Chapter 9: The Prank War Begins
Monday Morning, May 14, 2018 - Mid-Wilshire Station, Locker Room
I'd survived a month. Four full weeks of rotation, power management, and keeping secrets. The locker room felt almost comfortable now—the smell of old sweat and metal, the sound of cops trading shift stories.
My combination clicked open. I pulled the door—
A fake spider dropped onto my head.
I screamed. Full-throated, embarrassing, high-pitched scream that echoed off the tile walls.
The entire locker room exploded in laughter.
Tim Bradford leaned against his locker, arms crossed, expression deadpan. "Thought you had danger sense, boot."
Lucy Chen was bent over, holding her ribs. "That was beautiful. I got it on video."
"Delete that," I said, pulling the rubber spider from my hair.
"Absolutely not. This is going in the station hall of fame."
Jackson wiped tears from his eyes. "Mercer's Luck doesn't cover fake spiders, apparently."
Tim's mouth twitched. Almost a smile. "Just testing your reflexes."
I held the spider, feeling the weight of it. Cheap dollar store rubber. Tim had probably planned this all weekend.
Oh, it's on.
"Good one, sir." I dropped the spider in my locker. "Really got me."
Tim's eyes narrowed slightly. He'd expected more reaction—anger, embarrassment, something. Not calm acceptance.
But I was already planning.
Tuesday Morning, May 15, 2018 - Station Parking Lot
Tim Bradford's POV
Something was wrong with the shop. I opened the driver's door and immediately knew—the seat was jammed all the way forward. Too far for me to fit my legs.
A note sat on the steering wheel: "Thought you had situational awareness, TO."
Behind me, Chen's laughter carried across the parking lot.
"Problem, Bradford?" She leaned against her car, grinning.
"Mercer," I called.
The boot emerged from the station, coffee in hand, expression perfectly innocent.
"Yes, sir?"
"My seat."
"Huh. That's weird." He sipped his coffee. "Maybe maintenance was checking something?"
"Maintenance doesn't leave notes."
"Oh, there's a note? What's it say?"
Lucy lost it. Full cackle.
I adjusted the seat, crumpling the note. "You just started something, boot."
"Started what, sir? I'm confused."
The deadpan delivery was almost perfect. Kid had a future in undercover work.
"Get in the shop. We're late."
But I was already planning my response.
Wednesday Morning, May 16, 2018 - Break Room
Lucy Chen's POV
The break room buzzed with morning activity. Officers grabbed coffee, traded case notes, prepared for shift.
Lopez leaned against the counter next to me. "This prank war is getting out of hand."
"Bradford started it."
"And Mercer escalated." She poured coffee. "Now Jackson's involved. Nolan's taking sides. I heard someone put googly eyes on Grey's office window."
"That was me."
Lopez nearly choked on her coffee. "Chen."
"What? Grey needed his window decorated. It was too plain."
"He's going to suspend someone."
"Probably." I grinned. "Worth it though."
The door opened. Nolan walked in, saw the coffee pot, made a weird face.
"What?" I asked.
"Someone replaced the regular with decaf. Three days running." He looked exhausted. "I've been dragging all week."
Lopez and I exchanged glances.
"That's psychological warfare," Lopez said.
"That's Tim," I countered. "He doesn't do half-measures."
Across the room, Jackson whispered something to Mercer. They both looked at Tim's locker. Whatever they were planning, it was going to be good.
Wednesday Afternoon - Sergeant Grey's Office
Grey called me in after a domestic disturbance call. I stood at attention, wondering which prank had finally crossed the line.
"Officer Mercer." Grey's eyebrow was at maximum elevation. "I've received seventeen complaints this week. Seventeen. About pranks."
"Sir, I—"
"I'm not finished." He leaned back. "Thirteen of those complaints came from Officer Bradford. One came from Officer Chen. Two came from civilians who witnessed officers behaving unprofessionally in public. And one came from Officer West, who claims someone filled his gym bag with packing peanuts."
"That wasn't me, sir."
"I didn't ask if it was you. I'm telling you that this station is devolving into chaos." His expression didn't match his words though. The corner of his mouth twitched. "If work is affected—if civilians are disturbed—if I get one more complaint about googly eyes on my window—people will be suspended. Are we clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Good. Dismissed."
I made it to the door before he spoke again.
"Mercer."
"Sir?"
"The seat prank was clever. Bradford's been insufferable about it." He didn't smile. But the eyebrow lowered. "Carry on."
Friday Evening, May 18, 2018 - Ethan's Mansion
The second official gathering. This time everyone knew what they were walking into—ridiculous wealth and good company.
Jackson brought beer. Lucy brought chips. Nolan showed up with a board game nobody would play. Lopez arrived with Wesley, her boyfriend, who stared at the mansion with undisguised awe.
"You live here," Wesley said. Not a question. A statement of disbelief.
"I do."
"I'm a lawyer. I make good money. I will never make enough money for this."
Lopez patted his shoulder. "None of us will, babe. That's okay."
We settled around the pool. The LA evening was perfect—warm but not hot, clear sky, city lights creating artificial stars.
"So," Jackson said, opening a beer. "The prank war."
Everyone groaned.
"We need rules," he continued. "Structure. Make it official."
"Why would we make chaos official?" Lucy asked.
"Because chaos with rules is competition. Competition is fun." Jackson leaned forward. "I propose a formal Prank Championship. Teams. Points. Winner gets bragging rights."
"And money," I added. "I'll put up a prize. Say, five hundred dollars?"
"A thousand," Lopez countered. "Make it worth the effort."
"Done."
Tim—who'd shown up late, still suspicious about why he was invited—shook his head. "You're all insane."
"You started it," Lucy pointed out.
"I did one prank."
"Which created a monster." She gestured at the group. "Now we're organizing. This is your fault."
"I'm not participating in a formal prank competition."
"Scared you'll lose?" I asked.
Tim's eyes narrowed. "I never lose."
"Prove it."
Silence. Everyone watched. Tim's jaw worked.
"Fine. But we have rules. No property damage. No civilian involvement. Nothing that affects actual police work."
"Agreed," Jackson said immediately. "I'll draw up the rules. We'll start official competition next month."
Nolan raised his beer. "To the first annual Mid-Wilshire Prank Championship."
Everyone drank. Even Tim.
I looked around the pool area—my friends, my team, my family. The prank war was silly. But it was also proof that I belonged here. That this wasn't just a mission to save people.
It was a life.
Author's Note / Promotion:
Your Reviews and Power Stones are the best way to show support. They help me know what you're enjoying and bring in new readers!
You don't have to. Get instant access to more content by supporting me on Patreon. I have three options so you can pick how far ahead you want to be:
🪙 Silver Tier ($6): Read 10 chapters ahead of the public site.
👑 Gold Tier ($9): Get 15-20 chapters ahead of the public site.
💎 Platinum Tier ($15): The ultimate experience. Get new chapters the second I finish them . No waiting for weekly drops, just pure, instant access.
Your support helps me write more .
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/fanficwriter1