Mike sat in silence, knowing that he and Roy were together this evening for more than just a recollection of old times.
"Mike, you have been in mourning for Gus. That's understandable. But there's been more to it than that. I know that, you know that and Steve knows that," Roy began.
"Did Steve talk to you?" Mike asked defensively while remembering harsh words he served to Steve at the hospital a couple of days earlier. "You're a good boy, but stay out of my way." Those words bothered Mike the minute he had said them but he hadn't yet apologized.
"For one thing, I was with Steve after he hung up with you when Gus died. You never told him that Gus had died. Steve didn't know until I came in. And you know what? He also didn't know what a bad idea it was to tell you Fisher's name and address because he didn't how about Gus's death. Do you have any idea how badly he felt? He bolted out of there trying to stop you from doing something you would regret."
Mike frowned. "I'd like to think you have more trust in me than that. I wanted to bust Fisher, not kill him."
"You went off half-cocked and you had your partner, a young man whom you are supposedly mentoring, run after you like a lost pup."
"It wasn't like that and you know it. Steve has my back. He showed up, figured out where we were and caught up with me in pursuit of Fisher at the train station. We were like a team."
"All right, Mike. Maybe he was more like a blood hound than a pup, but he shouldn't have been put in that position. Not like that," Roy responded.
Mike remembered when Steve opened the access door, ostensibly trying to figure out where he and Fisher had headed. Mike had his gun trained on the door and ended up pointing his weapon directly at his face. At the time, he shrugged it off, but the reality was that it scared him more than he cared to mention.
"Roy, you're right. You are right about the danger I put Steve in…"
"And yourself," Roy chimed in.
"And myself. The whole thing was wrong and completely off base. I should have never done what I did….starting with how I treated you when we first brought Gus in. It was unprofessional and arrogant on my part."
"And rude," Roy added.
Mike paused. "Yes, and rude."
"And sanctimonious," Roy added without expression.
"What do you mean by that? Me, sanctimonious?" Mike asked.
"You know what I mean. You acted like you were the only one who could run a proper investigation. You could have and should have handed it off to someone else. You could have and should have limited yourself to a role of consulting for anyone of the fine detectives you have in your department. Instead, you sent the message that no one work this case but you."
"That was not the intended message. I just wanted answers for Gus and for Stell. I wanted to get the bastard who killed Gus. They deserved so much more after thirty years of service," Mike said sadly.
"I agree, Mike. Gus and Stell deserved more than what happened, no doubt. But how do you think Stell would have felt if she lost you or if any other cop was injured getting to Fisher?"