Elisa and Goliath were laying together, holding each other and enjoying the time alone. They loved their son, but sometimes they really enjoyed the time alone.
They talked of things that had happened on their patrols, both when they were together or the few times they had had to separate. They spoke of their family and plans for both the near future and the far.
It was the pillow talk of those who had been together a long time.
Elisa had just gotten up to get something to nibble on, since they had not bothered with dinner, when her phone began ringing.
"No," Elisa groaned. "Whoever it is, better hope I am not armed next time we meet."
She was only half joking. Goliath and she had so precious few evenings like this.
Elisa felt around in the dark room for her small handbag that had her phone. The only light was coming from the windows, and she was having trouble locating the small black bag. She felt the gold chain of the bag's shoulder strap first, and traced the chain to the bag.
Whoever it was was tenacious, she'd give them that since they hadn't hung up yet.
She felt a brief flash of guilt. What if something was wrong with Liam? What if he was hurt, or sick, and she was worried about herself and her feelings.
Elisa grabbed the small phone out of her bag and answered it with a breathless, "Hello?"
"Maza," came Captain Chavez's voice.
"Captain," Elisa said, feeling a wave of relief that something wasn't wrong with her son.
"I am sorry to interrupt your night," Maria said, sounding genuinely sorry. "I have a situation that needs handling, and I am afraid that you are one of a handful of people that I can trust with this."
"Uh, sure," Elisa said, sending a puzzled frown towards Goliath. She mouthed the word "Sorry" before taking the phone into the bathroom with her so that she could finally grabbed that much needed drink of water.
"I am sure that you have heard about the small discrepancies in the narcotics locker log." Maria began. She was all business now, so Elisa responded in kind.
"Yes, Captain."
"We finally got a lead, and you are not going to like it."
"What?" Elisa asked.
"It's a cop," Maria said. "Because of it being an officer, I need someone to follow him and find out where he is taking the narcotics."
Elisa's head fell forward. She had heard of the issues in the Narcotics evidence rooms, but had assumed it had been someone's error when logging the items into the storage until they were needed for their court cases. After they were used in court, the drugs were disposed of...
Or, they were supposed to be. Over the last few months, the amount that left the locker and the amount that actually reached the disposal facility hadn't matched.
In one case, they were short an entire brick of cocaine.
Everyone had made noise about someone miscounting. Someone writing down the wrong weight or transposing the numbers in the evidence log.
No one had wanted to admit that one of their own had been stealing the drugs.
But now…
"What can I do, captain?" Elisa asked angrily.
"I need you and your husband to do a little recon for me. Find out where he goes and call it in. I will have a few other officers that I trust meet you there and you can make the arrest."
"Alright," Elisa said with a sigh.
"Maza," the police captain said with an aggravated sigh. "I hate like hell that this had to happen tonight. You do this for me tonight, and I will get you Halloween night off."
Elisa felt the surprise cross her face. "You sure, cap?"
"You do this tonight, and I will guarantee you that one."
Elisa felt a smile go across her face. "Done." Halloween off? The only night of the year when Elisa and Goliath could walk down the street arm and arm, and no one would cast a second look.
"Get here as soon as you can." Maria ordered. "The officer in question will be coming back from his lunch break in an hour, and we have set out a variety of packages in the locker that he will hopefully not be able to resist."
"I'll be there soon." Eisa promised.
"Have your husband bring you," Maria suggested. "It would be quicker and easier to track the suspect later."
Elisa hung up the phone with a sigh. Now to break the news to Goliath…
She need not have worried. He had heard enough of her side of the conversation to understand that their alone time was at an end.
When Elisa returned to the room, He was on his feet and waiting for her.
Elisa looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry, Big Guy."
Her husband reached out and caressed the side of her face. "I treasure our time alone together, and I love you Elisa. My Elisa," he drew her into his arms. "One of the things I fell in love with is your protective spirit and your dedication to seeing justice carried through for those around you. I would not want you to sit idly by if a situation arises where you are needed."
Elisa smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist in a tight hug. "Thank you, Goliath."
"Now," he pushed her back far enough to look her lingerie covered body over once. "You may want to put on something a little more…"
Elisa blushed, and walked to her closet. Throwing on a white tee shirt, blue jeans, a sturdy pair of boots and her favorite red jacket and she was almost ready to go. Elisa took the time to gather her badge, wallet and her shoulder holster. She unlocked the two safes in her room, gathered her gun from one and a clip of bullets from the other.
Once she was ready to go, she and Goliath were off, gliding on the air currents toward the 23rd precinct building.