Kowalski Gets Her Man

© Alex de Kok, 2003

Captain Peterson was just winding up his morning briefing when Kathy came awake with a mental thud as she heard her name called.

"Kowalski, Gonzalez, Henderson and Jones - my office in five minutes. The rest of you - you know what to do, ladies and gentlemen. Get out there and do it!"

The squadroom came alive with the usual morning bustle as the officers dispersed to their various duties and assignments. Kathy waited for the crowd to disperse and made her way across to Rita Gonzalez; apart from herself, the youngest uniform on the force.

"Any ideas, Rita?"

Rita shook her head. "None, Kathy. We'll find out soon enough anyway."

"I guess so." She glanced across the now virtually deserted squadroom to where Detectives Tim Henderson and John 'Jack' Jones were in conversation. "Come on, we'll see if the others know anything."

"Do you guys know anything about why the Captain wants us?"

Henderson shook his head. "No idea, Kowalski. You?"

Kathy shook her head. "None." She glanced at her watch. "It's time to find out anyway."

There was a stranger in Peterson's office, a good-looking woman of about forty or so. She smiled tentatively as the four officers filed into the office.

"Close the door, Jones." Peterson surveyed the four officers, a half-smile on his face. "Mrs Janisi is Secretary of the Hay Cove Sun Club - "

"The nudist place?" Jones sounded surprised.

The woman nodded.

"Sorry, Captain," said Jones.

Peterson nodded. "The club has been having some problems. I'll let Mrs Janisi explain."

"We've been having a lot of thefts on the beach. I don't know if any of you know Hay Cove?" She paused expectantly. The four officers looked at each other, shaking their heads. "Well, Hay Cove is very pretty, but it's not wide open. There are lots of pine trees and what the club has done is to make some little clearings just off the beach, so that groups can have shelter and a little privacy from other groups, while having free access to the beach. We have security on the main gate to the estate, and at the changing area. Clothes aren't allowed beyond the changing area and that includes security personnel. We do have security personnel who patrol the beach, but they are all known to the members and nothing happens when they are around."

"Which is where you four come in," Peterson growled.

"Whoa, Captain," said Jones, looking alarmed. "Is this going where I think it's going?"

"I suggested to the Captain that the only way to find out anything might be to place undercover officers among the members," said Janisi.

"Under cover doesn't sound right in these circumstances," said Gonzalex, flushed but with a secretive little grin on her face. "Un-covered, maybe."

"Next Monday, July fourteenth, is National Nude Day. We expect that quite a few extra people will be there, as we're offering day-only memberships so that people can find out a little more about naturism." Janisi smiled at the officers. "I think the thieves might try for a higher take."

Kathy finally found her voice, her mind racing. Would she dare? "Captain, why us?"

"Henderson and Jones already have a good track record, and they're young and fit."

"And us?" said Gonzalez, indicating herself and Kathy. "We're uniform. You have women detectives."

Peterson smiled at her. "All on assignment. Henderson and Jones have just come back from leave and are being reassigned. You and Kowalski have both applied for transfer to plain clothes detective work. You both have high scores in your tests, and you both have good records in unarmed combat. It's difficult to hide a gun when you're naked. Together, in couples, no-one will look twice."

"Our day-only offer is for couples and families," Janisi added.

"I won't order you to do this," said Peterson, "but..."

"Put that way we don't have a lot of choice," said Gonzalez ruefully. "I was going to say yes anyway," she added with a grin and a sideways glance at Henderson and Jones.

"Kowalski?"

Kathy flushed. "Yes, Captain." She gave a lopsided smile. "I'll probably blush like a summer sunset."

Janisi nodded, smiling. "You will. For the first five minutes. After that, no-one notices."

"What's the teams, Captain?"

"Up to you."

"Kathy?" said Henderson. "Think you could work with me?"

Pleased, because she liked the sandy-haired detective, Kathy cocked her head. "Yeah, you might do." Henderson grinned.

"Guess it's you and me, Jack," said Gonzalez.

"Guess so," said Jones, looking pleased.

"I have other work to do, so would you guys take Mrs. Janisi and discuss how you're going to handle this? Use one of the interview rooms. When you've done that, I want Kowalski and Gonzalez to go home and change into civilian clothes. As of now, you're probationary detectives. Today's Friday, the open day is Monday. I want you to work in the teams you just agreed." Peterson scowled at the four young officers. "There have been a lot of muggings in the Ashton area. I want both teams prowling around there. You'll be on call for anything else. Okay?"

"Yes, sir, Captain," said Kathy.

"Si, mi Capitan," said Gonzalez brightly.

Peterson's eyebrows went up but he waved them out. "Go!"

In the interview room they discussed the layout of the club and the bay. Janisi had brought a map and they studied it.

"You say everything's been happening on the beach?"

"So far as we know."

"No-one's seen anything?"

"Nothing."

"We'll have to play it by ear, then," said Henderson.

"Can people take bags onto the beach?" Kathy asked

"Of course. Sun block, picnic food, towels. You know, the usual beach things. Everything but clothing."

"We can take our guns and badges, even if we can't wear them," Gonzalez muttered.

"Good point, Rita." Jones winked at her. "Where would you pin your badge anyway?" Gonzalez stuck her tongue out at him.

"Is there anything else?" said Janisi, fighting a smile. "If there isn't, give me all of your names. I'll get some day-passes made out for Monday and drop them off tomorrow. If we meet on Monday, my name's Karen."

"I'm Kathy." Scribbling the names down.

"Tim."

"Jack."

"Rita."

Janisi nodded. "Until Monday. Thank you Kathy," taking the list of names from her.

Kathy enjoyed working with Henderson. The tall detective had an easy-going manner and a sharp wit. Nothing particularly exciting happened in Kathy's first three days as a detective, so she was able to try and establish a working relationship with Tim Henderson. She was pleased that he didn't try any macho male superiority. Instead, she found him willing to listen to her and he was happy enough to let her share the questioning when they were interviewing some punks they pulled in after catching them in the act of shoplifting.

Sunday night Henderson dropped Kathy at her apartment. He switched off the car engine and sat back.

"Tomorrow," he said.

Kathy grinned fleetingly, beginning to feel nervous when she thought of what the Monday would bring. "What about tomorrow?"

"Badge and gun in your beach bag, hidden but easy to get at. How you going to do that?"

"The bag I'm going to bring has an inside pocket. I've rigged up a plastic frame that holds it open just enough to get my gun out quickly. I've tried it and it works."

"What about keeping it concealed?"

"A handkerchief stuffed lightly in the top of the pocket. It looks normal."

"Sounds good. What about food? What shall we do?"

Kathy liked the 'we'. "If you like, I'll make sandwiches. How about chicken and pastrami? I'll make salad as well."

"Sounds great, Kathy. Drinks?"

"You get some. Lots of water! We could be there all day."

"I can think of worse ways to spend a day," said Henderson lightly. "All those naked chicks!"

"And kids and grannies and fat old men," Kathy responded tartly.

"True." Henderson started the car engine and Kathy got out. "Nine o'clock. Be ready, partner."

"See ya then."

Getting ready for bed that night, Kathy stood naked before the bedroom mirror, carefully studying herself. She had trimmed her pubic hair neatly to her bikini line, laughing to herself as she thought, 'no bikini'. She knew she was trim and fit. 'There's nothing else I can do. The team has to take me as I am'. She blew herself a kiss and climbed into bed.

Kathy woke early next morning, showering carefully, grateful that her auburn hair was cut short and took little care or drying. She dressed lightly, only panties and a light sundress, a pair of Scholl sandals on her feet. She took her H&K 9mm and practiced drawing it quickly from her bag, then tucked the gun and her badge out of sight under a handkerchief in the modified pocket.

By nine o'clock she was ready, sandwiches made, some soft drinks in a cooler bag. Henderson's battered Ford pulled up outside and she went down.

"Morning, partner." Tim was relaxed in shorts and t-shirt.

"Hi, Tim." Kathy flopped into the seat beside Henderson, tossing her bags into the back seat. She exhaled violently.

"Ready?"

She grimaced. "I guess so."

"Nervous?"

"Hell, yes! I've never been naked in public before." She laughed shortly. "You?"

"Nope. I think it's a first for all of us."

"Let's go. Sooner we get there, sooner we settle the butterflies."

It seemed no time at all before they were at the club, a short queue of vehicles waiting to pass the gate. The day-passes provided by Karen Janisi got them quickly through and they easily found a slot in the big tree-shaded car park. A long, low building housed the administration facilities, together with a pair of buildings, easily identified as the changing facilities. Some teenagers wearing Sun Club t-shirts and shorts were guiding day-visitors. The changing-rooms had more lockers than Kathy had ever seen before. There were a few women around, but she didn't see Gonzalez.

'Changing' took her twenty seconds. She didn't really need a locker but the key system gave her an idea, so she put her shoes, panties and sundress into a locker and took the key. The exit from the changing area was on the opposite side to the entrance. A sign over the door made her pause for a moment, but she took a deep breath and went out under the 'No Clothing Beyond This Point' exhortation.

"Kathy?" It was Henderson.

"Hi, Tim." She could feel herself going red.

By unspoken mutual consent they studied each other for a moment. Kathy liked what she saw. Henderson obviously kept himself in trim, the smooth muscles of an athlete moving easily under his lightly tanned skin, a tan suddenly, shockingly, broken by the area of un-tanned skin at his mid-section, making her suddenly aware of her own pale breasts and butt. Kathy looked fleetingly at his prick. 'Decent size', she thought, 'not too big for me. Hell, where didthat thought come from!'

"You look sensational, Kowalski." Tim's voice was warm. He reached out and took her hand. "Come on, the beach is this way. Remember, we're a couple!"

Henderson's obvious admiration relaxed Kathy a little, so she was able to study her surroundings. Hay Cove was lovely. Dropping quite steeply from the buildings, the path wound through the pines, leading to Hay Cove itself, the sand dotted with people, more visible in the clearings Karen Janisi had mentioned.

"Plenty of cover among the pines if you can move quietly," said Henderson, "and anyone moving through the sand will be almost inaudible. I think we're looking for a team here. Someone to distract the victims while someone else lifts the goodies."

"Makes sense," said Kathy, scanning the area herself. "Have you seen anything of Jack and Rita? Or Karen Janisi?"

"Not so far. I haven't seen anyone I recognise. Is that good or bad?" Henderson laughed. "Maybe the people we know don't go naked on Mondays." He gave a low whistle and pointed. "Is that Janisi over there?"

Kathy squinted. "Yep, sure is. Want to say hello?"

"I guess. She might have seen Jack and Rita."

Karen Janisi was obviously a regular sun-worshipper, because her tan was even and all-encompassing. She was pleased to see them and yes, she had seen Jack and Rita.

"They went that way," she said, pointing North. "Said they were going to find a place just off the beach." She smiled. "Your friend has a spectacular figure."

"Rita? I've only ever seen her in uniform," said Kathy, suddenly curious.

"We'll see you later, Karen. Come on, Kowalski. Let's look for your spectacular friend."

Kathy made a face and Janisi smiled as Tim hauled her away.

Jack and Rita spotted them first and called them over. Janisi was right, Rita did have a sensational figure. Smooth olive skin and lush curves normally concealed by her uniform, whenever she moved she was the centre of attention, female as well as male. She grinned as Kathy and Tim came up, a slight flush on her face.

"I'm enjoying this, I think I'm a born exhibitionist."

"We're here to work, Rita, remember?" Kathy was conscious of Jones quick assessment of her figure. 'Tim's prick's bigger', she thought, suddenly amused.

Rita pulled a face. "How are we going to do this? Anyone any ideas?" She glanced around. No-one was near and as far as they could tell people assumed they were friends who were just chatting.

"So far as I can tell there's only one route off the beach," said Kathy. "How about if we set up a base somewhere there? We can take turns 'cruising'. It seems to be the norm here." She gestured to two or three couples wandering apparently aimlessly. "We can look out for any attention seekers who might be decoys."

"Sounds feasible," said Jack. "Any other ideas? Signals? We might need to indicate from a distance that we've seen something, without necessarily yelling about it."

"I did think of something," said Kathy. "These locker keys?" She held up her arm. The key was in a pouch on a wrist strap held with Velcro. They each had them, she'd noticed. "We'll need to keep a careful watch on each other, but if we all start with them on the right wrist, we can move them to the left if we see something." She shrugged. "It might be too subtle, but they are nice and bright." She gestured at the day-glo band on her wrist.

"It's something," Tim declared. "We'll use it. If anyone thinks of anything else, sing out." He paused. "Any ideas?"

No-one spoke. "Okay," said Rita. "Let's set up base. I need some sunblock, and soon!"

Five minutes later they'd found a spot near the pathway, tucked in a little clearing. While giving a clear view of the path, the view of the beach was a little obscure and seemed to be the reason no-one else had claimed it. They spent a few minutes applying sunblock. Tim did Kathy's back and she relished the feel of his strong hands on her skin, disturbed suddenly to feel herself moistening. She was amused to see that he made a point of being in front of her when she rubbed the sunblock onto her breasts.

"Who's gonna do the first cruise?" Rita asked, rubbing sunblock onto her shaved mound. Three extra sets of eyes watched the movement of her hand.

Tim shook himself. "Kathy? How about we do it?" He gestured. "We'll head North, slowly, along the water's edge. When we get there, we'll sit for about five minutes, then we'll come back along the tree line, past here to the south end. Five minutes, then back here along the water's edge. Then you two can do the same, but go North along the tree line and come back along the beach. Anyone got a better idea?"

"What do we do while you're away? It'll take you nearly an hour, I guess." Jack shrugged. "I suppose this is a kind of stakeout."

"Keep an eye on who's coming in and going out, especially if you recognise anyone that we know professionally. Investigate anything unusual." Tim shrugged. "I've never tried to find a thief with no clothes on before."

Rita snorted. "Hell, man, it's all firsts! First time as a detective, first time working with a partner, first time taking my clothes off in public. God knows what my grandmother would make of it!"

"Is she here too?" Tim asked innocently.

Rita punched his arm. "Idiot!"

Tim turned to Kathy. "Kathy, take your beach bag. If you don't mind I'll put my badge and gun in it. We can take turns carrying it."

"Okay, but we'll leave the food here. I made enough for four," she said to the others, "so help yourself."

"Rita laughed. "I did too! At least we won't starve."

"Come on, Kathy. Let's cruise!"

Kathy slung her bag with the two guns over her shoulder and she and Tim went hand in hand down to the water's edge, turning North, strolling idly, skipping sideways to avoid the bigger waves. Tim squeezed her fingers.

"I like this. I wish we weren't working."

"Me too. You're a nice guy to be with, Tim."

"You mean that?"

"I said it."

"Have dinner with me tonight?"

"I'd love to." She shook her head and Henderson could see a bright spot of colour on each cheek. "I feel like everyone is watching us."

"You, not us, Kathy. Deep breath, shoulders back, push those gorgeous tits out. You're the best-looking woman on the beach."

Kathy laughed, the need to hide herself fading rapidly as she began to realise that the looks coming her way were mostly admiring, from women as well as men. She caught the direction of a harassed mother's glance, her two pre-school children arguing with each other, and laughed.

"What?" said Henderson.

"They're not just looking at me. See that woman with the two kids?"

"What about her?"

"She was checking out your dick. She licked her lips and looked hungry, I swear."

Tim looked embarrassed. "You have no idea how hard I'm fighting an erection, Kowalski."

Kathy grinned. "Mmm, I'd like to see that," she purred, teasing him.

"Not here," he said bluntly.

About to respond, something caught Kathy's eye. "Hey, is that the sort of distraction we're looking for?"

There was a gasp from Tim. "Are those tits real?"

"Dunno. Can't tell from here." Kathy grinned at her companion. There was indeed no way to tell if the bouncing tits were real or enhanced. There were four of them, attached to two girls so alike as to be peas from the same pod, tanned all over, sun-streaked blonde hair. Typical beach bunnies. The girls were playing beach volleyball in company with six or eight other youngsters. There was much squealing and name-calling and inevitably almost everyone nearby was watching.

"Watch the background, Kathy. See anything suspicious?"

Kathy looked carefully beyond the game. Nothing much seemed to be happening. She saw a young man walk to one of the post-mounted garbage cans scattered along the tree-line and discard some waste. Nothing else was moving except the game and some younger children playing in the sea.

"I don't see anything, Tim. You?"

Henderson shook his head. "Zilch. Come on, we'll keep moving."

They headed North, reaching the limit of the cove a few minutes later. They sat down on a flat rock and surveyed the beach. The youngsters in the volleyball game were sitting now, relaxing, chatting. There did seem to be some sort of disturbance near the garbage can Kathy had noticed.

"Something going on down there, Tim. Shall we stroll over?"

"Might as well."

The garbage cans were mounted on stout wooden posts and Kathy realised that there were several of them. They were scattered along the edge of the trees, just off the beach, obviously for the use of the visitors to the cove.

As they neared the commotion, Kathy spotted Karen Janisi. She spotted Tim and Kathy at the same moment and glanced around, then made her way over to the two detectives, frowning. She looked around, to make sure that she could not be overheard.

"Another robbery. Do you want to do anything official at the moment? Mrs Solomon is insisting we call the police."

"We never saw anything. Call it in, Karen. We'll keep looking. They may try again, you never know."