AK 239: The Enemy Is Already Here

Ketchikan, AK

Diary of Police Chief — Robert Stone

^{Christmas Day}

The sun had already set.

I’m the Chief of Police of Ketchikan, Alaska.

My name is Robert Stone, and up until today I was a by the book kind of cop.

I’m really tired of never seeing my family for any of the holidays. We all have to work. But I guess I shouldn’t complain, as my biggest case was usually a missing dog or pulling a police cruiser out of Thomas Basin.

Our department owns this 2000 Ford Escape that can barely make it up and down the hills in town.

I hate this car!

The engine really never ran properly again after my deputy “accidentally” ran the SUV into the basin. I suspected my deputy had been drinking on the job but never did a breathalyzer, blood, or any other test as he’s my son, and, besides, I desperately needed the help.

It also helped that his mother had a twenty-year career as an emergency dispatcher for the entire region and, is my wife!

So, my deputy son, in plain clothes, is following MAA after he arrived from Portland, Oregon. I left several text messages with that FBI, Denning, guy.

“We don’t know where the hell he is!”

I’m pulling into the lot when my deputy calls over the radio:

“Dad, I think I just lost our suspect. He was in the bar and went to the bathroom. I just checked the bathroom. He’s gone.”

“I’m on my way over.”

I shook my head, thinking, I better not find out my kid has been drinking again on the job. I call Tony’s mother on the two-way radio, “Yura?”

She answers, “Yes?”

“Make sure everyone knows we lost our suspect. Put out that picture of him and say: If anyone sees him don’t do anything but call me immediately.”

I don’t want any trouble.

I like my town just the way it is. Nice and quiet!

Too bad I never saw my phone, which was upside down on the seat, of the squad car.

I didn’t want trouble but trouble was not far away.