Chapter 5

Andy recounted her statement once more for Frank. When she was finished Frank spoke.

"Cruz knew that the bust was at 2:00 and insisted on going early, against her partner's wishes. She put herself and her partner in a dangerous situation by going alone, and she put them both in a compromised position. This is a blatant disregard of procedure and Cruz will be disciplined."

"That's it?!" Sam exploded. She nearly got McNally killed!"

"Sam, calm down. I said that this would be handled."

"Well that's not good enough. What?, you're just gonna give her a slap on the wrist and tell her not to do it again? This isn't grade school Frank, and we're not on the playground. This is a big deal. If we had been even twenty minutes later McNally would be dead."

"Sam, I understand but you need to trust me on this. Marlo is an asset to 15 and we need to keep her around for awhile longer, regardless of her actions today."

"What are you saying Frank? That you have a secret agenda with Cruz? Or is it that she's part of an assignment that we don't even know about yet?"

"I promise, in due time you will know. You all will know," he added looking over at Traci. "I have to get back to the station and help Drug Squad with the heroin. Keep me updated on McNally's status."

Frank leaves to head back to 15.

"Sam, why don't you go talk to Cruz. She might be able to give you some answers to the burning questions you have about today," Traci says.

Sam glances in at McNally.

"I'll stay here with here," Traci says in response to Sam's lingering eyes.

"Okay, yeah, you're right. I do need to talk to Cruz. Promise me you won't leave until I get back."

"Sure Sam, I promise."

"Great, thanks Trace."

By the time Sam got back to 15 Cruz had already left. He jumped in his truck and raced over to her place. Marlo turned around when she heard the key in the lock.

"Sam?" she called.

He walked silently into the kitchen, where he found her making eggs. He could barely look at her without exploding. Marlo saw the look in his eye and knew that this couldn't be good.

"Is McNally okay?" she asked.

"Is McNally okay?" Sam mocked. "Of course she's not okay! She lying in a hospital bed with three stab wounds. The same wounds I remind you that killed my best friend!"

Marlo hadn't known Jerry but she knew that Sam was very close to him and was devastated by his death.

"Sam, I'm sorry. I know we should have waited for back up. I just wanted to stand out. I wanted to be accepted at 15 and I just thought..."

"You just thought what? You thought you could bust the whole heroin ring yourself? You thought you'd get there first and take care of things and then be the hero when the rest of us showed up? I'm use to rash decisions and going on gut feelings, but this was neither. This was just plain stupidity. The reason we have partners is because it's not safe for officers to go off on their own. The partner is supposed to act as a check for you so that you don't do stupid things."

"I know that. I just got carried away. I'm sorry." She moves toward Sam and tries to embrace him, but he pulls away.

"Marlo, I don't know if I can be with you right now."

"Sam, I know you're hurting because McNally got hurt, and I know you blame me, but please, don't shut me out. Everyone is allowed to make some mistakes."

"No Marlo. A mistake is following the wrong lead. A mistake is leaving the keys in your cruiser. What you did was not a mistake. You put an officer's life in danger and you almost got her killed. I don't think I can see you anymore. I'm sorry."

And without another word, Sam dropped his key on the counter and left.