The Valley-Chapter 3

[William Bushman]

Yamata and Pepper rolled along Chandler boulevard, one of the longer thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley. It stretched from Burbank into North Hollywood and was divided straight down the middle by a grass lined bicycle path. It was also the street where Tony Pepper had been shot on a traffic stop on the night of October 30th.
He was riding alone that night as the division was shorthanded. He'd pulled over a gray Honda for expired tags and just as he approached the driver's side window, the Vineland Boyz gang member who had committed an armed robbery the night before opened fire with a .380, striking him twice in the vest and once in the left side.
Pepper fired off several rounds at the vehicle as it sped off before he collapsed in the street. The suspect was taken into custody an hour later when his homies drove past Holy Cross ER and dumped him out, bleeding profusely from several wounds.
“ So how's it feel? “ asked Yamata.
“ What? “
“ You know. Gettin' back on the street after...everything.”
“ It beats working the front desk, I'll tell you that.”
“ I was riding with Mossier for a while when you were out.“ said Yamata.” Nice guy, but he never shuts up.”
Pepper chuckled.
“ No shit. I played pool with that guy for an hour and he spent it explaining how he lives his whole life by the same code as Spider-Man.”
A white Mercedes blew through the red light in front of them.
“ Yahtzee.” Yamata called as they pulled in behind the car.
Pepper's heart began to beat faster as he flipped on the overhead “take down” lights and called in the car's license plate number.
The Mercedes signaled and pulled to the curb along the bike path.
“ I got this.” Yamata said as they stepped from the car.
“ Nope. I'll take it.” Pepper said, crossing in front of the patrol car and lifting his Maglite.
He kept a grip on the Glock .40 that was holstered on his hip as he shined his flashlight into the car.
“ Good evening, Sir. Can I see your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance? “
“ Uh. Sure.” replied the young man who appeared to be around 19 as he squinted up in the bright light. He was taken off guard a bit as Yamata shined his light in through the passenger side windows and swept it through the car.
“ Do you know why we stopped you, Mr. Bartell? “ asked Pepper, holding the young man's license in his beam.
“ No sir.”
“ You drove right through that red light back there.”
“ Oh that. Really? I don't suppose it would make any difference that my dad is an executive at Warner Brothers? “
“ No sir, it wouldn't.. Hold tight. I'll be back in a minute.”
Pepper stepped up onto the shoulder with his partner as he called in a check on the man's license.
“ Little prick.” he said to his partner, nodding towards the car.” I can't believe he tried the, do you know who my daddy is routine.”
“ I know. The little shit.” Yamata chuckled.
The check came back negative for wants or warrants and as Pepper was about to relay this to the driver, the young man stepped from his car.
“ Look, I don't think I really deserve...“
“ Get back in the car! “ Pepper barked, preparing to draw his sidearm.
The driver quickly complied and ducked back in behind the wheel.
“ Sir, don't ever step out of a car unless an officer tells you to.” Pepper said curtly as he reappeared at the driver's window.
“ I'm sorry, Sir. Very sorry.” the young man replied visibly disturbed.
“ I'm just giving you a verbal warning.” Pepper handed the man his license and paperwork.” Make sure you stop for the light next time.”
“ Yes, Sir. Thank you, Officer.”
Pepper watched the Mercedes pull away as he stepped back onto the shoulder.
“ You okay? “ asked Yamata.
Pepper exhaled and scratched his chin.
“ Uh, yeah. It's....I'm a little rusty, I guess.”
“ That's all? “
“ Yep.” Pepper replied as he opened his door.” Come on. Let's go catch some bad guys.”
Yamata shrugged as he crossed in front of the patrol car and climbed back inside.
They merged back into traffic and Pepper watched the place where he had been shot slowly disappear behind him in the side mirror.

XXXXXX

Estrada pulled the patrol car to the curb and rolled down her window. The sound of cars rushing by filled the air.
“ What's that building across the street, Boot? “
“ It's a bank, Ma'am.” Clayton replied.
“ Which bank? “
“ Uh...the Bank of America.”
“ Do you know what happened here in 1997? “
“ Yes, Ma'am.”
“ What? “
“ The shootout.”
“ That's right.” she said, staring across the street at the square, white building.” The Shootout.”
“ They told us about it in the Academy.” Clayton offered.
“ I was a boot myself back then, at Van Nuys. My T.O. And I had just started our watch when the officers need help calls started flooding in. It was insane.”
They sat there silently as she continued to stare out her window.
“ Bullets were flying over our heads, hitting the pavement near our feet, punching holes in cars right beside us. Those two bastards just kept shooting. Some of the guys commandeered an armored truck and were driving right into the line of fire to pick up the wounded coppers and civilians.”
She sighed deeply and looked back at him.
“ People think that nothing happens in The 818, but if something like that can go down, anything can happen out here, you know? I don't want you to get some kind of false sense of security, thinking not much can happen up here in The Valley. This is still L.A. and this town don't play.”
“ I'm from Crenshaw, Ma'am.” Clayton said seriously.” I know exactly how this city can be.”
“ You think you do.” Estrada said, taking a final glance at the bank.” But you won't know anything about L.A. 'till you've seen it from a black and white.”

To be continued...