Chapter Fourteen
Rick paced around a messy office space in the back of an electronics store. The store front of this particular location was improbably placed on a bustling street in Downtown Atlanta, seemingly out of place and behind the times. Rick had driven out there to meet an old acquaintance and his angst at getting this necessary part of the plan executed coursed through him.
After a few minutes, he had to speak up since the man he came to see seemed to have forgotten about his presence.
"Eugene, how long's this gonna take?"
The chair swiveled around to face Rick, so the man who donned the never in style mullet who occupied it could scowl at him.
"Even if I told you, even if I provided step by step instructions complete with illustrations and I went red ring, you do not have the wherewithal that I'm keenly aware of."
Rick stopped pacing to glare at the unusual man. Eugene quickly became anxious from the glower, attempting to shrink his larger body further back into the seat.
Rick rubbed his eyes. "Look, I'm sorry Eugene. I appreciate everything you are doing for me."
Eugene gained his composure and turned back to his computer.
"With the given time restraints on my classified workings on Tybalt and Cordelia. It's a wonder I'm situating your calamity."
Rick had to fight his irked expression and resorted to looking to the heavens.
"Cutting into my ten minutes." Eugene muttered as he continued frantically pressing keys and rolling his mouse around.
Rick just sighed and thought about how this had to work or the plan could fall apart. Getting Col. Blake removed before graduation was a gift he wanted to give to Michonne. He thought about where their relationship could have progressed after that amazing weekend. He would have no doubt taken the reins on planning their second weekend together.
Suddenly, Eugene stood up sending the chair careening backwards. "Exponential acceleration!"
Now Rick was more confused than ever looking to Eugene with his face scrunched up.
"The mission is complete." he explained. "Malware will take care of the flash drive next time its inserted, pun intended. I have removed said photos, files as well as undisclosed videos to a clandestine server ready for the full kablooey."
Rick walked over and put his hand on Eugene's shoulder and looked him in the eye.
"Thank you." Eugene was in a state of wonderment from receiving appreciation.
"I'm just trying to muster a bit of your testicular gravitas." Rick chuckled and patted his shoulder again.
"I've got to head out. I'll swing by soon and we can hangout or something."
"If you come to my place, I'll make my staple from our cash strapped college days."
"Sardine mac and cheese?" Rick turned up his nose and grimaced.
Eugene moaned appreciatively. "Takes me back."
Rick just nodded as he backed away turning to depart, fortunate he knew a guy.
Rick had to be strategic in his moves. He knew any attempt at Phillip Blake that wasn't well organized could fail and cause people to believe he was acting retaliatory. So his next step was right to the top, Hershel.
"Rick, come in." the two men embraced. "Have a seat, can I get you some water? Coffee, tea?"
"Naw, I'm fine."
"Anxious to get to it, huh?" the older white haired man smiled.
"Little bit." Rick said, rubbing his hands together after he sat.
"Was your man able to get it done?"
"Yeah."
"I spoke to Maggie." Rick looked up then.
"I know I should probably reprimand you but… she is graduating on Saturday." Rick sat up straighter realizing what Hershel knew.
"Hershel, I…I-" Rick fidgeted.
"This isn't like you Rick. So I know she is special to you." Rick nodded and softened, thinking of Michonne's face.
"And you're taking responsibility." Hershel came to stand by Rick.
"Yes, Sir."
"I'm glad you've decided not to squander anymore time. Lord knows I wasted a few years myself."
"You're choosing what your life's gonna be instead of letting others depict it for you. I know you don't know it yet but Michonne's been through a lot too. But the two of you, can make it better now. You're here today and it's a good time to start."
"I think… I'll wait. Until Saturday." Rick smirked.
"Saturday." Hershel chuckled.
"I'm proud of you, Rick."
Rick was overcome with emotions from receiving such high praise from a man he knew to be great. He stood and walked over to hug his mentor again. After they embraced, Hershel went to sit behind his desk.
"Deputy Chief Morgan Jones will be here any minute. He's a good man, he's personally going to take over this investigation. Along with IAB so be rest assured this will be handled once and for all."
"I hope so." There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Deputy Chief Jones entered and Rick stood to salute him. Morgan extended his hand so Rick shook it instead.
"Capt. Grimes, nice to meet you." The bald, dark skinned man spoke with notes of Alabamian in his southern accent.
"Likewise." Both men sat in the chairs on the other side of Hershel's desk.
"Chief Greene tells me you have hard evidence against Col. Phillip Blake."
"I do."
"I'm glad to hear it. We have wanted to take down this son of a bitch for quite a while." Rick and Hershel nodded. "We already had some investigations underway so anything you can add will be the icing on top."
"That's great to hear. So what's the plan?" Rick was primed to move.
The men sat and arranged their course of action to take down Col. Blake and his minions.
Rick could see his chance at happiness on the horizon. He just needed to make this work in the next few days. Luckily, since he was a late addition to this academy's instructors list, he was able to play off his "humiliation" as a necessity for a few days off. Blake's arrogance made him jump at the chance to get rid of Rick for a few days.
The next day's plan was to gather the other witness statements, today they were starting with Andrea. Morgan and Rick showed up at her house in the morning to catch her unawares. They walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. The door flew open to see a disheveled Andrea standing in her pajamas.
"Uh-uh, Good Morning, Sirs." Andrea was stunned by the two police bosses in full uniform at her door.
"Good Morning, may we come in and talk?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, yes sir." She showed them in, wrapping her robe tighter and fussing with her blonde hair.
"What can I help you with?" Andrea was perplexed and looked between the two men as she offered them a seat on her couch.
Rick cut straight to it. "We know what Col. Phillip Blake has done to you."
"I don't know what you are talking about…?" Andrea sat on the love seat across from them and played dumb.
"Blackmail, bribery, etc." Morgan added.
"I don't know anything about that."
"Well, what do you know?" Morgan questioned.
"What did someone tell you?" she was becoming defensive looking at them.
"We know all about what Phillip's making you do so that you can keep pursuing this job. Things he wants you to do with Jessie to set me up." Rick answered.
Andrea cast her eyes down.
"You are a victim in this. We just need to know everything you know." Morgan looked her in the eyes sincerely.
Rick sternly added. "This investigation is already well in motion. If you decide to not help, you think Philip won't hesitant to throw you under the bus to save himself?"
Andrea bit her lip. "But there's more that you don't know..." Andrea implored.
"We have your videos. The pictures." Rick waved in the air. "They are safe, he doesn't know we've taken them and replaced them with old zombie movie footage."
Andrea slumped in her seat. "We…we can really do this?"
"Yes, we will, we are." Morgan confirmed. "But we have to move fast so we need your help now."
Andrea looked up shakily.
"I was under his spell the moment I laid eyes on him. I just wanted a better life. A good paying job with benefits and a pension." They men nodded at her in agreement.
Andrea looked determined now. "I'll help end this but there's one person we need, Milton."
Lt. Rhee walked in to the hallway where the recruits were standing at ease, awaiting instructions.
"Recruits, graduation is on Saturday. We are passing around all of the details, including tickets, hours and location. You will wear your dress blouses and patent leather shoes. This a reminder that rehearsal is tomorrow so be on time. But today is gun day."
There was a loud chorus of whistling, "yesses" and clapping.
"Calm down! This is serious! You are here to learn from us because we actually know what's going on out there!" Glenn admonished. "You will be broken up into groups and assigned to an instructor as per usual."
Michonne hoped she would get Rick so she could maybe sneak off to speak to him but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead she got Lt. Shane Walsh.
Her company assembled at the range after being equipped with Glock 9mm's. These wouldn't necessarily be their service weapons once they were in the field, but they were standard for training.
They were taken up to the booths in groups of six. Michonne made sure she was on the end stall so when Shane got to her, she could speak to him discreetly.
"Recruit Hawthorne, I need you to put on your cannons and shoot at the target."
"I need to speak to Rick." He stared at her but didn't respond so she went on.
"He isn't here today but I need to speak to him." She yelled over the sounds of gunshots echoing off the walls.
"Why?" he placed his hands on his gun belt and looked at her suspiciously.
Michonne hesitated. She didn't want to have this conversation with him here.
"Can we step out so we don't have to yell?"
Shane nodded then stepped over and asked Glenn to take over before leading her to the equipment area.
"Why?" he asked again, hands back on his gun belt.
"I…I wanna make things right."
"Is that right?"
"It is." He acted as though he didn't believe her as she tried to convey her genuineness.
"Look…" Shane blew out a deep breath. "Rick's been my best friend for so long. Longer than he probably should've, but he is."
Shane looked deep in thought. "I didn't take care of him before so I owe it to him now."
"Okay." Michonne's stomach flipped in anticipation of his response.
"I just wanna make sure if you're coming back around, it's for the long haul."
"Of course." Michonne agreed and Shane shook his head.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this but Rick's ex-wife..." He sighed and rubbed his head. "She… Uh- she had been having an affair for a couple years while they were together. It broke him. So I gotta make sure you are ready for all that comes with. To treat him the way he deserves."
Michonne's wheels were turning. Rick had been hurt by the woman he loved. Discarded and betrayed by his spouse and her heart seized at the thought. Her mind raced when she recalled her words to him.
'This wasn't real.'
What had she done? Her eyes welled up when the realization of the pain she'd infected on him came into view.
Would Rick even forgive her?
Would he trust her?
Was she too late, had he walled himself in, like she had done?
"I'm glad you are here to protect him, friends are the family we choose and Rick choose you for a reason." Shane looked at her shocked. He nodded, subtly accepting the compliment.
He smirked not able to help it. "Alright, then figure this mess out. After your gun training."
Michonne smiled reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. They both headed back in to continue the lesson.
Michonne knew she had to speak to Rick in person to convey everything at once. Rick had dealt with so much himself, could he even handle her past? Would he want to?
She was irritated with herself for playing coy and not exchanging numbers with him. She could show up at his house but she'd no idea where that was.
So her only option was to see him here at the Academy. But two days passed and no Rick, she was starting to get nervous. Was he returning? Had he asked for a reassignment? To get away from Blake? From her? Was this the end?