October 12th, 1995

At the Ninth precinct.

"Come on Darick," said Captain Asyling, "We're going down to the courthouse in the city center. It's for crowd control,"

***

In the Ninth precinct armory.

The two were given riot helmets, ballistic vests, gas masks, and other stuff for riot control but Darick was going to keep his 23-inch oak baton, and Capt. Asyling is going to keep her 24-inch side-handled polycarbonate baton.

Darick and his cousin Asyling went down to the courthouse.

The only thing the two cousins know is that it's a sex trial about two teenagers and a teenage girl with the mentality of a four-five-year-old. And the trial brought out a huge crowd and the Empire Police Department and the Island Patrol ain't taking any chances of a full-blown riot.

Besides Darick and Asyling there are seven eight officers and twelve of them have grenade launchers with tear gas and riot shotguns loaded with bean bags, rock salt, and rubber pellets. They ain't taking other chances but the head officer in charge has a special response team several blocks away to come in and help if a riot breaks out.

There was a big crowd and Darick thinks there are between 150 to 400 people outside wondering what'll happen next. And a lot of them are ready to begin a riot if the two defendants are found not guilty.

Capt. Asyling had a flask hidden on her and it was filled with whiskey and she non-chatlantly asked Darick if he wanted a sip of whiskey but he politely declined.

***

A few hours later.

The trial has been going on for a whole month. But the Jury came back after deliberating and the whole nation of Little Bird found out that the defendants are guilty. But their lawyer presented something that the rape victim still said yes to sex but didn't care she had the mentality of a four or five-year-old child who doesn't know anything.

The crowd was happy and cheering at first until they heard the judge overrule the jury's guilty verdict to a non-guilty one.

The crowd became restless when the two defendants came out with smirks on their faces. The police were overwhelmed by all of the crowd members and they couldn't help the defendants and the two were beaten to death.

It wasn't long until the crowd started a riot and more officers were called to block off the area in a three-block radius all around. Darick just had his police baton and like the other officers and his cousin, he'd whacked them with the baton.

Fires were started by the rioters. The Empire Police and Island Patrol shot looters for capture and shot to kill arsonists with live ammo.

Darick, Asyling, and the other officers used force to subdue the rioters. And a lot of the rioters got a broken skull or some bone got broken. Not adding they were tear gassed as well.

The rioters every now and again would fight back but it wasn't worth it because it's painful when they got hit back. Not adding the male cops minus Darick have some form of military training such as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Special Forces and so and so forth. A few women cops, and transgender and non-binary officers as well.

I should be out looking for my father's killer or killers, Darick thought, But then again I did say and said under oath I would help protect this city from criminals.

Darick, when there weren't any rioters, was to stand guard and if he sees any rioters he should radio it in and should fire a warning shot in case. But he was glad that the other officers kept people out and blocked traffic.

The city's police dispatch center had a lot of calls but the dispatchers didn't have enough officers to send to them all so they had to prioritize which calls sounded important but they have 685 on riot control duty and the other half just go out on calls. But the dispatchers didn't know which call sounded more high priority over the others.

The police on Little Bird during riots they keep half of their police force under riot control and another half for patrols. But during riots, the half that ain't assigned to the riot are called back to their stations and wait until they get a call.

Darick kept his Phoenix pistol with Hollow Pointed .45 ACP in his hand and kept looking around as he stood on the street corner of Heliconia Blvd and 82nd Street.

I wonder how Mackenzie Smith's doing? Darick thought, Been several days since I saw her. Maybe I should go visit her after work and bring her dinner.

"You like her," said Captain Asyling, "Just walk up and say how you feel to her. Girls like it when guys are romantic and express their true feelings to them. But lying to us girls... Well, lying isn't worth it because then it'll get out and every woman around the world will know you don't like to talk about your feelings,"

Darick replied, "I don't know what you're talking about,"

"Stop lying," said Capt. Asyling, "You like this Mackenzie woman. Just say that you love her!"

Darick replied, "And you're the third person to say that! First, it's Sonata, second, it's her mother and now you! Feels like everyone and their dog wants us to be together! Also, I'm preoccupied at the moment with trying to find my and Sonata's father's killer or killers! While you ran off and joined the Navy to be a logistical officer on a battleship!"

"That's not fair!" said Capt. Asyling

Darick replied, "You dropped out of high school because you got held back in the tenth grade for the second time! Yeah while me, my sister Sonata, and Linda were in the 12th grade. You decided to say 'Fuck it why am I here if I'm going to be held back again!' You're twin sister Mackenzie was also in the 12th grade. But no you decided to drop out and the only reason the military took you was that they have a quota that they to make a certain amount of numbers per year! But you never had a romantic interest!"

"That's not fair!" said Capt. Asyling, "But you're right there. I never had a romantic interest or a boyfriend,"

The two cousins stood there and stood guard. But Asyling had her double action .357 Magnum Commando revolver (S&W M19 revolver with six-inch barrel).

It wasn't long until all members of the crowd who were rioting were either put down or in police custody. But besides the rioters who started fires only the two defendants and the judge were killed. Not a lot of people were killed.

***

7:35 PM at 325 Oak Grove Road.

Darick walked up to a modern open, one-story house that wraps around a central patio with a small private pond. He used his right hand to knock on front door while holding a brown paper bag in his left hand.

It wasn't long until the front door opened and it was Agent Mackenzie Smith in a towel because she was getting out of the shower.

"Darick?" asked Agent Mackenzie, "What are you doing here?"

Darick replied, "Well I was wondering how you were doing. Also I bought dinner as well if you want to eat,"

Agent Mackenzie let Darick come in to her house.

"Give me a few minutes and I'll be back," said Agent Mackenzie before walking away and coming back wearing a laundered pink rose dress.

"Did you look at me or at my ass while I was walking to my bedroom?" asked Agent Mackenzie

Darick replied truthfully, "No ma'am! When you turned around I also turned around and headed into the kitchen. I also didn't know what to get so I got fast food and placed the food onto plates in the kitchen!"

"You didn't have to do that," said Agent Mackenzie, "Also I want to say you're here for more than just to eat and to keep me safe. Next time I'll come to your apartment and return the favor,"

The two went into the kitchen and ate the two cheeseburgers and french fries as if it was a date.

"Well Darick do you want to tell me something?" asked Agent Mackenzie

Should I tell her? Darick thought, Should I tell her now or another time?

"Ms. Mackenzie Smith?" said Darick, "Well there was a small riot earlier. Got to remeet my cousin Asyling the other day. But I still wrap my brain around how the money of criminals we arrested mysteriously goes missing. I mean it's locked up in the police lockup or police evidence locker or at the EOD Building Evidence Lockup,"

Mackenzie Smith replied, "And you love me and have a crush on me!"

Darick tried to deny it but Mackenzie Smith called him out on it but he finally admitted that he does have a crush on her and he nervously asked her if she would like to be his girlfriend and she accepted it because she also has a crush on him as well.