Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Third Watch. And any opinions expressed by them in this story are in no way a reflection of the people that do own them.
Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews...this story is going to have a lot of twist and turns...hope you stay with me.
Previously in this story: Davis is dating a girl that he is starting to get serious with. Bosco is secretly sleeping with Cruz, who is the one behind the complaints filed against Faith. Davis and Sully go after the street vengeance gang, and with the help of Yokas and Bosco, they apprehend three of them. But when the victim of the beating, leaves the scene and blows up a building, the officers loose the three prisoners out of their RMPs during the commotion, causing the Chief of police to place all of them on suspension.
~Chapter three~
Back at the precinct, Lieu gives each of the officers a manila envelope to place their badges and guns in as he starts filling out the paperwork on the suspensions.
Faith says, "This isn't right Lieu, we were trying to help people. Can he really suspend us for a month without pay? I can't afford that." Bosco adds, "Like I can."
The lieutenant replies, "He 'is' the Chief of police, he can do what ever he thinks necessary."
"I'm sorry about this you guys." Sully says. "Ya know Lieu, this was my collar. These guys were just backing me up."
"You can plead your case to the Chief tomorrow if you want."
Just then the door to the lock-up opens and Cruz and four of her detectives come walking out, followed by Gusler who is congratulating them, and they head up the stairs. Bosco asks Gusler what that was all about and he informs them that Cruz and her ACU team caught the bombers.
"The bomber is dead." Ty says puzzled. They all exchange glances and hurry into the lock-up, to find their three suspects in the holding cell.
"Son of a bitch!" Sully yells, and storms out of the room, followed by Ty.
Bosco says almost to himself, "She brought them in for us."
Faith says angrily, "Don't you dare try to cover for her. She stole our collars and got us all suspended."
Lieu says, "So these are your suspects?"
Faith says, "Yes...These are 'our' suspects. Does this mean we are off the hook Lieu?"
"I'll have to hear what Cruz has to say about it. And then run it by the Chief."
Bosco looks up quickly and yells, "Sully...we gotta stop him."
They hurry out the door and up the stairs, where they find Sully and Cruz yelling at each other. Davis is standing between them, and two of Cruz's detectives are holding Sully back.
The lieutenant yells at everyone to calm down. Sully barks, "This son of a bitch took our suspects...right out of our cars! I want her badge."
Cruz retorts with, "You better pull in his reigns Lieu, before I write him up for disorderly conduct to a superior officer."
The lieutenant asks her, "Where did you find these suspects, Maritza?"
"I got them out of their patrol cars...it's true. But the suspects were left unattended. That is unacceptable. They are lucky I didn't write them up for that. In fact, they are lucky that they lost the suspects to me and not the streets. They should be thanking me."
"Thanking You! You smug little bitch." Sully lunges at her, grabbing her arm hard. All the officers pull them apart.
"Knock it off!" Lieu yells "Why didn't you tell anyone that you were removing them from the patrol cars?"
Bosco says, "She did." At the same time she says, "I am a sergeant, I don't need to explain myself to them."
The lieutenant says, "Ok. When the Chief gets back we'll sort this all out."
Cruz glares at the officers and says, "If you'll excuse me now, I have some suspects to question." And Lieu says angrily, "I believe you all have some reports to write? Let's get to it."
***********
Cruz walks out of the room, glaring at Sully. Who the hell does that fat bastard think he's talking to. Nobody talks to her that way...and gets away with it. Especially a worthless patrol cop. He will regret having crossed her, just like Yokas will soon regret having mouthed off to her. They, with their simplistic minds, are no match for her street smarts. She grew up surviving on the streets by being creatively sneaky and void of the complications of a conscience. And she survives in her job the same way.
When Cruz first brought the three men in, one of them did all the talking for the other two. Maritza goes to the lock-up and pulls him out, and takes him to an interrogation room. She tells one of her detectives to stay outside the room and make sure no one turns on the speaker to listen while she questions him. And if anyone tries, he is to knock on the window and warn her.
She goes into the room with the guy and he immediately asks for a lawyer.
"All in good time. The way I see it...you three morons think that because the guy you attacked was a terrorist, that we're gonna over look all the innocent victims you hurt. That ain't gonna happen...unless you can tell me something about the bomber that I can use. Who he was, where he lived, who he knows. That sort of thing." He says nothing and she continues, "When did you first notice the detonation device, and all that money in the front seat?"
"I ain't telling you nothin without a lawyer."
"A huh, that's what I thought. You idiots had no clue. You just pulled some mope off the street based on his nationality. And 'that' is a racially motivated act of violence. You are in some serious trouble. It's too bad that you guys are going away for such a long time. You were just starting to make a dent. But if you won't let me help you...there's nothing I can do."
She gets up to leave and he says, "Why would you want to help me?"
"Because what you're doing is making my job easier. And because I can relate to you. You see a problem, you go and take care of it. With out all the red tape and paperwork. That...is a little how I work." She leans in closer to him and talks almost in a whisper. "See I have a problem. And there is a way we can help solve each others problems, but I don't feel you being very helpful."
"Yah? What is your problem?"
"The cop that arrested you, the fat guy...he is my problem. He is a crooked cop. I'm tryin to bust this drug ring that is selling bad heroine. There are kids dying all over the city, but I can't touch them because this cop is on the take. He keeps giving them inside information and they keep giving him cash to warn them when we are coming."
"So how can I help you with that? And how will that help me?"
"If you were to say that you saw the money, and the detonator in the bomber's truck, then you would have had a pretty good reason to try and stop that guy. That would make you heroes. And if the bomber was to offer a cop money to let him go, that cop would be in some deep trouble. 'If ' there were witnesses that saw this happen, of course."
"Was there money and a detonator in the truck?"
"You tell me...I wasn't there. And the truck is in pieces all over the city so I can't prove that there was...and I can't prove that there wasn't. All that I would have to go on...is the word of three eyewitnesses and the money that the officer took. I'll make sure it will be found, hidden somewhere in his apartment. So you tell me...is that what you saw?"
"Yah, I saw that."
"Well I'll tell you what...I'll let you go back to your buddies, and you can find out if they saw that too. And tomorrow, you can all sit down with your lawyers, and you can tell them. In the mean time, I will make sure that the money you saw, is where it should be."
***********
It is deadly silent while the officers sit at their desks making out their reports. Faith looks around at the others. Bosco keeps writing then crossing out then erasing. Davis is chewing his pencil as he re-reads what he had written. And Sully is looking down at his blank paper. His stare is far away and he looks very upset.
"Are you ok Sully?" Faith asks concerned. After a long pause, "Sully...you alright?"
They all look over at him as he looks up from his stupor, and says, "What? Yah...I need to get out of here."
Faith says, "This day was really a bastard, huh? I got an idea, why don't we all take our reports to that diner up the street and we can finish them up over there. Get away from here for a while. What do ya say?"
Ty says, "I'll take a pass. I'm almost done and I'm goin home to bed."
Bosco says, "That's all I need...distractions. I'll never get this done."
So Faith says, "Looks like it's just you and me Sully. Ok? I'm done with my report, I can help you with yours."
He looks at her for a few seconds and then says, "Why not. I can get some real coffee."
The two walk to the diner. Faith tries to make conversation with him but he is obviously not listening, so she gives up, and they walk on in silence. Inside the diner, they are sitting, facing each other in a booth. As she blows on her coffee, she watches Sully's face, trying to read his mood. He looks sad and worried. She finally says, "I don't think the chief is really gonna suspend us with no pay for a month."
He says, "Yah. Probably not."
That is not what is bugging him so she tries another approach. "Listen, me and Bos don't blame you for what happened. We responded to a call for backup, and..."
"I know that." He says cutting her off.
She watches him sitting there looking very forlorn and she can not figure out what is bothering him, so she comes right out and asks him. "What's troubling you Sul?"
His eyes are gazing down at the table and he says, "All those people got hurt because of me. I had that guy. I had my hand on his arm and I let him drive away." Faith never considered that Sully was blaming himself for the explosion. "How could I have not seen, that something was wrong with that guy. He was acting too weird...too scared for someone being saved. It's my job to notice that stuff."
She says, "There was no way you could have known what he was planning to do."
"I know." He looks up and says, "Really...I know that. But..." Sully starts to wring his hands nervously. "I felt bad for the guy, ya know? I should have let those punks kill him. I saved him. I should have forced him to wait. So many people were hurt..."
"You can't pick and choose who to save." she tells him.
Faith listens as he vents his frustration. There is really nothing she can say to make him feel better. It was just one of those things that suck about the job. Yesterday they couldn't save a doctor from those same guys. A doctor who helps people. Today they save a man, that turns around and kills ten or eleven people. It isn't fair. And you just have to accept that for what it is.
"Still cryin about losin your collar?"
They look up to see Cruz and Bosco standing there. Sully rolls his eyes with disgust. Bosco makes a motion like he is about to sit but Faith doesn't move over. Instead she says, "I thought you weren't coming."
"I changed my mind. Sarge offered to buy...you know to make nice."
"Yah...she must have worked up quite an appetite catching those perps." Then she turns to Sully and says, "What with all the car doors she had to open and all."
"Cruz slaps Bosco in the stomach with the back of her hand and says, "C'mon, we'll get our own table. Let these two continue consoling each other."
When the food comes, Sully and Faith pick at it in silence. Neither one eats very much. Finally Sully says, "Ya know...I've had enough. I think I'm just gonna head home and get some rest...do the report in the morning." Faith agrees to that and they get up to leave. Faith pulls some money out of her pocket and Sully says, "No I got it." He walks over to the waitress, says a few words to the girl and joins Faith at the door.
Faith noticed that Sully never handed her any money. "What did you say to her?"
"I told her that the Sarge offered to pick up the tab. You know...to make nice." She nods and they walk out together. "I don't know how you do it Faith."
"Do what?"
"Put up with Bosco. He was annoying enough before he became a Cruz puppet."
"To be honest with you, I've been askin myself that too. He idolizes her and I can't see why. At first I thought he was just suckin up to get on Anti crime...but now...it's more than that. I think he's been sleeping with her...he denied it but I know it's true. I always felt that, no matter what, Bosco had my back. But now...I feel like I hafta watch my back. Especially when she's around. He's always stickin up for her, and I just don't trust her. And I know he don't see that in her."
****************
Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews...this story is going to have a lot of twist and turns...hope you stay with me.
Previously in this story: Davis is dating a girl that he is starting to get serious with. Bosco is secretly sleeping with Cruz, who is the one behind the complaints filed against Faith. Davis and Sully go after the street vengeance gang, and with the help of Yokas and Bosco, they apprehend three of them. But when the victim of the beating, leaves the scene and blows up a building, the officers loose the three prisoners out of their RMPs during the commotion, causing the Chief of police to place all of them on suspension.
~Chapter three~
Back at the precinct, Lieu gives each of the officers a manila envelope to place their badges and guns in as he starts filling out the paperwork on the suspensions.
Faith says, "This isn't right Lieu, we were trying to help people. Can he really suspend us for a month without pay? I can't afford that." Bosco adds, "Like I can."
The lieutenant replies, "He 'is' the Chief of police, he can do what ever he thinks necessary."
"I'm sorry about this you guys." Sully says. "Ya know Lieu, this was my collar. These guys were just backing me up."
"You can plead your case to the Chief tomorrow if you want."
Just then the door to the lock-up opens and Cruz and four of her detectives come walking out, followed by Gusler who is congratulating them, and they head up the stairs. Bosco asks Gusler what that was all about and he informs them that Cruz and her ACU team caught the bombers.
"The bomber is dead." Ty says puzzled. They all exchange glances and hurry into the lock-up, to find their three suspects in the holding cell.
"Son of a bitch!" Sully yells, and storms out of the room, followed by Ty.
Bosco says almost to himself, "She brought them in for us."
Faith says angrily, "Don't you dare try to cover for her. She stole our collars and got us all suspended."
Lieu says, "So these are your suspects?"
Faith says, "Yes...These are 'our' suspects. Does this mean we are off the hook Lieu?"
"I'll have to hear what Cruz has to say about it. And then run it by the Chief."
Bosco looks up quickly and yells, "Sully...we gotta stop him."
They hurry out the door and up the stairs, where they find Sully and Cruz yelling at each other. Davis is standing between them, and two of Cruz's detectives are holding Sully back.
The lieutenant yells at everyone to calm down. Sully barks, "This son of a bitch took our suspects...right out of our cars! I want her badge."
Cruz retorts with, "You better pull in his reigns Lieu, before I write him up for disorderly conduct to a superior officer."
The lieutenant asks her, "Where did you find these suspects, Maritza?"
"I got them out of their patrol cars...it's true. But the suspects were left unattended. That is unacceptable. They are lucky I didn't write them up for that. In fact, they are lucky that they lost the suspects to me and not the streets. They should be thanking me."
"Thanking You! You smug little bitch." Sully lunges at her, grabbing her arm hard. All the officers pull them apart.
"Knock it off!" Lieu yells "Why didn't you tell anyone that you were removing them from the patrol cars?"
Bosco says, "She did." At the same time she says, "I am a sergeant, I don't need to explain myself to them."
The lieutenant says, "Ok. When the Chief gets back we'll sort this all out."
Cruz glares at the officers and says, "If you'll excuse me now, I have some suspects to question." And Lieu says angrily, "I believe you all have some reports to write? Let's get to it."
***********
Cruz walks out of the room, glaring at Sully. Who the hell does that fat bastard think he's talking to. Nobody talks to her that way...and gets away with it. Especially a worthless patrol cop. He will regret having crossed her, just like Yokas will soon regret having mouthed off to her. They, with their simplistic minds, are no match for her street smarts. She grew up surviving on the streets by being creatively sneaky and void of the complications of a conscience. And she survives in her job the same way.
When Cruz first brought the three men in, one of them did all the talking for the other two. Maritza goes to the lock-up and pulls him out, and takes him to an interrogation room. She tells one of her detectives to stay outside the room and make sure no one turns on the speaker to listen while she questions him. And if anyone tries, he is to knock on the window and warn her.
She goes into the room with the guy and he immediately asks for a lawyer.
"All in good time. The way I see it...you three morons think that because the guy you attacked was a terrorist, that we're gonna over look all the innocent victims you hurt. That ain't gonna happen...unless you can tell me something about the bomber that I can use. Who he was, where he lived, who he knows. That sort of thing." He says nothing and she continues, "When did you first notice the detonation device, and all that money in the front seat?"
"I ain't telling you nothin without a lawyer."
"A huh, that's what I thought. You idiots had no clue. You just pulled some mope off the street based on his nationality. And 'that' is a racially motivated act of violence. You are in some serious trouble. It's too bad that you guys are going away for such a long time. You were just starting to make a dent. But if you won't let me help you...there's nothing I can do."
She gets up to leave and he says, "Why would you want to help me?"
"Because what you're doing is making my job easier. And because I can relate to you. You see a problem, you go and take care of it. With out all the red tape and paperwork. That...is a little how I work." She leans in closer to him and talks almost in a whisper. "See I have a problem. And there is a way we can help solve each others problems, but I don't feel you being very helpful."
"Yah? What is your problem?"
"The cop that arrested you, the fat guy...he is my problem. He is a crooked cop. I'm tryin to bust this drug ring that is selling bad heroine. There are kids dying all over the city, but I can't touch them because this cop is on the take. He keeps giving them inside information and they keep giving him cash to warn them when we are coming."
"So how can I help you with that? And how will that help me?"
"If you were to say that you saw the money, and the detonator in the bomber's truck, then you would have had a pretty good reason to try and stop that guy. That would make you heroes. And if the bomber was to offer a cop money to let him go, that cop would be in some deep trouble. 'If ' there were witnesses that saw this happen, of course."
"Was there money and a detonator in the truck?"
"You tell me...I wasn't there. And the truck is in pieces all over the city so I can't prove that there was...and I can't prove that there wasn't. All that I would have to go on...is the word of three eyewitnesses and the money that the officer took. I'll make sure it will be found, hidden somewhere in his apartment. So you tell me...is that what you saw?"
"Yah, I saw that."
"Well I'll tell you what...I'll let you go back to your buddies, and you can find out if they saw that too. And tomorrow, you can all sit down with your lawyers, and you can tell them. In the mean time, I will make sure that the money you saw, is where it should be."
***********
It is deadly silent while the officers sit at their desks making out their reports. Faith looks around at the others. Bosco keeps writing then crossing out then erasing. Davis is chewing his pencil as he re-reads what he had written. And Sully is looking down at his blank paper. His stare is far away and he looks very upset.
"Are you ok Sully?" Faith asks concerned. After a long pause, "Sully...you alright?"
They all look over at him as he looks up from his stupor, and says, "What? Yah...I need to get out of here."
Faith says, "This day was really a bastard, huh? I got an idea, why don't we all take our reports to that diner up the street and we can finish them up over there. Get away from here for a while. What do ya say?"
Ty says, "I'll take a pass. I'm almost done and I'm goin home to bed."
Bosco says, "That's all I need...distractions. I'll never get this done."
So Faith says, "Looks like it's just you and me Sully. Ok? I'm done with my report, I can help you with yours."
He looks at her for a few seconds and then says, "Why not. I can get some real coffee."
The two walk to the diner. Faith tries to make conversation with him but he is obviously not listening, so she gives up, and they walk on in silence. Inside the diner, they are sitting, facing each other in a booth. As she blows on her coffee, she watches Sully's face, trying to read his mood. He looks sad and worried. She finally says, "I don't think the chief is really gonna suspend us with no pay for a month."
He says, "Yah. Probably not."
That is not what is bugging him so she tries another approach. "Listen, me and Bos don't blame you for what happened. We responded to a call for backup, and..."
"I know that." He says cutting her off.
She watches him sitting there looking very forlorn and she can not figure out what is bothering him, so she comes right out and asks him. "What's troubling you Sul?"
His eyes are gazing down at the table and he says, "All those people got hurt because of me. I had that guy. I had my hand on his arm and I let him drive away." Faith never considered that Sully was blaming himself for the explosion. "How could I have not seen, that something was wrong with that guy. He was acting too weird...too scared for someone being saved. It's my job to notice that stuff."
She says, "There was no way you could have known what he was planning to do."
"I know." He looks up and says, "Really...I know that. But..." Sully starts to wring his hands nervously. "I felt bad for the guy, ya know? I should have let those punks kill him. I saved him. I should have forced him to wait. So many people were hurt..."
"You can't pick and choose who to save." she tells him.
Faith listens as he vents his frustration. There is really nothing she can say to make him feel better. It was just one of those things that suck about the job. Yesterday they couldn't save a doctor from those same guys. A doctor who helps people. Today they save a man, that turns around and kills ten or eleven people. It isn't fair. And you just have to accept that for what it is.
"Still cryin about losin your collar?"
They look up to see Cruz and Bosco standing there. Sully rolls his eyes with disgust. Bosco makes a motion like he is about to sit but Faith doesn't move over. Instead she says, "I thought you weren't coming."
"I changed my mind. Sarge offered to buy...you know to make nice."
"Yah...she must have worked up quite an appetite catching those perps." Then she turns to Sully and says, "What with all the car doors she had to open and all."
"Cruz slaps Bosco in the stomach with the back of her hand and says, "C'mon, we'll get our own table. Let these two continue consoling each other."
When the food comes, Sully and Faith pick at it in silence. Neither one eats very much. Finally Sully says, "Ya know...I've had enough. I think I'm just gonna head home and get some rest...do the report in the morning." Faith agrees to that and they get up to leave. Faith pulls some money out of her pocket and Sully says, "No I got it." He walks over to the waitress, says a few words to the girl and joins Faith at the door.
Faith noticed that Sully never handed her any money. "What did you say to her?"
"I told her that the Sarge offered to pick up the tab. You know...to make nice." She nods and they walk out together. "I don't know how you do it Faith."
"Do what?"
"Put up with Bosco. He was annoying enough before he became a Cruz puppet."
"To be honest with you, I've been askin myself that too. He idolizes her and I can't see why. At first I thought he was just suckin up to get on Anti crime...but now...it's more than that. I think he's been sleeping with her...he denied it but I know it's true. I always felt that, no matter what, Bosco had my back. But now...I feel like I hafta watch my back. Especially when she's around. He's always stickin up for her, and I just don't trust her. And I know he don't see that in her."
****************