Page 66 of Rookie Days

“Thanks. I know you’ll be fine.”

“Do you? How come?”

“I watched your documentary. I’m aware of the work you did before as well. You have awesome credentials.”

“You checked me out,” Lia grinned.

“Of course.” Wakefield smiled as well, amused and friendly as she finished her coffee. “Like you did me, right?”

“Hundred percent.”

“Fair enough. And I like to know who I’m flying with. You did some nice work with the police.”

“Thank you. I’m excited to see you and your team in action too.”

“The medics do an incredible job.” Wakefield zipped up her suit and reached for her helmet on a nearby shelf. “I’m just the Uber driver here.”

Lia also knew there was nothing at all mundane about the specially adapted H145 twin-engine Eurocopter that she flew. And though no one would be shooting at them over the skies of Lewiston, hopefully, the chopper flew in all kinds of hazardous conditions, from hurricane-force winds to rain storms and even the odd blizzard.

“I think you’re being too modest here, Sam.” Lia followed her up the stairs that led to the roof and the landing zone where the gleaming helicopter waited. “This doesn’t look like any Uber I’ve ever seen.”

“Mm...” Wakefield eyed the chopper with something akin to lust in her eyes. “Yeah, maybe not, uh.”

Lia smiled and did not mention that she also appeared far from average as a pilot. Wakefield’s current job and similarly impressive credentials made her an appealing character for this documentary. Being deeply in love and firmly married did not stop Lia from also noticing that her looks were sure to captivate viewers’ attention. She smiled at the co-pilot on duty, a tall guy with greying hair and a French-Canadian accent who introduced himself as Ben Gregory, and climbed onboard when invited. From a seat in the main cabin, she watched the two pilots go through the pre-flight checklist. Lia checked her Go-Pro and the additional Sony camera that she used.

“We’re off to Seattle this morning for an organ pick-up,” Wakefield informed her from the front. “Easy warm-up for you, Lia. All good?”

It was kind of her to explain. Feeling excited, Lia flashed her a smiling thumbs-up.

“All set, Sam.”

chapter 22

Ellie spent the next day figuratively pulling her hair out as she tried to find a common thread between her two victims. But the more she looked, the more differences she uncovered. Bisexual, Bryn O’Connell, had been a complete extrovert with a rich and diverse social life. She loved to go out and party, was involved in community groups, and lived her life to the full, in the fast lane. Her apartment reflected her personality: modern, with sharp, clean lines and bold artwork on the walls. On the other hand, Mary-Ann Jackson lived in an old-style, detached property. She shared the place with a traditional friend who held questionable beliefs about women who love women. A keen runner, Jackson liked to train on her own and did not belong to a club. She did not have a long list of friends and spent most of her free time at home, tending to her plants or reading crime novels. She’d been single, her lifestyle a lot less adventurous than O’Connell’s. On paper, the two victims could not have been more different. And yet, both had at least one strong link. They were nurses. Healers and nurturers. Two women who’d chosen a selfless career and who made a positive difference to the world.

“Who the hell would want to hurt people who alleviate the suffering of others?” Ellie muttered under her breath, staring at her wall board. “It doesn’t make any sense.” Dropping her face into her hands, she closed her eyes and thought hard.Who would want to—

“Hey, James.”

She looked up, irritated at the interruption.

“Hey, Mike. I’m thinking here.”

“I see. Looks painful.” He chuckled when she frowned, and raised both hands in a‘Don’t shoot the messenger’type of gesture. “The boss wants to see you. In her office, now.”

Well, this was strange. Quinn usually dropped by when she wanted a word. Ellie made her way to her superior’s office with some measure of trepidation.

“You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, Detective. Come in and close the door.”

As Ellie stepped into the office, she saw that someone else was already in there. Since he stood slightly off to the side, his presence would not be immediately obvious. She had to assume it was a conscious move, which put her on alert and on guard. He was a short guy in a navy-blue suit with a strong build and quick black eyes which settled on her face with a surprising lack of friendliness. Ellie glanced at Quinn for some kind of a clue as to what was going on, but all she received in return was a silent nod.

“Detective James,” the man said, stepping forward to shake her hand.

“Sir?” She looked him in the eye.

“Captain Jeff Mills with Internal Affairs. Here to take your initial statement regarding a complaint made against you by one Jorge Gonzales. Name rings a bell?”

---