A Long Night

Flash fiction

"This is the plan. I watch the house while you go for coffee ."

"Sure Sergeant. You want I get donuts with that?" The rookie was catching on fast.

"Why not. The Missus will never know."

Twenty minutes later the rookie reappeared with a brown bag and a crusting of snow on his shoulders. "It sure is cold out there tonight." He passed the bag to the Sergeant and brushed off the snow before getting back into the patrol car. "Anything happening?"

"The bedroom light went out just after you left. No sign of movement."

"Guess he's settled in for the night then. Boy, it's freezing."

"There's a blanket on the back seat." The rookie grabbed it and started to wrap it around himself. "Hey, I'm cold too you know." The blanket was spread over both men. "What time you got?"

"Half two. I don't think Meadows is goin' anywhere tonight." The rookie slurped his coffee.

"You got a lot to learn about the criminal fraternity. This is just the time when they get busy, when the good folks are in their beds."

"Hey Sergeant, I gotta pee."

"That's what the bottle's for." The Sergeant passed over a plastic bottle already half full with the yellow stuff.

"Really?"

"Really."

The bedroom light came on again. "Somethin's happening Sergeant." Another light came on in a small window to the left. A few minutes later and both lights were off again. "I guess he needed to pee too."

245 words