Chapter 30-31 - Former CIA, Now LAPD

I got the chapter wrong when I did it, this chapter 30 was supposed to be 29

Chapter 30 – Between Invisible Lines

March 3, 2016 – 2:15 PM

LAPD Western Division – Patrol Yard

The early afternoon Los Angeles sun cast long shadows across the warm, quiet lot. Mike pulled his vest tighter over his gray T-shirt, while Athena tied her hair into a tight bun, with the automatic movements of someone who'd been doing it for years.

The patrol car assigned for the day SUV 12-A-27 was already gassed, the radio tested, and the tablet mounted on the dashboard. Mike got in on the driver's side. Athena settled into the passenger seat.

"Everything okay with the family?" she asked.

Mike started the engine, his eyes fixed straight ahead for a second before answering:

"Harry's a walking radar. He's still digesting the Blackwater conversation. But... he listens to me. And that's saying a lot."

Athena nodded, buckling her seatbelt.

"You talk to him like you would a man."

"That's because he's becoming one. And he deserves to be treated as such."

Athena smirked.

"You realize the impact you have there, right?"

Mike quickly looked away. He didn't respond. The patrol car drove off.

2:47 PM – West Adams – Visual Patrol

The neighborhood streets seemed quiet. Children playing on the sidewalk, fruit vendors organizing boxes under makeshift tents. The radio was silent. Mike drove slowly, his eyes trained on the side mirror. Athena was reading a digital report on her tablet, but her eyes also didn't miss any details of the street.

"I want to see something," Mike said, turning right into a narrow alley.

"What?"

"South side of 7th. There was an old report of prostitution disguised as a tattoo parlor. It's gone off the radar, but I have a feeling."

Athena studied him for a second, then blurted out:

"Your hunch is 75% accurate. This is scientifically disturbing."

Mike just smiled.

2:55 PM – 7th Street Alley

The alley smelled of old grease, trash, and urine. A small, two-story building with a graffitied facade and a faded "InkSpot Studio" sign stood out with its door ajar—despite no activity.

Mike discreetly stopped the patrol car at the corner. They both got out.

"You take the side entrance. I'll take the front entrance," Athena said.

Mike pulled on his tactical gloves, putting them on leisurely.

"If you don't answer in 40 seconds, come in."

She nodded. Her guns remained holstered, but her eyes were alert.

Mike knocked softly on the door.

"LAPD. Is anyone there?"

No answer.

He pushed the door open slowly. A strong smell of chlorine and paint assaulted his nose. The place was empty—but not abandoned. On the counter sat an open driver's license and a glass of still-fresh drink.

"Athena. Entrance clear. But someone ran out a little while ago."

She entered from the side, pistol low, scanning the room with a trained gaze.

"This isn't a studio. It's a front."

Mike pointed to the back, where a black curtain was partially open. Pulling it back revealed a small room with mattresses on the floor, bags of women's clothing, and... two Colombian passports on the table.

"Human trafficking," Athena said, icy.

Mike was already on the radio.

"Dispatch, this is 12-A-27. Requesting support unit, federal assistance, and victim assistance team. Location: 7th Street, south of Adams. Possible front house for sexual exploitation. No victims on site. Suspicious structure."

3:20 PM – On the sidewalk, waiting for backup

The backup vehicle arrived with two vice officers. Mike was talking to one of the detectives, while Athena stood by the door, arms crossed, eyes steady.

"We can't shut the place down just like that. But we can put it under surveillance," the detective commented.

"It smells like recent activity. They're going to migrate. It's always like that," Mike said.

Athena approached.

"I want local victim assistance notified. When these girls are found, they won't trust any man."

Mike nodded.

4:11 PM – Little Tokyo – parallel incident

During the return trip, the radio activated a new incident.

"12-A-27, possible altercation at a coffee shop on 2nd Street. Owner reports customer in an aggressive verbal outburst. No reports of a weapon."

Athena replied:

"12-A-27 on the way. ETA five minutes."

Mike turned the wheel. The patrol car picked up speed.

4:18 PM – Mikado Bean Coffee Shop – Little Tokyo

A man in his 50s was yelling into his cell phone outside the coffee shop. He had thrown a cup on the ground, startling customers. Two employees tried to talk to him in vain.

Mike approached calmly.

"Sir. This is the LAPD. I need you to breathe and put the phone down now."

The man turned.

"They're not listening! I TOLD YOU IT WAS MY DAUGHTER!"

Athena approached slowly.

"We can talk to you. But you need to stay calm."

The man fell to his knees.

"She ran away. She's 15. Her mother lives in San Diego. I'm the father. They think I'm crazy. I just want to talk to her."

Mike kneels down, carefully.

"What's her name?"

"Kayla."

"We're going to look for Kayla. But you need to get in the police car. Stay calm. Can you do this?"

The man was crying, not angry. Just desperate.

Athena exchanged a look with Mike. He nodded.

"We're going to take him to the mental health center. Then we'll contact Child Locator Services. But we need a photo."

The man took a crumpled photo of a teenage girl with braids and a school uniform from his pocket.

Mike carefully put it away.

5:45 PM – In the police car seat, silently

Athena typed the report on her tablet.

Mike looked up at the sky.

"His daughter... maybe she doesn't even know her father is still fighting for her."

Athena answered without looking:

"Or maybe she does. But she's too scared to answer."

Mike looked at her.

"You've seen as much as I have. But you still care."

Athena closed the tablet.

"Because if I stop... I turn to stone. And you can't protect anyone by being stone."

Mike smiled.

6:15 PM – Police Station Parking Lot

Back. Shift over.

Mike got out of the police car and closed the door. Athena walked over to him.

"You know what impresses me about you?"

"What?"

"You never seem shaken. But you always are. I see it. You just don't explode. You absorb, process... and transform."

Mike thought. Then he replied:

"It's not that I transform. I just don't let it consume me before helping others."

Athena squeezed his shoulder. A firm gesture. Silent.

And so, another day in the city.

Another line crossed.

Another soul touched.

Chapter 31 – New Phases, New Faces

May 1, 2017 – 7:42 AM

Grant Kitchen – Los Angeles

Breakfast was quieter than usual. May, now 16, sat next to Harry, who had grown a few inches and was now more opinionated. Athena was putting toast on the table, and Mike, already in uniform, was drinking coffee from the blue mug with the LAPD crest—the one May had given him last Christmas.

Michael stood in the kitchen doorway, holding a duffel bag. The mood was friendly, but there was something definitive in the air.

"Well... everything's fine with the new place. I'm staying in West Hollywood for now. Close to the drama school."

Athena nodded, without tension.

"It'll be good for you, Michael."

"And... for all of us. It was all the time."

Harry looked at his father.

"We'll see you every week, right?"

"Every week."

May, now mature, picked up her coffee cup and said:

"Thank you for telling me. Really. We've known for a long time. Now it's just... said."

Michael smiled sincerely, his eyes welling up.

"I love you both. Being a father... is still my greatest role."

Mike watched everything silently, with the respect of someone who knew their place. Michael extended his hand to him.

"Thank you for being here."

"It's a privilege, Michael."

The hug was light but sincere.

10:22 AM – Incident: Collision with fire – Wilshire Blvd

Car 12-A-27 arrived in seconds. A sedan had crashed into a pole and the front side was on fire. The driver was in shock and two passengers were outside the car, with minor injuries. Emergency services had already been called.

Athena watched the commotion.

"The 118 is on its way."

Mike adjusted his vest.

"The driver is disoriented. No signs of alcohol or drugs. Maybe a panic attack."

"Let's hold off until the paramedics arrive."

10:26 AM – Arrival of Station 118

The siren cut through the noise of traffic. The 118's ladder truck stopped close to the scene. Bobby jumped out first, followed by Hen, Chimney, and last, a new face—young, athletic, with intense energy in his blue eyes. Evan Buckley.

Bobby came straight to Athena.

"Everything under control?"

"Fire contained. Three victims, none serious. But the engine is unstable."

Buck ran with the extinguisher and, in one swift, sure motion, controlled the fire at the base of the car. Mike watched closely.

Chimney and Hen went to tend to the victims. Buck approached Mike and extended his hand.

"Evan Buckley. But you can call me Buck."

Mike shook his hand firmly.

"Mike Edwards. LAPD."

"First week on the job. I've seen more fires in two days here than in six months at the Seattle gym."

Athena came up behind him.

"This is Buck, Mike. Bobby's new whiz kid. Thinks he can save the world with a fire extinguisher and a smile."

Buck laughed.

"I won't deny it. But if it works, it's better for everyone, right?"

Mike gave a slight smile.

"Just don't confuse urgency with impulsiveness. The city tests those who arrive too quickly."

Buck looked serious for a moment.

"Noted."

11:12 AM – Post-Occurrence Coffee with Athena and Buck

Mike, Athena, and Buck sat in a coffee shop near the scene of the incident while 118 closed the records.

Buck looked at them both with discreet admiration.

"You're the guy who worked with the CIA, right?"

Mike raised an eyebrow.

"I'm gone. Today I'm just Mike."

"Bobby said you understand tactics like few others. He said if you want to learn how to act quickly and correctly, you have to see you in action."

Mike looked at Athena.

"He exaggerates. I just try to survive and not compromise anyone in the process."

Athena laughed.

"What he doesn't tell you is that he's saved more lives than most first aid manuals."

Buck smiled.

"It's good to know there are still heroes who don't appear on TV."

Mike took a sip of coffee.

— "The best are those who don't ask for a stage."

2:45 PM – On the way back to the police station

Athena was driving. Mike looked out the window. The May sky was clear.

— "Did you like Buck?"

— "He's energetic. But he doesn't have a filter yet. That could be dangerous."

— "But he learns. He's humble. And he wants to do the right thing."

Mike nodded.

— "Then he has a future."

Athena was silent for a moment. Then she said in a lower voice:

— "You were amazing today with the kids. With Michael. With everything."

— "It was a chapter that needed to be written. Now... we can turn the page."

She looked at him.

— "You know they see you as part of our lives, right?"

— "And that scares me more than any mission I've ever done. Because... this time, I have something to lose."

Athena held his hand lightly for a second.

"You've already won."

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Chapter 15 - Chapter 30-31