face when she heard the word impound. Sounded like a jail for cars ... well that's exactly what it was.
"You wanna tow it?! I'm here to pay the ticket and drive it away. Okay?!" Sarah got a little louder.
Ana gritted her teeth. If she hadn't been so rude towards her, she would have let her drive the car away now, but spite was getting the better of her. Towing the car wasn't necessary, but that didn't stop Ana threatening to do it.
"Listen lady!" She yelled, her anger flaring at daddy's little rich girl in front of her. "You're not the only one having a bad day, okay. So why don't you do me a favour, and get out of my face."
Mike had heard the commotion and was now getting out of the car to try and diffuse it.
"We got a problem here?" He asked them both.
"Oh that's really great!" Sarah yelled back not even glancing at Mike. "I had been late this morning ... because a stupid caterpillar ripped the power line to my house turning the clock off. And not enough then there was this huge traffic jam on Hollywood Boulevard ... I had to drive through the park to be in time. Why don't you give me a ticket on that too? And well, I didn't do that to be first when the shops on Rodeo Drive open or to be in time for a fuckin' charity event like you'd probably think. I did this to be in time for my divorce!" Sarah yelled like it was only her and Ana.
"This is the building my lawyers office is in. Where me and my husband were meant to sign the papers. Apparently he is not here. He sent the signed papers in from some freakin' exotic island getting Mai Tais served while I stand here arguing with you! But I still needed to do this! I still needed to sign these papers at sharp nine this morning. And why? You wanna know why?!" Sarah was getting furious but her eyes began to get all wet. "Because I think I wouldn't have had the courage to do it afterwards anymore. Because I had to let him go ..." Now a tear ran down her face, instantly being brushed away to pretend it wasn't there.
Ana looked away, shaking her head at how pathetic it sounded. This woman had comitted a couple of major traffic violations and was now virtually in hysterics, all over a guy. At least she now knew where the dirt had come from.
"Y'know, i'm not surprised you're getting a divorce. How anyone could put up with you..."
At this point, Mike stepped in between them, glaring at Ana-Lucia.
"Officer Cortez, you wanna back off?" He asked firmly. Ana held her hands up and stepped away, still clearly seething.
"Actually I divorced him!" Sarah replied angrily, instantly getting back to being sad. What if she was right ... well she kind of was!
"And I didn't divorce him because I couldn't stand being with him anymore ... I did it because I couldn't stand hurting him anymore! At least someone tried to understand me!" At the end Sarah yelled again over Mike's shoulder still trying to keep eye contact with Ana.
Mike turned towards Sarah, ushering her back, away from Ana-Lucia who looked like she might draw her gun there and then.
"Mrs. Shepherd, is it?" He asked politely, remembering her name from the DNV check he'd just run on her plates. "You need to calm down, okay."
Behind him Ana-Lucia was pacing. She felt like punching something. Lately her temper had been boiling over a little too much, resulting in her being put on traffic duty. Seems like all she could think about was that guy. And revenge. She was a volcano ready to explode, and if this woman wasn't careful, she'd be right in the line of fire when she did.
"Why? Why should I calm down?! You are the cops. Didn't you go through some kind of anger management seminar? I just wanna drive my car away and get this freakin' day over ... no matter how!" Sarah felt no need to calm down. This Green Hornet was a chick and she was too, kind of competition. And the fact that Ana had a gun didn't scare Sarah at all. That would have been hell of a headline: "Latina cop shoots white, rebuplican politician."
"What did you just say?" Ana-Lucia asked in disbelief. She came over to square up to her, but was deflected away again by Mike. His voice became a little more serious towards the hysterical woman, he didn't like people winding up his partner.
"Mrs. Shepherd, I can't let you drive you're car while you're in this state. Either calm down, or walk home. Choice is yours."
"I am calm!" Sarah sighed deeply throwing a mean look in Ana's direction. She grabed her key and unlocked the SUV with the remote.
We have a 217 at the corner of Gage and Atlantic, any cars in the vicinity respond... The radio in the squad car crackled to life and Ana went over, leaning in the open window to pick it up. She was glad of the distraction, even if they were still on traffic, she needed to get away from this woman before she knocked her out.
"This is 8-Adam-16, we're about two blocks away, on route." She put the radio back and shouted for Mike.
"Let's go."
"I'm sure those are some real criminals you can pull your miami vice number on." Sarah said, nodding towards the radio in the police car, that was obviously adressing Ana.
Ana-Lucia matched the venomous look she was getting.
"I catch you parked in a restricted zone again," she said pointing at the woman, "I'll tow it myself." She got in the driver's seat and slammed the door in frustration. Mike got in the passenger side, giving Ana his why-won't-you-learn look.
"Don't start." She said to him, revving the engine and driving in the direction of the call.
Sarah looked after the departing police car which just turned the siren on. She was relieved. If they would have towed the car ...what the really could have ... then she wouldn't know what to do. Sarah slowly moved on the drivers seat and started the engine turning the steering wheel and leaving the plaza.
Co-written by Pearl