With a slight moan, Javier Esposito moved the ice pack onto his right shoulder, wincing when the pain seared through his upper back and neck, irrefutably reminding him that his body was becoming a lot stiffer than it used to be.
In the words of his old mentor, it was time to hit the mats again and loosen up.
And yet there was the feeling of victory that made it all worthwhile, maybe even lessening the pain just a bit.
Another killer caught and soon to be behind bars for many years to come, society a whole lot safer with one less lunatic running free. The need to protect fueling his body and mind alike, making days like today stand out as bright lights in a job that often was anything but rewarding.
"Detective Esposito…"
Gates' voice felt like nails on a chalkboard, and he cringed inwardly, not looking forward to what the latest call to the carpet would entail.
Keeping his expression carefully guarded, Esposito slowly turned around, surprised when his captain's expression wasn't as stern as he'd expected.
"Yes?", he asked sheepishly and watched her gaze shift over to the ice pack on his shoulder.
"Congratulations on apprehending your suspect this morning.", she said nonchalantly, the compliment almost noteworthy if he didn't sense more coming.
As such, Gates took a few steps deeper into the small room that suddenly felt so crowded, hands clasped over her abdomen as though she was reciting a pledge. Finally, she looked back up, her skinny finger pointing at the TV up above that was currently turned off.
"When you're done enjoying your temporary celebrity status, please get with the front desk staff downstairs to move your…fans back out of this building. Despite my protest, the Chief seems keen on holding a press conference to that matter tonight, highlighting the incident as another heroic act of New York Police officers going above and beyond the line of duty. If I were you, I'd leave town for the next few months…maybe even years."
