? ? ? 

I could've been at home doing anything better than sit in a cold-ass car waiting for...whatever...with a guy who is obviously more clueless than me.

My partner, Ralph, had his elbows on the wheel and his head poking out the window like a dog. Vigorously studying the house across the street. Seeing his fixed face would make you think a woman is getting undressed in front of her window. We've been sitting here for a good twenty-minutes, and frankly, I rather be at homing banging my wife.

And God knows how long it's been since that has happened.

      "You wanna run by me what we're doing here again?"

I try not to complain, but exhaustion is catching up with me. It's been too long of a day out on the field.

Ralph Rogers has been my partner for a couple years. He's a brother to me, knew every problem I went through and understood the issues. A bachelor who wore converse with his uniform knowing it didn't seem professional. I told him how cliché he is, but you see Ralph could give two shits less.

Ralph grunted softly and said,

      "For the hundredth time, Marley, we got an anonymous tip from one of these neighbors saying they think they're dealing out of this house."

He leans against his seat finally facing me. From the looks of his drooping eyes, I could tell exhaustion wasn't only hitting me.

      "Now, usually I would shrug this off, but this is the third tip from this house. Can't sit here and do nothing about it."

I sigh agreeing with only a nod. Ralph turns back to the house, this time looking to the foundation.

      "Something might be going on down there."

I follow his eyes to the small bungalow. Only the lights of the porch, living room, and basement were on. Every other was black enough to see your reflection through it.

      "Should I call for backup?"

I sarcastically add. He didn't acknowledge me.

      "You know, you're getting a hunch off lights, right?"

I, too, ignored my comment. He just stared. Not even a blink.

      "Maybe you're right..."

Ralph's voice trailed off. Instead of sinking deeper into thought, he prepped up giggling to himself.

      "They're probably doing something you're not."

I scoff.

      "Oh yeah, what's that?"

      "Getting laid."

He erupted into a bigger laughter. I squint my eyes at him trying not to smile. It's the pure truth. 

      "You suck."

His laughter dimmed down into an exhale.

      "It's good to enjoy the little things, bud."

Ralph rotates back to the house keeping a smile. Without saying a word, I peer down to my shivering hands repeating his words in my mind. They played over and over growing more distant.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

      "You know, Ralph,"

I push the thought to the back of my mind.

      "I'm seriously tired and prefer to go home then,"

      "Shush!"

Ralph whips his index finger to his lips. I cock my eyebrow,

      "What?"

      "Hush, man, there's movement."

He pushes his head closer almost bumping into the window. I lower my eyebrow leaning into him to get a better look. It's dark, but I can clearly see two males: one dark-skinned and the other Caucasian, coming out of the front door. They shoulder-bump, and the dark-skinned one bounced down the wooden steps walking down the street, disappearing from sight. The other walks back inside the house obviously not noticing two cops watching him. I didn't know if it was bad or not, but at that moment, I felt Ralph's hunch.

      "Should we call for backup?"

I ask, this time being serious.

      "Hell no,"

Ralph popped is seatbelt off and opened the door in one motion.

      "I got your back, you got mine."

I blink feeling a little queasy. I didn't understand, I've done busts like this many times. But this time, it just didn't feel right. I watch him jump out the car fondling his gun, closing in on the house. He looks back at me with a trusting smile.

      "Stay put, I'm going in."

This feeling hurt badly, I felt nauseous, I didn't know why. His words were morphing, I couldn't wrap my finger around it, something was wrong. I barely moved, didn't respond either. Ralph wasn't hesitant though, before I could even blink, he was already walking across the street.

Calmly, Ralph bounced up the steps, similar rhythm to the guy that bounced down, and knocked on the door. It's too bad we're in uniform, things could've gone undercover. The door opened widely showing the same male that was there before. The conversation didn't last longer than a, "Hey how ya doing on this fine night?" before the man dodged inside signaling Ralph to whip his gun out and run after him.

I could hear the yelling from a mile away, it was my queue to pull out my gun and jump out the car, but I didn't get as far as calling for backup before I felt a point being pushed up against my head.

      "Don't move, or I'll blow your fucking head off!"

The male threatened closing my door for me. How kind of him. I raise both hands, including my gun.

      "Take it easy, let's just calm down here."

I try to negotiate.

      "I'm calm, motherfucker! Don't tell me to calm down. I'm peachy, bitch!"

Just from that ignorant comment I could tell he was a young boy not knowing what he was doing, but then was overly-confident.

      "Start walking fo' I bust a cap in yo' head."

I did as I was told and began walking with his still pushing against me. His close contact and shoving was beginning to get on my nerves.

      "You know,"

I began regretting immediately,

      "you're pressing a gun against my head, so I would've done so without you all on me."

      "Shut the fuck up!"

We travel steadily across the street finally arriving to the porch steps. I wasn't as scared as I should be when the nose of his gun is scratching my head. The hoodlum behind feeling the trigger, I can tell is nothing but fear. What would Ralph do?

The situation seems to be frightening, but in reality this guy doesn't have that much respect for himself to shoot an officer and go to jail and be someone's bitch. He's basically writing his confession in my blood.

By the time we got inside the house, which was well-furnished, a loud pop sounded below us. I snap my head to the ground like I had x-ray vision.

      "One of our buddies may be in trouble."

I said trying to take control, but my heart skipped a beat once that pop went off. The cold barrel did nothing to make my stomach do back flips, but the fact that Ralph may be injured, or worse...

I had to get this bimbo off my ass, so I took my chances throwing my elbow into his ribs making him groan and pull the trigger. I push his hand into the air before the bullet could impact me and swung my leg behind his making him fall back first to the ground. I snatch the gun out his weak hands and pulled out my handy dandy handcuffs, snapping them bad boys onto his wrist leaving him trapped. He may can run, but isn't going to get very far.

       "Stay here. Wouldn't want you to get hurt now would we?"

I left him there sprinting into the kitchen to search for the basement.

There's an opening with wooden, unsteady steps going down. I didn't smell it before, but now that I actually took a whiff, marijuana burned my nose. Some nosy ass neighbors... no pun intended. I step down the disgusting stairs with my gun guarding my face. The railings looked like they held tetanus, the main floor made it seem like it was another house.

Ralph had a good hunch. These folks were growing. There were at least fifty fully matured plants stacked in rows on white tabletops that you usually see at picnics. Alongside, a table of needles next to packages with black wrappers and an orange vertical strip down the middle.

I walk down more only to see more maze of plants on the cheap tables. Black wrapping paper scattered in the corner and orange streamers in another. I refuse to lower my gun, don't know who could pop up.

      "Ralph?"

I called hearing a slight echo. No reply, my heart was skipping beats. I stepped in more trying to stay calm but it was utterly impossible. And there it was. The fear I was hoping wouldn't happen. That strange feeling I kept getting, it made sense. Two legs lying there and the end of the row of plants. The converse gave it away.