Chapter 16: The Halloween Heist Proposal
Monday, June 4, 2018 - Mid-Wilshire Station, Captain Andersen's Office
I'd rehearsed this pitch for three days. Captain Andersen sat behind her desk, Sergeant Grey standing by the window, arms crossed. Both wore expressions of professional skepticism.
"Officer Mercer." Andersen gestured to the chair. "You requested this meeting. You have ten minutes."
I sat, pulled out the folder I'd prepared. "I want to propose a station-wide event. A Halloween Heist."
"A what?"
"Competitive scavenger hunt. Teams of officers compete to find hidden items across LA using clues. Filmed for community outreach. Prize money for the winner." I slid the proposal across her desk. "And a million-dollar donation to the LAPD fund regardless of outcome."
Silence.
Grey's eyebrow achieved new altitude. "You want to donate a million dollars so we can play games?"
"I want to donate a million dollars to support the department. The heist is a bonus—team building, community relations, positive press. The NYPD's Nine-Nine precinct did something similar. It was hugely popular."
"That's a TV show," Andersen said.
"Inspired by real team-building exercises. Ma'am, the department needs good press. Community relations are strained. This would show officers as human, accessible, fun. Plus it's excellent recruitment material."
Captain Zoe Andersen's POV
The kid had clearly thought this through. The proposal was detailed—liability waivers, insurance coverage, rules and regulations, timeline, budget breakdown. Professional grade work.
"This sounds like organized chaos, Officer Mercer."
"It's team building with stakes. And it'll help recruiting and community relations." He leaned forward. "Ma'am, you approved my assignment here despite reservations. You said my family thought I needed purpose. This is part of that purpose—using resources to do good."
Grey spoke up. "You want me to approve officers running around the city playing games while on duty?"
"Off-duty event. Weekend day. Voluntary participation. No one's on the clock. Everything documented for transparency."
"Safety concerns?" I asked.
"Civilian volunteers will staff checkpoints. No actual crimes, no dangerous stunts. Teams must follow all traffic laws. Any violation results in disqualification." He pulled out another document. "My uncle's law firm drafted comprehensive waivers. Every participant signs acknowledging they're acting as private citizens, not on behalf of LAPD."
I read through the proposal. Thorough. Almost suspiciously thorough for a seven-week rookie.
"If—and that's a big if—I approve this, there are rules. No actual crimes committed. No civilian disruption. Everything documented. Insurance covered." I looked up. "And Officer Mercer, you're personally liable if this goes sideways."
"Understood, ma'am."
Sergeant Wade Grey's POV
The kid was serious. A million dollars serious. And the proposal was solid—I'd read enough administrative documents to recognize professional legal work.
"You'll participate as a regular competitor?" I asked. "Not organizer-with-advantage?"
"Yes, sir. Teams will be announced day-of. Random assignment. No one gets advance knowledge of clues or locations."
"And the prize money?"
"Ten thousand dollars. Legal maximum for gift under California law without tax complications. Winner can donate it or keep it. Their choice."
Andersen and I exchanged glances. The same thought: This could actually work. Or it could be a spectacular disaster.
"I need time to consider," Andersen said. "I'll have legal review the proposal. If—and only if—they approve, we'll discuss implementation."
"Thank you, ma'am."
He left. I turned to Andersen.
"Thoughts?"
"He's either brilliant or insane," she said. "Possibly both."
"The donation's real?"
"I'll verify with his family. But Rebecca Mercer's nephew has that kind of money." She tapped the proposal. "If legal clears it, I'm inclined to approve. We could use positive press. And a million dollars would fund community programs for years."
"He's been here seven weeks."
"And in those seven weeks, he's solved a cold case, saved two officers' lives, and scored highest on training evaluations." She smiled. "Let's see what else he can do."
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 - Station Bullpen
Word spread faster than wildfire. By afternoon shift, everyone knew about Mercer's proposal.
Lopez found me at my desk. "You're seriously donating a million dollars for this?"
"It's a good cause. It'll be fun. And honestly?" I met her eyes. "My parents' money should do something meaningful. They'd approve."
"A million dollars, Mercer. That's not pocket change."
"It's also not mine. Not really. They left it to me. I'm just the custodian. Might as well use it right."
Tim walked past, overheard. "You bribed the Captain with a million dollars to let us play games?"
"I donated to a good cause and suggested we have fun. Slightly different."
"Uh-huh." But his expression wasn't disapproving. "When's the heist?"
"If approved, Halloween weekend. October twenty-seventh."
Lucy materialized from nowhere. "I'm winning that ten thousand dollars."
"You haven't even heard the rules yet."
"Don't care. I'm winning." She grinned. "Bradford, we need to team up."
"I work alone, Chen."
"Not for ten thousand dollars you don't."
Jackson joined the growing crowd. "This is actually happening?"
"If legal approves and Captain agrees. But yeah. Probably."
Nolan clapped me on the shoulder. "This is amazing, neighbor. You're going to make a lot of people happy."
The station buzzed with energy. People planning strategies, forming alliances, trash-talking their competition. Even Grey looked amused despite his professional skepticism.
I watched the chaos I'd created and felt something unexpected: belonging.
These weren't just colleagues anymore. They were family. And I'd just given them something to look forward to, something fun amid the darkness of the job.
Andersen's alive because I haven't let her die yet. Jackson's alive because I keep saving him. Armstrong's being watched. And now I'm using inherited money to build something good.
Maybe I was figuring out how to live this second life after all.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - Captain Andersen's Office
"Legal approved it," Andersen said without preamble. "With modifications. Liability waivers for all participants. City insurance will cover the event if we classify it as a community outreach program. Which means I'm officially approving the First Annual Mid-Wilshire Halloween Heist."
I'd expected to feel excited. Instead, I felt the weight of responsibility.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Don't thank me yet. You're organizing this, Mercer. With supervision from Sergeant Grey. Screw it up and it's on you."
"Understood."
"And Mercer?" She smiled. "This is good work. Using privilege for something meaningful. Your parents would be proud."
I left her office carrying approval documents and the knowledge that I'd just committed to organizing a station-wide event while keeping my powers secret, watching Armstrong, protecting Jackson, and somehow surviving my rookie year.
What have I gotten myself into?
But the answer was simple: exactly what I needed to do.
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