Sin City Uniform 02 - Copping an Attitude Read Free Page B

ground.
    Parker, Darren and an officer from the second cruiser gave chase, Parker peeling off to follow the perp who jetted to the side of Bally’s on Flamingo Road. Easily catching up to the wiry evader, Parker tackled him to the ground. They struggled, the man biting at him, grunting and cursing until Parker had wrestled one of his arms behind him. He pressed a knee in the offender’s lower back and used his other hand to hold the nape of his neck down. The man continued to yell and call Parker names, his face turned to the side, his cheek smashed against the asphalt.
    More backup arrived with additional units to transport the suspects to the police station. As a part of the Homeland Security Saturation Team, he and Darren would usually remain on the streets unless no other units were available. Parker glanced down at his knees, a definite tear visible in his pants leg.
    Damn it.
    He was rough on his clothes. Typically he’d be the one to collar a suspect in foot pursuits. He was a runner—fit, but not bulked up. He only carried light muscle on his frame, which enhanced his speed. He also went through a lot of uniforms in any given year.
    After he’d finished giving a report to the transporting officer, he turned as someone near the back of the casino yelled for help.
    “Officer, stop him—he’s getting away!”
    Parker looked where the man pointed and noted what looked like a young man in goth-type clothing walking at a fast clip in the direction of Koval Lane. Parker jogged toward him, not sure what was going on, but the kid’s body language suggested that he was in a hurry to get away while at the same time trying not to attract attention himself.
    Petty thief, druggie, rent boy.
    Parker ticked off the possibilities in his head as he rushed to catch up to the suspect. Right as he was almost upon him, the guy glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening in fear at the sight of Parker. He took off like a rocket.
    Parker’s reflexes kicked in and he shot after the kid. No longer doubting that the runner was guilty of something, he put all he had into catching up to him. One of his biggest worries was that if the young man was into drugs or selling himself, his life would be at risk if he didn’t get help. If an arrest was to put assistance for him into motion, it would be worth whatever Parker had to do to nab him.
    Right as his quarry rounded the corner to duck down a pathway to Bally’s hotel rooms behind the main casino, Parker launched himself forward. He grabbed the smaller man around his neck, their combined momentum knocking them both to the ground. Parker threw his free hand in front of them, hoping to keep his larger body from hurting the kid as they tumbled down.
    A loud whoosh of air was wrested from the young man as Parker landed on top of him, and he knew he’d only been partially successful at keeping his weight off his suspect. The kid struggled and fought like a wild cat. Even though he was smaller than the guy Parker had just arrested, he was much more determined. There was a tinge of desperation in his efforts and pleas that clutched at Parker’s heart. He was genuinely frightened and somehow, it didn’t strike Parker as being caused by the fear of going to jail.
    “Please.” His cries were muffled by their continued battle. “Let me go. You don’t understand. You have to let me go, man.”
    “Stop resisting, son, you’re only making things worse for yourself.”
    “I’m not your son, you fucker! And nothing could be worse…” It sounded as if he had strangled down a sob as his voice had trailed off. “Nothing.”
    His body went limp as if in defeat. Parker hauled him up to a standing position, using one hand to clutch his collar and the other to grip his arm. The boy winced.
    “Are you hurt?”
    Deep blue eyes lined in black stared up at him, defiant. But behind that façade was a deep sadness that threatened to crush Parker’s heart even more.
    “What the fuck do you