****Chapter Four****
"What are you thinking?" said Chris to T.C. while they were sitting on the couch. Emilee had gone to see Bobby and talk to him so they had the house to themselves.
"About what Em had said to me about Matthew working with us? She thinks that maybe we are being played by Jessup again and I can see where she would get the idea. The timing is perfect with her being suspended from the station and with things between her and Russ being so tense lately."
"What she thinks that Jessup sent him?"
"It crossed her mind and I don't think that is possible. He has no past except the military and being on the job for the last few years. He's a good cop and I think that he'll be a real asset to us."
"But?" she pressed
"I just think that maybe Matthew is for her, the way to get over Russ and that scares me. I know that she can handle herself when it comes to relationships, but I'm scared that she isn't thinking clearly. Chris, I want to stop her from making a mistake that is going to cost her everything that she's work so hard for. I don't think that Matthew understands what is going on between them and I hate to make a huge deal about it with him."
"T.C. Emilee is smart and she knows when she's ready to date and this is not the right time. Maybe she just needs someone to be her friend. Matthew can be her friend right now and be the person that she can confide in. I know that this might hurt your pride, but Emilee isn't going to come running to you for everything anymore. You have to trust her to make the right decisions and if you see that she's in over her head then talk to her and make sure, but don't accuse her of jumping in over her head. She needs to know that she can still come to you if she needs to. I also don't think that Jessup has any reason to send Matthew in as a spy."
"Sometimes I don't know where the line of being her father and being her boss are Chris."
"That's why I'm here to be your sound board and to let you know when you've crossed that line," she said laying her head on his shoulder. T.C. sighed and pulled her close.
"You are plotting something aren't you?"
"What? Chris come on I have to trust her right?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't meant that you aren't going to help the situation by stepping in without her knowledge. You have something going on in that head of yours."
"He's too perfect Chris."
"You can't start making up new rules or re- instating old ones because you feel uncomfortable."
"I know."
Meanwhile Emilee was with Bobby Cruz talking about things. She trusted Bobby even after everything that happened with John Patrone. He was like her older brother and also anything she said was between them and nobody else found out.
"You want anything to drink?" said Bobby.
"No I'm good thanks."
"So what's going on Em? Is it about Russ?"
"Everything happened so fast. I don't know whether to really take what he says seriously or to just let everything go and move on? There are moments when I really don't care and then there are those when I see him and I can't seem to think I'm the one that's hurting him."
"Russ is a persistent guy Em, but what you have to do is follow your heart and since you didn't ask I am going to tell you this anyways. Russ and you were never really meant to be together. It was a dead end relationship Emilee and I was going to tell you that when I found out, but when I did see you guys together you seemed happy."
"Thanks Bobby."
"What about Matthew? I'm guessing that he factors in here somewhere?"
"As my new partner at the moment and nothing more I like him he's a nice guy and I think he has potential for the job, but I'm not going to date him just because he's there."
"You've though about it though?"
"You've thought about Cory haven't you?"
"Sure in my dreams because I know that's what they are," he smiled at her.
"It has crossed my mind, but more in the sense if what if I'd met him first. How are you doing?"
"Not bad considering there is a large spot on my record."
"Jessup sure has away of making people's lives miserable that's for sure."
"This wasn't all her fault it was mine. I made the choice to hold evidence from T.C. and I paid for it. I just managed to take a couple of other people with me in the process. I'm not proud of what I did, but at that moment I thought I was doing what was best."
"I should go and let you get some sleep. Thanks Bobby."
"Anytime Emmy." he said hugging her
"Morning." said T.C. to Emilee who was sitting on the couch
"Hi."
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm alright. I just wish I knew what they had on me."
"Emilee, I'm going to be there and so is Cory. You have nothing to be afraid of."
"Hey are you guys ready to go?" said Chris from the kitchen
"Yeah let's get this over with." said Emilee standing up
The first part Emilee was brought in front of the board and told the charges against her and then they heard her side of the story. Emilee explained everything exactly what happened between Russ and her. T.C. was sitting next to Chris holding her hand and Cory was sitting on the other side. When Emilee told what happened and they brought the evidence to her they didn't have much. T.C. told them that Emilee did everything by the book.
"As her Lieutenant is your job as her father ever affected the way you treat her?"
"No, on the job I'm her boss and off the job I'm her father."
"Were you aware of the relationship between Officer Granger and Emilee?"
"Yes, but not immediately."
"Did you try to break them up?"
"They weren't paired up together."
"So you didn't do anything about trying to have them transferred?"
"I was not going to unless it was necessary."
"Would you say that her relationship has been affecting her ability to work?"
"No."
"Did Emilee ever bring concern to you about Russ Grangers performance?"
"No."
"You never suspected her of holding information from you that he might have given her?"
"No."
"Thank you Lieutenant."
They also brought in the evidence that Jessup had against her and Emilee knew that wasn't going to be good. She had a conversation on tape from her and Russ, but it didn't say directly that Russ was talking about the case. She also had a report of her attacking someone. All of this just made Emilee madder and more upset. The review board took a ten minute break and Emilee knew that they didn't have anything against her. When they called her back in though what they had to say wasn't what anyone wanted to hear. T.C. was in shock and so were Chris and Cory.
"This board finds Emilee Callaway guilty in following protocol in the line of duty. In the charges of holding evidence in the case we find her not guilty. Lieutenant Callaway will make a two week report of all of Emilee's cases on duty and she is to be with a superior officer at all times while on duty. Also she will be retested to the police academy and firearms. Next week Emilee will not be permitted to fire a firearm until she is retested. Any reports of misconduct of duty or orders will result in a permanent suspension from Santa Monica Police force."
They walked out and got in the car. T.C. was relieved at the sentence, but he also knew that Emilee didn't think so. The fact that she was found guilty of anything wasn't good. He took her home to change and then he had to get to work. Chris was going to stay with her, but Emilee said that she would be alright and told them to go. They hated leaving her alone, but knew that she needed space. When they got back to the station they told Victor and he promised not to say anything to anyone. He knew that it would be in the reports from the Brass. He was hurt by the fact that Emilee was hurt and tried to call her to see if she wanted to talk, but go no answer. T.C. had a hard time focusing on work for the rest of the day as did Cory, Chris and Victor.
Emilee decided to do the one thing that made any sense to do at the time. She took her gun and went to the shooting range at the academy. Since she had only a few days before she lost her weapon she figured she might as well get some use out of it. She stayed there until almost closing time around seven. Most of the people in there didn't know her so she wasn't bothered by anyone. Just as she was getting ready to leave though she spotted Matthew standing in one of the pens.
"Hi Emilee"
"I'm can't talk to you right now."
"Hey how'd the review board go?"
"Fine and it's none of your business."
"Alright so we won't talk about the review board."
"I have a better idea how about you just don't talk to me at all! I know you're the new guy and all, but acting stupid doesn't win you brownie points."
"Hey I'm just trying to be your friend."
"Well you can stop because I have all the friends I need. Just stay out of my way and you'll be fine."
"What is going on?"
"Listen just do your job and we have no problems, but get in my face the way you are now and you'll find your self without any friends in the station," she said walking out. When she got outside and the cool night air hit her Emilee started to cry. She wanted to go back in and apologize, but she couldn't and got in her car and drove. What she didn't know was that she was being followed.