"Now, you don't want to do that, Ma'am."
Struggling to keep his voice from trembling, Mike slowly exited his office. The unexpected and unprovoked attack had caused all the detectives in the bullpen to draw their guns, aiming them at the woman who held Steve against her chest, using him as a human shield.
What worried him even more was the 4in sharp blade of a steak knife pressed against the young Inspector's throat.
From his distance, he could see the strange woman tremble in agitation, a set of cold brown eyes glaring back at him.
"I am doing this because it seems to be the only way to get you cops to do something.", she growled, not the least bit worried about the half a dozen revolvers pointed at her head.
"Then let me ask you this. What is it you are trying to accomplish?"
Glancing down and meeting his partner's terror-stricken eyes, Mike winked unperceptively, trying to keep the young Inspector calm in a situation that could turn deadly in the fraction of a second.
"Progress. And justice."
Mike swallowed hard when he saw the thin line of blood dripping off the edge of the blade, before hitting the vinyl floor along with his partner's dress shirt. He knew it wasn't nearly enough to suggest that she'd cut into anything vital yet, but she wasn't far from it either.
"And you think that threatening to kill a police officer will bring you either one of those?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Steve try to reach for his holster. With a faintest shake of the head, he stopped him out of fear that the move could inadvertently injure him further.
"It seems to be the only way to get your guys' attention up here. Roy always used to say you gotta work hard if you want to be heard. And it's time you guys get off your lazy behinds and find his killer. I have information that can help solve this case. It's the least you can do for a beloved man like Roy."
Shaking his head as he tried to comprehend the ridiculousness of this situation, Mike drew in a deep breath, glancing around to ensure that everyone remained calm.
"What's your name, Ma'am?"
"Kristy. Kristy Miller. I am the chairwoman of the Roy Responds Fanclub, Chapter 5, Bay Area District. I have been a loyal fan of his show since its first run five years ago, and I have had the privilege to meet Roy Sullenger on numerous occasions. Last year, I organized a Meet and Greet at the Atlantic Hotel that drew more than twelve-hundred fans from all over the United States."
Nodding slowly, Mike smiled facetiously, and yet his eyes remained unreadable.
"Then why don't we sit down in one of the interrogation rooms and you can tell us about the information you have to solve our case. Let my partner go. There's no reason to hold him hostage."
He could hear Steve's rapid breaths from a few feet away, his green eyes wide with fear as he tried desperately to remain still.
"I have seen what you guys do on TV. The moment I let him go, you're just going to book me and throw me in jail. You won't listen."
"That's why they call it TV. It's fiction, not real. That's not how we operate. You can't believe everything you see and hear on TV, especially when it comes to the police, or what the press tells you about the progress on our case.", Mike countered evenly and took a step toward her, "But you see, I want to solve this case as much as you do. I knew Roy as well. He was a very nice man, very cordial. And you have to admit, I am certain he wouldn't condone to what you are doing here right now."
"He deserves justice.", the woman grunted and moved the knife slightly, causing every single detective in the room to flinch. Pinned against her chest, Steve was holding his breath, his eyes beginning to glaze over as if he was coming to terms with death.
"Nobody in this room disagrees with that, Miss Miller. But it's how we go about it that matters. And right now, you're holding my partner hostage. And there's only two ways this situation is going to get resolved. You either let him go and we can have a nice chat in one of our interrogation rooms; after which, I am going to arrest you. And you're going to have to answer for your actions in front of a judge and probably serve some time. Or…and I strongly urge you to stay away from that option, if you are going to attempt to kill him, you are taking a chance at getting shot at from half a dozen well-trained cops who will do anything in their power to save his life. If, by chance, you survive that, I will be the first one to arrest you, and I will throw the book at you and make sure you never see the light of day again, much less watch re-runs of Roy's show from the comforts of home. Have I made myself clear enough?"
"You pull no punches, now do you?", she replied, looking him up and down to gauge his sincerity.
"Not in this line of work, Miss Miller."
"And you promise you will listen to me?"
"You have my word. But only, if you let my partner go."
With a slight cock of the head, she slowly lowered the steak knife, causing a collective sigh of relief in the background. Using his first chance to get away, Steve tumbled to the side, his shaking knees buckling and threatening to send him to the ground, had it not been for Mike's strong hand on his arm, gently guiding him over to the nearby wall.
"Norm, get her handcuffed and put her in the back interview room. Art, call an ambulance.", the Lieutenant barked, before protectively positioning himself between the confused lady and his best friend, "Just keep breathing, it's going to be alright."
Muttering those words more or less to assuage his own fraying nerves, Mike pulled a handkerchief out of his breast pocket, before pushing it against the bleeding cut right below his partner's jawline.
"I am…fine.", Steve gasped, pale as a ghost, "Should have seen that coming."
"Well, that one was a bit tough to foresee, now wasn't it? Here, why don't you sit down before you drop to the ground?"
With numerous sets of eyes on them, Mike gently steered his partner over to the guest chair by his desk, ensuring to keep pressure on the wound, as the rest of the bullpen slowly circling in on the duo.
"Lieutenant, you need any help? Steve?"
"We're fine, Dan.", Mike countered with a trembling voice, his eyes tracing the smeared blood along his partner's neck and collar, "But how about…get some towels from the locker room downstairs…and some water. I think that'd be good."
He'd subconsciously held his breath until the woman was out of sight, all senses cued on the young Inspector, whose glassy eyes were finally meeting his.
"Tell Art to call off the ambulance. I am fine…seriously. She just nicked me.", Steve said, struggling with each word, as the trembling running through his body got worse with the onset of shock.
"I am going to at least have them check you out, no arguments.", Mike countered firmly, and carefully tilted his partner's head back to get a quick look at the wound. Just a couple inches long, the pressure from the handkerchief seemed to have already slowed the bleeding, hopefully indicating that stitches would not be necessary.
"You hang low and let me know if something comes back on our phone calls. Have Art and Bill help you if you need anything. In the meantime, I will talk to this…this Miss Miller. See what is so important that she could justify going up against a room full of cops."
Steve's green eyes met his, two weary detectives saying a silent prayer of relief, as a broad smile returned to his pale features.
"Better take Dan and Norm with you. You know what they say. There's a fan in every fanatic."