to lower her voice. “Listen, Captain—”
“No,
you
listen. You just lost your partner. It’s tough…I appreciate that. But you’ve still got a dozen open files, including the River Drive thing. You can’t do it alone, and Watts is available. If he’s an asshole, learn to live with it. I don’t care how you do it, just do it!”
“What’s he got? Friends in high places?” she asked, her blue eyes dark with scorn, mindless of rank or protocol. All she could see was Watts sitting in Jeff’s chair, at Jeff’s desk—where Jeff should be right now, telling her about his night with Shelley. She was shaking, but she didn’t know that.
Henry’s neck muscles tightened, and a flush rose to darken his features. His voice was deadly cold as he spoke. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that, Sergeant. Just this once. Because you’re a good cop. But don’t think I won’t bust your ass out of here if you step over the line.” He watched her carefully, wondering if she was even listening. “IAD wants to see you. Take care of that, and then get back to work.”
She didn’t reply, there was nothing she could do.
He watched her turn and walk away, wondering if he was making a mistake leaving her on the streets. She was one of his best. He thought she would crack if he put her behind a desk, so he had argued against it when the chief of detectives suggested it for her own safety, just in case the hit on Cruz had something to do with a case the two of them were working. Seeing her now, skittering on the edge of control, he hoped he was right.
*
Catherine knocked and then entered Janet Ryan’s room. Barbara Elliot was sitting close to the bed, her fingers entwined with Janet’s.
“Hello, Dr. Rawlings.” Barbara’s voice was tired, but her smile was genuine.
“Hello, Barbara.” Catherine returned the smile as she approached the side of the bed. “Hi, Janet. How are you feeling?”
Janet looked better. The bruises still disfigured her normally attractive face, but the swelling had begun to subside. Both eyes were open now. Their expression was bright.
“I’m much better, thanks. I’ve been up walking a little, and I’m not taking the pain medication.” She glanced at her lover fondly. “When can I go home?”
Catherine grinned. “I can see you’re feeling better. The neurologists want to keep you a few more days, just for routine observation. I know it’s hard being here, but let’s be safe, okay?”
“All right, if you think it’s best.” Her disappointment was clear.
“I do,” Catherine replied firmly. Then, her voice softening, she asked, “How are the flashbacks?”
Janet grimaced. “I’m still getting them, especially at night. Just bits and pieces…of my brother and me when I was small.” She took a deep, quavering breath. “I never realized it had gone on for so long.”
Catherine nodded sympathetically. “They may get worse as you recover from this attack, Janet. You may remember other things. We’ll talk more about what to expect, but for now, I may want to try you on a mild sedative, nothing too strong. Let’s think about going home in a few days, all right?”
Janet looked at Barbara questioningly.
“I really want Janet at home, Dr. Rawlings. Everyone is nice to us here, but it’s so impersonal. I don’t want her to come home until you think she’s ready, though. Whatever you decide is fine.”
Catherine spoke with them a few more moments, promising to look in on Janet later in the day, and then left to complete her inpatient rounds. When she stepped out into the hall, a neatly dressed young man moved hurriedly to intercept her.
“Dr. Rawlings? Is it true that Janet Ryan witnessed the rape on River Drive earlier this week? Has she been able to describe the assailant?”
Catherine stepped back a pace, nonplussed. “Who are you?”
“Mark Tyler.
Daily News
. What about it, Doctor?
Did
she witness the rape?”
“Mr. Tyler, you have no business
“No,
you
listen. You just lost your partner. It’s tough…I appreciate that. But you’ve still got a dozen open files, including the River Drive thing. You can’t do it alone, and Watts is available. If he’s an asshole, learn to live with it. I don’t care how you do it, just do it!”
“What’s he got? Friends in high places?” she asked, her blue eyes dark with scorn, mindless of rank or protocol. All she could see was Watts sitting in Jeff’s chair, at Jeff’s desk—where Jeff should be right now, telling her about his night with Shelley. She was shaking, but she didn’t know that.
Henry’s neck muscles tightened, and a flush rose to darken his features. His voice was deadly cold as he spoke. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that, Sergeant. Just this once. Because you’re a good cop. But don’t think I won’t bust your ass out of here if you step over the line.” He watched her carefully, wondering if she was even listening. “IAD wants to see you. Take care of that, and then get back to work.”
She didn’t reply, there was nothing she could do.
He watched her turn and walk away, wondering if he was making a mistake leaving her on the streets. She was one of his best. He thought she would crack if he put her behind a desk, so he had argued against it when the chief of detectives suggested it for her own safety, just in case the hit on Cruz had something to do with a case the two of them were working. Seeing her now, skittering on the edge of control, he hoped he was right.
*
Catherine knocked and then entered Janet Ryan’s room. Barbara Elliot was sitting close to the bed, her fingers entwined with Janet’s.
“Hello, Dr. Rawlings.” Barbara’s voice was tired, but her smile was genuine.
“Hello, Barbara.” Catherine returned the smile as she approached the side of the bed. “Hi, Janet. How are you feeling?”
Janet looked better. The bruises still disfigured her normally attractive face, but the swelling had begun to subside. Both eyes were open now. Their expression was bright.
“I’m much better, thanks. I’ve been up walking a little, and I’m not taking the pain medication.” She glanced at her lover fondly. “When can I go home?”
Catherine grinned. “I can see you’re feeling better. The neurologists want to keep you a few more days, just for routine observation. I know it’s hard being here, but let’s be safe, okay?”
“All right, if you think it’s best.” Her disappointment was clear.
“I do,” Catherine replied firmly. Then, her voice softening, she asked, “How are the flashbacks?”
Janet grimaced. “I’m still getting them, especially at night. Just bits and pieces…of my brother and me when I was small.” She took a deep, quavering breath. “I never realized it had gone on for so long.”
Catherine nodded sympathetically. “They may get worse as you recover from this attack, Janet. You may remember other things. We’ll talk more about what to expect, but for now, I may want to try you on a mild sedative, nothing too strong. Let’s think about going home in a few days, all right?”
Janet looked at Barbara questioningly.
“I really want Janet at home, Dr. Rawlings. Everyone is nice to us here, but it’s so impersonal. I don’t want her to come home until you think she’s ready, though. Whatever you decide is fine.”
Catherine spoke with them a few more moments, promising to look in on Janet later in the day, and then left to complete her inpatient rounds. When she stepped out into the hall, a neatly dressed young man moved hurriedly to intercept her.
“Dr. Rawlings? Is it true that Janet Ryan witnessed the rape on River Drive earlier this week? Has she been able to describe the assailant?”
Catherine stepped back a pace, nonplussed. “Who are you?”
“Mark Tyler.
Daily News
. What about it, Doctor?
Did
she witness the rape?”
“Mr. Tyler, you have no business
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