The Other Path Chapter 90

His expression uncharacteristically grave, Esposito leans on the edge of Kate's desk. "Beckett, Ryan just took off. Jenny's at the hospital. She was shopping with her mother and suddenly collapsed. I'm going to take off too, as soon as I clear it with Gates."

"I can't see her saying no, Javi. She knows how close you and Kevin are. Call me as soon as you can and let me know what's happening."

"I hear you," Esposito agrees.

"And if you see Jenny, tell her I send my love," Kate adds.

"Right. Sure."

As Esposito sprints for Gates' office, Kate picks up her cell to call Rick but puts it down again. Whatever's going on with Jenny could be a minor problem. And if she tells Rick before she knows for sure, he'll drive himself crazy. And he won't just be worrying about Jenny but everything that could go wrong with Kate's pregnancy. Better to wait. Kate goes back to studying videos from the last five interrogations at the 12th. They're better. She can see the cops using more effort to build relationships with the suspects rather than leaning on them. And it yielded results. The suspects willingly gave away details that will go a long way to building cases against them. And there was nothing a defense attorney could jump on to get the revelations thrown out. But Kate still has a ways to go in straightening out the whole precinct. And she's almost out of time to give Gates her decision about her backup. She rewinds part of the last interrogation. Detective Layla Medina shows a remarkable ability to connect with suspects, while still skillfully doing her job.

Kate pulls a file from a stack on her desk. She has jackets for any detective at the 12th that she's been remotely considering. She opens Medina's folder. Layla was a gang member but was jumped out at seventeen. She went to City College, taking advantage of the low tuition and a small scholarship from a church group. Medina graduated with honors before securing a place at the academy, where she excelled in certain skills, particularly coping with suspects armed with knives. Kate doesn't find that surprising, given Medina's background. Layla wouldn't have survived her teen years without being able to defend herself. What does surprise Kate is a note about Medina's reticence to use a gun. She passed all her qualifications, but without the enthusiasm shown by many other cadets. Rick would say there's a story there and immediately speculate on what it might be. Before Kate makes Medina her final choice, she decides she'll just ask.


"Detective Beckett, I've heard rumors from all over the precinct that you were looking for someone to work with you," Layla confides. "But I had no idea I could be in the running."

"I've observed the way you interact with suspects," Kate explains. "You impressed me. But I do have some questions about your background."

Layla does her best to suppress a sigh. "People have had questions about my background with every move I've made in the department, Detective. I'm used to it. You want to know about my time in Las Arpias?"

"Unless that relates to your attitude about firearms, that's old news. Most recruits can't wait to get their hands on weapons and spend time on the range. According to your record, you didn't share your classmates' passion for heavy metal. Why is that?"

Layla's teeth dig into her bottom lip and she takes a deep breath. "It does have to do with my gang. You remember the war up in Washington Heights about ten years ago?"

"That would be hard to forget. An M.E. I know told me it was such a bloodbath that the morgue ran out of space. They had to use a refrigerated truck to store the bodies."

"Unless you were there, you couldn't imagine it. I know a couple of cops who were in the military. They told me it was worse than what they'd seen in combat."

"Were you there?" Kate asks.

"I was. Las Arpias had a loose alliance with Los Panteras. I guess you could have called us their cheering section. But we never expected anything like what happened that day. Some of Las Arpias even brought their little sisters along to watch. My friend Anita brought her sister Rosita. Rosita was only seven. And when things got heavy, Anita tried to get Rosita out of there. She had her body around her as they were trying to move into cover behind some cars. But they didn't make it. A bullet went right through Anita and into Rosita. Anita lived, but Rosita didn't. Anita was never the same. Neither was I. I know what guns can do, Detective Beckett. They may be a necessary evil for cops, but that doesn't mean I have to like them."

Kate nods. "I get it. And because of what happened to Rosita, you understand how devastating it can be for someone to just be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I do. So unless I've personally seen a suspect commit a crime, I don't assume they're guilty. An even then, I know there are reasons, reasons a lot of cops wouldn't understand."

Kate closes Layla's file. "OK. We're done. That's all the questions I have."

"So I'm out of the running," Layla assumes.

"No. But everyone else might be." Kate extends her hand. "Detective Medina, if you want the job, it's yours."

Medina returns Kate's firm grasp. "I want it."

"Then welcome aboard. You'll be joining me at the next interrogation."

A call lights Kate's phone as Medina is walking away. When she sees Esposito's ID, she picks it up immediately. "How's Jenny?"

"Ryan told me the doctor says she's going to be fine. It was something about the blood pooling in her feet when she was upright too long. It made her faint. Ryan was babbling, but I caught that he's taking her home and making her put her feet up."

Kate slowly exhales through pursed lips. "I'm glad Jenny's OK. I hope Ryan will be."

"He just needs to calm down. I made sure they took a cab so he wasn't driving."

"Smart move. So are you coming back to the precinct?"

"Yeah. I haven't filled out the new form 1PP sent out for all the detectives this week. Gates said they have to be in by tomorrow."

"What about Ryan?"

"You know how he is. He was afraid something would come up, so he filled his out as soon as he got it. I guess he was right."

"At least it was nothing serious. But do me a favor, Espo, don't tell Castle. I mean, don't lie if he asks, but if you talk to him don't bring it up."

"Yeah. I get you. I think being around pregnant women makes some guys wacked."

"You could have a point. But anyway, just don't say anything."


Cynthia Toomey raps briefly on the door to Cyrus' office before walking in. "Donnellan wants to talk to you on the secure line. He says it's about the video."

"All right," Cyrus agrees, picking up the receiver as Cynthia backs out. "Gary, find something?"

"The motherload, Lymon: Gomer Richland having relations with one of the teens."

"Richland must be whom Senator Fleming was trying to protect. Thanks. I'll have him picked up."

"Better hurry," Donnellan advises. "By now he has to be aware he was on candid camera."

"You're right," Cyrus agrees. "But no one on a jury will be laughing."