The Booth

The look in chief's eyes when the chirp of the phone in the secured booth in the center of the office; I just can't shake what I saw. The Police station seemed to freeze as the chime rang a second time.

felt uncertainty fill my mind as I watched chief almost collapse in his panicked expression walking toward the phone in that solitary booth. It was my third day in law enforcement. In orientation I was handed an envelope marked "Important" I had been instructed to read it carefully.

Inside was a shiny book titled " Protocol ADK 442. I opened the black glossy cover and read as instructed. A response to the phone in the booth read as follows:

The Booth

Greetings employee of Thatcher City Law enforcement special tactic and imminent threat response unit. You have been accepted through your qualifications and experience as an elite candidate in security, strategy in warfare as well as your awards in combat training.

The purpose of this briefing presented in this manuel is designed to detail the nature of Protocol ADK 442.

It is imperative to note the following information is confidential and subject to expulsion, fine , and imprisonment if ever discussed outside of Thatcher City security. Expulsion will be immediate without prior warning. Fines will be equal to or greater than the assessed dollar value resulting from leaked implications as follows;

Property damage 100%

Travel disruption 100%

Cost of expended ammunition 110%

Cost of equipment loss: Market value plus tax ( Local, state, and federal base of 10% compounded by total value of loss may apply.)

Imprisonment will be mandatory minimum of 5 years and will be compounded by the total value of civilian as well as security staff life lost.

Page after page detailed the subject within. As I read each line my mind had so many questions. I mean, I lived this life in constant and consistent training. I was just not prepared for this.

I just turned 33 and had been a soldier the last 15 years. I had seen many different senarios; caves, desert, jungles, mountains, and tundra. All which could not prepare me for what I was readng. I had been a steady minded man all my life. Each line detangled the stringent belief I had gained throughout my career.

Closing the black manual; I sat stunned. I had never trained for this! My eyes kept pulling my attention to the phone in the booth.