Chapter 7

I am borrowing from another one of my stories (it's mine I am allowed). However, I reworked it from Laura's POV. Hope you enjoy.

Laura opted to go into the office after Robbie left. While she wasn't under the belief they had solved all of their problems, she was more comfortable after their talk. As she sat at her desk, on a Sunday, reading through the mountain of paperwork, she added another item to the list for their conversation.

Half an hour later, fully immersed in the details of an autopsy Laura was startled by a loud noise. She popped out of her chair and looked into the hallway. She identified the source of the noise instantly, "Sergeant Maddox, has the door done something to offend you?"

Laura hid her smile at the frightened then confused look on the young woman's face. Taking a deep breath the woman raised herself to her full height and answered her, "No ma'am, I just don't know my own strength I guess."

The ma'am confirmed her suspicion, new DSs only called her ma'am when they forgot her name. She wondered briefly why the woman was in the morgue, it was unlike James to send his sergeants to get a report. He should, of course, but he didn't, "Unless you've recently been bitten by a radioactive spider Sergeant Maddox, I would suggest you find some other place to vent your anger."

"Yes ma'am. I was sent to pick up a post mortem report for DI Hathaway."

Laura pointed down the hall, "Third door on your right, Anne Marie will have it."

Maddox looked up seeing the name on the door. She smiled and nodded, "Thank you Dr. Hobson, sorry about the door."

Laura nodded tightly, "Don't let it happen again. I give DIs three strikes. DSs only get two."

"Duly noted Dr. Hobson."

Laura watched her walk away. She briefly wondered if Robbie might have something to do with the new sergeant being allowed to retrieve a report. Perhaps he was already having an impact on James. Picking up the pile of approved reports she headed for Anne Marie's office.

She was organizing the stack when she became aware of the conversation in Anne Marie's office,

"Something akin to having a frontal lobotomy only while awake. He treats me like I'm fresh off the beat. It was only because of the other DI I was allowed to pick up the report. And I am pretty sure he was just trying to get rid of me. They sure don't seem to want to work with women. I guess My DI learned it from his DI, just what I needed another Neanderthal…"

Anger flared through Laura. It was one thing for her to have those thoughts about Robbie but God help anyone else who dared voice them, "Sergeant Maddox, my office now."

Maddox whipped around and met Laura's steely blue eyes, "Yes ma'am."

Laura turned on her heel, reports still in her arms. In her office she slammed them onto her desk, venting some of the anger rolling through her. The light knock drew her attention. Maddox entered tentatively then closed the door behind, "I am very sorry ma'am."

Raising her chin, she confronted Maddox, "Are you sorry for what you said or that I overheard you?"

"Yes."

A small smile threatened at the corners of Laura's mouth, "Honest or brave?"

"Scared."

Laura sat in her chair, suddenly impressed by the woman, "So you're smart, that might be better." She motioned for Maddox to sit, "Robbie is not a Neanderthal. Nor is James when it comes right down to it. It's difficult to make the transition from sergeant to Inspector. James just has to find his sea legs."

"I heard he already has one strike with you."

Laura gave her a frightening look, "You have two Sergeant."

Maddox nodded, acknowledging her mistakes, "Yes ma'am." She paused for a moment unsure how much to trust Laura, "I only want them to teach me. I know I don't have homicide experience but I am an experienced detective. I can do more than fetch coffee and reports."

Anger flared in Laura, not at Maddox but at her partner and James. Rolling her eyes, Laura leaned forward, "Is that what they have you doing?"

"Well coffee only for Inspector Hathaway. Inspector Lewis sent me for the PM."

Laura took a deep breath, some of her anger not only at Maddox but also at her errant partner dissipating, "There's an empty office next door; use it. Read the report, cover to cover. Make your notes and questions then come find me and I will tell you what they mean."

"How will that help me?"

"They are going to have questions, you are going to have answers. They will think you took the initiative to track down those answers anticipating their needs."

"But I'm only doing it because you told me to."

Laura nodded, "Right, don't make me regret my decision."

Recognizing she had been dismissed Maddox stood, "Any other advice Dr. Hobson?"

"Inspector Lewis shouldn't have coffee after four, if he does he doesn't sleep. If he asks for it, take him decaf but put an extra sugar in it. He can't tell the difference and it will be a bigger help than giving him the caffeine."

"And DI Hathaway?"

Laura shrugged, "To my knowledge he doesn't sleep. Keep an extra pack of his cigarettes in your desk. Long cases he runs out."

"Read the autopsy, decaf, cigarettes. Anything else?"

"Don't give up on them. They've known each other a long time. As at ease as they might seem it was rough sailing in those first few months. Once they accept you, you won't find two more loyal advocates."

At the door Maddox paused, "And you ma'am, how do I win your support?"

Thinking of what Jean had told her about James combined with her own fears about him, Laura smiled to herself. She turned back to Maddox and softly said, "Take care of my boys."

Laura was finishing up her work when yet another ruckus in the hallway drew her attention. Raised voices she couldn't quite make out. Rushing to the hallway she found James arguing with Anne Marie, "James Hathaway."

He turned to her anger etched on his face, "What?"

Clearly his Inspector's shield had gone to his head, "I will thank you very much NOT to abuse my staff." She turned her gaze to Anne Marie, "Anne Marie, why don't you call it a day? I will contend with Inspector Hathaway."

Anne Marie nodded her head, relief washed through her. She spared a momentary thought of sympathy for James then changed her mind. It was time someone put him in his place. She grabbed her things and vacated the office.

Laura waited until Anne Marie had turned the corner then turned her fury on James, "If you have an issue with my staff Inspector Hathaway, you address those with me. You do not dress down my staff, EVER."

Not backing down he took a menacing step toward her, "And I suppose it is OK for you to dress me down?"

The cold look in Laura's eyes told James he'd made a mistake, "I think you will find Inspector Hathaway that I outrank you. But since you've brought it up, I will be having a conversation with Chief Super Innocent about your behavior. Now what is it you need so badly you disturbed the peace in my department?"

He waved the report in the air, "I have questions about this report."

"Have you asked your sergeant?"

The look of disdain he gave her flared her anger again, "Why would I do that? What is she going to know?"

"Without asking her I guess you will never know?"

"Well as I am already here, why don't you just answer my questions?"

Picking up her things, she looked up at James, a self-satisfied smile on her face. "No, Inspector Hathaway. You may go ask your sergeant. If she is unable to answer them, then you may send her to ask your questions."

"You are refusing to help you?"

Closing the distance between them she exhaled noisily, "No Inspector, I am helping you. You're just too stubborn to recognize it."

She pushed him from her office, closing and locking the door behind them. Without another word she walked down the hall, "You're going to leave me here?"

Turning back to him, she shook your head, "You are where you choose to be James. Perhaps it's time you accepted responsibility for that and stop blaming everyone else."

He watched her go, her last words echoing in his head. For a moment, he thought about calling out to her. His mouth opened, words formed in his mind then he stopped himself. This might be one time where words wouldn't solve his problem. He stalked in the opposite direction in search of his sergeant.