After dinner Natasha took Luca to bed and told some stories until the boy fell asleep reluctantly, as he wanted her to tell him more. The brunette had some stories in mind, but today the boy asked her to tell her about her time at the FBI and she talked about some cases in which they worked and some trips they made chasing bad guys. Her grandson sometimes asked her what it was like that time and Natasha missed her and talking about a few moments was a bit painful, so she focused on the good parts and pushed the sorrows away.
She went to bed and picked up a book that was on her bedside to continue reading. Then he closed his eyes and returned once more to his past.
What are you saying, Reade? Natasha was in the locker room listening to the boy explain the situation. "Doesn't she consider it an affair?
- She said Freddy's going to get slaughtered in court and he's going to be devastated.
But you said he's sober.
- It's at the moment, but we can't guarantee it will continue until the end of the trial. Reade takes his hands to his disheartened face. What am I going to tell him?
It's the truth. " Tasha advises. "It's the best thing to do.
Reade told his friend that the prosecutor had denied taking the case against Coach Jones who abused and probably had been abusing several boys for years.
- I knew it wouldn't come to anything anyway. Freddy replied disheartenedly. Why don't you testify? You're fine, you're influential, you'd be a reliable witness.
What are you talking about, Freddy? Reade gets confused.
You were there. You don't remember what happened?
What are you talking about? I don't remember what? Reade didn't understand where his friend wanted to go.
- That's why you're okay, you're not in shit like me and probably like the others. You don't remember. Freddy explains. "You were one of us, one of those who were abused.
Reade lost his floor. I didn't know what to think. How could he not remember? Was it possible that you blocked that part of your life? He didn't understand and didn't want to believe it was true. He went back to work and tried to concentrate, but Freddy's words didn't get out of his head. No sea long as he tried, he couldn't concentrate.
At the end of the day Tasha meets Reade in the locker room.
Did you talk to Freddy?
Yes, i'm sorry.
What did he say? She went on. "You've been airing all day...
I don't want to talk about it, Tasha. "He speaks firmly.
Tasha walks into the closets with sadness and Reade regrets the way she spoke to her. He goes to her and tells her what happened.
Freddy said I was one of the victims. "He speaks and proves to be even sadder.
- Reade... - Tasha tries to talk to try to comfort her friend. I' I'm sorry, i'm sorry.
They just hug each other and allow tears to flow from their eyes. There were no words for that moment. Nothing Tasha said would make the moment better for his friend, so he just hugged him making him realize he was with him and that it wouldn't change in any situation.
The days that followed did not seem easy for Reade, Tasha perceived him crested and inattentive in many situations. The brunette would do anything to be around and let him know she'd be there and wouldn't leave him, as much as he thought it was an exaggeration on her part.
She heard that Reade was talking to Borden, the FBI therapist. I'm sure it was the best thing to do, to get help from a professional. She knew from experience that it was very difficult to get out of a situation like this on her own.
Reade, I'm just saying it's not your fault. " Tasha talked to Reade during work. "You don't owe him anything.
- He just needed a couch and I have one. Reade justified it. He had a fight with his girlfriend. One day it won't hurt.
- You know it won't just be a day!
Reade had let Freddy stay at his house for a while according to him. Tasha knew that Reade felt guilty about not being able to bring the Jones case to trial. This wasn't Reade's fault, the only one to blame for all this was Jones.
In a chase during a case, Reade almost killed a guy with punches. The brunette was extremely nervous and violent in recent days and everyone was watching him, including Weller who even talked to the boy offering him a few days to rest and try to cool his head.
You don't have to, Kurt. I'm fine, i'm fine. Reade denied it.
I'm going to believe you this time!
But the lack of that memory disturbed Reade in a way that made Natasha care even more about her friend. The brunette found herself entitled to interfere, because she knew that this situation was not doing him any good.
Freddy, right? She said when she knocked on Reade's door and was attended to by the boy's friend who was staying there.
Do I know you? "He asked suspiciously as she entered the apartment.
I'm Reade's partner. Is he here?
He hasn't been back all day. The boy answered.
Are you having a party? – The brunette asked when she saw a jar of a white powder with part of the contents poured on the coffee table of the room.
- I'm just saying good-bye to some friends. Freddy said.
That situation made Natasha feel so angry. With everything Reade had been going through, he offered to host his friend at home and she sees him getting one of these ready.
- I know you've been through a lot, but this moment is already being hard enough for Reade too. The girl tried to stay calm. "Maybe you'd better try to solve your problems elsewhere.
It's not a problem. Freddy got the message and collected all his things that were scattered around the room. Before he left, he went to Tasha. Say goodbye to him for me.
The brunette stayed there for a moment. The truth is, she had come after Reade because he had left work early and she was worried. She didn't know what else to do to help him, but she felt a little relieved to have thrown Freddy out of his house.
The next day Reade did not show up for work and talking to Weller explained that he had allowed him to stay home for a few days. In the middle of the afternoon the strange brunette when she gets a call.
This is Josh. "The boy on the other end of the line was a friend of yours from the time he had worked at the NYPD. – They filed a complaint against their partner. He was harassing a Mike Jones guy in Brooklyn Heights this morning. But he left the scene before the police arrived. I just wanted to let you know.
I'm going to take care of it. Natasha said. Thank you, thank you.
- Not at all.
She tried to talk to Reade again, but only voice mail. He left a message and hung up the phone. What was Reade thinking? That's not how I'd get justice for what Jones had done.
Weller. She called her superior in the hall. " I have a personal problem to solve.
He allowed her to go, because there were other people to take care of the case they were working on. Natasha went out to try to find Reade, but by the time she got to the scene it was already getting dark.
She was able to locate her friend through the GPS that led her to Jones' house. The house lights were off and the door just anchored. Natasha pulled out her gun and pushed the door slowly. The room was dark and she didn't see anything there. He spotted a door that gave way to the remaining rooms of the house and came in suspiciously. What wasn't his scare to see Jones lying on the floor all bloody. And in front of him Reade was still watching the scene.
- Reade... - She spoke in a voice thread. Reade! What happened?
It wasn't me. I was in the basement and I saw a noise, i went up here and found it like this. "He spoke confusedly. "We have to ask for help.
No, no, no, no, no, no " Tasha changes her voice when speaking. You and Jones have a past. You were chasing him, you broke into his house.
I didn't kill him!
- He's standing next to the corpse with gloves on his hands and blood on his shoes. " Tasha explained quickly. "There have been innocent people who have been arrested for much less.
Tasha just wanted to get his friend out of that situation. It didn't matter what the explanation for what had happened was. She knew they should get out of there. They see through the window a car stopping in front of the house.
- It's neighborhood security. We have to get out of here. " Tasha warns. Did you touch anything?
I don't think so.
Did you get anything out of the place?
No, no, no, no, no, no
Tasha looks at him with rebuke over that whole situation. Reade has wide eyes in concern for what just happened.
Wait, Zapata! He calls her. "That's crazy! We're fBl! That must be worth something. He tries to explain.
Reade. "She holds him by the collar looking him in the eyes very close. "I'm your friend. I believe in you. Will anyone else believe it?
Reade looked at her and was silent. Then he looked at the ground where Jones' body lay and thought for a moment of all that madness. He knew Zapata was right. No one would believe him!
The two of them left there through the back door and ran to where Reade's car was parked. They got in the car in a hurry with Tasha in the driver's seat, because she knew Reade couldn't act and she'd act for him and get him out of this terrible situation.
The tape! The boy spoke desperately as soon as she turned on the car. I left it on the VCR. I need to get it.
No, no, no, no, no, no The guards are in the house! What's that tape? She was screaming. What were you doing at Jones' house?
- I was looking for... - He explained calmly. I needed evidence against the abuse. I found the tape with the boys' names. They looked like training tapes, but they were hidden in a fake wall. I'm going to go get it. Reade put his hand on the door handle and Tasha stopped him. "One of them had my name.
Did you watch it? She asked while still holding his arm.
- No, I wanted to, but I couldn't... - Reade seemed very shaken. "I heard a loud noise. The killer must have run away when he heard me.
- And now there's a tape with your name on the VCR. "Tasha spoke calmly. If the police find out, they'il know you were in the house. It wouldn't matter if you weren't there, but you were.
Natasha started with the car and they left the place towards Reade's apartment.
- We have to get rid of these clothes. Who knows what we're in touch with?
The brunette suggested as she removed her own clothes and put it in a plastic bag. Reade did the same thing with his clothes.
Why is there a knife missing? She asked when she realized that there was an empty space in the knife holder that was on the counter of Reade's kitchen.
- She broke it and I threw it away. He explained.
You never replaced her? Natasha wanted to believe him, but it was getting hard.
- I order ready food, Zapata. Why do I need 13 knives? He explains.
Tasha thinks for a moment and knows that she must put aside the mistrust and try a way to get him out of the situation he was in.
- I know how to get the tape back. She talks. We came in as being the FBl.
- But that wouldn't be a good explanation.
Do you have a better idea? She challenges him.
Yes, the truth.
No, no, no, no, no, no We can't do that. The police will start with the body. You have no reason to look at the VCR. We can put the tape in place before they know it's missing. We just have to wait for the crime scene to become official.
What do we do until then? Reade asked with a lost look.
- We put our clothes on, we sleep and we go to work normally.
It seemed very simple to hear her speak, but Reade knew it was nothing simple. He was confused, his thoughts disturbed him. He didn't know what to do with all that. The luck was that Tasha had arrived at that moment, or he would certainly already be in jail.
Tasha. "He spoke when they returned after burning their clothes in an abandoned place nearby.
What's the out of here?
Would you mind staying here today? "He asked for speaking low.
Tasha thought about playing a joke, but she knew it wasn't the time. He just walked into the apartment with him. It's all right. I'm staying. She smiled faintly.
That wasn't a normal night like the ones they watched games and drank. Everything they did was silent. Tasha took a bath first while Reade prepared something to eat. Then it was Reade's turn to take a bath. He came back from the bathroom only in sweatpants and no t-shirt. Tasha can't help but notice how strong he was. Earlier while they were changing after what happened she didn't have time and no head for it. But now that they seemed calmer she observed him better. When she realized he was looking at her, she swallowed it dry and looked away trying to think of other things.
The two dined and kept the TV on a news channel, but the volume was so low that neither paid attention. Tasha wanted to be by his side all the time, but this situation was somewhat strange and unusual.
- I'm going to get you sheets and blankets. " He said after collecting the dishes after dinner.
Reade brought soft sheets that bore the same smell as him. She set the couch to bed.
I'm going to go. Reade said staring at her.
No, i'm not. She smiled. "We're here for each other. Always. "She emphasized that last word and saw him smile.
Natasha went to sleep but couldn't nail her eye. The memories of the events of the day did not come out of his mind. And then there was this damn pillow that bore Reade's smell and she'd close her eyes and visualize it shirtless in front of her.
The brunette did not know if he had slept or if he was also going over the whole situation in his head. She wanted to ask him to sit with her on the couch and watch something because his head should also be at a thousand an hour, but she tried to ward off those thoughts and it was too late when she fell asleep.