Nice story Merc...a bit depressing at the end but good...thanks for sharing...Looking forward to the new episode...

Episode 2 Confusion

I was pulling an all nighter at the police station getting ready for the offical unveiling and activation of the auxilary youth vice squad. There was currently a few issues over giving us decent equipment and the budget and i needed to fill out a request for some equipment and more officers. another issue was arming auxilary youth vice squad officers. While i was filing out recqusition forms i was thinking about Michelle who had latley been acting strange and distant the past few days

My supervisor PO McGrady walked in and said that the CO of the Vice Enforcement unit wanted to speak to me. "What does he need" i asked himl. He said "I dont know but your too new to the squad to be in trouble but you should get over there before you are". I dont normally look good after pulling an all nighter so i grabbed myself a cup of coffee before i went to his office. I walked down the stairs contemplating calling Michelle. I pulled out my phone flipping it open and selecting her number before noticing the time, 2:30 am not the time to call to ask if someones ok. Realizing that i was going to meet the person that would make or break my career and that i looked like crap. I checked how i looked in the mirror of my caprice which i somehow managed to get a decent parking spot for that night. i smoothed out my hair and continued walking towards the main building. I walked past the desk sergeant and flashed my badge, he didnt even look up from his book. I made my way to the Vice Enforcment unit and knocked on the door that said Capt. Murphy

Captain Murphy was sitting behind a large wodden desk and an impressive computer behind him was a wall of awards and commendations. While Captain Murphy was a small man sitting in front of his large desk and wall of awards was an intimidating experience. He Looked up and introduced himself and i started to introduce myself. "Hi my name is James Russo". He looked me straight in the eye and said "I know everything about you I read your folder and ive been watching you for awhile." I began to question what he was saying before he interupted me again. "Your best friend Michelle Garcia her father worked for me when i was a Lieutenant. This was back about 12 years ago i was in the second car that responded to the scene that day. This was right after Michelle's sister was born. That day was the worst day in department history. I never expected to see Alex's Daughter again. The reason i called you here is too tell you one thing. Theres the right way and my way it sould be obvious what i expect in my unit. Now go about your business officer".

As I walked back out to the parking lot i saw someone trying to use a coat hanger to break into My caprice. I yelled "Police Don't Move". The person walked towards me and said "Hello James". I grabbed my mini MAGLITE from my pocket and shined it in the persons face. She walked towards me.

I took one look at her and noticed her dilated, blood shot eyes and there was a sweet musky scent coming from where she was and said "why are you at my place of employment Melanie" She said "I rode along with my dad tonight and he said that your working with the cops now. arent you a bit of a hipocrite. remember back in freshman year we used to run from the cops". I replied "that was mostly you because i didnt smoke or drink or do as much of anything illegal as you did. thats why your parents sent you to boarding school remember?" She gave me a strange smile and said "I got you a present". I quickly replied "If its a severed head im going to be VERY upset." She handed me a valentines day card and said "i was going to leave this in your car". "You realize that this is june" I said.

Her father The EMS Supervisor walked out of the back of the station and said time to go and she got into the EMS SUV and her father quickly waved to me. I waved back and made my way back to my desk. PO McGrady asked me how it went and i said "the usual" and continued out my shift until about a half hour before it was over i got a text from Michelle saying that she needed to talk to me and that she would see me ver soon. I Figured that she would see me in school later on in the day so after my shift was over I walked down to the lot. i hoped that i would get atleast 2 hours of sleep before my first period started.

When i got to my car i noticed Michelle was Leasning against the Sergeant's SUV. I asked "what are you doing here?" She said that she wanted to say somthing. "ive known you for most of my life" She said "you have always been there for me especailly these past few years. So..."

I was confused so i asked her what that was about and she was almost crying and ran off. I figured that i would see her later and that i was too tired to think so i got into the car turned on the radio to the classic rock statio and drove home.

What do you think?

Nicely done again...Only one question...She cried after she kissed him?

that will be explained in a future episode. so far ive only released the first 4 and episode 5 is in the works but ill put episode 3 up here today.

WARNING: THIS EPISODE OF SUBURBIA IS PRETTY DARK SO IF YOU DONT WANT TO READ SOMETHING HIGH PG-13 TURN BACK NOW





A few days have past since Michelle's suicide attempt. I had been going through several leads to see who gave her the pills including the pharmacist. The pharmacist had identified several of the pills as mostly downers mixed in with some pills that when mixed with pain killers could easily kill a person. So who ever had sold her these pills wanted her dead.

Flash Forward a few days when a former friend had agreed to inform us of who had sold her the drugs. His name was Jason Coffey. He and Michelle had gone out a year or two ago. It was a relationship that i protested and it had really strained our friendship. A few months after they had started going out they had a bad breakup and Michelle came crying to me. She never told me what the breakup was about or what had happened during the relationship. To be completely honest i didn't want to know. I knew Jason since middle school and even back then he was bad news. He was caught several times with drugs and he always got a slap on the wrist.

A few hours ago Melanie decided to talk with me at the station about Jason's involvement in Michelle's suicide. She wrote about half a page about him selling a bottle of pills to her to help "Stabilize her depression" and how he realized the police may be looking for him so he ran to some abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of town.

'So what was going on with you and Michelle?' I heard as i was trying to focus on something other then Melanie. I look up and i see Melanie giving me that stupid grin that she always gives me when she wants something. 'There's nothing going on with us.' I said trying not to make eye contact. 'I can see right through you. You two have been together since we were in 3rd grade. Don't think i never noticed'. 'Ok you want the truth?' I look her straight in the eye and i give her the "you win but im annoyed that you won" look. 'Me and her have been best friends since 3rd grade everything was fine until the whole Jason thing and ever since there breakup ive been feeling some sort of tension between me and her, Then the day she overdosed she met me in the parking lot she kissed me'. 'Alrighty then' Melanie said with a happy look on her face. A few minutes later she handed over the papers to me.




I handed the papers to PO Mcgrady and he told me that the warehouse was going to be raided... Tonight. 'Also tell your friend that she has to stay in our custody until we get this guy. Wouldn't want her giving him a heads up.' 'Hey Melanie, Cancel your plans tonight your staying here'. She looked at me in disgust 'Unlike you i have plans tonight and i need to make them'. I look at her and say 'Yeah i think that keg can stand it self. Listen here's some money get some chinese or pizza delivered here and make yourself comfy.' I turn back to Mcgrady 'Where do you need me when this goes down'? There's going to be a tac meeting in the parking lot in 5 minutes you should grab a vest and radio and meet us down there.

I made my way to grab a battery for my radio and my vest. and walked downstairs.



The SWAT van was waiting in the parking lot with 5 officers waiting in it and Mcgrady and another cop were discussing what our roles were going to be. The plan was that SWAT get him before he tried to run and everything would go down peacefully but if he ran Mcgrady and another officer were going to intercept him. I was going to be the hospital car. If anyone got hurt i would drive them to the hospital lights and siren. 'So what car am i taking?' I asked. The other cop who was in charge of the operation told me that there were no cars available and i had to use my personal car and that i could be reimbursed for gas costs after my shift ended. So we left the station house with the SWAT van my caprice and 2 Marked cars.



I had found a good spot to wait if anything happened. I did my usual routine of getting out of the car to strech my legs. I was thinking about what really was going on with me and Michelle. I was wondering if maybe there was more to our friendship and i just didn't see it. Maybe i didn't want to see it. Maybe i was afraid that if i did like her that would make our friendship weird and awkward. Maybe Michelle thought that too. But what if there was a chance it would work. People at school have said that we would make a great couple. But what do i think of Michelle? Do i love her or do i just like her a friend? We've been there for each other for years. I even taught her how to drive on my car. I Heard a message go over the radio "Suspect headed westbound on mill road in a yellow mustang with no lights." I quickly shook out of this train of thought and jumped into action. I got in my car and slammed the gear shift into drive and pulled out into the road as a roadblock. I turned on the red light on the dashboard and i saw him. He must have been doing 75 and he slammed on the brakes as soon as i turned on my light. He didn't have enough time to stop.



He hit the front of my car. I felt the wheel collapse as his car hit mine. My head hit the pillar and i blacked out for a second. I woke up seconds later to see flashing lights a mile down the road. I got out of my car and saw him run into the woods. I gave chase and as i was running through the woods i yelled into my radio. "Suspect hit my car, Suspect is on foot in the woods. Im 2 miles sout of the raid location 200 feet deep in the woods. I need backup"



I saw him out of breath in a clearing 50 feet ahead of me. I yelled 'I know what you did to Michelle and im going to put you under the jail.' He looked at me and said in a very condescending voice. 'Did you ever wonder how Michelle paid for the pills?'



 That was the last straw. i Tackled him and put him in a headlock. Just making random punches. At this point i didn't care if he went to jail or not. All i knew was that he needed to be in alot of pain. The next two minutes were a blur to me.



The next thing i remember is getting pulled off of him by my backup and hearing 'that's enough go calm down'. Mcgrady came running to the clearing. 'What the hell happened?' He asked. I looked up triumphantly and said i got my suspect and im going to process him. He looked at me and said 'I'll process him you need to visit Michelle she needs you more then anything else. Your cars in bad shape chances are its going to be totaled so grab your stuff that you need for tonight and were going to talk in the morning about the department giving you a new car or something like that. Until then im going to have Romano Drive you to the hospital and then drive you home'



I got in the car with Romano and he tried to make conversation a few time about music. He seemed like a nice guy and everything but considering that i was running myself ragged the past few days and after coming down from the adrenalin from what had just happened i wasn't exactly in the talking mood. When we reached the hospital i looked over at Romano and told him i wasn't going to be long. I took the elevator up to the fifth floor where Michelle was. I passed the nurses station and they waved. I had been there so many times the past few days we were on a first name basis. 'Hey James' They said completely ignoring the fact that visiting hours had ended 4 hours ago.



When i arrived at Michelle's room i walked in quietly and sat down and started fidgeting, Not knowing what to say. 'We got Jason tonight, He cant ever hurt you again. Um, also the caprice is wrecked. I have to see how bad the damage is tomorrow.' I pause thinking that shes hanging onto my every word meanwhile she cant hear a thing i said. I start to feel stupid so i just walk up to her and hold her hand hoping that she can feel my presence. After a few minutes i kiss her on the cheek and tell her 'I love you'. I hear Romano hit the siren a few times meaning he want to get back on patrol. I make my way down to the nurses station. 'We know the drill' One of the nurses say. If there's any changes call you on your cell. I smile and i walk to the elevators.



Back in the Patrol car there is very little conversation. Then we get a message on the radio to go to the fleet services for my loaner car. We pull into the parking lot to find McGrady standing by an old unmarked crown vic. He throws me the keys. 'This is only temporary by thursday you should have a newer one courtesy of the department. This car is literally two days from retirement and the fleet services guys need something to auction off. So be careful.' 'Thanks.' I say taking a closer look at the car. After seeing 1994 on the registration sticker i sarcastically ask 'Is this one of the cars from the OJ case?' He looked at me and said 'Get some sleep'. I drove the car home and fell asleep. Until i got a phone call from the hospital...