The alarm on her cellphone alerts her to the time. It's early.
After throwing off the coat she came home in, Madison fell naked into the silken sheets of her bed.
Her head hurts. Perhaps now's not the time to get up.
She dozes for some time before her phone rings again. This time not the alarm.
She recognizes the number and is suddenly wide awake.
"Chief," she says into the phone in a shaky voice. "What is it?"
The gravelly voice of her commander passes into her aching head.
"Lane," he says. "I want you to come into the office by 11:00."
Madison's heart flutters as she anticipates what is to come.
"Y- Yes, sir."
With little more said, her chief hangs up.
Oh my God, she thinks.
She begins to hyperventilate as she thinks about all of her peers coming to know of her prostitution.
It takes some time. But, she manages to get a handle on her circumstances.
Sleep is far from possible, so she pops a couple of pills and dresses up in the blues of her uniform. The blue cap contrasting with her red hair.
In the mirror she sees a fraud.
She's beautiful, even to her own eye. And, the uniform speaks to an identity she might not have for much longer.
Her mind turns over her most recent rape. The freezing water and the hot iron of the man's member piercing her belly.
Despite herself, she feels aroused.
Something is wrong with her. Something is terribly wrong.
Licking her lips, Madison struts out the door and gets a ride to the station.
Her every move feels dignified in this uniform. As if she hadn't just been violated.
The office is a melee of reporting and booking. So many pieces of paper are spent in this technologically impaired precinct.
Madison passes through the mess unnoticed. Her beauty lost in the dignity of her career.
There's still some time before she's expected so she sits on a waiting chair outside her boss' room.
The chief is busy tearing some officer a new one. Causing Madison to feel even smaller.
Time ticks by like an executioner's blade. The seconds tick by one by one.
Finally, the moment of judgment comes.
"Lane," the gruff voice calls from beyond the door. "Get in here."
With a deep breath, she opens the door and enters the lion's den.
"Sir," she says crisply as she stands at attention before the middle aged man.
"Do you know why I've called you here, Lane?"
The question makes her bowels liquefy.
"N- No, sir."
He stands up and comes around the desk to look her up and down.
"At ease," he says.
Her rigid state was almost a shield from the criticism to come. Relaxed, she fears she'll fall over.
"I understand," her boss says, "that we've asked a lot of you, Lane."
She let's out a pained sigh, reliving all of the humiliation she's gone through in the space of one week.
"You're out there alone with whores and the scum who pay those whores. It's a heavy burden."
Madison feels her eyes sting as they water.
The man turns back to his chair and he sits comfortably while drawing to his point.
"What would you say to having a partner, Lane?"
Her lips tremble as she echoes, "Partner?"
The chief nods, "Got another rookie with the assets for the job. She's inexperienced. But, I'm sure you've learned enough to teach her."
"Wh- Who?"
He slides a file on his desk to her.
Opening the file, Madison sees a beautiful blonde woman in uniform. Her face filled with pride.
"Amber Lee," she says aloud.
Her boss nods, "We want to put her out there soon. You've got a few days to take it easy."
Madison bites her cheek. When was the last time she had it easy?
"I understand."
The chief takes a long look at her, "You may hate it. But, this is the best way you can serve your community."
She deflates at the implication of his statement.
"Yes, sir."
The matter settled, Madison hastily exits.
With the door closed behind her, she closes her eyes and screams inwardly.
How can she possibly survive this situation? A shadow during her nightly business.
Her eyes open to the flurry of the office and with heavy feet walks out of the station.
At the door, she bumps into someone coming in. Together they fall. The other on top of Madison.
In a flash of gold, she sees her. Amber Lee.
The face of the blonde angel is striking in how flustered the run in has made her.
"I'm so so so sorry," she blubbers, as if on the verge of tears.
The cool, prideful, cop Madison had envisioned appears in a destined meeting.
"It's fine," Madison says as the woman's hot breath blows warmly on her face.
The woman still hasn't gotten up.
"Could you?" she says plaintively.
"Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh. Sorry."
Amber gets up and offers a hand to her senior.
"I'm so sorry," she continues to profess.
"It's fine. What's the rush."
The clumsy woman beams with pride, "I have a meeting with the chief. I think they're gonna give me my first assignment."
Madison feels a sinking dread weigh down on her shoulder but she manages a professional smile, like she would when speaking with a John.
"Good luck."
Her words are flat. She envies this oblivious blonde young woman. Was she ever so happy?
Collecting herself, Amber bids her goodbye and Madison is left before the granite stairs leading down from the station.
Her heart desolate, she sits down on the steps and takes off her hat.
She looks on it and what it represents.
Justice. Integrity. Safety. All things that she lacks.
The minutes pass as Madison evaluates her life.
In her obliviousness, she doesn't notice her until Amber sits next to her.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
Madison smiles sadly, "How'd your meeting go?"
Amber's face is beet red as she tells her senior her new assignment.
"I also saw your file."
Madison realizes that the woman's already learned everything official.
"I'm really looking forward to working with you," Amber says earnestly, despite the nature of the occupation.
Madison looks at her oddly for a moment, "You want to get something to eat?"
Amber's face is bright as she nods her head with enthusiasm.
"Come on," Madison says as she stands. "There's a sushi bar nearby."
Like a puppy, her protege follows.
"I've never had sushi before. It's good, right?"
Madison nods as they enter the establishment.
