The Control Center was disconcertingly quiet as Harrelson descended the steps. He heard papers shuffling, feet scuffing. No friendly, light-hearted banter like usual. He had to admit this morning wasn't exactly normal. Everyone still stung from the convenience store holdup the day before – especially TJ. Fate had put a strung out boy with a twitchy trigger finger in TJ's scope.
"TJ," Harrelson called, "we have a meeting with the Chief."
TJ rose slowly at his desk. "Chief Roman?"
"Yes," Harrelson said. "It won't take long."
Jim and Dom rose also.
TJ walked silently toward Harrelson, flanked by Jim and Dom.
Deke intercepted the flankers. "This isn't the inquisition, guys. Deke sighed at the needle-sharp glares.
Harrelson held up a hand. "TJ, gentlemen," he began, "Chief appreciates the sensitivity in this situation and just wants to speak to TJ personally. No protection is necessary." Internally, it warmed Harrelson's heart that TJ's teammates so readily came to his aid, needed or not.
After Harrelson and TJ disappeared up the stairs, Deke turned to Jim and Dom. "He's not facing a firing squad, guys, come on."
With sighs and muttering, Jim and Dom returned to their desks.
"Some of the media is running this story," Deke said. "Chief wants us to remind everyone not to talk to the media in any capacity. Just ignore them."
"Oh, great," Dom declared.
"Had to happen," Jim added.
"Channel Three is on our side," Deke continued. "They've interviewed the pregnant lady that was shot by the boy. Her story is quite horrifying."
"But …" Dom countered.
"One of the rogue stations," Deke said, "Thirty-nine, I think, covered the boys' mother wailing – which she's entitled to do. But the coverage indicated complete innocence and had no mention of the boys holding up the store or shooting anyone."
"Incredible." Dom gazed toward the ceiling and sighed heavily.
"There might be some picketing outside of the precinct building." Deke raised and lowered his hands in a defeated gesture. "Just be aware."
Jim stared at a spot at the front of the room. His tapping pencil the only indication of his carefully controlled emotions. Dom shuffled papers aimlessly about his desk, not looking up at all. Resigned, Deke returned to his desk.
###
Chief Roman stood behind his desk and extended his arm out to shake TJ's hand. TJ did, as briefly as possible. He sat in the chair the chief indicated in front of the desk. At the edge of his vision, TJ saw Harrelson standing in front of the closed door.
The chief gave TJ the nearly identical spiel that Deke had given Jim and Dom downstairs. The muscles along TJ's jaw twitched and tightened at the mention of media and pickets.
"The department has no statement for the media on this matter." The chief looked directly at TJ. "It is an open and shut case, nothing to debate. As soon as I heard Olympic was involved, I had no doubts." He tapped a folder on his desk. "I've reviewed everyone's statements from the scene and I know it was a clean shoot." He stood, walked around to the front of his desk and hitched a hip on the desk, keeping his gaze steadily on TJ. "I know it's disturbing. We're cops, but we're human. I want you to see the department shrink." He held up a hand, seeing TJ flick a worried glance toward Harrelson. "Excuse me, my beat cop mentality is showing. The department psychologist. She's good. Let her help." His gaze shifted to Harrelson.
"Three this afternoon, Chief," Harrelson said.
"Good. The sooner the better." Chief Roman returned to his seat behind the desk. "That's my speech, Officer McCabe. Do you have any questions? Anything …"
TJ had endured the ordeal silent and stiff. "How old was he?" His blank expression didn't change.
Chief Roman sighed audibly, opened the folder on his desk and studied it for a moment. "Sixteen."
Other than a tic under his left eye, TJ's expression remained stoic. He stood, shouldered past Harrelson, and exited the chief's office.
Harrelson descended the stairs slowly, a couple minutes after TJ left the chief's office, stopping on the third-to-bottom step when noticing that TJ wasn't at his desk. The room was whisper quiet again, unnervingly so. He could hear Street's pen scratching across the form on his desk. He surveyed the Control Center, finding no sign of TJ McCabe.
Turning and ascending, Harrelson crossed the station lobby, exiting through the glass double-door entranceway. His shoulder muscles relaxed when seeing TJ sitting on the curb.
"McCabe."
TJ got to his feet and turned to face his commander. "Lieutenant."
"Walk with me." Harrelson turned and strode down the sidewalk.
TJ caught up and walked silently beside Harrelson. When reaching the tiny Tanner Park, essentially three picnic tables, Harrelson stepped up onto a bench and sat on the table top. His elbows rested on his knees. TJ followed suit.
"What about this has you so twisted up?" asked Harrelson.
TJ stared out at the passing traffic. He sighed. "After Nam, the war, I promised myself I'd never shoot another kid." TJ's fist pounded his thigh, punctuating his last words.
Harrelson nodded, hung his head a moment. He'd fought this demon. "It's not the same, TJ. That boy was in that store shooting people because he wanted to. He chose to.
"How he was raised, how he got to that point, that's his family's responsibility. When he walked into that store with a gun, then he became our responsibility."
"My responsibility. I have to live with that," TJ said.
"Mine, too," Harrelson said. "I put you up there. I gave the command. I picked you for my team. Chief Roman selected me to create the team. Chief of Police Davis approved the SWAT program."
TJ raised his hand. "I know what you're doing."
"You will have to live with taking that shot," Harrelson said. "But you can't take responsibility for having to take the shot."
TJ shook his head. "It's hard."
"It's hard giving you the green light." Harrelson shrugged. "Nothing else worked and he shot a hostage." He stepped down. "See the shrink – as long as you need."
TJ sighed, nodded.
They walked back to Division.