Page 36 of Code of Courage

CHAPTER14

If Gabe had been surprised by Danni’s call, he was more surprised at the anger bubbling up within himself. Seeing Danni evoked so many emotions—emotions he’d buried for two years. Why anger presented itself at the forefront he couldn’t say. He wasn’t mad at Danni—on the contrary, he was gratified she’d felt she could call him.

Why did I jump all over her? Anger will only drive her away. She’s opened a door just a crack for me and I don’t want the door to slam closed.

Together they carried the injured dog into the vet’s office. Gabe knew he needed to take a different tack. Two years had passed since she’d ended the marriage. He’d changed; she must have changed as well.

They were the only two in the waiting room after the vet took the dog into the back. It pained him more than he could say to see the scar on her forehead, but he tried to ignore it and focus on the positive. She’d tanned a bit in Hawaii, and it looked good on her. Her dark hair was pushed up, out of her face, but strands had escaped the binding and fell randomly over her forehead. Her brown eyes always reminded him of warm honey, but right now they were guarded, and he hoped he could change that.

“I appreciate you trying to help Jess, and even me, with this investigation,” he began, pausing to collect his thoughts. “It’s just... you’ve been gone. You can’t know how dangerous things can get now.”

“I guess not.”

“Mara told me you quit.”

“I did.”

Gabe had trouble digesting her answer. He leaned forward. “Danni, really?”

“I haven’t officially signed the papers, but that’s what I told Gomez.”

He sat back and tried to formulate what to say. “Were you hurt so badly?”

She hiked a shoulder. “Bad enough. I’m not sure my head is in the game anymore. I’m angry. All I’ve ever wanted to be is a good cop, and that’s true of just about every cop I know. I’m angry at how we are being treated so disrespectfully by the people we serve. I’m seriously considering quitting and trying something else.”

“Cops have always had a love-hate relationship with the public. Come on, we almost always bring bad news. No one wants a ticket or to go to jail.”

“It’s different now. Yeah, criminals have always hated us. Now, it’s normal people doing the spitting. And no one faces any repercussions. Almost all the people causing the problems seem to be exempt from prosecution. It’s not fair.” Danni clenched her fists, and Gabe could see anger and indignation building.

“I think your dad would say life isn’t fair.”

“I wish my dad were here to talk to about all this. I miss his counsel.”

Gabe heard the pain in her voice, and it broke his heart. He could also hear exasperation in her tone.

“Look what’s happening to you. Demoted for doing your job. That’s mirror universe crazy.”

“It is,” he admitted. “Madden has an odd idea about how to enforce the law. Certainly not what she campaigned on. And she must have the full support of the mayor because there has been no pushback.”

“But why? I’m a simple person. It seems to me if you tie the hands of the cops and release all the criminals, you’re encouraging crime. Where am I wrong?”

“I agree with you. They don’t see things as black-and-white; to them it’s more nuanced.”

“Nothing nuanced about burning things down or tossing bits of concrete at people.”

Gabe chuckled. “True enough.”

“If you’re not investigating the shooting, what are you doing?”

“I’m stuck in the office reviewing cold cases.”

“All because you made an arrest?”

“Yeah. I can admit it was a weak arrest, bordering on contempt of cop.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure charges would be filed, but I never imagined he’d simply be released and I’d be disciplined. And all Yen did was loan me her handcuffs.”

“The union should jump into the fray for her.”

“It’s a letter of reprimand, instigated by Madden. She’ll have to go through a process to get it removed.”

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