Page 98 of Rookie Days

As Quinn started forward, Janet grabbed her arm.

“No,” she murmured. “Trust her.”

chapter 32

Ellie was only patient for one reason. She wanted to test herself. It occurred to her that Hayes could sense the sort of violence she was capable of, and counted on being able to trick her into using it for his own purpose. His future looked grim. A single bullet in the head, a merciful ending, execution style, no doubt would be preferable to spending the rest of his life behind bars as a known rapist. She let him talk and provoke her, observed her own anger as it threatened to flash over. She’d let it flare out of control once, and almost killed a man as a result. No matter what, this could never happen again. Ellie needed to reassure herself that she could feel all the rage and still remain in control. She thought of her sister and allowed her emotion to rise as she watched Hayes. He would have raped and killed Janet. Ellie felt that too. Deeply. And still, she was able to breathe, and see clearly. Yes. She’d be okay now. It was time to end this thing. Satisfied, she looked him straight in the eye.

“I wonder how it feels, Hayes. To know that you’re going to live out your days in a cage because a woman was stronger and smarter than you.”

She expected a violent reaction and he did not disappoint. When he threw himself at her, snarling like a mad creature, sheblocked his move and got him down, as promised earlier. Ellie took great pleasure in slamming him face first into the ground. She stuck a hard knee between his shoulder blades to keep him still, and yanked his arms back.

“Robert Hayes; I am arresting you for the rape and murder of Bryn O’Connell and Mary-Ann Jackson; attempted rape and murder of Susan Elliott. Assault, kidnapping, and an attempt on the life of a police detective. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?”

“Go to hell, bitch,” he shouted.

“You first, asshole.”

She put him in the safe hands of two officers in uniform and turned around.Janet.Everything hurt at this point; physical pain that she had not even noticed before flaring up big time now, and demanding her attention. Still, Ellie pushed it all aside. Only one thing mattered.Jan.Where the hell was she?

“Janet?” she called, her voice breaking.

“Here, babe!”

Every last remaining bit of strength deserted her at the sight of Janet rushing to her with a blazing smile on her face despite her injuries. Ellie fell into her arms. For sure, she wanted to cry.

“I was so scared I’d lost you.” She choked on the words. “So scared!”

“I’m here. Shhh. It’s over now.” Janet kept one arm around her shoulders and her free hand in her hair, holding tightly onto her. “You won’t lose me. I love you, Ellie.”

“I love you too. So goddamn much!”

Quinn interrupted a passionate kiss.

“Alright, alright. You both okay?”

“Just a bit banged up. But yes, fine.”

“The ambulance is here.”

“I don’t need an ambulance,” Ellie grunted.

“Yes, you do,” Janet stated with a tender chuckle. “You look like one of these cartoon characters who’s been in an explosion.”

“Yeah? Well, you look like, uh…” Ellie tried in vain to find a funny retort to retaliate with, but her brain was empty and her headache, just as fierce as before. Except that now, she noticed it more. “I could do with some really good drugs.”

“I’ll get you some,” Janet approved.

“Stay with me, okay?” Ellie said it low enough so that only she could hear, and Janet squeezed her hand fiercely in reply.

“You got it, babe.”

“Hey.” Quinn clapped a strong hand on her shoulder as she started to climb into the back of the ambulance. She looked sharp, Ellie noticed. Blue eyes flashing as they locked onto hers. But when Quinn smiled, it was all warmth and laced with pride. “You proved yourself in action today. Very well done, Detective; I couldn’t have done any better myself.”

This kind of compliment was rare, and finished to demolish her. Quinn didn’t dilute it by calling her‘rookie’this time either. Ellie nodded to her CO with eyes burning full of tears.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“I’ll see you both at the hospital.”

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