Radclyffe - Safe Harbor

After her second pass through town, she headed east on Route 6, the main highway that ran the length of Cape Cod. A roller blader a hundred yards ahead of her caught a wheel on something in the road, flying off onto the shoulder. The skater didnt get up.

Reese pulled up nearby, lights flashing. She ran to the prone figure.

"Take it easy, son," she said as she bent down next to the wiry youth with short cropped dark hair. "Oops, sorry," she amended as she looked closer, realizing the skater was female. "Are you hurt?"

"Jammed my knee pretty good," the young woman muttered, grimacing as she tried to get to her feet. She had been skating in tight shorts without gear, and the length of her thigh was badly scraped and bleeding.

"Dont try to stand up," Reese cautioned, slipping an arm around her waist. She bent slightly, getting her other arm behind the youths legs and stood, lifting her easily. "Come on. Ill take you to the clinic," she said as she walked the few feet to her cruiser.

"Im okay," the pale young woman protested.

"That may be, but wed better make sure." Reese pulled the rear door open, sliding the girl gently onto the back seat. "Whats your name?"

"Brianna Parker," came the quiet reply.

Reese looked at her carefully. Her hair was very short and spiked; she wore no makeup. She had a small silver ring through the corner of her left eyebrow, a tattoo encircling her right upper arm, and a wide silver band on the middle finger of her left hand. At first glance she appeared like a typical teenager, but on closer examination, the girl had a haunted look.

"Are you related to Sheriff Parker?"

"My dad."

"Ill radio him," Reese said as she slipped behind the wheel.

"Do you have to?"

Reese swung around in the seat to face her young passenger.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Youll need your dads permission to be treated"

"Cant we wait to see if I need to be treated? Hes going to be mad. He doesnt want me skating out here. Besides, Im supposed to be in school."

Reese considered the request. Nelson was likely to be angry if she didnt call him right away, but there was something in the girl's face that swayed her. She could wait a bit.

"Ill have to call him, Brianna - but lets check the damage first okay?"

"Yeah," the young woman sighed. "And you can call me Bri. Everybody does."

Tory pulled into the clinic lot just behind Reeses cruiser. She looked at Reese questioningly as the officer approached.

"Hi!" Tory called, pleased to see her again so soon.

"Good morning," Reese replied, her voice warm. "Im afraid I brought you some early business. The Chiefs daughter took a header out on Route 6 on her roller blades. Banged her knee up."

"Damn," Tory muttered, mentally already planning what needed to be done. "Neither Sally or Randy is here yet. I guess you can handle a stretcher, cant you?"

Reese didnt reply as she opened the door of her patrol car and leaned inside. To Torys surprise, Reese straightened up with the young woman in her arms. Bri threw one arm around the tall officers shoulder for support.

"Lead the way, Doctor," Reese announced.

Tory merely nodded, deciding that she should get used to being surprised by the seemingly totally self-sufficient sheriff. Reese followed her through the building to the treatment room, depositing Brianna gently on the treatment table.

"Ill wait," Reese said. "Im going to need to call her father."

Tory nodded distractedly as she bent over her patient, then as an after thought asked, "Think you can make some coffee?"

"Absolutely," Reese replied with a grin. She found the tiny kitchenette and soon had a pot brewing. She was just pouring two cups when Tory reappeared.

"Shes fine," Tory answered to Reeses questioning look. "A pretty bad sprain, but I put her in a knee immobilizer. Shell be skating again in a week or two."

"Thanks," Reese said. "Im sorry to have bothered you, but I thought"

"Nonsense," Tory said, stilling Reese with a touch on her arm. "You were right to bring her in. Shes more worried about her father than her knee. Nelson keeps a pretty tight rein on her. She got into some kind of trouble a year or so ago. Teenager stuff."

Reese nodded. "Its hard being that age. Ill call him, then Ill run her home."

"Youre good at this small town policing, Sheriff."

Reese smiled, pleased. "Thanks. I dont have much experience with community life. I was a military brat, then active duty right after school." She halted self-consciously. "Id better go call Nelson."

It took her a few minutes to calm her boss down, but she finally convinced him that he did not have to personally come to the clinic. She thanked Tory once again, then settled Bri back into the cruiser.

"Is it true you have a black belt in karate?" Bri asked as Reese pulled out onto the highway.

"Not exactly," Reese answered. "I have a black belt in jujitsu. Theyre quite a bit different. How did you know?"

"My dad told me."

Reese knew it was on her resume, and assumed the Sheriff had noticed. It was certainly true that there were no secrets in Provincetown.

"Could you teach me?" the young woman continued.

Reese turned her head to study the teenager. Her hopeful look touched a distant memory. Reese had been a solitary teenager in a world of adults. Her martial arts training had helped focus her aimless adolescent energy. It centered her still.

"Its a very serious commitment, Bri - and it takes a long time to learn. Why do you want to do it?"

Bri knew she was being asked a serious question, and it felt like Reese really cared about her answer. She struggled to find the right words.

"Because I want something thats my own - something I chose, something I earned. And because Im bored, and I feel restless all the time."

Reese nodded. She had been about Briannas age when she began her training, and she remembered that difficult time in her life. She didnt want to refuse, but it meant a commitment for her as well. Taking on a student was a deep responsibility.

"Youd need to train three times a week. And your dad has to approve."

Bris face set in determination. "All right. When can I start?"

"Not until your knee is healed, and Doctor King gives you the go ahead. But you can come to my house on Saturday and Ill explain some things that you need to know. Seven a.m."

"Ill be there."

Chapter Five

"Whats this about my daughter and jujitsu?" Nelson asked the minute Reese walked into the station house at the end of her shift.

"She talked to you already, huh?" Reese said with a faint smile. Bri was eager, and that was encouraging.

Nelson nodded. "I stopped home at lunch to see how she was, and thats all she talked about. You really want to do this?"

Reese settled one hip on the corner of her desk, regarding him intently. "She seems serious, Chief. Its a great way for a kid - for anyone, really - to learn self-confidence and self-control. And it never hurts for a woman to know how to protect herself. Im willing to teach her if shes willing to put out the effort. Its not easy, and it requires a real commitment over a long time."

Nelson walked to the front windows and stood staring out. Reese recognized this as a habit of his when he was working something out. She waited silently. He didnt look at her when he spoke.

"I found her out under one of the piers about six months ago with some kids from a couple of towns over - kids wed had trouble with before. They were fooling around with drugs. Bri swore to me that she hadnt done anything, but it scared me pretty good. Shes smart, and she always did real well in school, but this past year - somethings changed. She doesnt get along with any of her old friends, shes skipped school some. Nothing real bad yet, but the signs dont look so good. She doesnt talk about anything; in fact, she hardly talks to me at all. This is the first thing shes shown any interest in in a long time. I cant pay you much, but itll be worth it if you think it might help her."