Chapter 19 : Back to normal
Days like these repeated and quickly became weeks. Karlsson was still nowhere to be found. The euphoria of the first days had been replaced by a feeling of routine. There was still a lot of work to do but the fact they had no new lead was exhausting.
The only good news was that Street would be back in 20-David Squad tomorrow after he was validated by the medical team. Chris had not seen him since she left in a hurry this morning after Luca surprised them in the coach, deeply asleep. She called him at least twice a week to know if he got better and they talked for hours about work, sports and books. Because she had the surprise to discover that Street was a bookworm. As surprisingly as it seemed.
She loved their connivance but she'd rather call than go and see him because she knew she could break the promise she made to herself to never date a cop again. And she loved this new dynamics. She always hung up smiling but she didn't see him. So there was no temptation. Seeing him at work will change all this new organization and she was scared.
Luca was the only one who knew, the only one who noticed she was troubled by Street being around here again.
"Not happy?"
She let out a laugh. "Yeah, that's cool that Street is back. It's just… You know…" She paused, not knowing what to add.
"Yeah I know, sis. " He came closer and gave her a hug. He was like a big brother she never had. She could tell him everything. At least almost everything. He held nothing against her when she decided to keep some elements secret.
After a while, he let her go. "You know we'll have to confront all this soon. You can't stay like this. It's not fair to you… To him. If he's just a friend, let him know because you're more than this to him, Chris and if he's more of a friend to you too, don't spoil time asking you too many questions. You only live once, Chris. You shouldn't waste time for administrative problems, if he's the one who makes you feel better."
She made him a shy smile. "You're way too wise, Luca."
"It happens but don't get used to it. Anyway, I plan to organize a lil party for Street's return. Hope you'll come."
She nodded. "Time to roll for now. At least to investigate this son of a bitch." Luca left and Chris remained a while alone in the locker room. She needed this time off to start the day.
[…]
"Hey, how is going there?"
The team turned to see Street in SWAT uniform at the doorstep of the control room.
"Bro, you're clear for field?" Tan screamed.
"Seems so."
Tan came closer and hugged him. It was good to see him there and in perfect fit after he had been through.
"So glad you're back, bro!" It was Luca coming to hug him too.
"Glad to see you around, Street!" Hondo came to congratulate him on his return.
"Never too late! I started to rot in my living room."
Deac came last. Before he gazed for a long time to Chris who stayed away from the celebration. "You don't go and say hello to Street?" He looked at her interrogatively.
"I'll be just behind you. I didn't want to break Tan's enthusiasm." She gave him a faint smile and went to greet Jim. She gathered all the courage and strength she had to come closer to this man that she tried to push away so hard because she refused to fall for another cop. Not another after the Thompson epic failure.
"Hey."
He raised his head and smiled at her. His goofy smile he hated so much but that made her heart melt every time.
"Hey. " He answered as embarrassed as she was at the moment. Silence. Awkward silence. Chris finally opened her mouth to tell him she was happy he was there, in perfect shape.
"So happy you're back! Hope you could still run, old pops."
Tan interrupted their moment, embracing Jim. "Start to run now if you want to have the slightest chance to kick my ass."
He gave a glance to Chris who smiled and walked away. The moment had passed. She was already talking to Hondo. Tan continued to tease his friend.
"So what's up?"
"You have three hours to kill?"
"Even four if you like."
[…]
Street caught up all he had missed. He worked nights and days to read the documents and study all the files about Karlsson. He needed to know every inch of this case, of this man. He almost killed him, he almost killed Chris and as long as he was outside, he was a threat to her life.
"Small eyes." It was Deacon entering the control room.
"Didn't sleep a lot."
"Go easy, Street. I know you want to catch this man as hard as we want, maybe even harder, but be careful, you've just been released for duty. Don't push too hard, too fast."
He admired Deac. He was like a father figure for him. The man was so humble, so realistic. He was the man he was dreaming to become. He was not sure he could one day but he hoped he could at least be inspired by his philosophy and his stable family life.
"I try... But what if this man hurts some of us… What if someone gets killed by this bastard… What if Chris…"
Deac pressed his shoulder with his hand. "I know what you feel. But don't be too worry about her, she's a grown woman who knows how to take care of herself." He remained silent for a while. 'But we all keep an eye on her, days and nights. And don't tell her I told you so or she's gonna kill me for sure."
He let out a laugh. Soon he was imitated by Street. Deac had always wise words. He knew how to comfort his moots. "She'll sure do. Both of us."
It was good to talk, to put words on his fears. "Now take your stuff and go home and rest. Rhokker team is on the case for the next three days and will keep us updated if they find anything new. You need to rest Jim. You look exhausted… You can't catch this bastard if you're not at your top."
Jim nodded. Deac was right. He needed to sleep. Since he was back, he slept only 4 or 5 hours per night and spent all his free time to catch any nook and cranny of the thick investigation files.
"Good night, Jim. See you in three days. "
He grabbed all his stuff, went to the locker room to change and drove till home. Luca was already there. The lights were on. He entered the house and went to his room to drop all the files he had brought him. He could rest and read at the same time.
"Home, kiddo?"
"Yes. Just at the moment. I had some little things to finish before leaving HQ."
"Hurry up, I'm doing carbonara pasta. Can't be reheated, man."
"You cook now?"
He blushed. "Maybe a little…" He seemed evasive. "I put it in your plate or now?"
"Yes. Coming." He rushed in the sofa at the same moment Luca was placing the two full plates on the coffee table. "Is Kelly's mom who gave you private lessons or maybe Nora?" Jim teased him. Luca blushed even more. "You can tell me… Indeed either of them is really good at teaching. Your pasta is delicious!"
Luca lowered his head, wanting to hide for a moment. "Just say I've the same complicated relationship with one of these two women than you have with Chris."
For once, Jim started to laugh. And his story with Chris was the last thing he wanted to laugh about. But Luca's remark was so pure and spontaneous, he laughed loudly. Luca raised his head and started to laugh too. How long it lasted. No idea. All they knew was that they felt better after this.
"We're not good at relationships, bro!" Luca concluded.
"Will not say this. Better say we have such a great taste we choose the most complicated women we can find."
"Can't argue this. You want a beer to celebrate this? And what about a pinball fight to forget about this mess? "
Jim nodded in agreement. He was lucky to live here with Luca. He was like his big brother. Someone he could talk to without being judged. When he had surprised him with Chris, he thought he was the worst thing ever and now it felt good to have someone to talk to about all his Chris drama.
"Nothing new with Chris?"
"Oh boy, we just talk on phone. We work together well. Tried to talk but you know her. She closes as quickly as an oyster."
"She eventually will talk. She likes you. I know this for sure. She just paralyzed with fear. She was really worried… Even scared when you were in a coma. Never seen her break… But I do know what she did when we were not there. She was the only one who believed you were gonna live even when the doctor doubted about it. She stood in front of the medical staff, Hondo, Hicks to keep you alive. And she was right. If you're here today, it's because of this little fury who fought like hell for you…"
Jim lowered his head. It was his turn to blush. Oh God he loved everything in this woman. He knew she was feeling the same way but she was consumed by fear and lack of self-confidence that she couldn't handle the fact that she could be happy and keep her position as a SWAT officer.
"Come on, bro. Let's play a little to free our minds!"
He stood up from the sofa and walked up to the pinball. "Be ready to lose, Luca. I think today is my day."
[…]
During the next weeks, they arrested Karlsson's accomplices all around California. His network became less and less powerful. But the man was still nowhere to be found.
"We must miss something." Hondo kept telling the team. The team could feel he was pissed.
"What about a new girlfriend? Or an old one? Or maybe an old lieutenant?" Tan asked.
"Or a friend from school? Olsen talked about a mate from middle school Karlsson considered as his own bro at the time. But he never met him." Chris was seeing Olsen on a regular basis as the man had decided to talk to avoid spending too many years in jail.
"Dig this Chris. Luca, go with Chris. Tan and Street, look for a new girlfriend. Deac and I take care of the old lieutenant."
After days of search, they found an old friend. The one Olsen was talking about. He was living in North Hollywood with his family. The team spied on him for days before intervening. They needed to be sure he was connected to Karlsson. After two weeks of looking, 20- David and 50-David teams were sure the guy was involved.
Karlsson was not there but this "Diego" was taking care of his gun trafficking for him while he was hiding. They studied the house plan and prepared their takedown to be totally Ok when the day will come. That day was today.
When the team arrived this morning, they were already focused on the mission. Hondo and Rhokker formed the team. Kotonin and Luca. Tan and Barry. Chris and O'Rourke. Street and Chen. Deac and Barry. All ran to their position, waiting for Hicks's signal to roll.
They waited for hours. Lynch and Hicks were coordinated the backup with the LAPD. After three long hours of waiting, Hicks finally gave them the go to attack. Hondo and Rhokker, followed by Tan and Barry entered the house. Hondo threw a smoke bomb to secure the area.
"Go" Rhokker yelled to the others as they walked through the corridor of the house.
On the other side of the house, in the garden, Chris and O'Rourke were securing the place while Kotonin and Luca were forcing the door of the ceiling. "All clear!" Chris screamed for his colleagues to know everything was ok around them. Street and Chen were just right behind them to cover their colleagues. Chris and O'Rourke joined them keeping a sharping eye over the surrounding.
As they entered the ceiling, they heard screams. A dozen of clandestine workers assembling guns and rifles stopped working and starting running as soon as they came in the room.
"Please calm down, we're here to help." Luca told aloud. But it didn't help. Hearing the sound of his voice scared them most. A bigger brouhaha invaded the room.
"Por favor, mantén la calma. Estamos aquí para ayudarlos a todos. No te lastimaremos. Créanos… Por favor." Chris took her chance. Maybe if she spoke them in Spanish, it could help them to calm down.
"Nosotros somos la policia de Los Angeles y nosotros no haremos daño. Estamos buscando a Diego."
Silence seized the room. Whispering slowly replaced screams. The team remained motionless, not to scare these people more than they were already.
"Signor Diego is not here. Soy Carla. Ablo un poco ingles."
"Hola Carla, Soy Chris. Soy un oficial de policía y estos son mis colegas."
Carla nodded. "You can tell us where Diego is?"
"He is gone at his son's school. I heard him on the phone. The little one is… Enfermo."
"Do you know the name of the school?"
"Oh no. But it's not far away so he should be here any minute."
"How did he get out of the house?"
She showed them a wall. Tan and Barry walked through the room and moved a large piece foo furniture. Behind they found a big hole. "A tunnel?!" They told at the same time.