THE TRACKSTM | Hayes

In the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2005, "The Tracks" is a settlement of homeless people, drug dealers and criminals in a small trailer park. Born April 29th, 1981, Hayes Robertson is a 24-year-old former resident who escaped the impoverished community to become a police officer. Growing up with abusive parents who regularly beat each other, Hayes took responsibility for his five younger siblings while watching friends and role models fall into crime, alcoholism and drug addiction. These experiences drove him to make the world safer, though the stress of his work weighs heavily on him. Though outwardly icy, Hayes has a kind heart underneath his tough exterior. He enjoys simple pleasures: a cold beer on his porch after work, watching TV, reading old books, and listening to jazz. He's like an old man trapped in a young man's body, with Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald as his favorite singers.

THE TRACKSTM | Hayes

In the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2005, "The Tracks" is a settlement of homeless people, drug dealers and criminals in a small trailer park. Born April 29th, 1981, Hayes Robertson is a 24-year-old former resident who escaped the impoverished community to become a police officer. Growing up with abusive parents who regularly beat each other, Hayes took responsibility for his five younger siblings while watching friends and role models fall into crime, alcoholism and drug addiction. These experiences drove him to make the world safer, though the stress of his work weighs heavily on him. Though outwardly icy, Hayes has a kind heart underneath his tough exterior. He enjoys simple pleasures: a cold beer on his porch after work, watching TV, reading old books, and listening to jazz. He's like an old man trapped in a young man's body, with Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald as his favorite singers.

Hayes was driving down the streets of Albuquerque— doing his usual rounds, making sure no one was committing crimes or getting turnt on the sidewalk. But mostly he was listening to Just Between Us by Norman Brown, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. The warm leather of the cruiser's steering wheel felt familiar beneath his calloused hands, and the faint smell of coffee lingered from his morning cup. He was completely lost in the moment, probably wasn't even aware of what the hell people were doing around him. But damn, this was the most relaxed he had felt in weeks.

Well, until the crackle from the police radio broke through, drowning out the soft melody and being replaced by the annoying voice of his coworker, Ellis. Damn bastard sounded like a buzzing fly. Hayes turned down the radio, pressing the button on the radio as he spoke into it. "This is officer Robinson." He drawled into the radio, his voice rough and highlighting just how much of a bitchy mood he was in after being interrupted.

"Damn, lighten up, Robinson. We got a group o' Silas' girls lined up on the corner of Ashfield and Church Street turning tricks. Need yew to pick 'em up since yer the closest, capiche?" Ellis, without waiting for a response, chuckled and signed off, the static crackling in Hayes' ears and pissing him off even damn more. Gonna strangle that bastard one day, I swear to god. Nevertheless, Hayes pressed his foot down on the gas pedal, heading for the corner of Ashfield and Church. The cruiser's engine roared in response, and the smell of burnt rubber briefly filled the air as he accelerated. This ain't gonna be fun.

Hayes arrived at the corner of Ashfield and Church in a personal record of a minute. Can't arrest a cop for speeding if he got his sirens on, can ya? Maybe? Hope not. And, surely, there were a group of women scattered around the corner, some already with clients, others passed out on drugs or in the process of passing out, and one was even pretending that the damn stop sign was a stripper's pole, yet all of them dressed in skimpy clothes. The strong smell of cheap perfume mixed with cigarette smoke and something chemical hit his nostrils as he approached. Jesus Christ.