Page 67 of Rookie Days

Aw, shit!It was like a punch in the chest. Ellie broke into a sweat from a surge of adrenaline. Her heart began to race. Onthe surface though, she remained cool as ice and collected. And the flash of betrayal that she felt at the lack of warning from her lieutenant also did not last for long. Quinn probably had no idea, until Internal Affairs knocked on her door, that they were about to pay them a visit.

“Yes sir, I do know the name,” she confirmed. And with a sudden flare of temper, also added; “What complaint, anyway? Is Mr. Gonzales upset because I defended myself when he tried to stab me to death?”

Mills was clearly displeased at the tone of her response, but Ellie figured the best defense was offense. She turned to look at Quinn, aware that attitude was not something her CO tolerated easily. When their eyes met, she was relieved to see the shadow of a smile on her lips. The grin was only fleeting but it was warm and supportive, and settled her greatly.

“Mr. Gonzales told his lawyer that you employed excessive force during his arrest, Detective,” Mills stated. “And given the nature of his injuries, he may have a point. So, when you’re done being offended yourself, I’d like to hear your version of events.”

Ellie very deliberately glanced at her boss again, as much to check that it was okay to speak as to let Mills know that she did not take her orders from him.

“Go ahead,” Quinn approved. “You’re not under caution here. This is strictly a private conversation between us.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

Ellie kept it short and simple as she related the chase, being jumped by Gonzales in the middle of the snowy alleyway, and feeling the slash of the blade as he struck her with it. She showed her scars to Mills, described how she’d lost her grip.

“I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore so I was forced to drop my weapon and Gonzales got on top of me. He was wearing a knuckle duster. I barely avoided his first punch, then he grabbedme by the throat. He looked insane. My assessment at that point was that he would kill me if I was not able to stop him.”

“So how did you regain the advantage, Detective?” Miller smirked.

“I head-butted him in the face.”

“Were you trying to knock him out?”

“Damn right I was!” Ellie exclaimed. She added a quick‘Sir’to the sentence when Mills raised a stormy eyebrow but they both knew that it was not sincere. Oh, well. “As it was, the head butt was not enough. Gonzales was fighting. He said he’d make me pay, threatened abduction and sexual assault. We were past warning strikes. I punched him a few times. Again, yes: as hard as I could, until he was no longer a threat to my life. It was by the book. Sir.”

Miller eyed her fixedly for several painful seconds, during which Ellie went on to breathe calmly. She did not avert her gaze. He turned to Quinn.

“I read your report, Lieutenant. According to you as well, it was a clean take down.”

“Yes, it was. I witnessed it.” Quinn shrugged as if she were bored. “And you know it’s entertainment for these guys; right, Mills? Gonzales is facing life in prison for human trafficking, child abduction, sexual abuse, and a bunch of other crimes. With time on his hands, he’s going after cops. And you’ve got nothing better to do than to come here and hassle my people?”

“It’s a tough life, Wesley, get used to it.” Mills sneered and turned his gaze back to Ellie. “Gonzales was viciously beaten. You pack a punch, detective.”

“I tend to when I’m fighting for my life.”

“Huh-uh.” His dark eyes hovered insistently over her, as if the man were trying to detect a tiny fissure to exploit. Ellie stood her ground like a wall of solid granite, stoic and confident. In the end, he just nodded. “Anything to add to your statement?”

“No, sir.”

She watched him jot something in his notebook then slide it back into his jacket pocket.

“I guess we’re done, then. Thank you for your time.”

“Keep me posted, Mills,” Quinn instructed.

“Will do.” He nodded to Ellie. “Detective.”

“Captain,” she answered in similar fashion.

On this, he simply walked out of the office, leaving the door open behind him. Quinn got up to close it with a knowing smirk, ostensibly checking to make sure that the man was gone before she turned back and slapped a friendly hand on her shoulder.

“Nicely done, Detective.” She chuckled, more amused than Ellie thought she would be.

“Was it?” she prompted, confused.

“Totally. Growling at Internal Affairs like an old pro, hey? I enjoyed watching that.”

The comment made Ellie blush, though she had her doubts.

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