We are back!
Cruz knew perfectly well why she was having the pleasure of riding the desk with Swersky himself today. She would probably be on the streets now, catching some drug dealer if it hadn't been for yesterday's accident. They got a call that there was a murder in neighbourhood and she really wanted to handle it. To get away from paperwork, break free from station and all this strange stares everybody was giving her. Her dogged persistence paid off, Swersky gave in and let her go. But there was no way she would go on her own. And asthere was nobody who could give her tender loving care he went with her, leaving some officer she didn't know in charge. When they arrived at the crime scene she had a deep misgiving that she wasn't going to like what she would meet. That she pushed her luck too far this time. And she was right.
"Lieu, what are you doing here?"- Jelly showed up out of nowhere with inseparable cup of coffee in his hand. Then he shifted his focus from Swersky to Cruz, eyeing her quizzically.
"We were in neighbourhood."- she said a first logical explanation that could be accepted. It was obviously a lie but who would care?
"So what do you have?"- Swersky asked transferring their attention to their victim. He also turned a blind eye to her lie. She didn't expect this.
" A white girl in her early twenties. Somebody called and we found her here in a dark alley. She's dead for approximately four hours."- he said as they were making for the little crowd of experts taking pictures and traces. Still from this distance she couldn't make out anything. But as they approached the body she felt a knot forming in her stomach. She came nearer to their victim and leaned.
"She was probably beaten do death and raped but we can't tell for sure without autopsy."- Jelly continued unaware of Cruz's reaction as she was now kneeling in front of the body. Memories she desperately tried to blot out came flooding back. And they brought all the pain, shame, fear, insecurity and powerlessness; all she tried to forget and get rid of. But it was permanently imprinted in her mind; it became a part of her. It only made her realize that she was hiding and eluding these feelings and every case like that would affect her deeply, provoke emotions she wasn't sure she would be able to confront. She wouldn't be the same cold, professional Sergeant any more, pitying the girls who allowed this to be done to them but one of them, a victim that happens to be a police officer herself, somebody that should be able to protect not only herself but others.
"Sergeant, are you O.K.?"- Swersky asked her cautiously.
"Yeah' it's all right."- she answered lightly, turned around and stood up. Cruz tried to behave and look normal, but couldn't hide it from Swersky. He could see that something was going on with her. She was extremely pale, not paying attention and lost in thought. As he was talking with Jelly about things that had to done and people that had to be sent for he was giving her brief glances. He noticed corners of her mouth turning down, and her futile effort to fight back tears. Suddenly, she pushed Jelly and broke into a run not wanting anybody to see her crying.
That's why she could forget about ACU for another couple of months. Hell she could forget about working on the streets too. Swersky was watching her like a hawk. Even this moment he was throwing her a worried look; she could feel it. And it was irritating her. She lifted her head and flashed him a fake saccharine smile. As he immediately turned his eyes to the file lying in front of him, she did the same and focused on the report she was reading. She didn't notice that somebody approached them.
"Hey, Maritza."- she heard a shy voice and saw Jamieson, standing in front of her.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"- Cruz was kind of surprised. She didn't expect to see him at all. Even this call-me thing was pretty unimaginable and distant. But when the initial confusion passed a trace of smile played across her lips.
"I came to ask whether there is any progress in my case?"- he said.
"Sorry, but there's none. I highly doubt we will be able to catch burglars."- she answered, genuine sympathy in her voice. There was a moment's silence before he replied.
"Actually I wanted to see you again and it was just an excuse."- he murmured timidly.
Swersky meaningfully cleared his throat. His protective instinct has just kicked in.
"Lieu, this is Mr. Jamieson, our burglary victim from Lex and 131. "- so much for introduction, she wasn't a type of person that would give more information than absolutely necessary. That's why he didn't knew anything about his Sergeant, except that she detested Yokas, riding desk and receiving unwanted support.
"We are schoolmates."- she added after a while. Swersky looked searchingly at the young men as he was assessing him and whether he had honourable intentions toward Cruz.
"It's nice to meet you Lieutenant. And please call me David."- he said and extended a ringless hand. Swersky warmed a little bit to him.
"So David, what do you do for a living? Where do you work?"- Swersky asked.
"It's some interrogation or what?"- Cruz sassed and rolled her eyes. Outburst of anger was coming but if this guy knew her he had to be accustomed to her fiery temperament.
"Maritza, I thought maybe, um, we could have a cup of coffee together?"- David asked a bit unsure of how she would react to this. He also wanted to ease the tension that created between police officers.
" Well, yeah but I can't now. I'm working."- she answered. She didn't feel like meeting and for sure building up a relationship. The timing was pretty poor considering what happened lately.
"You can have your lunch break now if you want Sergeant."-Swersky said, his eyes focused on the file on the desk. Cruz hesitated for a moment. "Oh come on, coffee won't kill you. Beside he is a nice guy."- she thought to herself.
"Hey, so what are you waiting for?"- she said and passed him.