Ironing Out Differences CH 10

"I am so mad, I don't even know where to start." Karla informed him when Bobby and Alex left.

"You could try giving me a chance to explain." Dan said tiredly.

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Can you come over here and stop pacing? You're wearing me out."

"I'm waiting." She came over but her body language said she wasn't giving in yet.

"It was the best way to keep this all in house. It was a command decision, Karla. That's what I do. Make those kinds of decisions. I talked to Sackett and she is dealing with a lot over there. She wants to be kept updated, but this way it's all here and I can deal with it without running everything by her. It's only temporary. Is it so bad being under my command for a few weeks?"

"No. Of course not, I just would like to have been consulted about it."

"This way you can honestly say that you had no idea the transfer was happening and it can't be held against you."

"But it can be held against you."

"I'm not worried about it. They came after you because of me, the Feds can make of that what they like. Karla, please don't let this get in our way. I promise to come down as hard on you as I would any other officer who is hard to get along with, if it will make you feel better."

"Hey!" she said indignantly.

He smiled. "That's my girl. Damn, I'm tired!"

"I'm sorry. You are recuperating and I'm giving you a hard time. Dan, I'm sorry. I know you're doing what you think best. I would just like to have been warned in advance."

"Bobby brought it to me and the decision was made here. You are the first ones to know. This all happened in the last half hour or so. There wasn't anything to warn you about because it just happened. It's called being in command."

"I call it high handed, but that's my point of view."

"Okay, call it what you want."

She reached over and took his hand. "I am such an idiot. I should be taking care of you instead of you taking care of me. I'm sorry. I love you." She reached over and touched his hair. "I like your hair, did you know that?"

"Mmm, love you too. I'm rather attached to my hair, myself."

"What a goose you are." Karla sat on the bed and tenderly stroked his hair and his face and anywhere else she could touch. She watched as he slowly relaxed and fell asleep while she was touching him.

She left him a message on the notepad beside the bed, kissed him gently and left the room.

Bobby was expecting her to show up at his home and he wasn't disappointed. "Come in, Karla. We've been expecting you."

"Why is this such a big deal?'

"Would you like something to drink or…."

"I want answers, Bobby. Dan is too exhausted to give them to me and I want to know what's going on."

Bobby gestured for her to take a seat on his sofa. "I'll tell you what I can. These guys were not just money laundering they had other mob connections. You and Alex are the only ones who've ever seen or lived to tell about being taken by them. We need to go to California to testify and Dan needs to go with us."

"No! He just came out of surgery. He's not going to be able to make a cross country trip. They won't take him on a plane without a doctors order."

"We're going to drive. You, Alex, the captain and I. We'll take the SUV so he can stretch out if he needs to. The Feds are willing to give us a few days to get there but since we can't fly we need to leave soon and drive there."

"They can't come here? He's in the hospital for Christ's sake."

"They figure it's easier for us to move one man than to move and entire trial. I've argued all I can with them and so had the Chief of D's and the Police Commissioner. It's the best we can work out."

"It's a lousy compromise." Karla said angrily.

"It's the Federal Government, Karla. They aren't known for caring about anything but national security. One man, no matter what his rank or how special he is to any of us, is nothing to them. The alternative is having someone else take us out and they are not going to take care of him like we will."

"And you and Dan cooked this up so I would agree to it because you know I want to take care of him, didn't you?"

"We discussed it." Bobby admitted.

"Let's try to pull one over on Karla. We'll make it seem like we're doing it with her in mind so she'll think it's a good idea and she won't cause trouble. Except Karla can see what you're doing. I'm going to go along with it, because I have no choice, but don't try to pull one over on me again."

"I'll consider myself warned." He said.

"When do we leave?"

"He'll be released the day after tomorrow from the hospital. We can leave from there."

"Son-of-a…." she stopped and turned to him "I'll tell you right now, I am not happy about this. It's not over yet. But I'm going to do it because I have to. I'll go home and get the arrangements made."

"Arrangements?"

"I have to find someone to look after my house and feed my horses. I'm going to pack the things we'll need for this fiasco and clean out my frig. And I'm going to work on my anger issues so it doesn't interfere, but don't expect me to like it."

"I didn't think you would. If it helps, I'm sorry. This is the best we could come up with to take care of him."

"It doesn't help much. I'll be in touch." She left the house angrily.

"She is mad and she has every right to be." Alex said when she stepped into the room. "I know how mad I am when you two try to keep me out of things."

"I told her more than they wanted me to. They wanted to take us all across the country in protective custody and you know what that means."

"So are we really going for the Feds?"

"We're going ahead of them. I told them the captain wouldn't be discharged until Saturday. When he gets out on Friday, we'll be long gone."

"So they'll put out an APB on us?"

"At least they'll be looking for us."

"This is crazy. They'll be chasing us all the way to San Diego?"

"We think there's someone who knows about you and Karla going to testify and is letting the organization that kidnapped you know what's going on. We don't have any concrete evidence, just small things that don't add up."

"When were you going to tell me about this?" his detective wife demanded angrily.

"I hoped I was wrong and I'd never have to tell you."

"That is getting so pld Robert Goren."

"Don't be mad at me, Alex. I need to be there to protect you, Karla and the captain. I told the Feds if I didn't go none of you would. Someone has to make sure you are safe." He gave her a lost look.

Alex sighed. Her guy would always be that way. All she could do is accept that that's the wonderful man she married. "I'm not mad at you. I love you." She stepped over to cradle his head against her and run her fingers through his curls. "I'd watch out for Karla though if I were you."

"You can protect me, can't you?" he asked.

"I may join her." She chuckled and kissed the top of his head.

TBC