Page 33 of Rookie Days

“I love it that we eloped!”

The comment triggered a quick and radiant smile. Finally.

“Me too,” Quinn agreed. “Road trip to Mexico. Our sunset wedding on the beach. I have many favorite memories of doing things with you, Lia, but this one ranks high.”

“Good, and we’re going to make plenty more.”

“Yes. That we will.”

Lia kissed her gentle and slow, until she felt her relax in her arms.

“So, what’s up?”

“Mmm. Am I that obvious?”

“You made the carrots scream, darling.”

“Wow.” Quinn raised a wry eyebrow. “That’s something.”

“Oh my God,” Lia exclaimed when she told her what Ellie had said. “Yes, I remember the Emerson case. The girl’s parents both died within a year of her murder. The mother came down with an aggressive form of lung cancer, and the dad lost control of his truck and smashed into a tree. It was later found out that he was drunk at the time.”

“Yep. Basically, what happened to their kid was too much for them to handle.”

“And Ellie…?”

“Lost her entire family in the space of a single year. Murder, sickness, accident.” Quinn shook her head, love and compassion shining in her eyes. “Then she moved to Houston, Texas. Went to live with an aunt there. She took her name in order to cut her ties to the past and be able to move on.”

“That was a really good idea.”

“Oh, sure. Smart move.”

“Is she okay now?”

“Struggling a little bit, as you know. The past isn’t so easily discarded. She swears blind to me that she can do it, of course. That she just needs to get used to the change of pace from being a patrol cop to what she’s doing now.”

“That also seems reasonable.”

“Mmm…”

Familiar shadows danced across Quinn’s face, the weight of personal experience. Lia kissed her again softly.

“You don’t believe she can move past it?”

“No, it’s not that.” Her sigh was one of tiredness this time. “Ellie is strong, smart, and capable. Extremely self-aware. She’ll work through it, I’m sure.”

“She might even be stronger in the long term for having to face this now.” Lia did not add,‘Just like you’,but she definitely thought it. “Don’t you agree?”

“Yes… Probably. I asked her if what happened to her sister was the reason she wanted to become a cop. She said it played a big part, which is to be expected. But I can tell it’s not in any neurotic kind of way.”

“Not for revenge or personal gain.”

“That’s right. Ellie genuinely cares about people and being of service. She lost it the other day… But between you and me, Lia, the circumstances were pretty extreme at the time. Not only did she know that the guy she was trying to put down was a child abuser and rapist, but he also sliced her bad, and actually tried to kill her.”

Lia suppressed a shiver at the thought that Quinn had been there too. That they lived in a world in which bad guys had all kinds of weapons and would not hesitate to hurt a police officer. Before that, her wife had been a soldier. Same difference. Danger had always been a part of Quinn’s life it seemed.And mine too…Lia had to admit it. She had taken some crazy risks once or twice when she was a war reporter. Even at home, she’d sailed a little close to the line a couple of times. Now that she had Quinn, she was less inclined to do it. It was not just her anymore, and Lia knew that her wife thought along the same lines. Quinn had a dangerous job but she was extremely well-trained for it, and far from stupid. She would not risk losing what they had, the life they were building together. Lia trusted her a hundred percent. And Ellie James too.

“She showed remorse for using excessive force, didn’t she?” she added. “And not just because of how it might affect her if the suspect died.”

“That’s true.”

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