Striving for Excellence

"You're an excellent detective, Laura, often brilliant in fact."

Brown eyes locked with with blue as she tried to determine whether he meant those words or not. She'd heard them spoken in the past and knew they had meant nothing, in fact more often than not they were said to placate her. "You're an excellent detective, Laura..."

Steele was aware of the precise moment he lost her attention, what he wasn't sure about was where she'd gone or what memory she was reliving.

"But?"

"Why do you always think there is a 'but'?"

"Are you telling me there isn't?"

Her boss laughed, "See Holt, you are good and perhaps in a few years..."

"I worked just as hard as any of the others, you know."

"Truth be known, probably harder."

"So?"

"So you're young, you have time. Look at Bob, he's been in this job for years and he has a family to support."

"So you hand out bonuses based on a person's age and commitments rather than the job they do? Hardly seems fair."

If Laura was surprised by her own bravo her boss was even more so.

"That was out of line and for your information I hand them out as I see fit. Bob worked hard on that case."

"With all due respect he didn't work as hard as Murphy or I, the amount of legwork we put into that case was phenomenal."

"And legwork, little lady is what we pay you to do. Are you quibbling about your job description now? Believe me many others would be thrilled to have the opportunity that you have, and it's especially generous given that you're a woman."

"What?"

Seeing he was really annoying her now he began to back down, "Your day will come, Holt, like I said you're an excellent detecti..."

...tive, Laura are you listening to a word I'm saying?"

Laura blinked at the sound of Steele's voice, "Yes, you said I'm an excellent detective but..."

"No buts, simply that. I'm leaving now and I'd suggest you do the same however I know you won't so I'll bid you adieu for now and simply ask that you not work too hard."

"Do you really think I'm that good?"

"Wouldn't say it if I didn't."

In reply Laura merely raised her brows making him laugh.

"I think I'll leave now too, so does that change your opinion?"

"Only for the better."

"How so?"

"Any one can work themselves to the brink of exhaustion, an excellent detective knows when to rest."

"Then you're amazing!"

"I think, Miss Holt that I quite like that."

"You do?"

"Oh yes, you teach me to enjoy work, I'll teach you to enjoy rest and together we're quite the team."

"I think I like that."

"You do?"

"Don't sound so shocked."

"More like pleasantly surprised."

"You know, Mr Steele, you really are an excellent detective yourself."

"You know, Miss Holt, now I really am shocked."

Laura linked her arm through his as they headed for the door, "And I, Mr Steele am pleasantly surprised."