Booze Heist

At the scene of the crime

The Crime Scene

Eli Gentry and Tom Barber went to the police academy together. This story took place when they were rookie patrolmen.

The squad car radio crackled. A robbery at the local liquor emporium. Sammy’s Sip & Save is one of those places where a hardworking man gets booze. Its neon sign is a cultural landmark in the neighborhood.

The dispatcher reported shots fired. The suspect fled. Eli perked up and answered back that he was on his way.

“Finally, some action,” he thought.

He had just finished a call with a homeowner about some kids playing mailbox baseball. It was the first Saturday of summer after school let out. Of course, teenagers are gonna act up. Chasing real criminals? That got him ignited.

Eli rolled up to the liquor store. Lights on. No siren. He was nursing a hangover.

The Owner's Panic

The owner, Sammy, stood in front of the counter, hyperventilating and holding a baseball bat.

“Kid just came in here and wanted a bottle of top-shelf vodka. I got it, and when I turned back, he’s got a .38 pointed at me. Then he says to open the register and give him the cash. Typical shit, you know?”

Right then, Eli’s fellow officer Tom Barber walked in. Eli filled him in as best he could.

“Hold on,” Tom said, mildly annoyed as he reached into his left breast pocket for his pen and notepad. “Alright, Sammy. Let’s start at the beginning.” Tom gathered details about the suspect's appearance and other pertinent information to piece the puzzle together.

Eli, meanwhile, wandered over to the hotdog grill. He served himself and thought about the vodka. Sammy informed them that the kid took the loot and bolted on foot.

While Tom asked Sammy to see the surveillance tape, Eli, under the guise of ‘securing the perimeter,’ stepped out the back door for a cigarette.

The Discovery

In the back corner of the parking lot, he spotted a familiar Honda Prelude parked behind a dumpster. Inside, there was a ski mask, a pile of cash, and a bottle of Grey Goose with a Sip & Save price tag. The driver was nowhere to be found.

Eli was about to call it in when it dawned on him. The car belonged to his neighbor, Jimmy, a deadbeat who had crashed on Eli’s couch a few times. He promised to “get straight” for months. Jimmy’s no mastermind, but Eli knew his family and had a soft spot for local screw-ups.

Tom, meanwhile, struggled to watch a security tape that was so grainy and worn he couldn’t make out anything. It looked like Sammy had been using the same tape since Obama’s first term.

Eli walked back into the store. An exasperated Tom was walking out of Sammy’s office. He noticed the look on Eli’s face. Tom had seen that shifty look before, usually when Eli “forgets” to tip the waitress for the free coffee they get at the diner.

The Dilemma

Tom cornered Eli. “Find something? What’d you see?”

Eli took Tom around back and pointed out the Prelude. He mentioned Jimmy, and Tom put two and two together.

“Your idiot neighbor kid, huh?” Tom asked, lighting a cigarette of his own.

Eli nodded sheepishly, looking like a kid caught throwing rocks at traffic. They both knew if they busted Jimmy, Eli’s neighborhood drama would hit the fan.

Eli didn’t want to turn Jimmy in. Just as Tom mentioned the correct procedure, Eli reminded him about that time Tom “borrowed” evidence room weed for a weekend with a local professional.

So, they agreed to push the Prelude down the alley, wipe their prints, and tell Sammy the robber got away clean. Sammy had no proof, anyway. It taught him to update his security system.

The Aftermath

Back at the station, they filed a report so vague it could’ve been written by someone with a concussion. Now Eli and Tom had enough dirt on each other to teach a masterclass in mutual blackmail.

Eli let Jimmy know he owed them big. They both downed shots of vodka, acknowledging Jimmy’s renewed dedication to the path of the straight and narrow. It would be his final booze heist.

The Bigger Picture of the Booze Heist

This whole mess was just another day in the life of rookie patrolmen. The thrill of the chase, the camaraderie, and the moral dilemmas. It’s what keeps you coming back for more.

In the end, Eli learned that sometimes, the lines between right and wrong blur. And sometimes, you just have to look the other way.

In a world filled with psychological twists and turns, every decision counts. The tension builds, and the stakes rise. But that’s the beauty of it all. It’s a dance with danger, and Eli was right in the middle of it.

So, what’s next for Eli and Tom? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: they’ll be ready for whatever comes their way.

And that, my friends, is just a glimpse into the chaotic world of Eli Gentry and Tom Barber. If you want more, you know where to find it.