The Characters:

Officer Charlene; Tall, large-frame, dirty blonde, mid-forties, Southern accent.

Officer Tina; Brunette, average height, shapely, early thirties flirtatious, very pretty and very, very available.

Detective Toni Brigatti;....Brigatti  ;-)

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Chicago

Monday morning and already the police station is in full swing. Phones ringing, typewriters clicking, computers and fax machines clacking.  Somewhere in the building the frustrated cries of a baby filters through buzzing conversations, while over at one of the desks an irate woman loudly voices a complaint to an already exhausted desk clerk. A typical day in the busy world of the Chicago police department.

From one of the offices a tall dark hair'd gentleman exits rather hurriedly -- looking somewhat disturbed and discombobulated, nearly bumping into the chief of police as he makes his way out of the building. For the past half hour he had been seated at the desk Detective Brigatti, answering questions she had for him concerning some unfinished police business. From another part of the room neither he nor Brigatti was aware that the whole time, *he* was being carefully observed.

Officer Charlene: ( rises from desk, walks over to peer through the glass window and down the hall ) "Wow, Toni. What a cutie! A little rough on him though, don't you think?"

Detective Brigatti: ( seated at her desk, searching through papers in folder ) "Who? Hobson? I don't know what you're talking about." (gets up to replace folder in file cabinet and pulls out another and returns to her desk)

Officer Tina: ( biting lip, looking perplexed ) "Hobson. Oh, now I remember him. He owns that little bar/resturaunt over on Illinois and Franklin. Mcginty's. Humm...is he married?"

Detective Brigatti: " *Ha*," (mutters under her breath) "Who would have him."

Officer Charlene: (Turns from window. Asks hesitantly ) "Is he *seeing* anyone?"

Detective Brigatti: ( glances up to eye them suspiciously) " I wouldn't know." (frowns) "Why are you asking me all these questions?"

Officer Charlene: (crosses arms and shrugs ) "Just wondering. I have a daughter who would be perfect for him. But the word 'round the station is that the two of you were *pret-ty* convincing during a passionate kiss on one of your....stake-outs."

Detective Brigatti: ( irritated, exhales deeply and  begans to write ) "It was part of the assignment. Things went wrong and we had to keep up the... facade. (waves it off ) I-It's a long story."

Officer Tina: ( despite what Brigatti has said, is smiling ) "Well, is he?"

Detective Brigatti: (Stops writing. Blinks. Stares at her and frowns ) " Is he what?!"

Officer Tina: "You know...a good kisser?"

Detective Brigatti: (Blows out tired breath. Hesitates a moment, then shrugs) "He's--alright I sup-- " (catches herself )  "Look, I wasn't keeping a score card. (Frowns again) Don't you two have something to do?"

Officer Tina: (grinning) "Oh, so he is."

Detective Brigatti: ( responds quickly, defensively ) " I didn't say that."

Officer Tina : (sighs) "Gosh, if I could find myself a man like that. Those adorable sleepy eyes, and beautiful lips. Dreamy if you ask me."

Detective Brigatti: (glaring at her ) "I *didn't.* "

Officer Charlene: "What say we drop by Mcginty's for a bite to eat after work Tina. You know....check out the menu?" (winks)

Officer Tina: (sexily) "Ooo--yeahhh." (she and Charlene laugh)

Detective Brigatti: ( glances up quickly): "Maybe not."

( the laughing stops abruptly)

Officer Charlene: ( exchanges glances with officer Tina) "Oh, so there *is* something between you two."

Detective Brigatti: ( clearly frustrated now  ) " *No* there *isn't!*"

Officer Charlene: "Then, what's the problem Toni? I-I mean, the guy's available. He's certainly no threat. You sure got him all hot and bothered though. ( laughs) What on earth did you say to him?  Poor guy looked as though he needed be somewhere in a hurry."

Officer Tina: "He looked so adorable stuttering, trying to explain his situation."

Officer Charlene: (sighs) "Handcuff my heart!  Why, I didn't know there were any like him still around. And with a face like that...."

Detective Brigatti: ( Looks up and frowns) "What the *hell* does that have to do with anything?!" (Blows out irritated breath and slaps folder close ) "Hobson's a nice guy--don't get me wrong. And as far as having"a face like that?" well--so did Babyface Nelson and look where it got him. Look, I've
crossed paths with the guy more times than I'd care to remember and believe me, humph! It ain't pretty."

(Both officers grow suddenly quiet )

Detective Brigatti: "Let's just say that I have him under careful (clears throat) surveillance."

Officer Tina: "So--"

Detective Brigatti: *So*, (Cuts her off quickly. Has heard enough, and rises from her chair ) "Until further notice...  ( Grabs coat, gets ready to leave. Pauses at the door; eyeing the both of them sharply) ....hands off!"  (Stalks out, leaving them with their mouths hanging open )

( Charlene noted a twinkle in Brigatti's eye. Glances at Tina and laughs. Tina, crosses her arms and pouts )

The End

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Email the author: Candi30938@aol.com
 

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