“For sure.  Get with it, bye.”

She hung up with a smile. 

She picked up her personal phone book and dialed Felicia. It was early.  She risked calling her out of bed but she did not want to risk anything happening to Felicia.

Felicia answered on the second ring.  “Felicia here.”

“Hi gal, this is Mindy Zehr.  How are you doing?”
“Pretty good.  Still sore but you know that.  I’m cutting back on the meds and the pain comes through at times.”

“Good.  I have some news for you.  Want to hear it?”

“Sure?”

“Melvin called from the center this morning.  He wanted to tell me that I can come back half days as soon as the doctor clears me.  When I’m allowed to go to full days I go on watch officer.”

“That’s great.”  There was a sound of disappointment in her voice.

“And there is more.  He’s busy this morning.  He asked me to get a head start on being a watch officer and talk to one of my people about her new assignment.”

“Who?”

“You.  As soon as the doctor clears you for half days it’s no rest for the weary.  You’re back on the city police desk, if you want it.”

“Want it.  I would kill for it.”

“I hope not.  They could put you in jail for that.  We can’t afford to have a good operator in jail.  But I understand.  You know where I am and what happened yesterday?”

“Well, yes.  The word gets around.”  Felicia was tentative.  Mindy may not like being the subject of gossip.

“Good.  Pass it on if you know anyone else.  It may keep someone else from doing something stupid.  The weight of everything just got to me and I did something dumb.  Instead of calling someone for help I tried to handle the problem myself.  Thanks to Jan and a bunch of others I’m still here.  If you need something call one of us.”

“I will.  How’s Jan.  She is so nice.”

“How do you know her?”

“City police desk, you remember?  We talk to all of the cops.”

“OK.”

“What is she going to do?  Can she go back?”
“Some of the first ones injured are back on limited duty.  I’m not sure about the others.  I don’t know if they can absorb that many on limited duty.  Something else has to happen”

“Will they put them off on disability?   There are some really good cops in that group.  What a loss.”

“That’s what Melvin said about you and me.  They couldn’t afford to loose us, our training and us, we’re too hard to replace.  It’s the same with the police.”

“Melvin said that about me?”

“Yep.  You are very highly regarded at the center.  At least as much as me I just have more time and experience.  You can make watch if you want to, maybe faster than I did.”

“Me?”

“You.  I see a lot of me in you.  You’re just five years younger and have less time there.”

“Thanks.”

“I need to run for now.  I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, I needed this call.  Bye.”

“I needed to make it.”  She hung up.

To read more of this story click here.  There are links to the other chapters in chapter 1.

The Night Sniper Chapter One: On the Beat

The Night Sniper: Ch. 045 Samantha, Felicia, Mindy and Jan

The Night Sniper: Ch. 047 Felicia Finds a Job for Jan