Chapter 17: The Mentor Shift
Monday Morning, June 11, 2018 - Sergeant Grey's Office
Tim Bradford's POV
Grey looked up from his paperwork when I knocked. "Bradford. What do you need?"
"I want Mercer as my primary boot."
His eyebrow rose. "You have Chen."
"Chen's ready for solo patrol supervision. She doesn't need me hovering anymore." I sat without being invited. "Lopez can take one of the new recruits coming next month. I want Mercer for the next phase of training."
"Why?"
Fair question. I'd spent eight weeks watching the kid rotate through all of us. Most TOs would be happy to pass a problem rookie around. I was requesting one.
"Because he's good. He listens. And somebody needs to make sure his instincts don't get him killed before he figures out how to use them properly."
Grey set down his pen. "His instincts. The same ones that have saved two officers and solved a cold case?"
"The same ones that almost got him punched in the face during that pursuit because he saw danger coming but couldn't react fast enough." I leaned forward. "The kid's got potential. Real potential. But he's also carrying something heavy, and he doesn't know how to ask for help. I can work with that."
"Because you carry things heavy too."
"Exactly."
Grey studied me for a long moment. "You sure about this? Taking on Mercer means you're responsible for wherever his career goes. Good or bad."
"I'm sure."
"Alright. I'll approve it." He made a note. "But Bradford? The kid's unusual. Whatever he's got—the memory, the instincts, all of it—it makes people nervous. Watch his back. Not just from criminals."
I understood. Success bred jealousy. Impossible success bred suspicion.
"I will."
Tuesday Afternoon, June 12, 2018 - Sergeant Grey's Office
Ethan's POV
The summons came during lunch. Grey's office always smelled like coffee and authority.
"Officer Mercer. Bradford requested you as his primary boot."
My stomach dropped. "Sir?"
"This is unusual. Most TOs are happy to rotate problems away, not request them." He folded his hands on the desk. "I'm approving it. But understand what this means. Bradford's standards are the highest in this station. He sees something in you. Don't waste it."
The words hit harder than expected. Tim Bradford—the hardest, most demanding training officer in Mid-Wilshire—wanted me. Not just for rotation days. Permanently.
"I won't, sir." My voice came out steady despite the emotion building in my chest. "I'll make him proud."
"Make yourself proud first. Bradford second. The department third." Grey's expression softened fractionally. "Good work these past eight weeks, Mercer. Keep it up."
I found Tim in the parking lot, checking equipment in his shop.
"Sir. Grey told me."
"Don't make me regret it." He didn't look up from his inspection. "Get in. We've got patrol."
No congratulations. No welcome speech. Just expectation.
It was perfect.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 - Various LA Locations
Lucy Chen's POV
My phone buzzed during briefing. Text from Tim: You're ready for solo supervision. Mercer's my primary boot now. Good luck.
I stared at the message. Tim Bradford didn't do emotions. This was his version of "I'm proud of you."
After briefing, I found Mercer getting coffee.
"Heard you're Bradford's full-time now."
"Yeah." He looked nervous. Excited. Terrified.
"Advice: He's going to push you harder than before. He only does that with people he thinks can handle it." I grabbed my own coffee. "Also, he's emotionally constipated. When he criticizes you, he's usually testing. When he goes quiet, he's impressed."
"How do I know the difference?"
"You don't. That's the fun part." I grinned. "Welcome to the Tim Bradford experience. Enjoy the ride."
Ethan's POV - First Official Day
The first call was a disturbance at a convenience store. Manager said someone was causing trouble, refusing to leave.
Tim parked. Didn't get out immediately.
"Your call. How do you handle it?"
"Sir?"
"You're lead. I'm backup. Show me what Lopez and Bishop taught you."
The pressure was immediate. Tim was testing me, watching to see if I could operate independently.
My danger sense stayed quiet. No immediate threat. Just a nuisance call.
I approached the store. The "troublemaker" was a homeless man, clearly having a mental health crisis, talking to people who weren't there. The manager wanted him gone. The man needed help, not arrest.
"Sir." I kept my voice calm, non-threatening. "I'm Officer Mercer. Can we talk outside?"
He focused on me, eyes wild but not violent. "They're watching. Always watching."
"I know. Let's talk about it outside. Away from them."
It took ten minutes of patient conversation, but he followed me out. I called for mental health services instead of arresting him. Crisis intervention, not incarceration.
Tim said nothing until we were back in the shop.
"Good call. Recognized it was mental health, not criminal. De-escalated without force." He started the engine. "Now do it again, but faster. You spent too long inside. Faster assessment, quicker de-escalation."
I grinned despite the criticism. That was Tim's version of praise.
Angela Lopez's POV
My phone buzzed at end of shift. Text from Mercer: Thanks for teaching me. Bradford's requested me full-time.
I responded: Good. He's the best TO in the division, even if he won't admit he cares. Make us proud, boot.
Then, separately: Also, he definitely cares. He's just emotionally constipated.
Wesley looked over my shoulder. "Who's emotionally constipated?"
"Bradford."
"Ah. The grumpy one."
"The competent one who happens to be grumpy." I put my phone away. "Mercer's going to be good. Bradford will make sure of it."
"You sound proud."
"I am. Kid came in as a rich boy playing cop. Now he's actually becoming a cop." I smiled. "Hell, he might be better than good. He might be great."
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