88 Metro PD Headquaters Communications 8 23 AM

Samantha followed Alex up the stairs and stopped at a door labeled ‘Communications Division’. He turned to her and held his finger up to his lips. Samantha nodded and watched as he pushed a code into the door. There was a muted thunk as it opened and then the pair walked into the radio room. Samantha took the room in, it was a large windowless room with the far wall taken up by large screens that provided information about pending runs, and a map of the city. One of the screens had been broken into quarters and displayed the video feeds from the local TV stations as well as an animated radar loop. Another showed the status of every unit that was logged into the computer system. They walked up to a door and Alex knocked. The lady inside the office was on her phone, but she waved them into the office.

“Ok, Thanks.” She said before hanging the phone up. She looked at Alex. “What’s up?”

“Debbie, this is Samantha Miller;” Alex said motioning to Samantha. “Samantha, this is Sargent Debbie Schafer.” Debbie got up and walked around her desk.

“Samantha, it’s my pleasure.” Debbie said. “On behalf of everyone in the communications division, please accept our condolences. You’re in good hands with Alex.” Samantha smiled softly.

“Thank you,” She said, her voice barely a whisper. She had always heard her dad talk about the Public Safety Family, and now she was finally understanding what he meant when he said they were a family.

“I wanted the two of you to meet,” Alex said. “Debbie’s going to have an ear on the radio when you are at the salon. Everyone here is the calm when the storm is raging outside of these walls.” Debbie’s eyes appeared to focus behind Alex’s head and then she spoke.

“Shit!” Alex and Samantha turned and looked out the door at the screens. Debbie grabbed her walkie and changed channels.

“-eight seven, I’m three. I’ve been shot!”

“Two eight seven, What is your location?”

“Put me on it!” Alex said, jumping out of the chair and running for the door, Samantha on his heels. The pair ran out of the communications center and down the steps, out the back door and to the Explorer that was issued to Alex. He unlocked the doors and they both got in.

“And Wilson,” Came two eighty seven’s voice.

“Copy,” a dispatcher said. “All Units, two eighty seven is ten three at Rogers and Wilson. Zone one is ninety nine.”

“Seat belt.” Alex said to Samantha, dropping the Explorer into gear and punching the gas, before reaching over and flicking on the lights and activating the siren. “When we get there, you are to stay in the car, do you understand.”

“Two eighty seven, Suspect is down, Responding units, there is a white Chevy Cobalt in the intersection, female black on board, I have her at gunpoint. I’m on the southwest corner.”

“Yes, sir.” Samantha said, bracing her self as Alex blew through a light and got some air crossing an intersection.