Waiting

A Chapter by Tacie

Crunch, crunch. Luke had heard it every night since he was twelve. It would crunch, then pause, and then crunch once more. Even when he had moved to Utah of all places, the crunching was still perfectly audible.

Utah is safe, they all said, Utah is perfectly safe. Not in this section of town apparently. Just in the last two weeks, he had caught ten drug dealers, marijuana, cocaine, everything. He had had three prank calls to dispatch, which he had wasted his time checking on, and the kids ended up having their own personal crime records. Didn't parents always teach not to do that? Who calls the police when they have a juvy record?

He heard the phone ring, but was too tired to answer it, so he let the answering machine pick it up. "Hey. This is Luke, I'm not available right now, so hang up or leave a message." Beep. He really needed to change his message.

"Luke..." And the speaker paused, almost as if he were catching his breath. "Jerry's equipment was found on the banks of the Jordanelle Reservoir. We have men already searching for him, and we need your help." Luke jumped out of the bed and ran to the phone, grabbing it just as Cody Bryan, his supervisor was about to hang up.

"Bryan, sir. I uh..."

"Well son, why didn't you pick up? You should've answered earlier." Lieutenant Bryan cut him off.

"I was asleep, sir."

"Well, as you most likely heard on the message, we found all of Jerry's stuff at the reservoir and he wasn't so careless as to leave valuable equipment, such as he was using sitting out where anyone could take it."

"Are you sure he didn't just get caught in the moment of excitement, sir? We've been working on this case for quite a while."

"Sir. You forgot the sir. But, yes we are absolutely positive. We found his shoes, badge, weapons, and wallet scattered over his campsite, credit cards missing, ammunition still in the gun, safety off, his badge covered in who knows what. Son, this is serious." It seemed that the Lieutenant only knew how to call Luke son, though he was only two years his senior. And he would only be called 'sir' as if there were no other options.

"Wow. Jerry would never do that. I've been his partner for over ten years. He was always so careful. To a fault."

"That's right Luke, you were his partner. Why then, was Jerry alone?"

"We were taking shifts, and I had just finished mine. We agreed that each of us would be more functional with sleep, so it was my turn to go home."

"What about the buddy system, Luke? What were you thinking? That is not only a second grade procedure. It should be continued throughout life! I expect you down here in ten minutes flat. Goodbye." Click.

Luke didn't even have time to think of the word, much less say goodbye before Lieutenant Bryan hung up. "Bye." Luke said in a quiet, small voice, giving up any chance of gaining any sleep.

Crunch. Crunch. His ears perked, much like a dog. The sound was louder, and he ran outside, hoping to catch the cruncher. He threw open the door, and saw the silhouette of a man running away. He turned and walked back into his house. One day, he would catch him. One day soon.

_______________

"That was a close one, Hewlette. I don't like chancing things like you just did. I don't like it at all."

"Forgive me, Master, but he was on the phone, and hung up so quickly, I had no choice."

"No choice? NO CHOICE? How have you gotten away all these other times. QUITELY! He didn't have to hear you at all!"

"I'm sorry, so sorry!"

"Get out of my sight, you worthless pig."

"Yes, Master."

The cruel man watched his servant worm uncomfortably out of the room, fighting the urge to let loose an evil laugh. It broke through his mouth, shaking the souls of each pathetic creature in the room.