EPILOGUE
Almost two weeks had gone by since the dramatic end to their cop-killer case and Mike felt a strange sense of déjà vu at the sight of a freshly released Daniel leaning against his gray file cabinet, studying a sketch drawing of their latest murder case intently.
Even without the large bandage around his head, it was obvious that the young Inspector had a rough road of recovery ahead yet, having to take frequent breaks to rest his battered body and keep the pain under control.
It had been with great hesitation that Mike allowed him back on the job for a few hours a day, if nothing else to cover the reports, answer phones and do some research work.
It was a decision he had to make because they needed all the help they could get. Mike knew well enough that there was no shortage of crime in this city. The only shortage was that of detectives able to handle the large volume of caseloads.
"Who kills somebody in a drunk stupor and throws him into a dumpster?", Dan muttered quietly, his eyes never leaving the sketch drawing of a bald man in his mid-forties seen leaving the scene of their latest crime, "I feel like that's so passé. People don't get creative anymore on how they go about their homicidal business."
Mike was about to answer when his eyes caught sight of Lenny entering the bullpen. Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts that showed off his tanned body, the disturbingly relaxed Psychiatrist was eating something out of a Styrofoam cup, as he made his way past several desks.
"Speak of the devil…", Mike grunted in feign annoyance and got up to get the door in time for Lenny to smile at him broadly, "Took you long enough. What kind of work schedule have you got that allows you to go on vacation for two months!?"
Acknowledging both detectives with a friendly nod, Lenny shoved another spoonful of food in his mouth, then slowly walked over to the guest chairs and sat down.
"A work schedule that includes dealing with ungrateful law enforcement personnel on a weekly basis, causing my hair to prematurely turn gray. And raise my blood pressure. It's all I can do to limit my vacation to only two months…you two look hungry, by the way. There's a vendor downstairs selling ready to eat oatmeal out of a cup. It's much better than the garbage they serve in the cafeteria. You two should try some."
"I hate oatmeal.", Mike answered dryly and closed the door to his office again, before returning to his chair.
"Well, judging by the volume of calls and messages you guys left with Emily while I was out, things got a bit interesting with your case, hm?"
"That's putting it mildly.", Mike said when a shadow of worry crossed his stern features, "This guy over here narrowly survived a gunshot wound to the head. And it turned out that our cop killer came from our own ranks. Down from Records to be exact."
Growing suspicious when Lenny didn't seem the least bit startled and instead continued to eat his breakfast in irritating delight, Mike frowned.
"You're acting like you're in the loop. Who told you about it already?"
"Lieutenant, Lieutenant. Always questioning everything I say or do.", the Psychiatrist scolded and shook his head with a faint smile, "Stephen told me. I talked to him on the phone before I came here."
Steve.
At least something had finally changed there. Unlike the last few times, the young Professor had remained in contact with them after their case closed, going as far as stopping by the office a couple days later to check on things.
Mike had made a point to express his gratitude for the gesture, thoroughly enjoying the brief trip to the park for some lunch time hot dogs before Steve excused himself again, warning the Lieutenant that the next few days would be extremely busy and keep him away from the phone.
All in all, it seemed that a new form of normality had finally settled between them. Although it still took some getting used to, Mike was ever so willing and ready to travel down that new path.
"Stephen explained that Holmer blamed you for her husband's death when he was under your command. It sounded as though her serial killings were an elaborate plot to get back at you, Lieutenant. How are you handling that situation?"
Surprised at Lenny's genuine concern, Mike shrugged, feeling Dan's curious eyes on him the entire time.
"The same way I handle every situation in which somebody tells me they killed a person because of something I did in the past. I learn to move on. I can't dwell on the actions of others. Not after thirty years."
Nodding quietly, the Psychiatrist ran a hand through his curly hair before continuing.
"That's not a bad mindset to have. You know the question will come up during psych evals next month. So be sure to remember the answer.", Lenny reached inside the breast pocket of his red and blue shirt for a piece of gum, his eyes much warmer when he looked back up, "How did Wonderboy do on his first assignment alone? Any hang-ups?"
A proud smile spread on Mike's lips as he shook his head.
"Never. He was right on from the beginning. Nervous, but right. He was much more accurate than you ever were- all that without the whining of needing more evidence. All of us here agree that we want him to be our main guy for suspect profiles as soon as possible. He is so much more attractive than you, he is faster, smarter, and oh, his taste in clothes is far better than yours. Those…those rags you are wearing; they're hurting my eyes. I think he's going to give you a run for your money, my friend."
The relentless good-natured teasing caused all three men to chuckle for many moments as Lenny leaned back and crossed his suntanned arms in front of his chest.
"A simple yes or no would have sufficed, Lieutenant. Anyways, this morning I ehm…I told him that I am ready to cut him loose in October when it comes to the informal one-on-one meetings. I just want to make sure he balances teaching and this position well for a few months without killing himself. It'll give him some more time to recover from that surgery too. Hopefully in the fall, things will be a lot smoother and you won't have to see my ugly face quite as often, Lieutenant. That is, unless he goes on vacation."
"You knew about that surgery too?", Dan complained, growing visibly more annoyed at being left in the dark, when Lenny shook his head.
"He didn't have a choice, kiddo."
The Psychiatrist's features turned unusually sullen as he said that and he drew in a deep breath, his warm brown eyes switching back over to Mike.
"I wasn't sure if he was going to tell you or not, apparently he decided not to and leave the honor to me. A couple of months ago, we were supposed to meet after classes were finished for the day, when he collapsed during the lecture. I was running early for once and sat in the back of the room when it happened. He just turned white as a sheet and dropped. We called an ambulance and Carmen came in rushed the kids out of the lecture hall. By the time I got down to the pedestal to check on him; he'd gone into complete VFib and was unresponsive. His heart was beating so rapidly and irregularly, it was barely pumping any blood and I couldn't feel a carotid pulse at all for a while. I was afraid he'd go into complete cardiac arrest…so guess who spent twenty minutes of his life performing CPR and begging Wonderboy not to go out like that? I don't think I've ever been this scared…for him and you, Lieutenant. Because he didn't snap out of it until they got him to the hospital, so the entire time, I envisioned having to make that phone call to you. Having to explain to you what happened. Tell you that he died on my watch. That all my training wasn't enough to bring him back. That day…that day Stephen and I formed a bond I didn't quite envision when this whole partnership thing started."
Swallowing hard when his voice was beginning to break, Lenny looked at his lap for a moment, lacing his hands to keep them from shaking, unwilling to meet the sorrowful eyes staring back at him.
"So, I don't know about you guys…but whether or not he told anybody about this surgery doesn't matter quite as much as the fact that he finally had it."
