When the teams met up again on Thursday morning at the same early hour, there was even less to be said. Each team navigated with purpose to their assigned location and each member of the team resumed their role, picking up where they left off. Once again, the end of the sting resulted in a few minor arrests by the supporting officers, but no sign of the man who was causing so much fear.
By the time the following Tuesday rolled around, everyone was having serious doubts about being able to catch him in their sting. Regardless, they took their posts again. Today the weather was cloudy and considerably colder than normal. The time they got into place hadn't changed, but Eddie could swear it was darker than before.
A slight drizzle started and Abe, the experienced runner in their group, whispered over his mic that she should stay loose. "It's weather like this when people get hurt. Muscles get cold and tense up. You've got to keep moving."
Eddie followed his advice, jogging in place and repeatedly checking the time on her Fitbit as if someone was late to meet her. She projected the air of a wealthy young woman who didn't have the time to waste waiting for someone.
Seated inside the surveillance van on this rainy Tuesday, Jamie had a feeling that something was wrong. Not in the obvious way, but something in his gut felt it.
For her part, Eddie was doing a great job portraying the pissed of socialite. Her exasperated tone was creating the obvious effect. She was pacing and scowling, pausing to check her phone every few minutes for an imaginary text.
When they felt like enough time had passed for anyone prowling around to notice her, Detective Triano gave the signal. Eddie began running along the hard packed trail thankful for the warmth the exercise would induce. She was finally feeling reasonably comfortable a few minutes later when she thought she heard a crunch on the gravel behind her. Before she had a chance to turn to see what it was, she hit the ground with a hard thud. She landed on her shoulder and her ankle was twisted. Before the pain even had enough time to register, someone was on top of her. He managed to land only one quick, hard hit to her abdomen when she sensed someone else sending him flying off of her.
There wasn't even time to utter the safe word or for Jamie to react to what he saw on her body cam feed before Abe Jordan had the perp on the ground himself, with Tuna arriving in seconds to help subdue him. Abe had noticed the lone runner emerge from his car and take up the trail behind Eddie a few minutes after she started off. He began running with an odd sense of purpose that reminded Abe of his cross country days, when he was looking to overtake another runner and move ahead. The male was tall and thin and had a runner's physique. While he was dressed appropriately for the weather and activity, he was in dark nondescript clothing and had his face was covered. It just hadn't sat right with Abe.
As soon as the perp was in cuffs, Tuna was helping her to her feet. Noticing her ankle was sore, he guided her to sit back down on a large boulder along the water view side of the running trail. The next few minutes were a flurry of activity with uniformed officers removing the perp and securing the scene. Jamie had decided not to approach the activity and chose to wait down below where the ambulance was waiting. Both Abe and Tuna had assured him remotely that Eddie was fine, just a slightly twisted ankle. Getting back might have required a gurney if Tuna had not offered to help. He carried her piggy back down the trail until just before they were in sight of the others. Then both he and Abe supported her on either side, helping her navigate her way over to the waiting paramedics on foot.
Jamie was concerned about the cut she had on the side of her head, and he could see her ankle was bothering her, but he was also surprisingly calm. She was walking mostly on her own and seemed far less shaken than after the last time they had been in this position. She was having her shoulder checked and immobilized by the paramedics when he walked over to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked concerned.
"Like I took a hit from an NFL linebacker" she quipped. "Man, that guy was fast! He came out of nowhere from behind. I hadn't heard him until he was right on top of me. But I didn't even have time to catch my breath and give the signal before Abe was on him." she announced proudly. "We got the bastard."
Jamie was more than just a little relieved to see his spunky wife was acting like her old self.
"You're still going to the hospital to get that checked out. Sergeant's orders." he told her with a slight smile. "I'm really glad you're OK."
"Thanks for having my back, Sarge. You picked the right backup."
"You do remember that Abe was your idea, right?" he reminded her. "I'm sure that would have come back to you eventually...once the knock to your head wore off" he jokingly said.
"Hey, you didn't see Tuna carry my sorry ass all the way back down the trail. He may need to have his back looked at."
"I'll take that under advisement. Head over to the hospital with these guys. Tuna, Abe and I are going to head back to the 6-3 to wrap things up. You can give your statement later. Call me when you're ready to be picked up, if I haven't made it over by then." he squeezed her hand briefly before heading back to the surveillance van for the victory lap back to the precinct.
When Eddie arrived at the ER, she was immediately put into a room, but her non life threatening injuries did not move her quickly to the top of the list. She had only had a brief interaction with a nurse to insert an IV line and provide her some mild oral pain medication. Her shoulder was killing her and she hoped that both it and her ankle wouldn't keep her off the street for more than a couple of days. The issue that Jamie was sure to find most upsetting was the ugly purple bruise on her side. After moving around to try to assess the damage, he side was absolutely killing her. She was not going to be shocked at all if the doctor needed to tape her ribs as well. She had a feeling her rib might be cracked. The more she moved, and now that the adrenaline had worn off, she was in a lot of pain. When Jamie arrived almost two hours later, he was upset to see that barely any attention had been provided to his officer...and his wife. After greeting his wife who was nearly in tears from pain, he immediately began hunting down someone to take a look at her. The cold as ice sergeant persona was very helpful in getting some attention.
"We're waiting for an x-ray, and cat scan figure out whether we need an orthopedist." the flustered nurse reported. "We had a structure fire and a serious bus accident so things are a bit backed up. I'll check with the doctor and see if we can get her anything stronger for the pain."
20 minutes later and Eddie was resting comfortably. Jamie had provided some lunch from the burger place near the hospital on his way over. Now that she had eaten and a doctor had come in briefly to check her chart and approve some pain medication, she was dozing off.
At first, she had been upset that Jamie was making such a scene about the lack of attention she was receiving from the staff. But a full stomach and finally getting some relief from the pain she felt in almost every part of her body, had changed her mind. She was terribly grateful. Eddie knew the one thing she needed to work on was letting her guard down. Sometimes it was OK to let him take up the sword and fight for her for a change. It didn't make her some damsel in distress to not be Joan of Arc all the time.
A few hours later, once all the tests had been performed, her broken rib was taped up, and her ankle had some support, she was ready to head home with Jamie. Luckily, her shoulder was just bruised and stiff but not injured any further. The cut that Jamie had first noticed on her forehead was superficial and it required just a butterfly bandage.
One recommendation she had received from the doctor that had her excited was for a massage. She was already planning on checking Yelp for the best place to get a couple's massage later that week. Until then, some TLC and rest would have to do.
Jamie was taking full advantage of the fact that they were officially off duty to properly take care of his wife as he held the door for her and helped her into the car. The sergeant making sure his officer was receiving the best possible medical care had been replaced by the husband who was determined to make sure she felt comfortable and loved.
"I'm surprised at how well you're taking this." Eddie noted placing her head on his shoulder when they were both settled in the car.
"Truth is at first I wasn't. Then I reminded myself how tough you are and that you were going to be just fine." he admitted. "This job carries all kinds of dangers that will result in cuts, bruises and twisted ankles from time to time. As long as we are taking all the safety precautions and not going into anything recklessly, we will be fine. I have to believe that."
He paused for a minute or two before continuing, "Plus Tuna and Abe let me know how you kicked ass out there. Seriously Ed, you had the respect of everyone in that room. You should have seen Abe's face when one of the guys from the 7-2 added that you looked smoking hot. He was shocked."
"What did you say," she giggled.
"I told the guy that I'll let my wife know he thought so." Jamie laughed out loud remembering the hysteria that followed his comment from everyone else around the table during the debriefing. "Of course the kid was horrified when he realized about us and stammered and stuttered his way through something that was half apology and half justification that he was talking about your decoy persona. I almost followed that with - Are you saying my wife isn't smoking hot all the time? But I had to take pity on the kid. I think the detective he was working with was ready to kill him."
"Let's get home and you can take care of your smoking hot wife. I think we may need some Disney movies, ice cream and a bubble bath."
"I like the last one." Jamie responded with a chuckle.