"A Risk Worth Taking" Chapter Two
Layla walked into Molly's and approached the bar, shedding her scarf and coat before sitting down.
"Layla!" Hermann's voice rang out over the hum of the conversations and TVs playing around them. He hurried around the bar to give her a big hug. "How are you?"
"Hey Chris, I'm good. I need to be at home unpacking, I just had a rough day at work and figured I'd stop by for a drink."
"Uh oh, did something happen?" Hermann asked, concern clouding his features.
"No." She hesitated, "Well, kind of. I just stumbled on some case photos while I was in Intelligence and they brought up some memories. Got a little emotional." Hermann nodded, sympathy in his eyes."
"No one was there except the Sergeant but it was a little embarrassing. He was nice, though." Layla added, remembering Voight's sincerity when he said, "I'm sorry."
Layla noticed a flash of disdain cross her brother-in-law's face. "What was that look?"
Hermann pressed his lips in a thin line, brows furrowed.
"Hank Voight is not nice. You need to steer clear of him."
Layla stayed quiet, waiting for him to elaborate, but he didn't. Instead, he said, "Let me get you that drink," and rounded the bar to pour her a glass of wine.
"So are you and Cindy packed and ready for your weekend getaway?" Layla smiled, changing the subject. She was glad her sister and her husband were getting a much need, kid-free break.
"Yeah," Hermann said, not able to hold back his smile. It made Layla smile too, thankful that he loved her older sister so much. "And listen, thanks again for offering to watch the little monsters. They've been putting together an itinerary of things for you all to do this weekend. I think it involves a lot of Minecraft."
His expression was apologetic causing Layla to giggle. "I'm happy to do it."
Hermann got called away by an impatient customer at the other end of the bar, leaving Layla to her thoughts.
Cindy had been the one that encouraged Layla to come back home to Chicago after her husband Jake's death. At first, Layla couldn't imagine leaving their home and it's memories. But after a year and a half, the house had started to feel like a prison. Every room held a memory that made her ache with sadness.
It had taken her almost six months to sell their house in North Carolina, but as soon as the papers were all signed, she was on a flight home.
Layla sighed and took a sip of her wine. It may be where she was from, but Chicago just didn't feel like home anymore. If she was being honest with herself, nowhere really felt like home. Yes, she loved Cindy and Hermann and her niece and nephews, but she missed having a best friend in the way that only a spouse can be. Someone who knows all your flaws but still chooses you everyday. Someone you can lean on, confide in.
Layla finished her wine and was about to leave when Hermann called her over to a table against the wall. There was a young woman sitting there, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and she smiled warmly when Layla approached.
"Like I said, Layla's just moved back home and doesn't know that many people. I thought you two might hit it off." Hermann looked so proud of himself that Layla ignored her embarrassed annoyance.
The woman extended her hand, "Hi, I'm Kim Burgess. Please," she gestured towards the chair opposite her, "have a seat."
Layla shook her hand, "Layla Martin. Nice to meet you," and sat down.
Hermann went back to his duties and left the women sitting in an awkward silence.
"So Kim," Layla grasped for topics to discuss, "what do you do?"
"I'm a police officer with the Intelligence Unit." Kim beamed, proudly.
Layla's face lit up in recognition, "Oh! I met your Sergeant today." Kim looked confused so Layla explained. "I just started with the department's IT team a few weeks ago. I was in your unit updating Sergeant Voight's computer earlier tonight. I'll actually be back tomorrow to finish the rest of the computers up there."
"Oh, awesome! My computer has been giving me a lot of problems lately. We used to have a person on our unit that helped us out with them and since he left I just haven't gotten around to submitting a work ticket to IT."
"Well, I'll be glad to take a look at it tomorrow while I'm installing the new traffic cam software."
"Great, thanks!" Burgess said with a grateful nod, following it with a sip of her beer.
"Oh, you need a drink!" Kim said, realizing Layla was empty handed. She flagged Otis down and Layla ordered another glass of wine.
The two women spent the next hour getting to know each other. Kim told Layla about her past as a flight-attendant and how she ended up on the force, and Layla told Kim about her background, quickly moving through the sadder parts while highlighting her hopes about her new start in Chicago.
The two were sitting in companionable silence, sipping their drinks, when Kim's phone started buzzing on the table.
She gave Layla an apologetic look and answered, "Burgess. Hey Sarge. Okay, I'll be right there." She hung up and stood, pulling cash out of her pocket and leaving it on the table as she pulled her coat on.
"I'm sorry, Layla. It was really nice to meet you but we've got an update with our case so I gotta go in." Layla understood and waved away her apology.
"Go. I'll see you tomorrow."