Chapter 4 Growing Bonds.
The police station was already buzzing by the time Eli pushed the glass doors open that morning.
Phones rang at desks across the room. Officers joked loudly with each other while shuffling papers and reports. Someone somewhere was arguing about paperwork deadlines. The usual chaos of the station filled the air.
Eli stepped inside, adjusting the strap of his bag as he walked through the hallway.
He had only been here a short time, but the station already had its own strange rhythm to him. Loud, messy, and full of personalities.
As he walked further inside, an older officer suddenly wrapped an arm around his shoulders from the side.
“Hey! What’s up, rook?”
Eli jumped slightly and looked over at the man beside him.
“Uh… sorry,” Eli said awkwardly. “Do I know you?”
The officer raised an eyebrow, then let out a long “Huhhhh.”
“Well,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I guess you wouldn’t remember me. We met back when you were just a little kid.”
Eli blinked.
“So you know my dad in some way?”
The officer laughed.
“Yeah I do. Surprised you figured that out just from me saying I knew you a long time ago.”
Eli stared at him for a moment.
Inside his head, a thought immediately popped up.
Does this guy think I’m dumb?
Obviously you know my dad if you’re a cop… especially if you met me when I was a kid.
But Eli kept the thought to himself.
The officer stuck out his hand.
“Well, guess I’ll reintroduce myself. Lloyd Jackson.”
Eli shook his hand politely.
“Nice to meet you,” he said in a slightly awkward tone.
Right then, the front door of the station opened again.
Kai stepped inside.
He walked past them in the hallway, glancing at the two of them for only a moment.
“Morning,” he said casually as he continued walking.
Lloyd watched him pass.
Then he leaned closer to Eli and said quietly,
“Man, that kid is weird.”
Eli looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s always so serious,” Lloyd said. “All he needs is a smile.”
Lloyd cracked his knuckles.
“Maybe I should go help him with that.”
Before Eli could respond, Lloyd jogged down the hallway toward Kai.
Eli watched him go, slightly puzzled.
“I’m surprised a guy that energetic knows my dad,” Eli muttered to himself. “I always thought Dad surrounded himself with quiet people like himself.”
Eli continued walking toward his desk.
Around him, officers laughed loudly while swapping stories from patrols. Someone knocked over a stack of papers and swore loudly while others teased him about it.
Eli sat down at his desk and glanced across the room.
Lloyd was already talking to Kai.
Actually… talking at Kai.
Lloyd was laughing loudly about something while Kai stood there with his usual calm expression.
Eli tilted his head.
That Kai kid…
The other day he didn’t seem serious to me.
He actually seemed pretty outgoing.
Eli tapped a pencil against the desk.
Did something happen?
He quickly shook his head.
“No,” he whispered to himself.
You barely know the guy.
You shouldn’t judge someone from one interaction.
Then he glanced over at Lloyd again.
The officer burst into another loud laugh that echoed across half the room.
Eli sighed.
“On second thought…”
A few hours passed.
Reports were finished, calls were logged, and the station slowly shifted into the calmer rhythm that came before lunch.
Eventually the lunch break arrived.
Eli grabbed his food and sat down at a small table in the break area.
He had barely taken a bite when someone placed a tray of food on the table across from him.
Eli looked up.
Kai stood there.
“Can I sit?” Kai asked.
Eli quickly straightened his posture.
“Sure.”
Kai sat down.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Kai said,
“So… I see you’re not peeping into the file room today.”
Eli let out a laugh.
“Yeah,” he said. “I didn’t really feel like getting punished by my dad.”
Kai raised an eyebrow.
“Dad?”
Eli nodded.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Yeah. My dad’s the chief.”
Kai leaned back slightly.
“Oh.”
Eli rubbed the back of his neck.
“I guess I forgot to mention that.”
Kai shrugged.
“Nah, it’s good. Don’t worry about it.”
He smirked slightly.
“I better start talking more politely then. Don’t want to get on your bad side.”
Eli waved his hands quickly.
“No, no, no! I’m not like that.”
He gave Kai a thumbs up and a bright smile.
“I wouldn’t snitch on a friend.”
Kai stared at him.
Inside his head, a single word echoed.
Friend?
Before Eli could say anything else, Kai suddenly stood up.
“Come with me.”
Eli quickly grabbed his food and followed him.
“Uh… where are we going?”
Kai didn’t answer.
They walked down the hallway while Eli tried to figure out where they were heading.
Finally, Kai stopped in front of a vending machine.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two coins.
“Do you like soda?” he asked.
“Uh… yeah, sure.”
“Cool.”
Kai dropped the coins into the machine and pressed a button.
Then he pressed it again.
Two cans dropped into the slot.
Kai picked them up and handed one to Eli.
Eli accepted it.
Kai raised his soda can.
“Well, new friend,” he said, “cheers to our friendship.”
Eli laughed and raised his can.
They clinked the cans together.
And just like that, the moment quietly kicked off what would become one of the best police duos this station had ever seen.
As they walked back toward the break room, Eli glanced at Kai.
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen,” Kai said. “What about you?”
“Eighteen.”
Kai grinned.
“Ha. I’m your superior.”
Eli looked offended.
“What?! We both started at the same time!”
Kai crossed his arms proudly.
“Well, I’ve been on this earth longer,” he said. “Which means I have more experience than you.”
He placed a dramatic hand on Eli’s shoulder.
“But don’t worry, young one. I shall guide you.”
Eli laughed.
“What’s going on with you?”
Kai smirked.
“That was my impression of Lloyd.”
Eli blinked.
“I don’t remember him doing that.”
Kai shrugged.
“Just wait you'll see at some point.”
Eli groaned dramatically.
“Oh no…”
Kai laughed.
Several more hours passed.
Eventually the workday came to an end.
Kai and Eli walked out of the station together, continuing their conversation as they stepped onto the sidewalk.
“You play any video games?” Eli asked.
Kai shrugged.
“Not really anymore. I used to play this racing game though.”
“Oh yeah?”
Kai nodded.
“Got banned though.”
Eli stopped walking.
“How do you get banned from a racing game?”
Kai thought for a moment.
“Hmmm… honestly I was just racing.”
Eli raised an eyebrow.
Kai scratched his head.
“It was probably because people kept reporting me.”
“For what?” Eli asked, laughing.
Kai shrugged.
“I might’ve done a little smack talk.”
“But nothings wrong with that, right?” Kai said.
“Right, that's just dumb” Eli said.
“Yeah, it is dumb,” Kai continued. “I literally got banned for some simple quick chat messages.”
They walked another block before Kai stopped.
“Alright, I head this way.”
Eli looked down the street.
“But that leads toward the city.”
Kai nodded.
“You live in the city?” Eli asked. “I see you, rich boy.”
Kai laughed.
“No, it’s not like that. I work part-time at a café over there.”
“Ohhh,” Eli said. “I gotcha.”
He pointed at Kai.
“I might come by sometime just to mess with you while you’re working.”
Kai laughed.
“Alright.”
“See you.”
“See ya.”
They waved and went their separate ways.
Kai arrived at the café a few minutes later.
The sign above the door read:
Milo’s Café
Inside, the smell of coffee and baked pastries filled the air.
Kai walked straight to the staff lockers and changed into his work clothes.
As he finished tying his apron, Milo approached him.
Milo was the owner of the café and had the personality of someone who treated the place like his home.
“Kai,” Milo said.
Kai looked up.
“Yeah?”
“I need your help training a new staff member today.”
Kai shrugged.
“Okay.”
“She’s a really nice girl,” Milo continued. “Just show her the ropes.”
Kai gave a thumbs up.
“I’m on it.”
Kai walked out toward the main counter.
And immediately saw her.
Mira.
She noticed him too.
Her face lit up.
“Hey! I remember you!”
Kai stared at her.
“Uh…”
He snapped his fingers while trying to remember.
Mira crossed her arms.
“Did you seriously forget me?!”
Kai hesitated.
“Uh… no.”
He pointed at her.
“It’s nice seeing you again… uhm… Nira?”
Mira stared at him in disbelief.
“You seriously forgot!”
She sighed dramatically.
“You were close enough, It’s Mira.”
She pointed at him.
“We live in the same apartment complex.”
Kai’s eyes widened.
“Ohhhhh.”
“I remember now!”
“You were jumping up and down out of excitement when you got the job.”
Mira’s face turned red.
“Do you have to say that so loud?!”
Kai shrugged.
“What? It’s not like there are any customers here.”
He glanced around.
The café was completely full.
Kai blinked.
“Uh… well.”
“It is Friday.”
Then suddenly his attitude shifted he looked back at Mira with a serious expression.
“Are you ready?”
Mira stood up straight.
“Yes, sir.”
Then she paused.
“Wait… why am I calling you sir?”
“You don’t look that much older than me.”
Kai crossed his arms proudly.
“I’ll have you know I’m nineteen.”
“Ah,” Mira said.
“Well I’m eighteen.”
She thought for a moment.
“I’ll drop the sir and just call you…”
She tapped her chin.
“Hmmm…”
“How about Kai?”
Kai sighed.
“Do you make it a habit to make things take longer than they need to?”
“I don’t care what you call me.”
“I just don’t want a lecture from Milo again.”
He pointed toward the kitchen.
“And trust me… you don’t want a lecture from him.”
Mira nodded.
“Alright.”
They got to work.
Kai spent the next few hours showing her where everything was.
The coffee machines.
The pastry displays.
The register.
Every time Mira struggled with something, Kai stepped in to help.
By the end of the shift, they were both exhausted.
Mira leaned against the counter.
“Is it always like this?”
Kai shook his head.
“No.”
“Just a busy day.”
He slammed his head gently against the counter.
Mira laughed.
“I’m gonna change out of these clothes.”
She walked toward the lockers.
A few minutes later, Kai left to change as well.
Soon they both stepped outside into the night.
Kai started walking home.
“Kai! Wait!”
He turned around.
“What do you need now?”
“I already helped you enough in the kitchen.”
Mira smirked.
“Jeez.”
“Looks like you get grumpy when you’re tired.”
She wiggled her fingers teasingly in front of his face.
Kai stared at her.
“Did you just want to make me mad?”
“Or did you actually need something?”
Mira shrugged.
“I do actually.”
She pointed to her bike.
“I’m really tired.”
“So I was thinking… since we live close by…”
“Could I walk back with you?”
Kai sighed.
“I don’t know, man.”
Mira placed a hand dramatically on her chest.
“Oh wow.”
“Will you really leave a beautiful young woman alone in the dark?”
“So creepy men can take me away?”
Kai shrugged.
“That’s not a terrible idea.”
He started walking away.
“Hey!”
Mira quickly pushed her bike beside him.
“Slow down!”
“You have to walk at my pace!”
Kai looked at her.
“I don’t remember saying yes.”
“I know,” Mira said.
“We just happen to be walking the same direction.”
Kai sighed.
“Ahhh. I see what you’re doing.”
Mira laughed.
They walked for a while in silence.
Eventually they reached the lake that separated their side of the city from the other.
Across the water, the city lights reflected beautifully.
Mira stopped walking.
“This is such a beautiful city.”
Kai looked at it quietly.
“It would be.”
Mira glanced at him.
“Hey.”
“I need to ask you something.”
“You’re a cop, right?”
Kai looked at her.
“Why do you ask?”
Mira hesitated.
“Well… I did some research about the rebel gangs.”
Kai raised an eyebrow.
“And?”
“There was this guy named Night Ri-”
“Shhhh,” Kai said quickly.
“Don’t say his name so loud.”
“If someone hears you they’ll think you’re a rebel.”
“Don’t say his name in public.”
Mira blinked.
“Uh… okay?”
She continued.
“Well… I was wondering what the big deal is.”
“They say he’s the ringleader of the rebels.”
“And I thought since you’re a cop… you might know something.”
Kai nodded slowly.
“Well… you’re right about one thing.”
“I do know a couple things.”
“But honestly?”
“It’s common knowledge.”
“If you live in this city, you’ve heard of him.”
“But nobody really knows anything about him.”
Mira frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Kai looked out at the water.
“Nobody knows who he is.”
“No pictures.”
“No identity.”
“The most people know is that he’s a rebel leader who only rides at night.”
“Hence the name.”
Mira nodded slowly.
“That makes sense.”
Then she crossed her arms.
“You’re making such a big deal about this guy.”
“But you don’t even know anything about him.”
“How do you know he’s dangerous?”
Kai was quiet for a moment.
“I don’t.”
“But he’s a rebel.”
“And rebels are dangerous.”
Mira tilted her head.
“Have you ever talked to them yourself?”
Kai sighed.
“Yes.”
Mira froze.
“What?”
Kai looked at her.
“I grew up on that side of the city.”
“Do you know a man named Dax Calderon?”
Mira shook her head.
“No.”
“Well he’s Night Rider’s right-hand man.”
“I was in the same fourth grade class as him.”
Mira blinked.
“And that’s supposed to mean…?”
Kai looked serious now.
“It means I grew up deep in rebel territory.”
“If I made one different decision in my life…”
“I might’ve been one of them.”
Mira stayed quiet.
“I still don’t see how that makes them dangerous.”
Kai groaned.
“God, you’re stubborn.”
“I thought if you knew I grew up there you’d trust my opinion.”
“I know what rebels are like.”
He looked at her seriously.
“Just stay away from them.”
“It’s not a place for you.”
Mira sighed.
“Fine.”
They continued walking.
Eventually they reached their apartment complex.
Mira stopped at her door.
“Goodnight.”
“Thanks for walking with me.”
“Sorry for arguing with you.”
Kai shook his head.
“You weren’t.”
“It’s fine to be curious.”
“That was my bad.”
“I let old memories take over.”
He paused.
“But seriously…”
He looked at her.
“Pick your side, there is no in between.”
Then he walked inside his apartment.
Mira stood there for a moment before entering hers.
She closed the door and sighed.
“Pick my side, huh?”
She looked out the window toward the city lights.
“Gosh…”
“This isn’t a battle royale.”
“This is real life people gosh.”
A few minutes later, she turned off the lights and went to bed.
And the city continued moving through the night.
