Page 35 of Rookie Days

“I told you she is.” Quinn narrowed her eyes. “Why are you smirking?”

“Because she’s so like you, it’s untrue. Darling, you see that, right?”

“Yeah, I do. And maybe she’s right, and I’m cutting her too much slack because of it.”

“Ah, but I know you, Quinn.” Lia objected gently. “I think you’re just being fair.”

“I hope so. I’m trying to be! Anyway, I gave in again. Told her she can stay on the case. But I’m going to be watching her like a hawk.”

“Of course.”

“If I get any whiff that she’s not up to the task, I’ll have to deal with it whether she likes it or not. There’s too much at stakein this job not to be fully in control of your mind and actions. Including her own safety.”

“I agree with you. If she’s impaired, do what you have to. With that being said, remember also that she’s whip-smart and dedicated to her service. If she felt herself incapable of doing her work safely, she would admit it to you and step down before she put anyone else at risk.”

“You think so too?”

“Wouldn’t you have?” Lia smiled.

“Yes. One hundred percent.”

“There you go. Now, as far as personal risks associated with being a police officer are concerned, she knows the score, as you all do. You’re not personally responsible for her safety, Quinn.”

“I am her commanding officer.”

“Yes, you are. Not her keeper.”

Quinn opened her mouth, closed it again. Went through an entire raging argument in her own head to justify her position, and defeated even herself.

“You’re right,” she murmured. “Yeah. Dammit. I—”

“Shhh… It’s okay, darling.”

“I’ve got old stuff coming up too.”

“I know.” Lia leaned her forehead against hers. “Relax for a second, okay?”

Closing her eyes, Quinn did her best. Her days of blaming herself for the death of the soldiers on her team, guys who had been like family to her, were over now. But the urge to keep her people safe would never go away. For sure, it got a bit too much from time to time. A little too intense.

“It’s some crazy stuff that Ellie went through.”

“It is. But the worst of it is behind her. She’ll adjust, just like you did.”

Quinn kissed her softly, deeply.

“I love you, Lia.”

“I love you too. And how much you care about your crew. Now…” With a smile, Lia put the knife back in her hand. “Chop, chop, darling.”

???

Ellie wanted to work. She drove to the hospital that afternoon to speak to everyone there who’d known Bryn O’Connell. It turned out to be a large number of people who all had much the same things to say about the woman. She was brilliant at her job: an intelligent, caring, and dedicated nurse who was always on hand to help others. A close friend to many. A lover to only slightly fewer. O’Connell seemed to have been one of these rare beings with a long list of sexual partners to her name who somehow managed not to fall out with a single one. At least, it was the story people seemed keen to tell her. Ellie was open-minded to a degree, but appropriately cynical when it came to human nature. Attachment was a real thing, she knew. So was competition, and jealousy, especially in matters of the heart. Everyone made Bryn sound like a perfect angel. Fair enough, she may have been. It just sounded too good to be entirely true. Ellie was counting on Janet to be more helpful, and certainly less emotional, in her own assessment. It did occur to her that she would not like it one bit if the surgeon revealed that she, too, had been on O’Connell’s list of conquests… But hey. She pushed the thought out her mind. This was work. Nothing else, and nothing more.

“I’m sorry, Dr Fox is not on call today,” a smiling secretary on the admin floor informed her when she asked. “Would you like to leave a message?”

“No, thanks. When is she back?”

“One o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

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