One Detail
Now Officer Simmons was right outside the window of the white cruiser. There was no doubting what he had noticed. It may have looked like his car from 20 years ago, but whoever set him up had forgotten one tiny detail.
He was sure of it now. This wasn't his car. His keen detective's intuition screamed at him to look for clues, and that's what he found. But that's when he felt a hand grab his shoulder from behind.
Just An Old School Cop
He had been part of the Polk County Sheriff's Office for longer than most people remembered. He was what you'd call an "old school cop." He saw the dozens of people come and go while he stayed by the police station for decades.
One thing that Officer Jason Simmons noticed was the way policing had changed over the years. Most officers weren't nearly as tough as they used to be. Something he'd soon know all too well.
Officer Jason Simmons
Officer Jason Simmons had dedicated 20 years of his life to being an officer of the law. The job came with a lot of difficulties, like risking his neck every day. His wife also lost a lot of sleep, wondering if her husband was alright.
It definitely put a strain on everything, but at the end of the day, it was Simmons' responsibility to protect his county and make sure its citizens were safe.
Lots Of Changes
With 20 years under his belt, Simmons' had seen a lot of changes in his department. He remembered when he first joined the force - he had gotten his first patrol car - a model they didn't make anymore.
It was a car he fondly remembered. There was something special about his first service pistol, his first baton, and his first car.
Good Memories
Simmons' thought more about his old service car than he liked to admit. Most officers would jump at the chance of getting a new patrol car with zero mileage and a pristine interior. After enough suspects sit in the backseats, the car doesn't smell the same.
But despite all of this, he would trade his current patrol car for his original vehicle in a heartbeat. But he should have been careful what he wished for.
Good Colleagues
Despite the age gap between Simmons and most of his colleagues, they were always on good terms. They were almost what you could call a family. The bond at the Polk County Sheriff's Office was a strong one.
But all of that would change one day when his colleagues got a strange call. The looks on their faces showed that it was anything but normal.
A Phone Call
His colleagues relayed to him what the phone call was about. They said that there wasn't much info to go on, but it had something to do with a suspicious car. It had arrived anonymously at the front of the station.
They told him that they wanted him to take the lead and investigate the car. But why had they chosen him? Soon, he would find out.
A Car He'd Never Expect To See
Simmons descended the stairs that led to the front lobby of their police station. He was reluctant to walk out of the air-conditioned out into the hot Florida sun, but duty called just like it always did.
He walked out into the hot air of the tar parking lot. He had to walk 10 meters round the corner where the car was. But once he saw it, his jaw dropped open.
His Old Car
Simmons couldn't believe it. It was his old cruiser from 20 years ago. But that couldn't be right, could it? He decided to be cautious. He never knew who could be out to get him. Being a cop meant you made a lot of enemies.
He slowly approached the car and looked around the car, and examined the fenders, the bumpers, and the doors. He just wanted to be sure he knew what he was dealing with. But then he noticed something strange.
Had Someone Set Him Up?
The whole situation didn't sit right with him. Where had this car come from? And who was setting him up? It had to have been someone that knew he had a long career with his department.
But he went from suspicious to provoked when he noticed a small detail about the car that caught him off guard. And once his squad joined him, things would only take a weirder turn.
The White Cruiser
Now Officer Simmons was right outside the window of the white cruiser. There was no doubting what he had noticed. It may have looked like his car from 20 years ago, but whoever set him up had forgotten one tiny detail.
He was sure of it now. This wasn't his car. His keen detective's intuition screamed at him to look for clues, and that's what he found. But that's when he felt a hand grab his shoulder from behind.
A Small Detail
Simmons deducted that the car wasn't his because of a small detail that had been neglected. The color of his seats! Sure, they could have been reupholstered, but his intuition as a police officer told him he was right.
Just as he smiled with satisfaction, he felt a cold hand on his shoulder from behind. He spun to face whoever had ambushed him, but it was just his squad from the precinct. And what they told him would change his life forever.
A Surprise
The officer that grabbed his shoulder said, "Woah, there! Do you like the car? The whole precinct chipped in to get you the exact model you had 20 years ago. We know how special it was to you. You can never stop talking about it!"
The gears in Simmons' head started turning. Then it clicked. This car was for him. He couldn't believe that his colleagues would do such a kind and thoughtful thing.
A Beautiful Gesture
The chief of the precinct must have let them know how much the car meant to him. But then Simmons did something that only his wife had ever seen. He broke down and started crying.
It had caught him completely off guard. The car was beautiful, and it looked just like his old one. The gesture made it feel so much more special.
Nostalgia
A few moments later and Simmons was in the driver's seat. He felt nostalgia wash over him as he inserted the key and turned it. The engine roared to life, and he put on his sunglasses. He was transported back 20 years when he was better looking and more driven. He decided to give the old girl a spin around the block. He hated the idea of keeping it in a garage, too scared to get a small dent in it. This would become his new service vehicle.
In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.