Under Suspicion

By Jean Louise

Two cops-- partners. They see it all: the good, the bad, and the stupid.

Pete and Jim are a team. They handle all sorts of calls, from the silly to the serious, and they do it with professionalism tinged with humor.
But when residential neighborhoods experience a rash of prowler calls, Pete’s instinct tells him there’s something bigger going on, and with Jim’s help he’s determined to figure out what it is.
Meanwhile, unlike his happily-married partner, Pete’s social life gets complicated when the woman he’s dating starts asking awkward questions.
Finally, Jim and Pete uncover the awful truth about the ostensible prowler problem, and get the go-ahead to do what’s necessary to bring it to a close.

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***This novelette is 'slice-of-life' fiction, comprised of various vignettes in the lives of these characters. The stories are told in two different narrative forms.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jean Louise
• Release date: May 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310704888

Jean Louise

I'm a native of upstate New York, but now live south of the Mason-Dixon line. I've been writing all my life, and enjoy various genres. Oh, and big surprise-- I like cats.

Book preview

Under Suspicion

Boys in Blue

The Adventures of Earnest and Wry /

Random (and sometimes amusing) scenes from a cop’s life

Jean Louise

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Copyright 2014 Jean Louise

All Rights Reserved

Published by J. Y. Harris Books

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Two cops-- partners. They see it all: the good, the bad, and the stupid.

When residential neighborhoods experience a rash of prowler calls, Pete’s instinct tells him there’s something bigger going on, and with Jim’s help he’s determined to figure out what it is.

Meanwhile, unlike his happily-married partner, Pete’s social life gets complicated when the woman he’s dating starts asking awkward questions.

Table of Contents

The Offer Stands

Separate Corners

Conquering Hero

Prowler

She Could Be Your Mother

Old Friend

Green-Eyed Monster

The Flip Side

Run It By Me

At the Bridge

Fire and Air

Behold the Elephant

Credit Where Due

The Line

Warrant

Artful Distraction

Public Service

Violation

The Spice of Life

Author’s Note

Main characters:

Officer Jim Earnest – Rookie, probationary officer; the dark-haired Earnest is very handsome and happily married

Officer Pete Wry – Field Training Officer, responsible for molding Earnest into a good cop; although older and more experienced, the fair-haired Wry is still boyishly good-looking

Sergeant Fitz Fitzwilliam – Watch Commander

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The Offer Stands

Scene: Locker room at the precinct, end of day watch. Earnest has already changed into soft clothes and is tying his tennis shoes when Wry walks in.

Earnest: There you are. Did Fitz call you into his office or something?

Wry: No, I was on the phone. (He opens his locker and instead of placing his hat on the top shelf, carelessly tosses it on top of his street shoes at the bottom of the locker.)

Earnest: (Watching this.) Let me guess: she cancelled again.

Wry: (Hands on hips, nods.) Yep. That’s the third time.

Earnest: (Shrugs.) Pete, she’s a doctor. She works in the emergency department—emphasis on the word ‘emergency.’ These things happen.

Wry: (Sighs and starts to unbutton uniform shirt.) I know, I know; she’s married to her job.

Earnest: Just like you’re married to yours. (Wry opens his mouth to protest.) Come on, Pete, how many times have you had to cancel a date when something came up, or you had to stay late after the watch? Now you’re finding out what it’s like to be on the receiving end.

Wry: Yeah, I suppose. But damn... there should be a rule that only one person in a relationship can be married to the job.

Earnest: (Raises eyebrows.) Are you being sexist?

Wry: Am I— What? No!

Earnest: You sure? Sounds like you don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who’s as dedicated to her job as you are to yours.

Wry: (Shakes his head as he tucks his shirt into his khakis.) There you go again, junior, twisting my words. That is not what I said.

(They pause as another officer enters the locker room and heads into the shower area.)

Earnest: It sounded like you said you didn’t want to be involved with a woman who’s married to her job.

Wry: I was speaking in generalities. A relationship is challenging enough if one person works long, crazy hours. You know that; you’re living proof of it. But if both parties work unusual hours... well, that’s doubly challenging—if not doomed to failure.

Earnest: As long as you get to be the one to work the unusual hours?

Wry: (Looks at Earnest in exasperation.) Again, you’re like a dog with a bone! Listen, I can’t change my job at this point, so yeah, I’m already working crazy hours, and dating someone who also does it... well, that’s not gonna work too well. Apparently. But if I worked in an office or had some other shmuck job with a normal schedule, I’d be okay dating a woman who worked irregular hours.

Earnest: (Shrugs.) If you say so. (Takes car keys out of his pocket.) Listen, about tonight.... since your plans fell through and everything, I’d invite you over to hang out with Eileen and me, but we have some neighbors coming over to play cards.

Wry: Don’t worry about it; I’ll be fine. Besides, the last thing I want to do is be a fifth wheel on the station-wagon from suburban hell.

Earnest: (Chuckles.) You’ve hung out at our house before, Pete; this wouldn’t be any different.

Wry: Somehow it would. When it’s just you and Eileen, that’s one thing, but add some other Stepford suburbanites and who knows.... next thing you know I’d find myself talking about vinyl siding or the benefits of fescue grass.

Earnest: (Laughs.) So what will you do tonight?

Wry: I don’t know, but I’ll come up with something. Maybe go to the gym for a while, or grab a few beers.

Earnest: What about dinner? You got anything at your place to eat?

Wry: I don’t think so. I’ll just grab something later.

Earnest: Why don’t you stop by after your work-out? I’ll have Eileen fix you a doggie bag.

Wry: Jim, come on, I’m a grown man, not a twelve-year-old latchkey kid. I’m perfectly capable of getting myself something to eat.

Earnest: Well, the offer stands in case you change your mind.

Wry: Thanks, but I’ll just see you tomorrow.

Earnest: Okay. G’night.

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Separate Corners

Scene: The