Protect And To Serve

White snowflakes fell from somber skies, the horizon muted by clouds. Children sliding across the ice while shoveling snow off Central Park’s frozen pond. A distant cry of sirens spoke for the people in service of the community.

Cheers rose from the throng “No school!”

A gathering of neighborhood children lined the pond’s edge, giggling, grasping hockey sticks, dodging snowballs. Eager to join in a hockey game to punctuate the day’s early dismissal.

One mile away stood the new kid on the block. Orion transferred to a New York school system. Officer Jayden, his father, was no longer safe after arresting a cartel member near the border of Mexico.

The crack of a gavel. Headlines of papers highlighting the story:

“The 48th president signing an act stemming from the ‘H.R 8908 Cost of Police Misconduct Act’ in the smokescreen of the 2020s.” — 75 cents. The hustlers still slinging newspapers in snowy streets.

“Extra— extra! Read-all-about-it! Police no longer carry firearms!” They said.

“It could be good luck; it could be bad luck.” The articles read.

A breathing focus lifted Jayden out of the fog encompassing events of his recent past. Jayden would have jumped in front of traffic to protect citizens of the community he served but even that would not bring his wife back.

The storm briefly paused as Jayden and Orion entered Central Park. Snow shrouded trees bordering square stone walkways covered in white. The new city walkers sauntering side by side came into sight of a distant pond, Orion noticing that a distinctly colorful duck had joined in stride behind them.

“Dad look!” Orion tugged on Jayden’s coat sleeve, pointing to the colorful duck. Jayden kneeling for a moment.

“Wow-wee, I have never seen a duck like that! And in the winter too? I hope the little guy is okay.” They continued walking to the frozen pond with a feathered friend in tow.

Jayden approached an older gentleman watching the festivities, while Orion stood back, hockey stick in hand and skates slung over his shoulder eager to join his new friends.

“Mr. Gallagher, right?” Jayden reached out with a courteous handshake.

“It is nice seeing you again, Jayden. This must be your son Orion that you spoke so highly about when we first met,” Mr. Gallagher said while tossing bread to three ducks and exclaiming, “And look what you brought along!

“I have never seen a duck like it.” Jayden said.

“It’s a mandarin duck, they aren’t native to New York. There was a mandarin duck in Central Park in 2018, back before I retired." Mr. Gallagher said, tossing a few more bread crumbs.

“Why haven’t these ducks migrated?” Jayden asked.

“Ducks are here year-round.” Mr. Gallagher musing.

Orion tapped Jayden’s lower back while waving his hockey stick to signal his friends that he was on his way. “Dad, I am going out on the pond to practice before the game starts.” Jayden knelt to pull Orion’s hat over his ears and hugged him, saying, “Alright little man, go get ‘em!” Orion raced away to join in the fun.

“How are you enjoying the city?” Mr. Gallagher asked with his attention focusing between Jayden and the colorful ducks navigating throughout the bread crumbs.

“It’s a different experience, I can’t believe the NYPD is no longer allows officers to carry guns on most of the cases and even routine street patrols.”

Mr. Gallagher observed Jayden’s badge and absence of uniform “You are a detective now. Yeah?”

“I am.” Jayden’s eyes lowered and he pushed some snow with his foot.

“Did you hear about the big drug bust at the Mexican border? It was all over the news showing the arrest of a well-known member in the cartel. The arresting officer’s life was in danger even though his personal information was withheld and identity concealed. He was relocated to an undisclosed location for his protection, I did some research.”

Detective Jayden looking directly into Mr. Gallagher’s eyes, “Oh yeah, and what did your research reveal?”

“Look, I was in the NYPD before your time,” Mr. Gallagher said with a wink, “And my research, Jayden? Well, it says you will be just fine up here in the NYPD and away from the border.” Mr. Gallagher pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat.

“Loyal men make the laws; laws make loyal of men. Or at least that is the way I hope things are.” Jayden rubbing the back of his neck.

Orion’s team won the hockey match and the ducks trod on towards the pond.

Busy people checking watches, bustling streets, buses delivering students to a new day with open schools. Jayden walking into the local coffee shop to start his day with a black coffee and espresso shot. His watch buzzing as he slurped a stifling first sip. Dispatch requesting a call into the office. NYPD found a cartel kingpin, top of the chain. It was time to brief.

“Mr. Antonio Stefano,” the briefing began. The luxuriant condominium estate swallowed up an entire floor within the upscale high rise and the building was mapped out in detail. Planning included the precise location of windows, doors, exits, and entrances. They would use breach, arrest, search, egress. The bulletproof formula in any textbook operation.

Unmarked and civilian looking cars with undercover and armed officers began surrounding Mr. Stefano’s condominium. At the sound of the door closing on Jayden’s vehicle, he flashed to the crucial bust near the Mexican border. Jayden was the second man to breach the expansive room in the lavish estate. Mahogany doors and marble tabletops fragmented as reality became a living hell. Jayden’s partner sustained a shot to his arm and grazing from a bullet to his neck.

“Point man down! Two shooters right side!” Jayden’s team of seven fluidly transitioned in behind him, Jayden rose to his feet when he thought he heard the perpetrators reloading. Another two shots fired by assailants hit Jayden’s vest. Jayden did not even stumble. Covering gun fire ensued from Jayden’s partners. Jayden’s breath was steady and with a controlled finger squeeze he dropped the men who shot his partner.

Moving around the room with the high and ready point of a 9mm Beretta. A man standing a distance from sizable bulletproof windows overlooking a serene landscape. His hands were crossed behind his back, he had no weapon. Casually staring at the view outside, undeterred by the breach and fight.

“Hands up!” Jayden yelled. The man complied in silence as he was tackled and brought down then transported to the station.

Jayden volunteered to be the transporting vehicle. The ride to the station began in silence.

“You killed two of my men that had families,” Gabriel Stefano said.

Jayden’s chest was pierced with the shocking bruises, rounds of ammunition had impacted his vest. “Never get to the criminal’s level of conversation," the training echoing in Jayden’s head.

“You shot my partner and would have killed us,” Jayden stated.

“You entered my home, what is your name officer. Do you have a home and a family?” Stefano glancing out the window.

Jayden laughed and shook his head,

“We seized your cameras, drugs, toys, and money.”

“No worries. I will find you, your family, and your kid.”

“Kid?” Jayden thought. Why had he spoken using the singular “kid”? Had this man already researched Jayden and his family? His wife had been in the hospital and could have answered any questions for persons appearing to be social or medical staff. Jayden was without words for the rest of the ride. Gabriel Stefano was booked and caught. A major cartel overlord with connections throughout Mexico and the world.

A pop and hiss whipped Jayden back to reality. He had been reassured by command that Antonio Stefano was not related to Jayden’s previous arrest, Gabriel Stefano. Turning back, he saw a knife piercing his cruiser’s rear tire. Adjacent to the vehicle a navy-blue hoody covered the face of an individual in jeans running away from him. Jayden ran forward, grabbing the person’s shoulder and spinning them around causing the hoody to fall back.

“What is going on here, let go of me!” shrieked a young tattooed female with a pierced nose.

“You slashed my tire,” the girl looked left, wiping her nose with her sleeve.

“So, what are you going to do, dickhead!”

“Detective Jayden, ma’am. I could arrest you right now. Normally I would, but I’m doing something bigger right now, it’s your lucky day.”

“Get laid, detective Jayden!” spitting on his shirt collar. Jayden grabbing her arm again.

“Are you kidding me, lady? I have a kid more responsible than you! Give me a reason not to arrest you!” Emotions began winning the battle against Jayden.

“Your son, Orion?” she taunted, turning away against Jayden’s grip.

“What are you talking about?” Jayden in disbelief.

“You are the one in the photo who arrested Gabriel Stefano. Honestly, you are now a dead man walking!” she remarked smugly.

“What is your name?” Jayden shouted while cuffing the lady’s wrist.

She crashed against the side of the cruiser.

“Call off the raid and you won’t have to worry about what I know, this never happened,” she said.

“It doesn’t work like that.” Jayden vehement.

The sky grew darker as a storm swept over the city. Jayden arranged to pick up Orion after he finished documenting details of the raid.

Steak, asparagus, and potatoes, a nightly tradition when it snowed. The tradition began with Jayden’s wife cooking the meal during every snowstorm and it quickly became Orion’s favorite.

“I miss mom,” Orion’s eyes watered. Jayden placed the food on the table and knelt beside Orion.

“I know bud, we remember her through special things like family traditions and doing the best we can like she’d want.” Jayden kissed Orion’s forehead.

“I miss her too.”

The night fell past. Daylight rose to a new morning. Jayden sat at the end of his bed; shoulders slumped in concern after missing his alarm clock.

“Dad! It is snowing, there is no school today!” Orion screeched, running to Jayden’s bedroom.

“School’s out? Lucky, my man! What are you planning for this awesome day?” Jayden trying to perk up from the stress of the day before.

“Ice hockey, definitely!” with a serious look, Orion crossed his arms, pursed his lips, and nodded his head up and down.

Snow was still falling on the slippery roads during their drive to Central Park. The roadway was dotted with plow trucks. Closer to the park kids walked along the street with their hockey sticks. Approaching the frozen pond Jayden was distracted by a crowd of children standing at the edge while Mr. Gallagher tried to keep them back.

“The ice is too thin?” Jayden placing his hand on Mr. Gallagher’s shoulder.

“No, that man out there has a kid pinned to the ice. You have to get an armed officer out here.”

Jayden quickly reaching for his radio. “Officer Three-five, request armed backup at Central Park.” Jayden voicing to NYPD dispatch.

“Dispatch copies-what is the nature of the incident?” the radio squelching.

“Emotionally Disturbed Party with violent behavior.”

“Are they using a gun or a knife?”

“Negative.” Jayden replying.

“We will send mobile crisis; an armed officer is unavailable for this request.”

“Sir, take your hands off the kid and put them behind your head, slowly!” Jayden commanding.

The man lifted the kid from the ice, shoving him away. The kid sprinted off the ice, tears freezing on his cheeks. The man reached into his jacket pocket, pulling a gun before Jayden could react.

“Jayden.” The man knew his name. A sudden gust of wind piercing through his grey jacket, the hand with the gun remaining steady.

Jayden stepping forward into the cold metal of the gun barrel now touching his chest.

“I am in service of the citizens. I stand to protect them. What have you done for our nation?”