Part 29
Chris looked around at the others in the room wondering why they'd been called in here before shift change. Dov, Jack 'Mac' Mackenzie, Patrick O'Donnell, along with five other officers and Oliver Shaw were also in the room, all still in uniform just like Chris.
It wasn't hard to figure out the connection, even for Chris, they were all either part of Callaghan's arrest and search team or they'd responded to the scene after Gail had called in the frantic 10-30.
But that didn't explain why Frank had them in here.
"Sir?" Chris said quietly, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had filled the room. "What's… what's this about?"
Frank, stood at the front of the room, glared at Chris. "No talking." He told them sternly. "That goes for all of you, not with each other or anyone else. Not until after SIU have spoken to you."
Dov scowled. He'd already given his written statement to Frank. He opened his mouth to ask when SIU would be here but Frank caught the motion and held a finger up.
"Not. One. Word." The warning tone was clearing in the Staff Sergeant's voice. He meant business.
Dov slumped back in his seat and huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he sulked. He just wanted this day to be over. He'd had more than enough dealings with Internal Investigations to last the rest of his career.
Oliver sniffed finding the atmosphere in the room a little too oppressive for his liking. He also knew Superintendent Peck was somewhere in the building. Another unpleasant factor in an already shitty day.
"You know Frankie, if there's a point to holding us here maybe you should get to it. Before someone calls our union rep." He told his friend. Something was up, but Frank needed to help him out a little because Oliver thought that they'd managed to pull off an outstanding win. Injured Peckling aside. They had Nash back safe and sound, Callaghan had his arrest, Guns and Gangs were even getting in on the act with a few gang members now off the streets and others about to be pulled in as a result of this morning's shoot out.
They were not the bad guys, they had them in custody.
Oliver, the longest serving uniform in the room, and the only one brave enough to go up against their Sergeant pushed his friend again when Frank just held his gaze.
"Come on man, we're all on the same team here." He told him, spreading his arms out to indicate the others around him.
Frank's eyes shifted then he straightened as Elaine Peck and another man in a suit paced into the room.
"I'm glad to hear that Officer Shaw, that attitude will make this much easier." Elaine agreed as she took her place at the dais up front and eyed every officer in front of her, evaluating them before dismissing them as she look to her side. "This is Inspector Jarvis and he will be stationed here for the foreseeable future." She informed them. "Until this, unfortunate mess, has been cleared up and then you may all return to normal operations." She added, making it sound like an insult.
She smiled at the grimaces. "I'll let John explain why you have all been called in here."
Jarvis politely waited until Elaine had stood away before taking her place. He didn't see the need for pleasantries and glared at those seated in front of him.
"You may or may not know that one of the suspects that absconded with Detective Nash was shot and killed by an officer from 18 Division as they and other patrol cars intercepted the vehicle carrying Nash on the East side of the city. What you might not have heard is that witnesses have already come forward and been interview on national new channels proclaiming that those officers fired their weapons at innocent young men." Jarvis stopped and let that sink in to those in front of him. "The Mayor and several political groups are already demanding a quick and open investigation. What we do not want is for this to escalate further into civil unrest while that investigation is ongoing."
"Like Ferguson?" Chris asked confused why that would be the case. Traci had been kidnapped, the cops that had saved her had been shot at themselves from what he'd heard from other officers.
Clearly there was no comparison.
Chris swallowed and scooted down lower in his seat as he got death glares from the front.
Elaine snorted and wondered what her daughter had ever seen in the boy. He'd be lucky to ever get off the streets. "No Craig, not like Ferguson." She told him with a scowl before letting her eyes wander around to take in the other officers. "But as information of Detective Nash's abduction has not been released for public discussion as of yet, there have been accusations laid at the steps of Toronto's law enforcement, and not just from those on scene today."
One newspaper in particular had run several articles about corruption of those in uniform over the last few years. Racial profiling, illegal searches, and suggestions that some officers have taken payments to look the other way to name just a few stories that have graces the pages recently.
The Mayor had demanded that a clean-up or clean out was in order, using it as part of his running campaign, a hard stance which had endeared him among the city's working class and the marginalised who needed a voice.
Innocent until proven guilty didn't hold any weight with a lot of the people consigned to a life on welfare and living in subsidised housing projects.
Elaine took a breath before continuing. She knew the potential for this to turn to civil unrest but had confidence that the true events that took place today would clear up any misconceptions.
But that would have to happen soon and without giving out any information that wasn't approved for release. It was a public relations nightmare that would only continue to grow until headquarters made their statement and stemmed any untoward feeling over the events of today.
"Understandably SIU are making the recovery of Detective Nash and the officer related shooting the priority but that in no way diminishes the seriousness of the preceding events. Which brings me to why you have all been called in here," Elaine continued as her eyes swept around the room again. "I would like to this time, at the end of a stressful shift, and impress upon each of you that the media is not to be spoken to and until you have been interviewed by SIU you will not discuss anything about this case, not to each other and not to anyone else." Her look turned hard and penetrating as she locked eyes with those in front of her. "One word leaked from anyone in this room and the consequences will be… unpleasant." When she was satisfied by the increased unease in the room she smiled at them. "Dismissed."
Intimidated, and slightly in fear of their jobs, the officers in the room quickly escaped the room to change and go home for the day.
But Chris lingered as Frank, Elaine and Jarvis talked together.
"Ah, ma'am?" He asked tentatively as Dov and Oliver slowed their steps out of the room.
Elaine scowled at the disruption to her dinner plans. "Yes?"
"What, ah, what Gail ma'am?" Chris asked nervously.
Feeling eyes on her Elaine took a few steps forward and noticed Oliver and Officer Epstein hovering by the door.
"I think I made myself perfectly clear," She eyed the junior officer beside Shaw then looked back to Officers Diaz. "Your living arrangements aside, there is to be no contact or discussion with any other individuals involved until after you have been interview and cleared by SIU."
Jarvis came over to back up his Superintendent. "If that wasn't made clear the first time then perhaps we can take this to my office?" He offered to the officer.
Oliver coughed as Chris shook his head rapidly.
Elaine huffed, once more unimpressed by the officer's fortitude as she watched him scurry off. She turned back to John and Frank. "Now where were we?"
Frank trail behind as the Inspector and Superintendent discussed where to order their meals from. Between Callaghan's statement and the need to wrap the case up quickly for the public and head office he was worried about the little things, like the attempted murder of one of his officers, not to mention what could have happened to Nash.
xxxxx
"This ain't right man!" Chris complained as he stripped out of his uniform.
Dov shook his head and continued to pack his things up. "You heard her, we can't talk about this."
Chris glared at his friend and sat down on the bench in the changing room. "So you aren't coming?" He asked incredulously.
Dov held his hands up. "You know I can't talk to her until after my interview, I've already screwed up how many times on this job?" He snorted and grabbed his bag up. "Besides, it's Gail. She'll understand." He added flippantly.
Chris stared hard at his roommate. "She could have died Dov." He said quietly, the images of arriving at the scene and seeing Gail bleeding and panicked over Traci. He'd never been so happy to have her bitching at him again on the way to the hospital.
Oliver hadn't wanted to hear the conversation but he knew Elaine wasn't playing around.
"Epstein's right Diaz," He said with a heavy heart as Chris turned to him with a look of betrayal on his face. "Just go home, get your interview over with in the morning and then you can go see her." He told the pair.
Disgusted, Chris grabbed his bag and jacket then hurried from the locker room.
"Hey wait! You're my ride." Dov called out but Chris was already gone.
Oliver glanced around the empty room then closed his locker with a tired sigh.
Going by the book, what he'd told Diaz was the right thing, but it didn't make him happy either. Gail had been through more than most other young officers, but he knew she was strong enough to deal with this as well.
He'd take extra doughnuts when he visited to make up for his absence, he knew she'd understand why they stayed away, at least he hoped she would.
His only consoling thought was that he was sure she was unlikely to be alone for this hospital stay.
xxxxx
"Go home."
Holly snorted not looking up from her work.
Gail eyed her girlfriend then looked pleadingly at Elizabeth. "Will you take her home? If she insists on ignoring me, and denying me real food, then I have no more use for her."
Elizabeth chuckled but tried to mask it when Holly glared over at her.
"Not helping." Holly directed at her sister.
"Holly."
Taking her eyes off her sister Holly turned her attention to her girlfriend. She'd seen Gail on strong pain medication before but that had been after the exchange with Andy about Nick and the blonde hadn't been in the best of moods afterwards. Understandably so. But she hadn't been around for the early stage. Which she'd been informed involved singing which, knowing how good Gail's voice was, she was sorry to miss.
This Gail however was cute.
"Holly."
In an annoying sort of way.
"Yes Gail?" Holly said as Gail leaned over to her.
"I have a thingy up my woo-woo." Gail stage whispered as she told her girlfriend with wide eyes. "The nurse put it there. I told her you had to be my doctor but she wouldn't listen."
Elizabeth couldn't help from sniggering as she watched her sister struggle to keep a straight face herself.
"It's still up there Holly." Gail informed the pathologist.
Holly bit back a smile as she caressed Gail's thigh. "I know sweetie, but it's important that it stays where it is, okay?"
Gail pouted and leaned back on the bed. "Fine. But it feels weird and I don't like it." She proclaimed with a heavy sigh. But she was tired and the bed felt nice. She shifted around and stared at Holly. "Will you sleep with me?" She asked softly.
Biting the inside of her lip Holly put her face right up to Gail's causing a grin to appear. "Sure." She answered ignoring just how impractical that feat would actually be to accomplish. It was a nice room but the bed was definitely made for a single occupant.
"Good!" Happy with that Gail let herself start to drift off.
Holly smiled at the blonde surprise that it had been that easy, but it let her get back to finishing off her work.
"Holly?" Gail had popped her eye open and was now scowling at the pathologist. "You said you'd sleep with me. Close your eyes!"
Elizabeth was fascinated as she watched her sister deal with a doped up Gail.
Deciding it was best just to play along Holly closed over her case file and shifted to get comfortable on the chair she was sat on knowing she was being watched. Once she was settled she let out a fake yawn then closed her eyes tightly.
Elizabeth did her best not to burst into laughter as she looked between the pair wondering what would happen next. She almost lost it when Gail half sat up and gave Holly a studied look but her sister kept it up and didn't react.
Satisfied Gail shuffled back into position. "Night Holly."
"Night Gail." Holly replied automatically but she kept her eyes firmly closed even as a smile crept onto her face.
A few moments later and a light snore sounded around the room.
"Aww." Elizabeth said quietly as she came over.
"Don't make fun, her face is broken." Holly muttered as she sat up straight again and picked up the folder from the floor. She then tried to get through the last few pages of case details for her testimony tomorrow, she knew it already but it kept her mind busy and right now she needed the distraction.
Otherwise all she'd be thinking about is the fact the she could have lost Gail today. And that, that she couldn't handle right now.
The words on the page started to blur together as arms slipped around her shoulder.
"She'll be okay." Elizabeth whispered as she pressed her lips to the side of her sister's head and hugged her close.
Holly bit into her lip hard until she tasted blood. She wiped a few tears away and squeezed one of the arms around her chest. Then she looked at Gail sleeping in the bed beside. "I know."
There wasn't any other option.
xxxxxx
AN/ I know I suck :(
But you have no idea what I've went through with this story. Lesson for all y'all? Back your shit up. In multiple places. Regularly.
Anyway. New chapter. Hope you liked it.
Next time ;)