The Protectors: Vigilante Justice (Vigilante Cops Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “My moo…moo…” Ellie struggled, her hands gripping the Jeep steering wheel so hard her knuckles cracked.

  “Out with it, Bessie… mooooooood shifts.” Connor chuckled, having turned the verbal joust around. “Rick’s a great guy. He invited me over to watch a couple of the Ultimate Fighting events he rented on Pay-Per-View with a few of his other friends. He has this seventy-two inch-”

  “You did what?! You went over behind my back and bonded with the man who broke my heart?!”

  “I didn’t go out on a date with him, and don’t give me that heartbreak crap either, El. You were going off on him every day behind his back to me.”

  “A partner does not side with an Ex, Opie!” Ellie ranted on. “You didn’t see me running over to pal around with Whiney after you two called it quits.”

  “You hated Brandy’s guts. When you walked into the same room she was in the temperature dropped twenty degrees. Tell you what… I’ll call her and apologize for you. I’ll let Brandy know you want to hang with her.”

  “I can’t stand the sight of…” Ellie bit off the last part as Connor laughed. “I’ll never understand what you saw in that red haired bimbo.”

  “She’s funny, smart, and has a good career in real estate even after the market plunged. It didn’t work out because she wanted me to quit the force and work with her in real estate.”

  “You selling houses?” Ellie snorted derisively. “When did you see her last?”

  “A week before we rescued the kids.”

  “Called her since?”

  “Well… yeah, I called to see how she was over the holidays.” Connor shifted into defensive mode, waiting for Ellie’s verbal trap.

  “She didn’t want nothin’ to do with your ass after you offed those three scumbags, huh?”

  Connor remained silent.

  “Yep, Whiney’s about as deep as a puddle of rain water. I don’t like the idea of you seeing my Ex and talking about me. I think you need to break up with Rick.”

  “Sure, until he asks me over to watch his seventy-two inch plasma TV.”

  “Traitor!”

  * * *

  The precinct looked abandoned as only essential personnel kept up operations on Christmas Day. Connor and Ellie walked around trading greetings with the others pulling holiday duty, while picking up bulletins, and worksheets for the day and night ahead of them. As they walked toward the elevator a familiar voice called out to them. Ellie elbowed Connor.

  “Want to go get a quickie before patrol, Opie?” Ellie whispered, before turning to greet Dr. Morrison, getting Connor’s low growl of annoyance in reply.

  Julie wore a red cashmere v-neck sweater and knee length black skirt. A red hair band was the final holiday touch over her short blonde hair.

  “Merry Christmas, Jules. You look very festive,” Ellie said politely, not wanting to instigate another groping episode at her own expense.

  “Merry Christmas, Doc,” Connor added, some relief evident in his tone after Ellie’s pleasant greeting.

  Julie smiled. “Yes, thank you. Happy holidays. I-”

  “Hold it right there, Jules,” Ellie ordered sternly, moving over beside Dr. Morrison with an arm around her shoulder. “Say it with me… Mer…ry Christ…mas. We don’t abide that happy holiday, PC crapolla around here.”

  “Merry Christmas.” Julie sighed. “I don’t like to offend anyone.”

  “So, it’s okay to offend us Christians, huh?”

  “Guilty,” Julie admitted. “I’m so PC, if Santa’s sleigh ever pauses on Christmas Eve over my house it’s so Rudolf can take a piss on my roof.”

  The one liner evoked the laughter Julie had hoped for, with Ellie actually clapping her hands in delight.

  “You…you’re okay, Jules,” Ellie said finally. “What’s on your mind today? Don’t you have a home? I know you’re not seeing patients today.”

  “I’m running behind with my paper on domestic abuse. I screwed up and procrastinated. Now, I only have a few days to send in a rough draft to the editor. Did either of you remember to jot down some real life incidents for me?”

  “We did come up with some ideas.” Ellie turned to Connor. “Did you leave the notebook in your locker or at home?”

  “In my locker… I think,” Connor answered, handing over the clipboard he was carrying. “I’ll go check.”

  “Thanks, Ellie, I really appreciate you two doing it for me.”

  “We stuck to pattern abuse problems like the Camachos. Connor footnoted the references to calls we answered ourselves. It was fun. Connor’s writing up a paper on what we suspect is going on when parolees are released into a neighborhood without proper follow-up, like the bunch we busted when I had to wing one of them. Did you hear about Connor’s new cat?”

  “I did hear about an eighty year old woman gunning down two home invaders last night on the news. They said she died from stabbing wounds suffered during the break-in. I had wondered if it was in your patrol area. There was some mention of a cat but no details.”

  “The lady’s name was Clara. She drilled one of the perps right between the horns and managed to blow the other’s kneecap off. Her cat Nasty raked the live one’s face when he stabbed Clara, giving the old lady time to pull out her old .45 auto and do some damage.”

  “Horrible way to spend your last moments on Christmas Eve.” Julie shuddered.

  “If I live past eighty, I wouldn’t mind going out like Clara. Even wounded, she handled a .45 auto like a pro. You can bet it wasn’t her first time firing it. Anyway, Connor decided to adopt Nasty the calico cat.”

  “Rather surprising, don’t you think?” Julie chuckled.

  “I’ve given up on what’s surprising about Connor. Speaking of which, you surprised me a little yesterday in the parking lot, Jules.”

  “I was attending a Christmas Eve party,” Julie explained, blushing slightly at the memory of her adlibbed interaction with Connor. “It was formal and started early right after work which explains my attire. I reacted to your teasing rather childishly.”

  “I shouldn’t have pinched your butt. That was one step beyond, even for me.”

  “Did Connor draw his gun last night?”

  “We both did. He was fine.” Ellie left out Connor’s near homicidal act on the old woman’s killer.

  “Good… I mean good in the sense my talks with Connor didn’t somehow screw up his reactions to dangerous situations. I know… I know.” Julie held up her hands to try and ward off the myriad remarks she could see welling up within Ellie. “It’s not about me.”

  “He’s fine,” Ellie assured her again, laughing at Dr. Morrison’s defensive mannerism. “Here he comes now. Lucky you, he had the notebook in his locker.”

  “Wonderful,” Julie said as Connor handed her the notebook. “You both know about the FBI special agents asking around about the two of you, right?”

  “Guzman and Fulton?” Connor asked, glancing over at Ellie.

  “Yes. They wanted to go over anything I knew concerning the drug bust the day I rode along. I told them exactly what prompted it. They seemed satisfied, at least about that.”

  “Did they try to pump you about us on a more personal basis?” Connor asked.

  “No, because when they approached me to begin with, I warned them any questions of a personal nature were protected under doctor patient privilege.”

  “We better get going,” Ellie said. “Do you have any plans for today, Jules? We’re going over to my folks’ house for Christmas dinner between three and five. You’re invited if you want to come.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Ellie. My parents live in San Francisco. I’m having dinner with them after I throw together some thoughts for my domestic abuse paper using your input.” Julie waved the notebook as she turned away. “Thanks again and stay safe today.”

  “Bye Doc.”

  “You be careful going over to that loony bin across the Bay, Jules,” Ellie called out, getting a laugh and wave off from Dr. Morr
ison before muttering to Connor. “Boy, does that explain a lot.”

  “I heard that,” Julie called back over her shoulder.

  “Damn!” Ellie smiled, watching Julie get on the elevator. “Jules has hearing like a bat or she just assumed I’d make a smartass remark.”

  “I vote for the assumption. It’s not being clairvoyant to figure you’d make a smartass remark.”

  “She asked me if you drew your piece yesterday. I almost made you an appointment. Maybe you could bring Whiney with you for some couples counseling.”

  “I’d rather watch the playoffs over at Rick’s house.”

  “Frack you, Opie!”

  Chapter 13

  Family

  Tara answered the door after Ellie rang the bell, looking at Ellie with some annoyance.

  “Did you have to come in uniform, guns and everything?”

  “We’re on duty, you-”

  “Aunt Ellie!”

  “Devon!” Ellie laughed, catching up her eight year old nephew for a hug.

  Ten year old Tommy stepped in right after his brother to greet his Aunt, glancing up at Connor in awe. Connor held out his hand to Devon first, shaking hands with him and then with Tommy.

  “Merry Christmas, boys. Long time no see,” Connor greeted them, embracing Tara for a moment, still amazed how much the two sisters looked alike. “Hi Tara, how have you been?”

  “Very well, thank you, Connor,” Tara answered, giving Connor a slight smile of recognition. “Come out of the doorway kids and let them in.”

  “Wow, can I hold your gun, Aunt Ellie?” Devon passed a small hand over Ellie’s holstered sidearm.

  “When you get a bit older, Dev. I’ll-”

  “Never! There will be no gun handling… ever,” Tara stated. “I can’t understand why the guns can’t be locked up in your trunk.”

  “We can’t do that, Tara.” Connor tugged on Ellie’s arm slightly. “We’re on call and may have to leave at a moment’s notice. Time lost rearming could cost someone their life.”

  “Whatever.” Tara turned around and walked into the living room, herding Tommy and Devon ahead of her.

  Ellie pantomimed having a knife in her hand with Tara the target, much like the shower scene in ‘Psycho’.

  Connor smiled as Ellie cleared the living room entrance, reverting immediately to happy excitement. The room had been decorated beautifully with the large old fashioned bulbs ringing the room and fireplace, complete with holly boughs and colorful wreaths. A filament lighted Christmas tree with large manger in front of it glowed with alternating colors in the corner. Ellie’s Mom met her at the entrance with a big hug and kiss. Although a few pounds heavier, Ester James could have been Ellie and Tara’s older sister.

  “Connor!” Ester exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him tightly. “So good of you to come. Are you getting bigger or am I shrinking?”

  “Neither Ester,” Connor replied, hugging her back. “It’s the lighting. Everything looks bigger under the Christmas lights.”

  Ellie’s Father, Russell, hugged his daughter and waited with a big grin to greet Connor. He stuck out his hand when Ester let Connor go.

  “Boy, you been lookin’ after my little girl?” Russell asked solemnly, shaking Connor’s hand.

  “No Sir. She’s been lookin’ after me.” Connor hoped he’d look as good at fifty-five as Ellie’s Dad. At a little under six feet tall, Russell was lean and fit. “I’m sorry we had to come in costume but you know how it is with the holiday schedule.”

  Russell leaned in conspiratorially. “Maybe if you and Ellie hooked up, they’d give the two of you a Christmas off.”

  “Dad!” Ellie yelped, attacking her Father in a pretend choke hold from behind as Connor and Ester laughed. “Opie here’s too busy messing around with our department shrink.”

  “Am not!” Connor had happily endured the familiar gags at Ellie and his expense many times in the past.

  “Opie?” Ester looked at Connor questioningly.

  “Oh yeah, Ellie has finally settled on a sufficiently degrading nickname for me to toil under.”

  Russell laughed, clapping Connor on the back. “You might as well be married to her boy if you’re going to take her guff anyway. Go on and make it official.”

  “I already asked her. She turned me down flat.” Connor sighed, shaking his head sadly to add salt to the wound.

  “What?!” Ester gasped, turning on Ellie, who had been caught totally off guard with Connor’s ploy. “You ain’t got the brains of a two day old gerbil, girl. What-”

  “Momma!” Ellie grabbed Ester by the shoulders as even the two boys, Tara, and Russell were laughing, seeing through Connor’s sting.

  Reacting to Ellie’s annoyance and hearing the others laughing, Ester turned on Connor, shaking her finger at him as he backed away defensively.

  “You brat!” Ester said, slapping Connor’s shoulder playfully. “You had me good that time. If you ever decide you want her though, you come to me first and I’ll fix it for you.”

  “Momma!” Ellie yelped.

  “I’ll hold you to it, Ester.” Connor grinned, spotting Stanley Backman. Tara’s husband walked in from the kitchen. At five foot nine inches tall and slightly overweight, Connor towered over him. In all other aspects, he and Stanley were kindred spirits. Connor shook the ebony hand with vigor. “Hey, Stan, I thought maybe you’d skipped out the back door.”

  Stan laughed. “Not hardly, Opie. I was just hangin’ back until all the hugs, gags, and insults were over.”

  “I guess you were still within hearing distance to pick up on my new cool nickname.”

  “Oh yeah.” Stan hugged Ellie. “Hi, Sis, did Tara get the sisterly insult-a-thon over with yet?”

  “Stanley!” Tara exclaimed in surprise.

  “Don’t start on me, woman. We’re guests in this house. Start acting like one.”

  Connor watched Tara with amusement. The bitter annoyed look she’d been nursing melted away at her husband’s stern reminder. She smiled at him and nodded.

  “Sorry, everyone, too much coffee today I think,” Tara apologized.

  “Can we eat yet?” Devon asked plaintively.

  * * *

  After exuberant goodbyes at nearly five o’clock, Ellie promised to stop back by in two hours and take Tommy and Devon out on patrol for an hour, including a tour of the Christmas lights at Jack London Square. In the squad car with Ellie driving, Connor noticed the silent treatment right away. He tried to turn his watch face into a position where he could sneak a look.

  “I see you lookin’ at your damn watch, Opie. Don’t you be timing me.”

  “It’s no longer necessary. Great dinner, El, and the get together was fun.”

  “How dare you bust my chops in front of my parental units.”

  “You mean like calling me Opie?”

  “They’re not your parents! You know my Mom feeds on the mention of marriage like a cockroach stuck in a sugar bowl.”

  Connor laughed. “Oh my God, if Ester ever heard you say that, she’d whup you good, El.”

  “She better never hear it from you, Opie, or I’ll light you up with Mr. Sparky ‘til your pants catch on fire.”

  “Duly noted.”

  * * *

  “Wow, nice car,” Ellie complimented Julie as she slipped into the passenger front seat. “What’s a Solara?”

  “It’s a Toyota. You look very nice Ellie. I like your hair swept off to the side in the back like that.”

  Ellie wore a V-necked red halter top with sash type waist and open back. Her black skirt ended just below the knee with slit to mid thigh. The ankle cuff black sandals Ellie chose reluctantly had four inch heels. She carried a thin black full length leather overcoat. She fiddled suddenly with the gold loop earrings, barking out a short self conscious laugh.

  “I’d feel better if I had on tennis shoes and they allowed me to pack a piece instead of this.” Ellie held up the small black evening purse. “I could barely fit my
keychain stun gun and pepper spray in it.”

  Julie laughed appreciatively, shaking her head. She drove away from Ellie’s apartment building. “We’re going to a New Year’s Eve party with high up political mucky mucks, lawyers, and Berkeley professor types. Side-arms are not appropriate evening attire for such flings. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “When you told me Stennis, Morton, Guzman, Fulton, Donaldson, the Terrances, and DA Gravitts were all RSVP’d to this shindig, I couldn’t believe it. No way do Opie and I miss a chance like this to see all the creatures in their natural habitat. How the hell did you get us on the guest list?”

  “DA Gravitts’s brother’s firm is based in San Francisco. They put these events on. I believe he wants to see these assorted guests in one place too, intermingled with you and Connor. Oddly enough, Joe’s brother Sebastian knows the Terrances and all the others personally, including a passing acquaintanceship with the two FBI agents. You’ll be seeing a lot of people there you don’t normally see all in one place.”

  “How did you get on the list, Jules?”

  “I…I know DA Gravitts socially,” Julie answered hesitantly.

  “Define socially.” Ellie smiled over at Julie with sudden interest.

  “He’s married to my sister Joan.”

  Ellie took a second look at Julie’s off shoulder dark blue evening dress. “You’re dressed pretty conservatively. I should have known you’d be under familial scrutiny. Otherwise you’d be dressed like a truck stop waitress to entice the Opster.”

  “I would not!” Julie gave the laughing Ellie a shove. “You are right about the scrutiny though. Joan’s ten years my senior. Nothing ever pleases her. Joe’s a great guy. He and Joan have a twelve year old daughter. When I get together with my niece, Lisa, it’s hard to believe Joan is her mother. She takes after her Dad, I guess.”

  “Holy crap, Jules, we live in parallel universes,” Ellie said with surprise in her voice. She confided in Julie about her own sister Tara and the humorous get together at Christmas. Julie was laughing so hard after Ellie’s roach in the sugar bowl comment describing her Mother’s tenacity Ellie paused, snickering along with her. “It’s funnier now, telling it to you.”