Still trying to catch up on this series. Sorry for the delays! This is just a little piece of life for them. For my overseas readers (Waving to you all!), 4th of July is America's Independence Day. In 1776 the 2nd Continental Congress adopted passage of the Declaration of Independence. I actually saw a copy of it in Washington DC a few years ago. The last lines about pledging their lives, and sacred honor always send a tingle along my spine. Go read it…..
Anyway, we celebrate with parades, barbecues and fireworks. Thus explains this little piece.
DISCLAIMER: Still only own a sunburn and a school supply list to be bought.
JULY - Light up the Sky
The current economic climate had claimed another victim. This time it was the state sponsored fireworks show. It was determined since schoolteachers were being cut, that perhaps spending money that way would be frivolous. It wasn't just the cost of the show, but the support services, cops, traffic, emergency services, etc that really added up. Op-ed pieces endlessly discussed the value of the money spent versus the economic uptick in surrounding areas. It seemed to be a doomed discussion until one of those foundations with more money than God stepped in. The whole cost would be underwritten. More op-ed pieces regarding the purchasing of the state and bread and circuses ensued.
Ultimately, the people who would see the show didn't really care. Theoretical was not how they lived. They lived in the real world, from paycheck to paycheck. July Fourth was about picnics and parties and going to see the fireworks shows.
A big state event like this meant all hands on deck. Even though the Serious Crimes Unit would probably not have any serious crimes to investigate, they were expected to show and help provide the higher level security. Sure, it rankled to babysit the people with enough money and power to expect this kind of service from the state. But when you were a cop, no matter the level, you followed the orders. Trying to make sense out of political whims was a one way ticket to frustration and a migraine.
All of this combined to surprise them when Rigsby wasn't there the two days before the Fourth and at the detail. They were assigned the inner sanctum security for the VIP area. Badges visible, dress casual attire. They were to look professional, but not intimidating. Grace hated when they said that kind of thing. Men could throw on Khakis and CBI Golf shirt. When a woman wore the same thing, she looked like a McDonalds' manager. Anything else looked too casual, too form fitting, (a mistake she would never repeat), or too dressed. She opted for the Golf shirt. At least it was comfortable and if you threw the CBI windbreaker over it, not too fast food industry.
Somehow Jane had managed to be allowed to in the VIP tent. Lisbon wisely kept him close to her. You never knew what bug he would get in his head and which VIP was going to be humiliated. Being close to Lisbon suited Jane just fine, not that he would allow himself to admit it.
Grace glanced over at Cho, standing with his arms crossed looking faintly annoyed, even for Cho. He hated babysitting VIP's. He did however like the food that came with it. He would never admit that, he left that to Rigsby. Grace wondered if Cho had his clothes tailored to make him look bigger. He wasn't the tallest agent, but the cut of his shirts always made him look bigger. Grace began to think quiet Cho was vainer about his appearance than anyone would imagine.
She tried not to be obvious looking for Wayne, no Rigsby. But her little inner voice that nudged her every time she smelled his unique scent forced her to look for him harder than anyone else. She cursed that little voice, wishing it would remember the heart-wrenching decision she had made. No matter her motivation, he was not here. Maybe they had him out toward the crowd more. His height and size would intimidate the first layer right off the top. Hours later, she still hadn't seen him.
Her private sanity would be grateful that Cho voiced the question. "Where the hell is Rigsby? How did he get out of this" That last word was said with such disdain as to leave no doubt in anyone's mind of Cho's opinion. For Cho, it was practically a rant.
The answer even surprised Jane. "He is the official Liaison officer for the CBI to the organizers here."
"Rigsby?" They all asked the same question in identical shocked tones. Not that he wasn't a good agent; smarter than most thought, but liaison was a political type of deal. Wayne was not the smoothest agent.
"Yeah, apparently he knows the guy who runs this fireworks company. He used to work for him back in college and never gave up that licensing. He was actually the natural choice."
They all quietly mulled over the image of Wayne Rigsby as official Liaison. Even Grace was surprised. It was a piece of his life he hadn't shared. Cho tried to remember if he had read that in Rigsby's file. Jane smiled at the thought of the big man trying to be politically correct. These kinds of events were planned by committee. Some of the members even knew what they were doing. Mostly it was a lot of people walking around trying to seem more important than the others.
Finally the show arrived. If you were close enough to a speaker, you realized how well they coordinated the music and the fireworks. It was beautiful, loud and exciting. As the huge crowd surged to leave, there was general agreement on how wonderful the show had been. The VIP crowd was always amazed to discover that crowds didn't part for them, but eventually, even they were gone.
Just as they were about to leave, Rigsby appeared. The CBI polo strained across his shoulders and the fluorescent "Event Planning Staff" Badge holder around his neck made him stand out even more than his size. Grace tried not to remember how great everything under that shirt looked, especially stretched across her bed on a lazy Sunday Morning.
"Hey guys! Any food left? The VIP tent usually has the only decent food at these things"
Cho smiled to himself. He knew Rigsby would comment on the food. He went behind the table and pulled out a plate piled high covered by a napkin. Cho figured if Rigsby didn't show, he would take home a late night snack for himself and a lovely young lady. What he didn't figure on was the identical plates in Lisbon, Van Pelt and Jane's hands. Apparently, they had all had the same thought. Keeping Wayne Rigsby fed had become second nature to them all.
Rigsby's eyes lit up at the sight. He had been here for hours, and other than a protein bar, 4 cups of coffee and 3 water bottles, hadn't had a thing. He was ready to tackle it all.
"You know, there really is enough here for a small feast. The VIP tent will be the last to be taken down. Why don't we sit and enjoy the evening and a free meal?"
As they sat and started eating, Lisbon finally commented on the fireworks.
"Yeah, they do a good job. Denis has really grown this business. He even does shows at Sea World and a few Major League Ball parks. He keeps asking me to take a long vacation and work with him. As it is, I can only do an occasional local show. I never got the point behind it anyway. Lots of noise for such a short time. But I guess people like it."
"Fireworks always make me think of being a kid. Not this stuff, but firecrackers. Big part of our culture, ya know."
"They used to have a great show the last night of the county fair. It was the unofficial end of summer for us. Dad would start Football practice the following Monday morning. 2 a day for 2 weeks. "
"My brother's friend had an uncle who lost 2 fingers to a bottle rocket gone wrong. We had to hear about that every year. I hated fireworks. My brothers always wanted them. I was sure they were going to blow themselves up"
"You would be amazed at how many pockets get picked at a show like this. No one is really paying attention."
A silence fell as each one realized how much of themselves they had just revealed. Typically, Jane lightened the mood, by producing a box of sparklers, out of nowhere. Before they could withdraw back into themselves again, Grace clapped her hands.
"I used to love those when I was little!" Grabbing the box out of Jane's hand she walked out into the deserted area behind the tent. Wayne followed without even realizing it and Jane followed him to see what would happen next. Lisbon and Cho silently exchanged shrugs and brought up the rear. Within minutes, the five adults were like children again, playing with sparkers. But children never looked at each other the way Grace and Wayne or Lisbon and Jane did. Even though they though no one else saw, the ever watchful Cho noted it all. As the glow finally subsided, his hope that this would be the closest they all came to fireworks, real or emotional only grew.
Hope you enjoyed…I know I have been pretty absent. Reviews make me write more!