Behind The Alpha Series Book 1 Quinn

PAISLEY

I look in my rear view mirror and adjust my oversized, silver sunglasses. I smirk at my reflection. “Looking cool, Archer.”

I look out the windshield as I drive up 1st Main Street. The traffic is thick today. Sidewalks are pretty busy, too.

“Car 13. This is dispatch. Where are you?”

I reach over and pick up my CB. “This is Car 13. Just heading south on 1st.” I let go of the button to wait for an answer.

“What the hell are you doing there? Your beats at the dome.”

“Just doing a patrol.” I respond.

“Your not a patroller, Archer. Get to your post!”

“Just doing my part, Dispatch.” I smile at some kids who wave at my Enforcer car.

“We don’t need extra patrollers. We need tickets! Get back to work! Dispatch out.”

“Ugh. Fine.” I slam the CB down in its cradle on my dash, flip my sirens on with lights and pull a u turn to head back to the dome.

I get to the bottom of the street and the skyscrapers open up to the large open area of the dome. The shiny, beacon of Phoenix City glows in the sun. I join the traffic of the four lane road that runs all around it.

The dome is the prized possession of the Alliance. It used to be ours. The Red Wolves. We built the dome to protect something so special, the world never knew it existed until the Alliance took over. The Lazarus pool. A pool of water that brings back the dead, heals complications and gives strength to anyone who is capable of holding it. We reds were those people, but since we lost the war, that’s no longer the case.

I was too young to be involved in any of that, but I hear it was great.

Anyway, this is my beat. My turf. Bad guys beware.

I’m an Enforcer. What are they? In human terms, we’re police, cops, coppers, flat foots. We are the authority in the city’s borders. We protect the city from crime, help people in need and enforce the laws of the council.

There’s lots of levels to Enforcers. I’m level 1A. I keep the streets safe from things like bad parkers, litter bugs and bad cats who upset the owners because they're stuck in trees. So, I’m a pretty big deal around here.

I park my patrol car in the parking lot of the dome and stand with my hands on my hips. I fix my fire red ponytail, adjust my glasses and flip the snap on my belt punch.

“Alright, violators. Enforcer Archer is coming for you.” I tick my head as I whip out my ticket book and pen.

I stride across the lot to where the cars are parked.

I’ve been with the Enforcer Unit for just over a year. My ultimate goal is Level 5. Detective. Solving crimes, chasing bad guys through dark alleys and meeting with shady informants. I want it all. I can only hand out so many tickets.

There are two ways to become a Level 5. Through promotion or solving a high profile case. Unfortunately, the only things that happen here, are usually weird crap that only the council Alphas seem to be able to take care of. Things like some guy named Eternity something. I don’t know. I just hear rumors that he’s either a God or a construction worker that hates his job.

My father was the first Red wolf to join the Enforcers. He was security before the Alliance so had a lot of experience. He was my hero. My idol. The apple of my eye until a criminal took him away from me. They gave me his badge at his funeral and it’s the only badge I’ll wear when I become an investigator like him.

You might be thinking, Paisley, how are you going to do that? You’re a beat cop. Easy. I follow the evidence. Evidence I’m not allowed to look at, but what investigator really worries about technicalities.

Somethings bound to happen soon. I can feel it. You can’t have a city full of different species and not have a single high profile case.

For now, I keep my eyes and ears open in the Unit. I don’t really have a desk, but I have a friend, Dragger. Casey Dragger. If I had a partner, he’d be it. He’s smart and strong and inadvertently training me for my dream job. I just let him talk and learn as much as I can. He’s from Morgan. A city outside Falcon Ridge. He helped on the Red Riding hood case. It was huge. A Serial killer case. A real sicko, too. Apparently she wasn’t working with a full deck.

They didn’t catch her because the Alpha got involved for some reason. I swear these Alphas want all the glory to themselves.

I think about what I would have done with the case, as I write down a license plate number.

I walk to the front and slap the ticket under the windshield wiper. “Tell it to the judge.” I smirk and move on to the next parking meter.

I stop and flip to the next blank ticket. I watch the clock click to 0 and start writing.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

I look up from my pad and eye a kid in his 20s. He’s shirtless and wearing shorts.

“What’s it look like, kid?” I say in my Enforcer voice.

“Oh, come on! You can’t ticket me for 30 seconds.” He hold a hand out to me.

I turn to him and lower my glasses. “Once that clock hits zero, I can do whatever I want. You have a problem, take it up in traffic court.”

“Jesus. Ok, look, this is my dad’s car, alright. I can’t get a ticket.” He pleads.

“Sorry about your luck, bucko. The law…has spoken.” I rip the ticket off and slap it in his chest.

I turn and walk away as he whines.

I smirk. “This Bruno ain’t no pushover.”

I continue to walk around the dome and head toward the open park. There’s a few trees and enough room to throw a ball around. There’s also picnic tables.

People come here to eat lunch and relax. The last thing they want to see is loiterers.

I’ve seen this guy three days in a row. He’s sleeping under a tree with a ball cap on his face. I figure he needs to move on.

I saunter over and stand beside him. He’s tall and built solid if the dips in his t-shirt are any indication. He also smells kind of strange. It’s shifter mixed with something else.

I put my hands in my hips. “Alright, buddy. Get up.”

He doesn’t move.

“Hey.” I kick his crossed legs.

“What.” He says from behind his cap.

“Move along. There’s no loitering in the park.” I inform.

“I’m not loitering. Loitering would imply that I’m here without reason to be when, in fact, I’m resting in a public park which is the exact purpose of the area in question.”

I tick my jaw. “A smart guy, huh? Well, wise guy, this Enforcer knows the law and I say your loitering and if you don’t move right now, I’ll be forced to ticket you.”

“Go for it. Section 1a 516c of the by-law code states no person or persons shall rest, recline or sit in restricted areas. These areas include, sidewalks, private buildings, parking lots, city buildings and roadways. Public spaces like parks or beaches are restricted to after 7 pm and no earlier than 8 am. By my watch it’s 3:30. Well, within the allowable time. Good night.” He makes himself more comfortable.

I bite the inside of my cheek and look around. I look back down to the guy who’s daring to test my patience.

“Alright, punk. Remove the lid off your mug and show me some ID.” I hold out my hand.

“Old time cop lingo? Really? Who do you think you are, James Cagney?” He chuckles from behind his hat.

“I am an Enforcer and if you don’t do what I say, I’m throwing you in the clink. Get me?” I lean forward to him.

“You do that and I sue your ass for false arrest. I don’t have to produce anything to you.” He puts his hands behind his head.

“Fine.” I pull out my ticket book. “I’m fining you for loitering in my park.”

“Waste a tree. I don’t care.” He says.

“What's your name?” I ask, pen at the ready.

“Vic Pardo.” He answers.

“Is that Victor?” I ask.

“Nope. Just Vic.”

I write ‘Vic Par…’ and stop. I put my pad hand on my hip. “White Heat. Very funny.”

“I thought so.” I can tell he’s smiling under there.

“Come on, man. Work with me here.” I almost whine.

He lifts hit hat just a little. “A whiny Enforcer. Is this new training?” I see the flash of white teeth before he lowers his hat again.

I press my lips together. “Ok. I’m doing another patrol and you better not be here when I get back or I will arrest you.”

I turn on my heels and head back to parking lots.

I was having a good day, now this guy just burns my britches. How dare he recite the law to me. Me? I know the law. I don’t need some smarty pants laying it down for me? Who does he think he is?

I write some more tickets and wander around the dome. I stop and place my hand on the glass. I look into the shiny pool of sparkling water. The tropical plants all seem happy in there. The sun plays in the surface. I wish I could go in.

Some kids run their bikes across the walkway in front of the dome. They’re laughing and shouting to each other.

“HEY! ON THE BIKE PATH!” I shout to them as they ride away.

I shake my head. Damn, ankle biters.

“Law enforcement is an unforgiving job, isn’t it?”

I turn and it’s the guy from the tree. His hat is pulled down, so I can’t get a clear view of his face.

I fold my arms. “No, it’s not, but I don’t do it to be forgiven. I thought I told you to vamoose.” I scan him up and down. His 6 foot frame looks even better upright, I must say.

I turn to him. “What’s your name, stranger?”

“I’m sorry.” He responds.

“That’s a funny name.” I smirk.

“I shouldn’t have humiliated you back there. For that, I’m sorry.” He looks around and I can see his impressively sharp jawline.

“You didn’t humiliate me.” I say.

“Yes, I did. I made you feel inadequate as a law enforcement officer and it’s not your fault you aren’t clear on the laws. I shouldn’t have corrected you.” He looks down then looks up from under his hat.

“Listen, I know the law. You corrected nothing.” I narrow my eyes.

“Ok. Have a good day.” He nods and walks toward the city.

“Seriously! What’s your name?!” I call to his back.

He adjusts his beat up duffle and waves a couple fingers at me as he walks away.

“That is one weird hombre.” I say to myself shaking my head.