The phone is ringing. Her mind is on other things and she is oblivious to the noise.
"Captain, aren't you going to answer that?"
"Right, give me a second."
Her mind has been all over the place since it had happened. And it all had happened so quickly. She puts her thoughts aside for the time being.
"Captain Beckett?" she answers, not trusting her voice for the first time this morning.
"Captain, you sound unsure of your new title."
"I'm sorry sir, this has all happened just a little too quickly for me."
"So are you telling me that I might have made the wrong choice in promoting you to Captain?"
"No, no sir. You did not"
"Alright then. The reason I am calling you is that I am putting together a task force to start looking harder into these cases involving the working women who have been found in your jurisdiction."
"Sir, have you made any selections as to who you want on this task force?"
Frank had to admire her directness and ability to get to the heart of the problem. He is reassured that he had made the right decision.
"Captain I have a preliminary list of candidates. After I make my final decision I will send you an inter office email along with their personnel files with my final decision."
"Sir can you give me a heads up when the task force will be active?"
"Captain, after I make my decision the team will be in place within 48 hours. Is there anything else Captain?"
"No, Sir."
"Goodbye, Captain." Frank hangs up without waiting for a response.
Kate just stares at the dead phone handset. She is now thinking that accepting this promotion was not the best decision. It should be the next logical step in her career path, but it's more political than hands on. Pleasing the top brass, running two divisions, and, of course, the paperwork. She can't understand how Captain Gates ever did it. How she kept her cool between work and a personal life.
She had aced the Captain's test, but taking a test and actually doing the job are different in so many ways. She had expected that when she was promoted, her Captain would be there to guide her through the transition. This would not be the case. She remembers the call ten days ago vividly.
"Detective Beckett this is Chief of Detectives Robert Broyce."
"Yes, Sir, what can I do for you?"
"Detective, I need you to report to the main office of the OCME."
"Sir?"
"Detective, don't question, just do."
"Yes, Sir. I'll be there within the hour."
"Very well Detective, I'll see you there."
Kate's first thought was to call Lanie. Her finger hovered over the send button and for a second then she hesitated. Deciding to make the call anyway she waited until Lanie answered.
"Lanie?"
"Lanie, what's going on?"
"Kate, I can't talk to you right now."
"Lanie, why not?"
"Kate, you need to do what the Chief of D's asked. I can't release any information."
The darkest thoughts entered her mind. Rick was most likely dead, why else would they want her to report to the OCME in person? Her mind was racing. He was at the loft sleeping when she left this morning after receiving the call for the body drop. Something must have happened to him on the way to the precinct. Kate drove over to the OCME main offices and headed down to Lanie's office. She was met not by her friend, but instead the head of the OCME. He escorted her to his office where she found the Chief of Detectives pacing.
"Chief Broyce, Detective Beckett reporting as ordered."
"Relax, Detective. What I am going to tell you is said in the strictest confidence and is not to be repeated to a soul."
"Yes, Sir."
"Captain Gates was on an undercover op instituted by her old command at IAB. Her job was to gain the trust of an organization posing as a wealthy European businesswoman looking to sell information to and from Europe through rogue contacts within the NYPD. There was a wealth of information to be had. Dirty cops, the location of confiscated drugs that could be sold for profit, extortion, theft and prostitution. She was meeting with the top boss to make a deal to get this information when out of the blue all hell broke loose. A member of the group, who she had never met, recognized her and her cover was no longer effective. She never made it out of the meeting alive.
The Chief of D's and the OCME Chief walked slowly over to where Lanie was standing. Kate hesitantly followed. Once at the side of the exam table, Lanie drew back the white sheet. Kate covered her mouth with her hand and gasped loudly. Her Captain, Captain Victoria Gates lay dead under the sheet. A single gunshot wound to the center of her forehead. Execution style. Kate turned and took a step back to collect herself. Lanie quickly placed her arm around Kate's shoulder and tried her best to bring her comfort.
"Detective, while I am sorry for your loss, I am going to recommend that you take Captain Gates' place as the commanding officer of the 12th precinct."
"Chief Broyce, while I am grateful for the position, I am going to have to respectfully decline your offer for the command."
"Detective Beckett, I highly recommend that you rethink your answer. While I understand that your Captain was a close friend and your boss, she would want you to move forward despite what has happened here."
"Sir, while she was all those things to me, I really can't take her place."
Broyce took a softer tactic "Kate, Victoria's death will affect us all. What I need you to do is think about what I am asking you. Take 24 hours to clear your head. And if you still feel the same then there will be no repercussions towards your decision. I will be in touch tomorrow."
Tomorrow. He was giving her until then to give him an answer. She needed to weigh the pros and cons. Something told her that the pros would probably win out, but she still needed to be realistic. As she left the OCME's office there was only one person who she could use as a sounding board...Rick. He would know what to do.
