[D3, LA] Police staton / Det Nasir

[Bee Haw]

After her shift at the animal shelter, Bea was feeling good. It had been sad at times, but she felt like she'd done real good. Something real. She'd needed that.

It gave her courage to make her way to the not all that far police station. She'd cleaned up as much as she could but there was probably still a slight odor of animal. She fussed over herself in a bathroom along the way, trying to freshen up better.

She had a little file folder with her. Some notes perhaps best handed across a table, rather than said out loud, if he coudn't tell her camera folks to buzz off. She''d let him make that call.

And then she reached the police station and asked if Detective Nasir was available.

[Dapper Dog]

The camera people are forced to wait out in the lobby and not film anything. The detective met her in his office. It was neat with minimal knick knacks and pictures from his time in the police and the military. He entered holding a file and said, “Afternoon, Beatrice right?”

He took a seat and said, “Have a seat, I’m told you had something for me?”

[Bee Haw]

She smiled to see him again. "Yes, we met at the apartment fire." She had done well there. Hopefully that had earned her a small amount of grace with him.

It was calming to be in his presence. He was awfully handsome and just radiated 'authority figure'. A man who could solve problems. A faithful public servant.

(Or so she hoped!)

"I was involved in a situation the following night. Last night. At a warehouse that proved to be a Brass Orchid black market. I didn't know that, going in."

"There was much there of concern. I am not sure if the place is on your radar." She provided the address.

"I can describe the activities inside if you'd like. But the matter I thought you might most want to know... I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this. Maybe kind of a semi-undercover thing? Information gathering under another pretense? You don't have to explain to me. I just wanted to pass it along. So you could verify for yourself if needed. There were two uniformed police officers there."

She handed him the paper where she had written down the names, the badge numbers.

"I can read minds. I didn't attempt to read their minds."

"But I did read the mind of a Brass Orchid enforcer who attacked a person with a kind of blood magic. And there in her surface thoughts ... She was grateful that some members of the police had been paid off to keep the peace while they dealt with Wah Shen the son of a major big wig in Shanghai present visiting which had everyone a bit on edge."

[Dapper Dog]

He frowned at that and said, “I think I know the place, been trying to shut down that operation for years.” He listened some more and when she mentioned the cops he got up and closed the door and said, “Damn it, it’s an open secret that some are on the take from the Brass orchid, but it’s bigger than that. They got fingers in many of the local government offices.”

He looked at the names and did not seem surprised, “I can pass this to IA, but I ‘m not holding my breath. Course it may hit harder if someone exposed it on social media and started a grassroots campaign to have this matter looked at. The Mayor’s office hates controversy.”

“But the Black market is just a cost of doing business as long as Brass Orchid has the money to keep the right people paid off,” he admitted gruffly.

[Bee Haw]

She nodded.

Alas. They really were dirty. That was bad.

Social media? Was that a hint? "It could be exposed in the Academy footage," she said honestly. "That might give your internal affairs motivation to have the matter cleared up before the summer. So you are in front of the story. I only wanted to help by bringing it to you."

She smiled at him. Very much an 'I believe in you' smile.

Though if he wanted to encourage her to take more action, he could.

"Being present in a place where it appeared that illegal activity was occurring ...it was different than the gang fight and apartment fire where there was an immediate danger to bystanders. No question but to act."

"I wasn't entirely sure of the law as a recent arrival in Ethiopia. They were trafficking in animals cruelly. But is that illegal? Possibly because of the exotic nature of some of the animals. I imagine black market sales of guns, weapons, and certain kinds of tech are illegal. It made me realize ... I ought to have a much better understanding of local city, community, national law. Is that part of your licensing process here? Coursework of that kind?"

Oh she was bad at book work. But this was important. She had to try.

[Dapper Dog]

The detective seemed to agree and said, “I spoke with some students from the Institute and came to the same conclusion. Lots of you young Elites are eager, we just need you properly trained and alert to the laws at work.”

“I am hoping to get some together and fast track some licenses.”

[Bee Haw]

"I'd be glad for the chance to participate."

She smiled.

"It will be good to show what can be accomplished with Elite working closely with local law enforcement. I can read minds and calm crowds that are angry or panicked. I did some de-escalation work with the OK Cavalry back in Oklahoma city."

[Dapper Dog]

"Then you will already be familiar with what I have to share and teach, that's good," he said.

[Bee Haw]

"I look forward to it. Do I need to do anything in particular to officially sign up?"

[Dapper Dog]

“Just be open to learn and understand that your abilities should be used for the protection and preservation of your fellow man. You already have a desire for justice, so just keep that positive attitude and you will do fine,” he said.

“You’re already leagues ahead these assholes,” he said gesturing to the information on the dirty cops.

[Bee Haw]

She nodded. She could do that!

"I was so sad to think any police officer could be corrupt. But it's like people with elite emergences. Power does not make you good. It just makes it more important you are good. That you actually be good and do good every day. That you say no to temptation when it comes knocking."

"But it must be frustrating to see them do these terrible things and tarnish their badges."

"I worry that I will let down the communities I represent by making a mistake, making the wrong call in a tough situation. And there it will be, preserved forever on film - and far worse - perhaps a harm done that can't be undone. It was so sobering at the vigil the other night. How close did we come over at the apartment? A person could have died. We could have missed one in those critical seconds. I saved the baby, assuming the others could get to the clustered group of adults. I'd do that again. But what if? What if? This isn't easy. The more training about what is right and wrong, what is legal and illegal, but also just how to focus and think and pick the best next step, the better."

It helped to hear him confirm the things she thought were important. Protection and preservation of life, first.

[Dapper Dog]

“You will just have to trust your gut, after the training. Those are questions we all have after particularly tense and chaotic situations. Can’t say I will have the answers to those dilemmas, but you will know the basic skills and knowledge to do the job and work in line with the emergency personnel of the city,” he said.

“You already have courage, just need the fundamentals.”

[Bee Haw]

She nodded.

He would know what to do in a tough situation! It took experience and wisdom. And understanding the fundamentals. He would be such a good person to learn from!

"How long have you been part of the police force here in the city? Did you have a mentor here who helped you learn the ropes? Did you grow up here in this community?"

She glanced at him curiously and did the ever so quick glance at his hands to see if he had a wedding ring.

[Dapper Dog]

He clenched his hand into a fist, a reflexive action as he considered her question. There was no ring there. The Detective said, “Ten years on the force and four years in the army, I was originally from Jordan. Feels like a lifetime ago, really.”

“I had plenty of folks to guide me, but I have been here long enough to see it as my town.” With observation she can see that his body has been enhanced by cybernetic cyberware, including his right arm being replaced with a prosthetic cyber limb from the shoulder down.

“I originally wanted to be a military man, but I got seriously injured in combat, took over a year to recover,” he said before refocusing and said, “Anyway I won’t bore you, is there anything else I can do for you, Miss Hawkins?”

[Bee Haw]

She figured he was in his early thirties.

She liked that protective tone in his voice. His town. He and Tsehay Moqe were the two people here that seemed most committed to keeping the city safe. Genuinely concerned about the community.

Army was another place to learn discipline. Order. Not to mention marksmanship and all around fitness.

She wondered about the right arm. A military injury? Something after he became a cop? Cybernetics helped everyday people keep up with elite villains. Maybe it was something people in his line of work chose, even if it cost a limb in the process. But that felt far too intimate to ask about.

"I think that's everything. I look forward to the licensing process. To training under you. Thank you again for your time, and for listening."

Her eyes darted to the paper with the information about the dirty cops. She's done what she could.

She stood and took her leave.