5th and 5th Stray: Olympus Cove PD

By Sylvia Gillespie

Having started a new life in Olympus Cove, a former gang member accepts a role as an officer of the law to use his skills and knowledge to fix many of the problems that led him to a gang, saving many from his fate. But his past refuses to let him go, turning his life, and the city upside down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvia Gillespie
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215355947

Sylvia Gillespie

Sylvia Gillespie has a BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University.Sylvia has been a Veterinary Technician, a customer service agent supporting home computers and network equipment, a warehouse worker, a surgery assistant for a Veterinary technician school, a janitor, a newspaper delivery girl, and has even picked corn to support her writing.She enjoys reading, writing, running (especially mud races), and spending time with her family.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Izzy sits in the passenger seat of Olympus Cove Police Cruiser 1340, watching the beautiful coastline pass by outside his window. He has aged a little. Gone is his Mohawk to be replaced with a messy brush cut, just long enough on top to be reminiscent of the Mohawk of old without being any less professional. However, the stubble on his jaw is hardly professional.

This is so weird, Izzy says with a shake of his head.

I thought you’d be used to sitting up front after all the ride-a-longs we did before you turned eighteen, Gus says as he drives with a huge grin.

Gus hasn’t changed as much as Izzy, but the sea air looks to have calmed every ruffled, ghetto edge Gus ever had. His relaxed face is almost indiscernible from the hardened young officer who used to chase gangster Izzy down on foot. His beard, unlike Izzy’s, is carefully manicured and forms a line across his jaw. His black skin looks so much more natural against the black cloth of his uniform than Izzy’s pale flesh.

That was before I was in uniform, Izzy says, brushing the short-sleeved, black police uniform to match the OCPD cruiser. It is slightly tighter than his t-shirts, so his muscles print more. He flexes against the restriction and then looks down. And this belt? Izzy shifts his police standard belt. I feel like Batman.

Gus busts out in laughter.

That gun at your belt is giving me a little heebie-jeebies to tell you the truth, Gus says after his laughter calms.

Izzy shifts back. Not used to that at all, Izzy says with a grumble. Still rather punch you.

Gus laughs. Just no excessive force charges! he exclaims. It’s nice having people like me around for a change.

You do the Station PR then, Izzy says flatly.

Naw, that’s a cadet’s place, Gus says, then turns to Izzy, Cadet.

Izzy clenches his jaw. This is like a nightmare or something, he mutters and looks away.

Gus laughs and laughs.

You are getting far too much enjoyment out of this, Izzy comments but with only slight irritation.

I’m sorry. I can’t help it, Gus says, trying to catch his breath. When I think of all the times I chased you- but whatever it was he thought of, he was too busy laughing to express it. That was also a new thing.

Gus was so happy these days that his laughter was quite common.

Izzy sighs at the mirth and looks out the window.

They turn off the coast road and are back into city streets before Gus calms enough to continue.

What does Ashley think about it? Gus asks.

About what? Izzy asks.

You being a cadet? Gus asks, narrowing his brows.

Please, Izzy says with a scowl, She’s a state away studying too hard to think about some jerk she knew in high school.

Oh, come on. I hear you talking to her now and again, Gus says, trying to cheer him up. It sounds serious.

I was her summer project, Gus. Now we’re just friends, Izzy says and looks Gus in the eye, She'll find a hot lawyer at college, get married, have two and a half kids, and live happily ever after.

Yeah, sure, Gus says with a grumble, And what will you be doing?

Flagging traffic and babysitting her kids on the weekend, Izzy replies darkly.

Gus busts back up into laughter.

Izzy rolls his eyes, sighs, and drops his head against the headrest.

Ahh, cheer up, Gus says, I have a little surprise for you after you play in traffic.

Izzy looks over and lifts one brow skeptically.

Just don’t forget your whistle, and for god’s sake, wear your hat this time. The chief damn near bit off my head when she caught you without it last time.

SWAT at least gets ball caps, Izzy complains. Why can’t we get some of those with a nice OCPD emblem on the side? It makes us more personable.

Because you’re a cadet and cadets follow the rules, Gus says sternly.

Yes, sir. Mr. Field Training Officer, Sir, Izzy says, with only a little sarcasm.

You thinking about SWAT? Gus asks curiously.

Meh, Izzy prevaricates and looks out the window, It’s doubtful Ashley’s dream will come true for us to be detectives together, so I thought a backup plan was in order.

Backup plan? Gus asks. "To her plan?" Gus stresses.

Izzy nods.

What’s your plan?

Izzy shrugs. I don’t have one.

What?! Gus demands.

Izzy looks at him. This is the only profession the mayor overlooked my past to get. I’m a take it.

If he would vouch for anything, what would you do? Gus demands.

Here’s my stop, Izzy says.

Gus frowns but slows to a stop. Kid? he asks.

I hate my life, Izzy tells Gus bluntly and exits the car.

Hat! Gus says, leaning over to pick up the police hat from the cruiser floor and hand it to Izzy.

Izzy lowers his head, puts on the hat, and then looks at Gus.

Satisfied? Izzy asks.

Extremely, Gus says. But that might be the weirdest thing I ever saw! he says, having trouble keeping a straight face, so he drives off fast.

Oh, ha, ha! Izzy calls after him.

Izzy cracks his neck and resituates the hat, but he does leave it on as he trudges to the street corner where an expansive, well-maintained elementary school sits. It’s quiet for the moment, which is good since the streetlights are dark, and the repairmen sit on the corner sipping sodas.

Izzy looks up at the bright coastal sun.

The sky is beautifully clear and beautiful light blue.

The weather is just perfect for shorts and a trip to the beach. Izzy, however, walks in the street to begin his shift directing traffic. His black uniform is becoming a furnace in the sun. He just gets into place when the crowds of cars start coming. He is well into directing traffic when the school bell rings.

There is a brief pause of silence, and then kids run screaming from the building, excited to get out of school. They run and play until their parents arrive to collect them.

The first group of kids sprints ahead to Izzy’s corner. Izzy checks traffic then stops the cars and waves the kids across.

The moment the kids step off the curb and start across, a black Audi squeals around the corner, right at the kids!

HONK!!!

Izzy blows his whistle and strides in front of the Audi to physically block it from hitting the kids.

The driver honks again and cusses at Izzy.

The kids hide behind Izzy while the Audi drives around Izzy and speeds away.

Izzy radios in the plate number and offense.

Hurry across now, Izzy says to the kids with a smile.

The kids grin and hurry off.

Izzy stops the next group of parents to let traffic pass. The parents stare at Izzy, wide-eyed, while the kids say, That was so cool! at the same time.

Izzy represses a smile as he waves them across when traffic clears.

It takes a few moments for the other kids to come, but by then, the repairmen are back at work, and the cars are backing up. Without the light, Izzy is in high demand to keep everyone moving smoothly. Despite his trepidation, Izzy is quite good at directing traffic, and the after-school chaos goes along in good order.

Soon enough, the schoolyard is quiet, and the workers have the lights fixed. Izzy is alone. He lifts his hat and wipes sweat from his head before reseating it and looking around.

And what would you like to be when you grow up, Izzy? Izzy asks himself sarcastically. Anything but a fucking pig, Izzy replies to himself in a stern voice and then sighs. What am I doing?

1340 finally appears on the horizon and drives slowly up to Izzy to park.

Took you long enough, Izzy says as he gets in.

Sorry, man, Gus apologizes as he hands Izzy a bottle of water. You’re not technically supposed to be alone yet, so I had to get a report. He points to the school.

Am I fired? Izzy asks brightly. He takes the bottle, cracks it open, and drinks deeply.

Gus chuckles. Asked for you back, actually, for any function school-related. It seems you jumped in front of a bus to save kids? Gus asks lightly and pulls off.

Just a little Audi, Izzy corrects. Going like half a mile an hour. He drinks the whole bottle and throws it on the floor. I called it in. It was hardly heroic.

A bit hot? Gus asks, concerned.

Black hat in the sun? Izzy asks, Doing great.

Gus chuckles while Izzy touches the tips of his ears. My ears, though, Izzy says and hisses.

See, the hat is good to keep the rest of your pasty skin of yours from cooking.

Ha, ha, Izzy says, gingerly touching his ear one more time before putting his hand down. What’s next? Parking tickets?

Nope, Gus replies with a smile. Even though the Chief hates you and only tolerates you because everyone else is on your side, she does acknowledge our officer shortage is a little easier to deal with since you are around full-time now. So while she won’t say you did a good job, she did refrain from saying no.

To what? Izzy asks nervously.

More PR for the station, Gus replies. Izzy groans and Gus grins. Ahh, but let me show you what it is before you groan too loudly.

Lead on, Izzy says and waves out the windshield. Abuse the new guy.

This isn’t abuse, Gus says.

Oh, I know it, Izzy says as he leans closer to the AC. Gus cranks it up for him. Easier to get into the PD than out of a gang. Izzy rubs the brand under his left ear. It is the Viking symbol for Anger, but the second line and part of the crossbar are darker than the rest, so you can almost see the Viking symbol of shame that was once there before the rude cover.

Gus looks at Izzy and frowns. Cool off and breathe. You’ve earned a break. Gus pats Izzy’s shoulder.

Chapter 2

Pumpkins? Izzy asks Gus.

They stand in a giant pumpkin patch next to a K9 police cruiser towing an extended trailer. Officers and farmers alike choose good pumpkins to put on the trailer while a police dog lies in the sun with his tongue lolling out, monitoring their progress.

Recruitment is at an all-time low. Cops are getting shot in other states. Cops are shooting perps early in fear they will be next, and our suicide rate is through the roof, Gus says flatly. Gone are the days when people respect us, mostly because they don’t see us as people. Chief wants us out among the people as often as possible, so we become part of the community.

Ok, Izzy allows. But pumpkins?

I think you’ll like it, Gus says with a grin, Go pick out a great big one for us. I’ll help the others load the trailer. Gus pats Izzy’s shoulder and jogs over to help load the trailer. Izzy watches a moment, then shakes his head and moves out into the patch, searching for a giant pumpkin as instructed.

Better than flagging cars, Izzy mutters, irritable, eyes sliding over many perfect pumpkins until he spots a warty old beast with a green patch and a twirly stem. Izzy crouches by it and smudges some mud off with his thumb. I don’t know if we’re going to eat you or smash you, but you can ride with us until then, Izzy tells the pumpkin as he pats it.

**

The beach is perfect, with a night breeze blowing through. There is a high dune behind the trailer that stands alone now without a police dog escort. Long tables have been set up everywhere, with plastic covers and lines of pumpkins down the center. Pumpkin carving kits sit at regular intervals on some tables, while others have paint and brushes. Izzy and Gus move trash cans to either end of all the tables.

What do you mean you’ve never carved pumpkins? Gus demands.

I’ve never carved pumpkins, Izzy states, with a bit of amusement in his voice.

Not even when you were a little kid? Gus presses.

I come from a nearly cult-like religious family, Gus, Izzy says with a shrug, We didn’t celebrate witchcraft holidays.

No wonder you went bad, Gus says and shakes his head. But Miggs seems like the pumpkin carving type, and you’ve been with him for years.

Miggs? Izzy asks with a chuckle, Miggs is afraid of sharp knives, ghosts, and vampires…

Gus laughs.

Christmas and fireworks, ok, Izzy says, But we hide in the basement on Halloween and play video games while Christine hands out candy.

Ah, man, Gus complains. Have Miggs do homework alone this year and come on shift with me and see what Halloween is really like.

If I’m not drowning in homework, Izzy allows, I’ll take you up on that.

College killing you? Gus asks.

Give me any gun you like and any vehicle you like, and I’ll have it mastered in no time, Izzy says, then stops to look at Gus, Everything else just slides in one ear and out the other.

Chief would love it if you failed, Gus says sternly, Don’t give her the satisfaction.

Izzy chuckles. I won't!

An excited yell starts the party as kids arrive with their parents. Officers in full gear walk around to help the kids choose their pumpkins, carving for the older kids, and painting stations for the younger kids.

Gus is in fine form with the older kids, and Izzy almost smiles as he helps the little ones paint the more miniature pumpkins, even though he has paint on his hands and arms by the time the rush for pumpkins subsides.

Izzy gets to bring out one of the bowls of candy for the pumpkin carvers and gets squeals of delight as his reward. The candy bowl is almost empty before Gus approaches Izzy with protective glasses and earplugs, followed by an officer with two small rifles with high-volume clips.

Time for the finale, Gus says.

Finale? Izzy asks as he sets down the bowl, puts on the glasses, and inserts one of the plugs but just drapes the other along his neck before accepting a rifle. Gus does the same and takes the other gun.

The officer grins and moves away.

Gus grins to match and then leans over to whisper in Izzy’s unplugged ear. A smile works on Izzy’s face while officers move Izzy’s giant pumpkin to a small table in front of the dune. A police line blocks access in a big square around the pumpkin. Officers also guard the side border. Gus and Izzy take their rifles to the edge of the line. Murmurs run through the crowd as they speculate about what will happen before a loudspeaker kicks on, and Captain Brand himself announces.

To show off their skills, our field training officer and our newest recruit are going to show you how they carve a pumpkin! Brant calls. The crowd cheers. Who wants to see it?

The crowd cheers louder, and the kids Izzy was working with jostle to the front to watch eagerly. Gus looks to the officers around the pumpkins and gets nods of approval, so he looks to the captain.

Let ‘em have it! Brant calls.

Gus puts in his earplug and lines up his rifle. Izzy follows along so well. It was like they had done this exercise a million times rather than the first time.

I got the right, Gus says, Three, two, one-

They fire the shots in unison. Pop, pop, pop go the rifles with such a low caliber that the bullets barely clear their way through the pumpkin. The crowd is quiet until two distinct eyes show in the pumpkin, and then the group gets excited. Gus and Izzy start on the outside with a jagged mouth and then meet up in the center to make a happy pumpkin smile with bullets. They finish off with a nose, and the crowd yells their appreciation.

Finished, Gus shoulders the rifle and then puts his other hand up while Izzy pulls out his earplugs and stuffs them in his vest. The crowd cheers loudly. An officer hurries over to take the rifles back and secure them away as the kids run over to Izzy to babble excitedly at him, grabbing at his paint-stained arms while the adults congratulate Gus.

You look hot in uniform! a voice calls.

Izzy looks up from the kids just in time for Ashley to clobber him in a hug.

As the mayor’s daughter, Ashley has top-of-the-line, grungy clothes on her slight frame that is at least half Izzy’s size but her darker skin and piercing brown eyes prove she is anything but little.

What are you doing here? Izzy asks happily and wraps his arms around her.

When dad calls to tell me the chief is giving you a rifle to fire in public? she demands. Izzy pulls back to look at her face, and she steps back a pace. I get out here as soon as I can, but really, Ashley feels the cloth of Izzy’s sleeve next to his muscular arm. You look good. Did you guys practice? she asks and points at the pumpkin grinning crookedly at her.

Are you kidding? Gus asks as he hurries over. I didn’t tell him till we handed him the rifle.

Ashley whistles. You’ve been working on your aim.

Gotta keep up with you somehow, Izzy answers ruefully. You a master marksman now?

Ashley grins. Getting there, she answers proudly. Take you guys out to dinner after you clean up? she asks Gus.

Gus looks at Izzy nervously. Don’t you two want to be alone? he asks.

What? Ashley demands, And miss out on all the rookie gossip?!

Izzy looks to the sky. "Of