Recovery
Chapter 14
The Journal of John Nolan.
I spent a lot of time with Professor Ryan going through every bit of evidence we have against Stanton. She thinks she can make a case. I didn't know it before, but now I know that she only teaches part-time. Her day job is as a civil rights advocate. Given that, she may know what buttons to push to get results. I hope so.
My day with Ryan went late, but I still managed to spend some time with Tamar. She was feeling better, but her eyes are still bright red, and her face still hurts. So, she didn't feel like going out. That was fine with me. I thought some comfort food would work for both of us. I picked up a half-gallon of chocolate ice cream and made the macaroni and cheese that I used to make for Henry. That worked out pretty well. Then we curled up on the couch to watch T.V.
Tamar likes cooking competitions. I never knew they existed, but I didn't mind watching. I learned what is actually in some of the sauces I see on menus. Tamar said that she likes to see interesting uses of fresh vegetables because some of the recipes work with her nutrition programs. She also pointed out that the sportsmanship is a lot better than in athletic competitions. She's right from what I saw, but I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of some of those chef's knives. Those people have skills.
Lucy and Jackson only have one more day to go as rookies. I'm happy for them but not quite noble enough not to be jealous. Still, I'm learning every day, sometimes every minute, that I spend with Harper. I can use whatever wisdom she has left to impart. I should be riding with her tomorrow. If we're busy, it should take my mind off being left back.
I'm picking up where I left off last night. What happened today was every parent's nightmare, a newborn stolen from a hospital. Thank God it came out all right. We got the baby back unharmed. I heard that at the end, Lucy pulled some kind of prank on Bradford to get back at him for the torture he inflicted on her during her training. I don't know what it was, but she looked smug as hell when she left with Jackson to go celebrate.
Watching them go off together, I felt a lot more left out than I thought I would. Harper came to my rescue – sort of. She asked me to take her and Lila to dinner. Lila is always a great distraction. Everything through her eyes is new, the way it was when Henry was growing up.
She's been working on her music, and she played me a little trumpet solo before I left her and Harper for the night. It was pretty awful, but it had soul. And the look on her face when she was playing was blissful. Harper caught my eye and held up a pair of earplugs. I can understand why she might want to use them, but there was also a look of pride on her face. Perhaps she'd be better off gifting them to the neighbors. I was feeling better by the time I got home. I don't know what it's going to be like staying with Harper as a rookie tomorrow and watching Lucy and Jackson take assignments as P2s.
On the other hand, I also have class tomorrow night. I'll get a chance to ask Professor Ryan if she's made any progress against Stanton. Maybe she'll even share the situation with the other students. That could make for either an encouraging or depressing evening.
I want to call Tamar before it gets too late. It's easier to sleep when I've heard her voice. Somehow, in the middle of everything going on, she's become my touchstone. Henry's coming back to L.A. soon, and I hope I get a chance to introduce them. I don't need my son's approval of my choice of companion, but it would be great to have it.
The clapping starts with Nolan, alone at the front table, and spreads throughout the roll call room as Grey takes the podium and Jackson and Lucy take new seats. "It won't buy you anything, but your encouragement of your fellow officers is admirable, Officer Nolan. You and Harper will be on your regular patrol today. West and Chen, celebrate too much last night? You're looking a little worse for wear. I'll be pairing you up. Keep each other alert and awake."
"Yes, Sir!" the two newest P2s respond enthusiastically.
Nolan's fingers tighten around his pen, but he maintains a smile.
"Now, for all of you: after the latest incident, protests continue. We will have no excessive use of force, not from this division. Am I making myself clear? That goes for tasers, holds involving pain stimuli, and particularly the use of irritant chemicals. If another one of her friends gets pepper-sprayed, my wife will be the lead protester. Believe me. You don't want that to happen.
"Keeping to restrictions that are already L.A.P.D. policy should in no way interfere with your work. You will accomplish it efficiently and ethically. So that said, you will be on regular assigned patrols unless I notify you otherwise. Bradford will be getting some well-deserved time off until he gets a new rookie. That's it. So, get yourselves out there, stay alert but stay safe."
Nolan turns to Harper as she steers through their usual patrol route. "Doesn't look like Bradford is keeping his step up. Maybe he can use his time off to see Rachel in New York. Do you think that means Grey is going to stay on the job? Luna didn't say anything one way or the other."
"Bradford and Grey's careers are the last thing you have to worry about, Nolan," Harper advises. "You still need to get through the next month to hang on to your own."
"I'm not about to forget that," John admits. "Oh, listen. Chen and West are responding to a fight in a bridal store. No mention of weapons. It sounds like they're getting to start out easy."
Harper drums her fingers against the steering wheel. "I wouldn't count on it. I had a couple of friends turn into bridezillas before they got married. Working undercover against the cartels was safer than being around those two. I'm betting that after getting in the middle of a gown battle, at least one of the new P2s is going to need a change of uniform and probably a shower."
"I guess I wouldn't know," John considers. "When Sarah and I got married, we were so broke she had to make her dress, especially since she was pregnant. We had seventeen people at our wedding, including the minister and the keyboard player. And we only got him because my friend Ben hired him to play parties, and he wanted to keep the gigs coming. I sold some of my textbooks to buy Sarah a ring, and Ben lent me one of his suits. I don't think Sarah ever got near a bridal store."
"Count yourself lucky. When I married Donovan, I still had stars in my eyes," Harper confides. "I wanted the perfect dress, the perfect everything. There's no such thing."
Nolan sighs. "Still, I really hope things work out for Angela and Wesley. At least money won't be a problem."
Harper turns at the next block. "Always seeing the glass half full, aren't you, John? I hope they work out too."
