Short and Sweets

By Bob Brackin

Short and Sweets is the story of two cops who happen to be dwarves, or little people. The story takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Short and Sweets is the author’s seventeenth self-published book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481703215

Bob Brackin

Bob Brackin lives in Orlando, Florida. He’s a 1975 graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a B.A. degree in English.

Book preview

It had been a productive evening. It was a petty crime, but Short had chased a purse snatcher down an alley and cuffed him. Of course, he didn’t cuff him until after a fight. These things are never easy.

He turned the suspect over to uniformed officers and headed back to the precinct in his van. The sun was coming up on Las Vegas. I can sure use some breakfast, he was thinking.

Back at the station he checked his suspect in. He was at his desk, typing his report, when she walked in. She was his size and with a female officer and he wondered what she was doing here. They went into the captain’s office.

What’s up? he said to the plainclothes cop next to him.

The plainclothes cop shook his head that he didn’t know, and Short continued watching the captain’s office. The door was closed. He was finishing his report when the captain looked out his office door.

Shorthouse, you got a minute? he said.

Shorthouse had a minute. In fact, he had all day, having been up all night. He was curious about what was going on in the office and he got up from his desk. The report would have to wait.

His curiosity took him across the room and he went into the captain’s office and closed the door behind him. The captain was back behind his desk and the two women were in chairs to his left. He looked at the short woman in the farthest chair and she was looking at him. He looked back at the captain and was wondering what was up.

Shorthouse, he said, you know Officer Radley here, and this, he said, pointing to the newcomer, is Officer Sweets. She’s just transferred from Los Angeles and is going to be working plainclothes with us. We want you to familiarize her with our operation here, and with Las Vegas. We think she can be an asset.

An asset in what way? Shorthouse thought. But, hey, he didn’t make the decisions, as long as she didn’t get in the way.

Yes, sir, he said. I’ll show her around.

That seemed to be good enough for the captain, and he said, Good. Now, I want you back on days for a while, till she’s familiar with the landscape, okay?

I’m pretty good on nights, Captain, Shorthouse said.

I know you are, but I need you to do this, the captain said. We think she can be an asset.

In what way? Shorthouse thought. When do I start? he said.

The captain got up from his desk. How about tomorrow at eight. He came around his desk and patted Shorthouse on the shoulder. Why don’t you take her around the corner to the restaurant where you have breakfast? You two can get acquainted.

Damn, Shorthouse thought. I’ve got to finish my report first, he said.

It shouldn’t take long, the captain said. He motioned for the women to stand. Ms. Sweets will wait in the lobby for you.

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Short turned in his report and headed down to the lobby. Damn, I don’t want to babysit someone, he was thinking. She stood up and he went to the door and held it for her. She said thanks, and he nodded. They walked down the sidewalk.

Boy, this city sure looks a lot different in the daylight, he said. You say you’re from Los Angeles?

Well, actually Burbank, she said. I’ve been on night patrol for the past two years.

I guess that’s supposed to impress me, Short was thinking. Uniform or plainclothes?

Uniform, she said.

Well, Short said, I’ll show you around the station house, and we’ll drive around Vegas, so you can get an idea of what’s going on here.

He looked over at her and she nodded.

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They entered the restaurant and took a booth by the front windows. He ordered scrambled eggs, sausage links, toast and coffee. She ordered oatmeal, whole wheat toast and tea.

Whoa, we got a California girl here, he was thinking, when she asked, Are you from Las Vegas, originally?

Pardon me?

Are you from Las Vegas originally?

No, I’m from Boston originally. I just ended up here.

By way of where? she asked.

Is this an interrogation? he said.

No, I just like to learn things about people, she said.

Well, I just ended up here, he said.

She seemed to accept his answer and he sat looking out the restaurant window, quietly watching the people on the sidewalk.

They all seemed so normal in the daylight, he was thinking. Most of them were but, boy, some of them became strange when the sun went down, and that’s where he came in. I’ll be seeing you folks soon enough, he was thinking.

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The waitress brought the coffee and tea and a pitcher of cream. Your orders will be out in a minute, she said, and left.

Short put cream and sugar in the coffee and took a sip. He watched her compress the tea bag between the spoon and cardboard on the end of the string.

No sugar? he asked.

No, she said.

Boy, this is going to be fun, he thought. He took a sip of coffee and sat thinking.

You don’t seem to like the idea of showing me around, do you? she said.

I ought to respond, but I don’t really care, he thought. I ought to ask her why she left Los Angeles, or wherever she came from.

I’ve been asked to show you around, and I’ll show you around, he said.

She nodded. Fair enough, she said.

You sure this is not an interrogation? he said.

A slight smile crossed her lips. No, she said. I don’t have my electrodes.

That’s funny, he said. He shifted a little in his seat. Listen, I don’t mind showing you around.

The waitress showed up with their food.