30th Exploit: Sarah Leoni & The Crooked Cop Blues 2

A Chapter by Jeffrey J Dotson

Continuing Sarah's flashback; Sarah continues to work as an officer, but is ousted as a 'brute' when she goes a little too far

30th Exploit: Sarah Leoni & The Crooked Cop Blues Pt.2

Its been just a little over a month since Sarah has joined the force now. Up til this point she has earned the respect of most in the NNPD, including the tough Maudli Blubar. Today, she's cruising with Ardy down the city streets of Tonten. The people seem more rowdy then usual, as a new law has passed in favor of the Bolzen Kafer; its now illegal to deny a Bolzen Kafer an interview for a job. Sarah's eyes catch a particularly volatile situation near a corner liquor store. Several protesters against the the new right are being harassed by a group of supporters. Sarah parks the borard on the side and turns to Ardy.

"What do you think?" Ardy clicks his tongue.

"I think, as long as nothing physical goes down, there's no need to get involved. Quite frankly those protesters deserve to get cussed at."

"Hmm." Sarah almost starts to drive off, but she sees one of the protesters for BK rights drop his sign and punch the left protester against it in the jaw. "So much for that. Ardy you go ahead and tell 'em we have a N-07 on our hands." Ardy reaches for the radio as Sarah exits the vehicle. She approaches as the protester who threw a punch grabs his now bloody nosed adversary by the collar. "What's going on here?!"

"Huh?!" The protester turns his attention to Sarah and spits. "Oh look, here comes the bacon!"

"Now listen-" The protester and his friends shove the two out of the way and approach Sarah. "I can't just let you go on the way you're going on."

"Oh?! Do you even know what they were saying? Huh, who am I kiddin' you'd probably agree!" The aggressor spits at Sarahs feet. "Goddamn swine like you are always making trouble for the cause of rights, as a matter of fact I recognize you. You're the cop who arrested Jean!"

"Settle down, now-" The heated protester swings wildly at Sarah. She grabs his fist and twists his arm. "Fine then! You're under arrest!"

"Agh!" The man spits in Sarah's face. "You dumb b***h! You won't stop the Bolzen Kafer from equality-" Sarah twists the mans arm further and a loud pop breaks out from his elbow joint. "AGGH!!"

"You're coming with me!" She brings the offenders other arm around and tries to cuff him but he's struggling.

"SHE BROKE MY ARM! POLICE ABUSE POLICE ABUSE!"

"Damn!" One of the other Bolzen Kafer supporters has his smartphone out and is filming. "Police Brutality!"

"Hey wait a minute-" The man she's trying to apprehend tries to kick the back of his leg into her crotch but she swiftly blocks it with her shin. His foot twists as she slams it back down hard with her shin and pushes the man to the ground. "Stop resisting!"

"F**k she broke my foot!" The man begins to cry. Ardy finally steps in and blocks off the others from filming. Sarah finally gets the aggressive protesters other hand cuffed. Ardy clicks his tongue.

"Alright guys that's enough. Do you all want to be arrested?" One of the protesters shoves his phone in Ardy's face. Ardy takes a step back nervously.

"You won't get away from this a******s!" Sarah forces the protester up to his feet. Ardy is sweating.

"You're under arrest for battery, attempted assault on a police officer and resisting arrest, now come quietly!" Sarah forces the man to her car as Ardy continues to keep the others under control.

---

Six Hours Later

Later that evening, after briefing and writing a report on the arrest, Sarah is sitting in the locker room. She looks rough. Ardy sits next to her and pats her on the back.

"Hey." Ardy clicks his tongue. "You alright?"

"Yeah." Sarah begins to tear up. "No, no I'm not alright. I didn't mean to hurt that guy that badly, you know? I just-"

"Hey, I know. Its to be expected especially on days like this." Ardy's tongue clicks twice. "You did everything you could to keep things from getting out of hand, but you've got to be careful. Some people see a uniform and immediately judge. I don't think you needed to break that guys arm but its not like he was making it easy."

"Hm." Sarah wipes her eyes. "That incidents on the internet now. Ive already seen some people with 'trial the brute' signs near headquarters."

"It'll pass, and Blubar ain't gonna let you lose too much face over this." Ardy clicks his tongue. "He considers you valuable, I'm sure especially after that bust a week ago. I'm kinda envious to be honest." Sarah raises her head.

"The best we can do is keep doing our best for the sake of justice." Ardy nods his head. "I'm sure you're right, it'll pass."

---

Two Months Later

Two more months pass. Sarah's been promoted recently to a full fledged patrol officer after a second drug bust. Despite being a bit of a renegade officer Blubar respects her talents. Ardy, meanwhile, is still the same rank, being looked at by Chief Blubar and the others as something as a joke. Sarah however has grown to like Ardy as a brother, seeing him as perhaps similar to Jace. Ardy clicks his tongue as Sarah turns around the corner of Brenard Grive St. There are several people with 'ban the brute' signs but Sarah disregards them.

"Say, Ardy-" Sarah begins to ask. "-not to pry, but is there a particular reason why you always click your tongue?"

"Is it annoying?" Ardy asks, then clicks his tongue. "It's a nerve thing. When I was five a Rougal Grey bit me in the face." Ardy's tongue clicks. "One of her fangs clipped a nerve in my tongue, and Ive had this issue since. I also can't taste things all that well." Ardy's tongue clicks as Sarah sighs.

"My apologies." Ardy begins to laugh.

"Ey sweet heart don't worry about it!" Ardy clicks and smiles. "It was a long while ago, I'm well and away used to this. Still don't much like dogs though." Ardy clicks his tongue.

"I guess you wouldn't." The two laugh. "Say, I'm rather hungry, wanna grab a bite?"

"Sure! I'm getting hungry too! How about Cortello's Diner?" Sarah thinks.

"Well, Ive only ate there once before, guess its close enough." Sarah cruises past a green light as a couple of people throw nasty looks toward her car.

---

Sarah's Borard is parked in front of Cortello's Diner, and parked two spaces from her police vehicle is an expensive looking Pollic with a clean white paint job. Inside the diner Sarah and Ardy are already seated. The Diner seems oddly empty, though given the time is around 11 in the morning most people are most likely working.

"So-" Ardy clicks his tongue right after he begins to speak. "-you said this is your second time here right?" Sarah nods. "I assume you haven't tried the Pastrami Pasta Plate yet, have you?"

"Nope." Ardy smirks.

"Well you oughtta." Sarah looks at Ardy suspiciously. He clicks his tongue and smiles. "No, I don't know how it tastes, however I know it smells awesome. Ive had it several times before myself just so I can get some of that sweet aroma in my nostrils!"

"Mhmm."

Sarah looks over at the counter. Through the doorway and into the kitchen. She casually glances at an angry looking chef listening to someone out of her line of sight speaking what sounds like gibberish. The waiter sets her glass of sheer berry cola in front of her line of sight, and Ardy's glass of milk in front of him.

"What'll your orders be, officers?" Sarah's eyebrows raise as she sees someone in a light grey suit walk into her view and shove the chef. She makes out just a tiny bit of the mans dialect, its of Serlan tongue. The waiter nervously steps between Sarah and her line of sight. "Uh, ma'am?"

"Pastrami Pasta Plate, mash potatoes on the side." Sarah stands as Ardy clicks his tongue.

"Likewise! But, instead of potatoes make it drumsticks, and pour garlic all over everything." The waiter helplessly jots down the order as Sarah walks past him.

"Ma'am." Sarah ignores the waiter. She remembers the Pollic outside and, matching the style of this grey suited Serlan speaking individual, begins to grow suspicious. 'Might just be a hunch' Sarah thinks to her self. 'but there's a few too many coincidences here. That suit, car and language... Is he one of Coltez's thugs?' The waiter rests his hand on Sarahs shoulder. Ardy gasps.

"Hey, careful-"

"Ma'am please-" Sarah instinctively flips the waiter over her shoulder and draws her gun. "Agh!"

"Pal, don't stop me again or I'll have you incarcerated." Sarah turns her gaze up. The man in the suit is looking right at her. She aims her gun up just as he pulls out his, a firearm with a custom white handle. Its a Bulvord automatic glock, another trademark of Coltez's Cartel. Sarah's certain now this man is a dangerous criminal. "You belong to Coltez's mob don't you?!"

"What ais dais s**t?!" Another member of the cartel, as indicated by the suit she's wearing, steps out of the bathroom on the right of the diner. Ardy is quick to pull his weapon and aim it, almost fumbling but managing to save his composure. "Dai f**k b***h?! Why you aiming gun ait me?! We haid a deal with the departmen-"

"DA'IZ SHUT UP!" The female thug yells as she raises her arms up. "Dais b***h isn't in dai loop I don't think, there's a few who aren't!"

"Hmph! Well den, she can die?!"

"DROP THE GUN NOW!" Da'iz smirks.

"Wait, ai recognize you. You the cop who keeps hurting our business! Dai's is perfect, if I kill you now-" Da'iz tightens the grip on his gun. "-den there goes dat problem!"

"Good luck prick!"

"Coltez tole us not to deal ain your route, but dais is a little out of its way-" Sarah pulls the trigger. The bullet bursts out of her firearm and into Di'ez's ring and middle fingers holding the hilt of his gun, obliterating them and destroying the area Di'ez was holding his gun. "AIIIIIIIIIII!!!" Sarah jumps the counter as Di'ez's gun falls to the ground. She hops forward off the counter and whirls around in a 90 degree angle, kicking her ki infused foot into Di'ez's jaw while simultaneously turning her direction to the other criminal*. Di'ez lays on the ground unconscious and bleeding out of his hand, Sarah points her gun at the female.

"Daime!! You crazy pig-"

"ON THE GROUND NOW!" The woman complies immediately. Ardy is shaking. "Ardy, cuff her."

"O-of course!" Ardy clicks his tongue as he runs over to the grounded cartel criminal. The chef Di'ez was pushing around earlier has a butchers knife tight in his hand and is sneaking behind Sarah. His anger and terror are fighting for control. He thinks of how screwed he is if Sarah finds the stash of drugs and smuggled weaponry in the back and raises his arm up. Before he can bring the knife down Sarah flings her fist backward into his nose and breaks it. The chef fumbles to the ground unconscious as Sarah turns around disgusted.

"Damn it." Sarah shakes her head. "What a mess." Sarah holsters her gun as Ardy brings the female cartel to her feet. Sarah has a worried look on her face. "What did they mean by 'in the loop'?"

---

Three Hours Later

Cortello's diner has police tape all around it, and is being broadcast across cable and satellite. The footage is from an hour ago. Several other NNPD vehicles are around the establishment. Sarah is seen in the background shoving chef Cortello into the back of her car. A journalist walks up to Sarah.

"Miss Leoni, do you have a minute?" Under Sarah her name appears as 'Sarah 'brutal' Leoni.

"Not really-"

"Was this a planned sting, or is it like the previous two?" Sarah looks irritated.

"I was just grabbing a lunch. I couldn't help but notice suspicious activity and I decided to act."

"You do have a reputation for being pretty aggressive, many seem to claim you go out of your way just to get a 'high' off of the violence, and the activists for BK rights are-"

"Listen, I'm just doing my job to the best of my ability."

"So then, that justifies breaking the restaurant owners nose." Sarah glares at the journalist.

"He came at me with a damn knife, what the hell do you think you're trying to pull?" The television set shuts off. Sarah, Ardy and Maudli are watching it from his desk. He sighs as he looks over the report once more. He smiles as he turns to face the two.

"Sometimes-" Blubar brings his hands together. "-I think you're a little overqualified to be a patrol officer." Blubar's smile fades a little. "This is the third unassigned 'sting' you've 'accidentally' managed to pull off in Tonten, and that's-" Blubar almost seems to be holding in anger. He smiles. "-that's quite impressive! You've done well to help these streets, though your methods are a bit nasty."

"What do you mean sir?" Blubar strokes his chin.

"Miss Leoni, every time you apprehend a criminal they end up in the hospital first. Now I'm not opposed to that method myself, but its getting to be too frequent. People are still calling for your head over that one protester and the video on it, and this is just further fuel to that flame. The civilians are idiots, they don't recognize when a greater good is being accomplished if it comes at the expense of hospital bills, and quite frankly its getting expensive for us too. You know how much that protester is suing us for?"

"I-" Sarah looks disappointed. "-I know I went to far with him, but he just wouldn't stop. He refused to listen to me."

"Regardless, that incident has gained us more flack then we are wanting to deal with, and this most recent bust is looking like another notch against you, even though it was ultimately the right course of action." Blubar grunts. "Ive contemplated moving your route elsewhere. I don't think Tonten is very safe for you anymore Sarah." Sarah scratches the side of her face as the words 'in the loop' come back to her.

"Pardon my frankness sir, but-" Sarah clears her throat. "-are you hiding something?" Blubar turns to sudden surprise. "The cartel crew I apprehended today spouted off some suspicious nonsense, like something about being 'in the loop'. You, you're not in cahoots with them are you?" Chief Blubar readjusts his hat.

"Hmm, sounds like they were trying to get the heat off their asses to me." Blubar raises a brow. "It's a little disheartening when one of my best officers lacks trust. To be honest, Ive been very glad to finally have such a go getter on the force. By now, I bet Coltez is shaking in his snake boots." Blubar smirks. "But, that too is getting dangerous. You've been lucky with his syndicate. He has a couple of people under him that aren't to be trifled with, and he's no slouch himself. I'm afraid he'll eventually send out a hit on you if this keeps up."

"Hmph, bring it on then."

"No, you don't understand. If Coltez wants you out of the picture you would be gone. That's why we've always been careful with his cartel, but believe me knocking out a couple of his key spots really slows down the crime, but you're a target now I'm sure." Blubar crosses his arms. "Between him and the growing anger of the civilians, Tonten is simply too dangerous Miss Leoni, that's why-" Blubar uncrosses his arms and opens the middle drawer on his desk. He pulls out a badge that says 'corporal' on it and slams it on the desk in front of Sarah. "-I'm moving you to Rose Mali and giving you another promotion. I was saving this for your half year anniversary, but this is the least I can do for all your hard work, Corporal Leoni."

"I-I don't know what to say..." Sarah cautiously picks up the badge. "This is-"

"The least I can do. Well, I could have you exchange partners if you want."

"No." Sarah says resolute. "Ardy is the most trustworthy person I could possibly have to back me." Sarah pats Ardy on the shoulder as Ardy clicks his tongue. Blubar grimaces at him. "As a matter of fact, I insist he receive a promotion as well."

"What-" Blubar stops himself. He almost looks as though hes in pain as he forces a smile. "Well, so be it. Mr. Dortanni, you're promoted to Patrol Officer. Congratulations, we'll have your new badge issued to you within a weeks time."

"Really?!" Ardy clicks his tongue and smiles. "I won't disappoint you, sir!"

"I'm sure." Blubar refrains from rolling his eyes. He turns back to Sarah. "Corporal Leoni, as of next week you and Ardy are stationed in Rose Mali." Blubar taps his fingers on his desk, next to his riding crop. "I should hope you continue doing a swell job."

prev chapter