Chapter 1: A bad start of the day
It was mid-March and spring was starting to arrive in New York. It was a Thursday like the others. The sky was blue the temperature was mild. It was neither too hot nor too cold. In addition, Agent Weller's team did not have a big case in court. In summary, it was the beginning of a perfect day. Only, unlike all her colleagues, Agent Zapata arrived late and in a bad mood. Without a word she sat at her desk and started typing a report. Surprised by the attitude of their colleague, agents Patterson and Reade looked at each other in astonishment. The young computer specialist decided to go talk to her friend. She approached her desk and positioned herself right next to her.
"Hi, how are you?" She asked without making a flourish.
"I'm fine and you?" The brunette retorted trying to hide her confusion. She was so deep in thought that she did not hear the arrival of her best friend.
"Are you sure that everything is in order? Finally, you know I'm here when needed?"
"Sure, but you do not have to worry. I 'm fine. I'm just a little distracted because I got up late. That's all," Tasha lied. She was touched by her friend's anxiety, but she did not really want to talk. It was not important, but a stupid reminder of her past and the failure of her life.
"Ok, in this case, I'm going back to work finally you know where to find me if you want to talk," the blond concluded. She went back to her male colleague and said.
"I do not know what's wrong but there is definitely something. Try it, she'll talk to you more than me. "
"If you say so. I do not guarantee anything, but I will keep an eye on her today and if I have an opportunity I would try to make her confide," Edgar announced staring at his teammate. He was worried about her because it was not her friend's habit to be so cold and distant. Even when she went bad she was never so far from reality. She looked completely lost.
Throughout the morning the team members silently tapped their report late, but nobody spoke. Towards ten o'clock Reade, seeing the pale and tired face of his partner, decided that it was more than time to act. He approached her desk and settled where Patterson was a few hours earlier.
"I'd tell you to go for a coffee because I do not know you, but I really need to get some fresh air," he suggested smiling tenderly. Natasha knew very well that he was trying to make her confide. The young woman had absolutely no desire only she was really exhausted and needed a coffee. Besides, she could not resist his smile. Edgar had the gift of making her feel better in a snap.
"Good idea it will do me good," she replied, smiling weakly. The Hispanic got up and then they went side by side and in silence in the break room. Reade went to fetch their favorite drinks while the pretty brunette booked them a table in the full room. They then sat face to face. The two friends discussed a moment of the affairs in progress and advanced in their report and seeing that she was relaxing he tried an approach.
"So, you will decide to tell me what's wrong or I'll have to find it alone?" Tasha smiled and thoughtfully swallowed a sip of coffee.
"It's crazy it's been so long that we work together. Sometimes I forget how well you know me," she tried trying to divert his attention while making a compliment.
"Tash' I see you coming. Do not try to change the subject. I can see that something is wrong, and I worry about you."
"Listen, it is nothing really, just bad memories. Drops it; that does not matter."
"It's out of the question. If it puts you in this state is that it matters to you and in this case, it matters to me too," the young police officer retorted by gently putting his hand on his best friend. Tasha shuddered at this contact. In spite of all her years, she had never been used to his tenderness, his attention, and his kindness. She felt safe and at peace when she was with him. Besides, it was stupid. She knew it. Reade would never judge her. They both knew the importance of memories. Only all that came out of her high school years was complex and still very painful, even after fifteen years trying to forget.
"No, but really stupid and I hate that."
"What do you hate? To be disturbed by something. To entrust you to someone. To accept help. You have the right to have Tasha feelings and you have the right to be able to count on someone, to be vulnerable."
The policeman knew that he was asking a lot, that being there with him to speak was already a big step for the young woman. Only he also knew that if he did not push her to speak she would shut herself in and he did not want to see her suffer as he had suffered. Even when he had been at the lowest she had always been there for him. So, he was ready to be there for her because the idea of knowing her unhappy, angry or sad was turning his heart.
"This morning I received an invitation for the meeting of the alumni of my high school," she confessed finally.
"I see. You know high school it was not easy for anyone if you do not want to go there you just have to throw the invitation," Edgar reassured understanding but also intrigued. He felt it was more complicated than she wanted to admit, but he did not want to rush her. The young man decided to play down the situation in order to release the pressure on his shoulders.
"Honestly, I wish it were so easy."
"Only there is more, and this invitation has opened a door that you would like to close for good ones," Reade said, seeing that she could not find her words. His teammate had definitely had some pretty tough experiences and she needed to deal with it. Tenderly he intertwined their fingers and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
"It's a thing like that. Are you aware that it's quite scary how you reading my thoughts like that?" Despite the multitude of bad memories that had assailed her since morning, she could not help but smile. She felt lucky to have someone as caring and sensitive as him by her side. He had always known how to make her feel good.
"What are you doing?"
"I do not have the faintest idea. On the one hand, I have no desire to go to spend the evening pretending to enjoy people I always hate in a place that will only remind me of bad times. On the other side, it would be good if I went to close this door for good as you so rightly said."
"Can I afford to give you my opinion?"
"Of course, you can I would sincerely upset if you did not do it."
"You should go there to move on. I do not know exactly what you lived but if there is one thing I learned from the Jones investigation. It's sometimes that you have to deal with your worst nightmares to move forward. In fact, it even comes from you."
"I am rather good advice," she joked in order to lighten the atmosphere. The young woman was beginning to be shaken by this overflow of feelings. She let go of her teammate's hand and settled back in her seat, passing a lock of hair behind her ear. She bit her lower lip and smiled shyly.
"It is true that you are pretty good when you want." "When is it exactly?"
"It is Saturday night."
"Well, that means you have a little time to think and make the decision that suits you best."
"It's true. It has already done half an hour should return."
"Good idea after all the paperwork is not going to be all by itself," the officer agreed, understanding that she needed time to think.
They went upstairs talking about everything and nothing as usual. It was always easy between them. No matter the problem they found a way to fix it, they always knew when to push the other in his entrenchments and when to go smoothly. At the turning in the corridor, Tasha interrupted their march.
"You know what I just remembered that I had to go see Patterson for his reports from the last survey. In addition, I would like to apologize I was a little cold this morning."
"No worries I think I'm big enough to go back to the open space alone you know," Edgar joked sweetly. The pretty brunette laughed and left for the lab when she was interrupted.
"Tash 'if you need to talk or even moral support if you decide to go there I'm here. Do not hesitate to ask."
"Thank you," she murmured timidly, touched that someone cares as much about his well-being, as Reade does. The Hispanic smiled and went on to say that she really needed a discussion with her best friend.