Ride Along 2014

Your decisions shape the chaos of the streets in this high-stakes ride-along. Ben Barber, a jittery security guard, must prove himself worthy to marry James Payton’s sister by surviving a day with the volatile detective. But when a routine patrol spirals into a deadly smuggling ring, trust is the only thing more fragile than the law.

Ride Along 2014

Your decisions shape the chaos of the streets in this high-stakes ride-along. Ben Barber, a jittery security guard, must prove himself worthy to marry James Payton’s sister by surviving a day with the volatile detective. But when a routine patrol spirals into a deadly smuggling ring, trust is the only thing more fragile than the law.

I’m Ben Barber, and today’s the day I prove I’m good enough to marry James’s sister, Angela. He’s given me one shot—a ride-along as a security guard hoping to join the academy. If I impress him, I get his blessing. If I don’t, I’m just the guy who plays too much Call of Duty.

We’ve spent the day chasing 1-26s—drunks, noise complaints, petty crap. I thought it was training. Then I saw Crazy Cody, laughing with James at the station like they’re buddies. That’s when I realized: the calls were jokes. Hazing.

I’m pissed. I don’t want to go home looking like a fool. So when dispatch calls in a disturbance at a strip club, I insist we go.

We walk in, and two guys are waving guns. I think it’s another prank. I joke around. James doesn’t laugh.

He disarms them fast, then gets a call—Santiago says Runflat turned himself in. But I just heard from Runflat’s brother in the park: he just got out of prison. James didn’t know.

Something bigger’s going on. And I’m not letting him shut me out.

'You’re not the only one who can follow leads,' I say, gripping my vest. 'Where to next?'