Episode 31 of Street Dreams, the Police Arrive

Two police officers were dispatched to the old dilapidated house on Beliveau Road. One of the police constables was Bill Noble, a twenty -year veteran of Winnipeg’s finest. His partner on this evening shift was a twenty- four year old female who is technically still in training. Her name was Melissa Parkes and her supervisor thought it would be a great idea if she worked for a while with an old veteran like Bill Noble. Bill had an outstanding reputation for integrity, competence and professionalism. It would be a great opportunity for Melissa to work with someone of Bill Noble’s expertise and experience. There was only so much that a young cadet could be taught at a police training academy. Most of what an aspiring intern would learn would be in the field working in a patrol car with a respected veteran of the force.

Both officers were on St. Mary’s Road when they received the call from the dispatcher.

“Patrol car seventeen. I need you to check out a potentially seriously injured young man who is presently at a house on Beliveau Road. We received a phone call from an anonymous caller reporting a fight in which a young male was assaulted by an unknown individual. Judging from all the background noise recorded during the call, it is believed that a loud, wild party was in progress and got out of control. There weren’t any weapons reported, but I would advise proceeding cautiously. The residence involved has been vacant for about eight months now. The previous tenants abandoned the house and we have been unable to learn the identity of the landlord,” the police dispatcher reported.

“Roger. We’re on our way,” Constable Bill Noble responded.

“Well, Ms. Parks, get ready for an exciting assignment. This could be very dangerous so just follow my lead and instructions,” Bill added.

“I understand sir and will comply.”

“It took Constable Noble and Constable Parks about six minutes to find the location of the house.

“This must be the place,” Melissa Park said.

“How did you guess?” Constable Bill asked sarcastically. “It sure looks like they had a helluva party here.”

The old house must have been painted yellow at some point in the past. Most of the paint was peeling exposing most of the bare wood to the elements. It would’ve been a terribly attractive home even when it was first built, but the extreme lack of upkeep made the house look absolutely ugly. No one even bothered to shovel the snow that would have made a good path from the curb to the front steps of the residence. As Melissa and Bill tried to make their way to the front entrance, they were forced to step in the footprints previously made by the people that had quickly fled the party. The snow must’ve been at least three feet deep causing Bill to feel winded by the time he arrived at the front door. Melissa followed a few feet behind her partner. She didn’t have to catch her breath at all as she was still in excellent physical condition after passing all her fitness tests with flying colours at the police academy. Bill, on the other hand, was forty-four years old and was still a smoker. It didn’t help that he was about forty pounds overweight. His doctor had already informed Bill that he had a mild case of COPD and if he didn’t stop smoking soon life was going to get a lot harder for him in the future. Bill had started taking some measures to stop smoking. He now carried a pack of Nicorette gum 4 mg, the strongest strength, with him and managed to reduce his tobacco intake to half a pack of cigarettes per day. The doctor had also ordered him to go on a diet and to start losing the excess weight he carried. At this point Constable Bill Noble had a hard time imagining how he was going to quit smoking and lose weight at the same time. He could hear Melissa speaking to a few feet behind him.

“This place is disgusting, Bill,” she said.

The snow in the yard made a colorful collage of broken beer bottles, sordid piles of dog turds, yellow patches of snow splattered liberally with several patches of the reveler’s vomit.

The front door of the house was left slightly ajar and a ray of white light was visible. Both Melissa and Bill drew their weapons before pushing the door all the way open. Melissa felt the nausea rise up in her stomach as a foul odor emanating from the interior of the house hit her hard.

“Excuse me, Bill. I think I’m going to be sick.” Melissa stepped back, leaned over the partially broken wood railing of the front steps and lost her supper. The remains of her fast food dinner now belonged to the snow to the left of the steps.

“I’m sorry sir,” Melissa said as she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Don’t worry about it. It happens to the best of us. I’ve been on the scene of some car crashes that made me flip my gizzard a few times too,” Bill said, as he patted Melissa on the shoulder.