The first few hours of patrol were relatively quiet, involving handling a few noise complaints, helping an old lady push her stalled car to the side of the road, and giving directions to several tourists.
During this process, Katherine constantly shared her experience with Bruce: how to communicate with different groups of people, how to observe details to judge risks, and how to fill out simple reports.
Around ten in the morning, Sergeant Platt’s voice came over the radio from the dispatch center, his tone as monotonous as ever but his pace rapid: “Patrol Car 22, Patrol Car 22, please respond.”
Katherine picked up the radio and held it to her mouth: “Car 22 receiving, go ahead.”
“A convenience store at the intersection of South Avenue and 52nd Street reports a possible armed robbery.
The clerk describes the suspect as a white male in a dark hoodie, suspected of carrying a knife, fleeing into the west alleyway.
Reported about two minutes ago.
No other units are available nearby; you are the closest.
Proceed to handle it, and stay safe!”
Katherine’s eyes narrowed: “Car 22 copies, en route.”
After putting down the radio, she looked at Bruce.
“The intersection of South Avenue and 52nd Street—do you know where that is?”
“I do!” Bruce immediately flipped on the lights and siren, jerking the steering wheel.
The patrol car roared and accelerated toward the target location.
His heart rate quickened slightly, but his hands remained as steady as a rock.
With the siren wailing and red and blue lights flashing, Bruce drove the Crown Victoria, skillfully weaving through traffic and occasionally honking to signal cars ahead to move aside.
“Stay alert.
The suspect is armed with a knife and may be emotionally unstable.
Prioritize the safety of the clerk and the public, then the arrest,” Katherine instructed calmly while checking her gear.
“Upon arrival, I’ll enter the store first to confirm the situation and secure the scene.
You check the alley entrance and try to track him, but don’t go in alone.
Wait for me to regroup.
Report the situation at all times.”
“Understood,” Bruce replied briefly.
With two blocks still to go, he could already see the familiar convenience store sign.
Seconds later, the patrol car braked hard, stopping precisely on the sidewalk in front of the convenience store.
Katherine hopped out as swiftly as a leopard, her right hand resting on her holster as she strode toward the door, shouting her identity: “CPD!
Nobody move!”
Bruce quickly rounded the back of the car, his gaze sweeping toward the west side.
There was indeed an alleyway barely wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side.
The entrance was piled with discarded cardboard boxes and trash cans, and the ground was damp, emitting an unpleasant odor.
Bruce drew his pistol but didn’t point it into the alley immediately.
Instead, he approached in a low-ready stance, quickly scanning the ground and walls.
On the muddy ground were several fresh, slightly messy footprints pointing deep into the alley.
On the wall near the corner, there was a small, dark red, wet smear that looked like blood.
“Bruce, the store is secure.
A clerk has a minor cut on his hand.
The suspect has fled, taking about two hundred dollars in cash from the register and several packs of cigarettes,” Katherine’s voice came over the radio, speaking rapidly.
“The clerk’s description matches what you received: white male, dark hoodie, wearing a mask, armed with a folding knife, fled into the west alley.”
“Copy that!
Found fresh footprints and suspected blood in the west alley, heading inward.
I’m guarding the entrance,” Bruce replied, listening intently for movement in the alley.
Faintly, the sound of hurried footsteps and a trash can being knocked over seemed to come from deep within, moving further away.
“I’m coming out to regroup with you.
Don’t act alone…” Katherine hadn’t finished her sentence.
“Detected movement, the suspect is moving fast!” Bruce replied urgently, his eyes locked on the alley.
“The footsteps are getting fainter; he’s moving away.”
Katherine had already rushed out of the store.
She quickly came to Bruce’s side and asked in a low voice, “What about the footprints and blood?”
Bruce used his muzzle to point out the marks on the ground and the corner.
“Fresh, same direction.
Heard something being knocked over inside; it’s further away now.”
Katherine quickly assessed the situation.
The other end of the alley led to a rear passage of an old residential area with many forks, but visibility was decent during the day.
“Follow me, stay low, watch the corners.
If you see the target, warn him first.
Don’t get close if he doesn’t drop the knife.”
The two entered the alley one after the other.
The light dimmed suddenly.
Towering brick walls lined both sides, and the piled-up clutter emitted a damp, musty smell.
They advanced quickly and cautiously along the footprints, bypassing several scattered trash cans.
About thirty meters ahead, a metal can was still rolling slightly.
“Police!
Stop!” Katherine suddenly shouted at a flickering figure ahead.
The figure in the dark hoodie jolted at the fork in the road, glanced back, and then accelerated as he turned left.
“Chase him!” Katherine took the lead, with Bruce following closely behind, his breathing steady but his whole body tense.
Turning the corner, they faced an even narrower dead-end alley with discarded furniture piled at the end.
The suspect was frantically trying to climb a broken sofa leaning against the wall, attempting to scale the roughly two-and-a-half-meter brick wall.
“You have nowhere to run!
Drop the weapon and get on the ground!” Katherine aimed her gun, her voice stern and clear.
Bruce approached from the flank, blocking any potential route the suspect might use to rush back.
The suspect froze.
He turned his head, his eyes above the mask filled with panic.
The folding knife gripped tightly in his hand was still dripping blood—likely the clerk’s.
The suspect looked at the high wall, then at the two officers.
His shoulders heaved violently as if he were struggling internally.
“I…
I didn’t mean to hurt anyone…” His voice was hoarse and tearful.
Finally, the suspect chose to give up resistance.
“Slowly place the knife on the ground, then put your hands up and turn around to lie down,” Katherine’s command brooked no argument.
“Now!”
After a brief standoff, the man tremblingly bent over, dropped the knife onto the concrete with a “clatter,” and obediently lay on the ground as Katherine had instructed.
Bruce stepped forward quickly, kicked the knife away, and simultaneously pressed down on the man’s back, deftly handcuffing him.
“Suspect in custody, weapon secured,” Katherine reported into her radio before beginning a routine search.
Bruce picked up the dark backpack dropped to the side, which revealed loose bills and several packs of cigarettes.
“Money and goods are all here,” Bruce said.
Katherine nodded and pulled the suspect up.
“You are under arrest for armed robbery and assault.
You have the right to remain silent…”
While she read the Miranda Warning, Bruce had already called for backup and requested an ambulance for the clerk’s further examination.
At the end of the alley, sunlight fell between the two walls, dust floating in the beam of light.
A pursuit lasting less than ten minutes had ended cleanly and efficiently.
…
Time soon reached noon.
The patrolling officers all went to nearby fast-food restaurants to enjoy their lunch and take a good rest.
After the high-intensity patrol of the morning, some rookies and veterans couldn’t take it anymore.
The rookies were stressed, while the veterans were simply suffering from high blood sugar.
Bruce and Katherine were no exception.
Just as Katherine was about to take her new partner to her usual fast-food joint for a big meal, the scene before her made her jaw drop.
“W!
T!
F!”
Bruce took two insulated lunch boxes from the trunk—the kind with several layers—placed them on the hood, and opened them one by one.
Yuxiang Shredded Pork, Cumin Beef, Fried Eggs with Green Peppers, and even a bowl of Corn and Pork Rib Soup, plus a bowl of rice.
“Bruce, don’t tell me this is your lunch,” Katherine said, swallowing hard as she looked at the sumptuous Chinese meal.
“Damn it, you Chinese people really know how to enjoy yourselves, while I have to eat that damn burger.
fuck, and it makes me gain weight!”
“Stop, stop, stop, Katherine.
Shut your mouth and open your eyes,” Bruce interrupted his partner’s complaining.
“There’s a portion just like mine right in front of you.
Can’t you see it?”
Katherine’s eyes widened instantly.
Only then did she notice the second, unopened insulated lunch box Bruce had pushed toward her.
“OMG, Bruce, you’re an angel,” Katherine quickly opened the lunch box, staring at the dishes with their enticing colors and fragrant aroma.
The tension and fatigue from the morning’s pursuit seemed to vanish instantly in the warmth of the food.
“When did you prepare this?”
“This morning.
It’s our first day as official partners; I had to show some appreciation.” Bruce smiled and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
“Do you know how to use these?”
Katherine took the chopsticks and, somewhat clumsily but successfully, picked up a mouthful of Yuxiang Shredded Pork.
“Oh my God, this is ten thousand times better than that ‘authentic Chinese’ takeout on the corner.
Bruce, you’re a real treasure.”
As expected, although Katherine looked cool and aloof, she was actually a foodie.
Katherine chewed and couldn’t wait to try the Cumin Beef.
“This tastes amazing, and the spice level is just right.
You made all of this?”
“Yeah, cooking it myself suits my taste better.” Bruce also began to eat unhurriedly.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting shifting spots of light on them.
The hood had become a temporary dining table, a world away from the tense pursuit in the alley just moments ago.
“Seriously,” Katherine took a spoonful of the rib soup and sighed contentedly, “I’ve been doing this for years, had several partners, and trained quite a few rookies.
Some brought donuts, some brought sandwiches, but someone like you who brings a full ‘deluxe lunch’ on patrol…
you’re definitely the first.”
“It’s just a habit.
You can only handle emergencies better when you’re full.” Bruce picked up a piece of fried egg with green pepper.
“This isn’t spicy, but it goes great with rice.”
Katherine tried a bite and nodded, then looked at him with an inquiring gaze.
“To be honest, Bruce, your performance in the alley today…
was too steady.
Observing footprints and blood, judging direction, your positioning when following through, and your movements when finally controlling the suspect…
that didn’t look like a rookie on his first day of patrol.
Have you had extra training?”
Bruce’s movements paused slightly, then he met her gaze calmly.
“I was quite diligent in the police academy and practiced on my own.”
“I see.
When Platt shoved you to me, I thought I’d have to teach you everything from scratch.
Now it seems I’ve actually gotten a bargain.” Katherine was very sincere, not hiding her first impression of Bruce.
Katherine raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of mirth.
“In return for this deluxe lunch, I’ll buy coffee this afternoon.
I know a place on 7th Street where the coffee will wake you up instantly.”
“By the way,” Katherine finished the last piece of beef and wiped her mouth, her expression becoming a bit more serious, “this afternoon we need to go back and get a supplemental statement from that clerk, then organize the arrest report.
I’ll walk you through the process, but seeing how things went this morning, I’m sure you’ll learn quickly.”
“Okay.” Bruce nodded and began to pack up the dishes.
“Anything else I need to prepare?”
“Just stay in the zone.” Katherine stood up and stretched her arms.
Bruce closed the insulated lunch boxes and put them back in the trunk.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The unspoken understanding from the morning’s pursuit had quietly settled into a firmer trust after such a relaxed and pleasant lunch.