She ignored the meddlesome faces she passed on her way to ACU. Nosy people, couldn't they just get back to their work? Always snooping around and making gossips. And gossip's distinctive quality is that it spreads like wildfire and fuels with every person that is repeating it. So at the end of the day you find out that you are married and have six children when in fact you are single and can't stand kids. She could easily imagine probable versions of it. The baseless rumour that has already swept across and got its own life would probably say that she was intentionally making Bosco jealous and he, obsessively possessive and madly in love with her, got into a fight with the other guy and that's why the police had to intervene. She was speeding off to her office, purposely omitting piercing looks people were throwing at her, behaving as if nothing unusual happened and it was a normal day.
She went upstairs and saw Dade and other detectives having what seemed to be cosy, noisy chat. A sure bet would be that it was about the very famous yesterday's incident. That smacked of a pure paranoia. But she just couldn't slough off the unpleasant feeling that everybody was talking about her. Her, Bosco and what have happened earlier. They were probably discussing something else, a bust or today's weather, anything. Or maybe not. The moment she appeared in their field of view the room grew silent. Uncomfortably silent. Wow guys, you have gone and done it. Watch out, next time you gonna catch it. Not today. Today she was going to get even with a very special person. And the mere thought of it put her in a very good mood.
"Dade, my office now." She didn't stopped for a moment just went to her office and slammed the door. If they were expecting a show they would be disappointed. Away from the prying eyes she would deal with this touchy matter.
Dade looked at his colleagues and saw sympathetic faces around him. They all had pity for him. But even bigger for the star of the show. If he made it alive from her office, he would earn a whole new respect among Anti- Crime detectives.
"Your partner?"- he heard when he appeared in her den. She didn't bother to lift her head, staying focused on the file on her desk. She was getting straight to the point without excess of words. This meant business. And problems.
"Well...Bosco got… stuck…" He tried to cover for him. Even today Bosco had to demonstrate how much he loved to break rules.
"Late again?" You see him tell him to get his butt in here." No reaction from her. Not a glance, nod, movement, outburst of anger, nothing. She was writing or correcting this report and talking to him in unemotional, uncruzish voice. The audience he was granted was finished. He should retreat slowly and quietly and maybe he would get away. But against his better judgment he decided to stay and try to soften her a bit. Dissuade from acting at once.
"Ritz, I was just thinking that …you know…. we have been friends for some time now and I know you a little bit… considering they way you behave sometimes … maybe you should rethink what you decided, with more distance… " Dade tried his best to be as subtle and diplomatic as possible. It was worth giving a shot. Man's solidarity kicked in. Beside he started to like this always-late jagoff.
She lifted her head and looked at him intently. He had her undivided attention now. "Don't worry, Dade. I had the whole night to chew on it." She said with venom in her voice.
"But, well, sometimes you can be very…" He couldn't find the appropriate adjective. The one that crossed his mind would infuriate her. He had to find another one.
"Hot- headed?" She offered testily. She tried to keep a stiff upper lips but one more word and she would fly in rage.
"Something along those lines." He said hesitantly. Cruz gave him a quizzical look. He set the ball rolling, so he should finish it.
" More like trigger- happy?" He said without toning it down. And that was a mistake.
"Out." She bawled out evidently furious.
"Yes, Sarge." He didn't want to upset her anymore knowing that Bosco was in the line. He turned around and withdrew as soon as possible. When he got out he saw Bosco buddy- buddy with AC officers. He indeed became a man's man. Everybody cottoned to him pretty quickly. At first they treated him suspiciously, clearly remembering the whole Noble mess. But as some time passed, he fit in here and there was something more between their boss and him than they could ever suspect.
"She wants to see you." He told Bosco and accompanied him to her office.
"Be careful. I accidentally touched a sore point and she is a bit annoyed."- he added when they were standing at the door of her office.
"Gee, thanks for a kick in teeth." Bosco retorted and knocked gently. He didn't want to infuriate her right from the start. He plucked up some moxie and thought it was time to take his medicine like a man. Beside he could be satisfied. He spoiled it after all. It couldn't be so bad. He knew how he should play it out. He was just doing his work. It was coincidence or at worst simple misunderstanding. Playing dumb couldn't hurt. For sure less than admitting to having planned it from the beginning.
"Come in." Hearing this he entered.
" Good morning Officer Boscorelli, please sit down." She sounded oddly formal. And such pleasantry from her? He decided to play according to her rules , not knowing what he should expect.
"Detective Dade told me you wanted to see me?" He pretended surprised innocence. Cruz looked him straight in the eye. If she thought that he would back off or be intimidated she was wrong. Their eyes locked in the battle of wills.
"Yeah, indeed." Except she had the upper hand. A wry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"I have been talking with Lieutenant Swersky about your work in ACU. You played a significant part in one of our investigations and your achievement was impressive. I was shocked myself." He didn't know how to take it. He rather expected her to bite his head off and this talk was leading to, he didn't exactly know to what and it was worrying him. It made him a bit twitchy.
"Since you proved to be particularly effective in preventing …" She made a momentary pause before continuing.
"Crime?" He suggested politely. He regained some of his wit. Beside he started to enjoy this little game of hers.
"Not only."- she answered charmingly. Now it was time for the best part.
" Today morning we both agreed that it would be better if you…." He knew perfectly well what would come after that. Nothing unpredictable, he expected that she would send him back to the beat. But he thought that it would be accompanied by uncontrollable fit of fury and vicious swearing. When she was involved it could even come to blows. And he didn't want her to use him as her punchbag.
"…were assigned permanently to ACU." Cruz finished self- satisfied. And Bosco was left speechless. He was taken aback and his jaw dropped in astonishment. THIS was his punishment! He couldn't grasp it. There has to be some a catch hidden somewhere. Or maybe it was that he would be at her mercy all the time? And she could be nasty if she wanted.
"And since you will be working with me you should have your place here."- she said sweetly and turned her head slightly to the left side. He followed the direction of her gaze. He saw a typical office desk. Behind it stood a chair, over which hung his leather jacket he pulled on her yesterday. And on the desk was his catch. Thick bundles of papers were lying on it. Smacks of files were waiting on both sides of desk. She couldn't put them on the desk so put it on the floor instead. Probably every possible report in the precinct was waiting for him. The only space on his new desk not covered with papers was in the middle of it. His dear friend was waiting for him there. Typewriter. The one he almost forgot about.
"How long?" It came more as a whine than a question.
"Better get used to it." She answered content and smirking. She was finding immense satisfaction in this.
" For heaven's sake, oh come on, month, two, half year?" He asked sounding desperate and defeated. She was really evil. But still he should have expected that.
She stood up and came closer. Leaning toward him she said in her normal, dangerous voice. " For the rest of your life."
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