Chapter 2:
Lucy drove around his block for what felt like hours crying violently in her car. She stopped outside his house and saw the lights still on. All she had to do was walk up to the door and knock. Why was this so hard? She asked herself as she stalled. Taking one last look at the time 12:06AM. It's late. He would be upset if I showed up this late. All her thoughts were going out of control. As tears rolled down her cheek, she sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, trying to regain her focus. Without trying, she cried herself to sleep in her car. Right in front of Tim's house.
- Inside Tim's house-
Tim tossed and turned as he worried about Lucy. How would he tell her that Rosiland was out. He couldn't stop himself from reliving the feeling of pulling her out of the barrel. Her lifeless body laying in front of him as he tried desperately to breathe life back into her lungs. He felt tears forming in his eyes as he thought about watching her lay in the hospital bed, so still, so frail. He made a promise to himself that day to never have to see her that way again. He looked at the time, 4:06 AM. It was going to be a long day, he closed his eyes and tried to get a little sleep before having to do to the precinct.
-Morning-
Tim awoke with a major headache from not sleeping. He knew he needed to talk to Lucy. He simply did not know how to. As he got out of bed he saw something poking out from under the bed. Her ring. The ring he used to find her. She must have left it behind. He grabbed the ring and put it in his nightstand, got dressed and headed out the door. He stopped abruptly when he saw her car. Walking slowly over to the car he saw her sleeping peacefully in the driver seat. Why was she here? Without trying to spook her he tapped lightly on the glass and called her name. She awoke with a start.
Lucy said sleepily: "Tim"
Tim: "Lucy, is everything alright? What are you doing here?"
Lucy: "Angela told me everything. Why didn't you tell me she was out?"
Tim paused and his frowned formed: "I know I should've, I was waiting for the right time all day. I guess I panicked."
Lucy said angrily: "You panicked? You? I was the one kidnapped by her minion and had to sit in a barrel and feel what I thought would be the last minutes of my life ticking away with each breath. But, you panicked? How could you do that to me?"
Tim stood frozen, he slowly raised his eyes to make eye contact with her. He could see the fear in her eyes and could tell she had been crying all night.
Tim: "I'm sorry, you're right. I should've told you. With everything that happened between us, I didn't know how to talk to you after you ran out of here."
Lucy felt her anger growing stronger: "Seriously? Now is not the time to bring that up. I already told you we had nothing to talk about. It was a mistake. I don't even know why I came here last night. Maybe that was a mistake too."
She drove off without another word. Tim stood watching as she drove off, why doesn't she want to talk about what happened between them. Maybe she really did use him. He wished he didn't feel so strongly for her. In that moment, he would've given anything not to.
-At the Precinct-
Sergeant Grey entered the briefing room with Tim following behind him. Immediately, everyone could tell something was going on. They couldn't hide their emotions as they entered the room. Grey sighed heavily and looked around the room before speaking:
Grey: "Good morning everyone, our detectives worked tirelessly last night in an attempt to find the missing girl. Unfortunately, when they found her it was too late. The girl was deceased.
The whole room stood silent. Everyone paying close attention to what Grey said next.
Grey: "As we all know, Rosiland escaped from prison around the time the girl went missing. There is no doubt at this time that she is behind the girl's disappearance. Our detectives found this on her torso." He held up a picture to show the team. The photo showed the girl's torso marked with DOD 9/17/2021.
Lucy couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips. She stood up while the whole room watched her. She walked towards the front and grabbed the picture from Grey. Staring at the photo of the girl, she placed her hand over her shirt where her own tattoo was placed. Tears forming rapidly in her eyes, she looked up and realized everyone was watching her. Her eyes met Tim's who couldn't control his own fear and emotions. She calmly handed the picture and left the room. Feeling the uneasy feeling in her stomach that was becoming more normal as this case went on, she ran to the nearest bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach once again. Sitting on the bathroom floor, she was completely mortified. The whole team had seen her react. How was she supposed to remain level headed when that psycho was out there. She closed her eyes and hoped this was all a bad nightmare.
Back In the briefing room Grey had finished his speech letting everyone know finding Rosiland was their TOP priority. He ended with his usual phrase "Be safe out there." Everyone headed out to start the manhunt. Tim had stayed behind to talk to Grey. Grey already knew what he was going to say. He knew this was going to be about Lucy.
Tim: "We need to remove her from this case. She will not be able to handle it."
Grey: "I hear your concern, but this is ultimately the choice of Officer Chen."
Tim responded with a stern voice, clearly getting upset: "With all due respect Sir, the last time Rosiland was around Lucy almost died at the hands of Caleb. I will not sit watch and let her become a target again."
Grey: "There is no indication Lucy is a target. We have to follow where the clues lead us. We can't spend the entire time worrying about a worse case scenario. Bradford, if you cannot get your personal feelings in check, you should be the one removed from the case. We have civilians to think about as well. The young girl who was killed, her family is devastated and wants justice. Don't you think they deserve us at our best and not distracted?"
Tim could feel the anger burning inside him. Clenching his fists he fought every urge in him not to punch the nearest wall. "Yes, Sir. I understand. It won't be a problem." Without another word, Tim stormed off.
Tim knew Grey was right. He wasn't blind to his feelings for Lucy as much as Tim tried to hide them. It is the same reaction he gave when Tim feared for Lucy going undercover. He felt a strong urge to keep her safe as he had failed to do so when Caleb was around. He had still wondered what else was going on with her. He wanted to get to the bottom of why she would not talk to him. Walking towards the Woman's bathroom he knew he would regret his next move.