DETECTIVE JULIO SANCHEZ
It came in snippets like a flash. You must keep your eyes open if you want a glimpse of it. You blink, you miss it. It all dawned to me that October afternoon that could have been a typical day at work except that I was suspended to desk duty for two weeks for losing my temper on a suspect. That day my eyes opened at what was right under our noses.
And so, I was there at that moment in the squad room as Captain Raydor was talking with two officers in the murder room when I saw the red button on my phone extension on the desk blink and saw Lieutenant Provenza's number flashing. I picked it up on speaker.
"Detective Sanchez here," I greeted Lt. Provenza.
His tone sounded agitated, like he was out of breath. He could hardly say the words. Something must be terribly wrong. That was the initial impression that I had. Captain Raydor stopped what she was doing and came closer to the phone.
"Speak up, Lt. Provenza. Calm down, we can't understand a word you're saying," said Capt. Raydor.
"Flynn… We're at Mercy Medical…" still inaudible.
"Come again, Lt.? What about Lt Flynn?" I asked.
I could see the impatience in Captain Raydor's expression as she tried to decipher what Lt. Provenza was saying.
Then it seemed he had calmed down for his message became as loud and clear as a host drawing out the winning numbers in a lottery.
"Flynn has been shot. We brought him to Mercy Hospital. He's in surgery now with the doctor."
I'll never forget her face. There was a silent cry of anguish… like her world suddenly came to an abrupt end that I almost rushed over to her side to give her a comforting hug. She went completely still, I thought she would faint. Then as quick as it flashed on her face, it was gone in an instant.
"How bad was it?" she asked in a detached voice.
But the line got cut off. Her expression was undecipherable.
"Julio, please take over the squad room. I'll step out for an hour or two, but I'll be back."
I suspected she wanted to rush over to Mercy Medical but before she came could leave, Lt. Tao and Detective Sykes have arrived back with three suspects in tow.
"Amy! What happened to Lt. Flynn?" she asked, her tone professional, void of any personal emotion.
Lt. Tao dragged the suspects on the seats in front of his desk to start the interrogation.
Neither he nor Amy looked particularly concerned.
"He caught these two here who were escaping when we raided the hideout of the kidnappers," she pointed at the younger ones in front of Tao, "But as he was hauling their handcuffed asses to the mobile car, the ringleader, who escaped, shot him…"
"Fortunately, the bullet just grazed his arm. It didn't even come inside his arm. Just a scratch. Before we got to the office, Flynn told us the doctor said he didn't even need stitches." continued Tao.
Tao and Sykes were busy taking care of the suspects that they didn't catch Captain Raydor's expression. At Tao's words an immense relief displayed on her face, like a big weight was lifted off her shoulders… I could even note a shimmer of joyful tears that didn't quite got shed, then it was gone… as if I just imagined it.
I felt sorry for Captain Raydor that she went through that few minutes of great agony.
"Then why did Lt. Provenza sounded like he had been crying. He could hardly make sense?" I growled.
"Oh, he was pretty upset that he was forced to run. Remember he doesn't run, he doesn't jump… He must have been so exhausted from running four blocks he could hardly catch his breath. We made him come with Lt. Flynn to the hospital. He looked like he needed medical attention more than Lt. Flynn," laughed Amy.
After that day, snippets of the "evidence" just came flooding back to me like pieces of a puzzle that completed the picture. Suddenly everything was clear. Things that looked innocent albeit puzzling…even questionable at times points to one thing alone… they were not merely colleagues nor just friends as they put it.
Now I know why if Captain Raydor needed something like a pen or a stapler while she was out in the murder room by our desks, she would walk all the way to Flynn's desk to take what she needed when other desks were much closer to where she stood.
I was late that morning and the desks were empty. Everyone must have gone out, and Captain Raydor and Chief Taylor were going through a few documents just in front of the murder board. I didn't want to flaunt that I was late, so I hovered a little by the door, waiting for them to go to their respective offices.
Needing to sign some of them, Captain Raydor strutted two paces to Flynn's desk to get a pen. I just thought there were desks much closer, one pace to her right was Sykes' desk, one pace to her left was my desk but she chose to walk two paces further for a pen. I thought that was a bit strange. And I realized it happened not once or twice but all the time. How she would comfortably go all the way to his desk for a stapler, a correction pen, a paper clip, anything… and she wouldn't have second thoughts ransacking his drawer for them if they were not on top of the desk. I even caught her casually taking some of the Godiva on his desk. It was something she never, not once, did to anyone else's desk.
Valentine's Day…
Everyone was miffed. The mistress of a Senator had the impudence to get murdered on that day of lovers. The senator's wife snuffed the life out of her.
Well, not everyone was grumbling… Flynn and the Captain looked fine with it.
"If that homewrecker had been alive, I would have killed her again for ruining my Valentine's Day with Patrice," said Provenza.
"If she were alive, we wouldn't be here, Lieutenant," I replied.
"Look guys, Valentine's Day is not even a public holiday so technically it is a work day…" said Flynn.
"Flynn, just because you have no one for Valentine's Day, doesn't mean the rest of us don't have a valentine. Why don't you stay and do the work while we go home to salvage what's left of the day," said Provenza.
"I'd appreciate it Lieutenant if you would stay for the paperwork. Coop and I have reservations…"
"Fine! Fine! You can all go. I thought only Provenza and Tao are leaving… even the unmarried people are leaving! You don't have date, Julio. Do you?" asked Lt. Flynn.
I smiled. "As a matter of fact, I do, Lieutenant. It's my girlfriend and I's first Valentine's Day…"
"Fine! You can all go, leave the lonely old man behind," he said but I could tell he was not the least bit upset at the prospect.
"I'll stay and keep Lt. Flynn company," said Captain Raydor.
We all looked at her. Surprised she'd make the sacrifice of her Valentine's Day plans.
She gave us an understanding smile.
"But Captain, don't you have a date? We saw the tulips that were delivered to your office. We assumed you have a date tonight," said Provenza.
"We'll just draw lots on who's staying with Flynn…" said Tao.
"You don't have to draw lots. My date won't be available to take me out for dinner. He'd be working, so I might as well work on Valentine's Day too."
She smiled, not the least bit upset by the circumstances.
"I can understand you all want to celebrate. Afterall, it comes but once a year," said Captain Raydor.
"I have a heart-shaped chocolate cake. Lt. Flynn and I could snack on it while we finish the paperwork."
Lt. Flynn's face lit up. "A valentine cake sounds good, Captain."
No sooner than the words were out of her mouth that everyone scrambled to leave. We were afraid she'd change her mind. Had I known what I knew now, I'm sure she would not have changed her mind.
The look of admiration and fondness…
It must have been infatuation... who wouldn't admire a smart and beautiful boss.
The entire squad was proud of her. She had just been promoted to Commander. Everyone was giving their congratulations. Giving her a handshake by her subordinates and colleagues, a peck on the cheek by some higher-ranking female officers close to her and by her best friend DDA Hobbs.
He didn't kiss her on the cheek, or even given her a handshake, but from a far I could see just how proud he was of her. His look of admiration and fondness for her never left his face until it was time to call it a day.
Perhaps he was shy… if you like someone you are usually shy around the person.
Now I wonder if they didn't have a private celebration with just the two of them…
I did recall he ordered flowers over the phone and made dinner reservations in Marriott before he left the office… fifteen minutes after she had bid the team farewell.
Jealousy…
My boss didn't look like someone who knew the meaning of the word. She was always composed, standoffish and indifferent. Nothing could faze her, and so when a flicker of the green-eyed monster showed up for a minute, I dismissed it. It could not have been…
I was on the break room, at the table near the far end of the room, just finishing the last remnants of my sandwich when DDA Hobbs and Captain Raydor came in and settled in one of the other tables to eat their takeout.
"Soda?" asked Captain Raydor as she put a few coins in the vending machine.
"Sure. A root beer," said DDA Hobbs as she started digging in into her Mexican Fajita.
"Did you finally enrolled in that Fitness Spa you were telling me about?" asked Captain Raydor as she handed the rootbeer to DDA Hobbs.
"No, I found another Fitness Gym much closer to my workplace, so I paid for a membership there instead," said DDA Hobbs.
"Was it as luxurious as the first one you told me about?" asked Captain Raydor.
They were two friends having a chat during coffee break. Nothing interesting in their chitchat that ranged from beauty products to murder suspects. I was about to exit the break room when something interesting caught my ear.
"Oh, Sharon, guess who I saw with DDA Rios at the gym?"
"Why would I be interested about DDA Rios, she's your colleague, not mine."
DDA Hobbs smiled. "Well, the man she was with at the treadmill is one of your subordinates… so I thought you'd be interested. But since you're not…"
"Who? Who was with DDA Rios? Of course I'm intrigued…" said Captain Raydor.
"Lt. Andy Flynn." She said so casually I was certain she didn't know the effect of her words to her best friend.
I didn't think it would mean anything to Captain Raydor either, even if something did change in her expression. It was so fleeting; you'd hardly catch it if you're slow… something DDA Hobbs missed as she continued to talk.
They exited the break room shortly afterwards, and I stayed a few minutes debating whether to get another cup of iced coffee. No sooner than they left, Lt. Flynn came in and helped himself with a bottled water from the vending machine and sat beside me.
"What's for afternoon tea, Julio?" he greeted.
"I had a baloney sandwich but I'm just about to go back to my desk," I said.
Then his service phone rang, and he picked it up on the second ring.
"Yes, Captain?"
I heard him say over the phone. I stayed. I had a feeling it was going to be interesting. I just didn't know back then that there was more to it than meets the eye.
"I'm in the break room…"
He paused, listening to Captain Raydor on the other end of the line.
"Don't read anything to it…"
He was interrupted.
"That's not true…I just ran into her there. Why would I lie, Captain?" he sounded irritated.
Again, he was interrupted.
"You were just here? I don't know how long ago you were here. I'm here right now…I'm not lying…"
He paused again.
"I'm going to your office right now, and it's not going to take me three minutes."
He hung up and I could see him fuming mad. Who wouldn't be if your boss blatantly accused you of lying.
He must have forgotten I was nearby. I heard him mutter under his breath.
"I'll show you I'm not lying," and he stormed out going to Captain Raydor's office.
The Flying Bullets…
Everyone was busy, several cases were overlapping, you didn't even have the time for a bathroom break. Perhaps that was the reason everyone's guard was down when the suspect managed to grab one of the officer's gun and started shooting blindly at everyone around him.
Alright I was focused on staying alive. Everyone was caught by surprise and must have their survival instincts kick in. Shaken, and glad to be alive, I wouldn't have noticed this fact of Lt. Flynn had I not been listening to his banter with Lt. Provenza about the little blue pills Provenza had ordered which Lt. Flynn somehow discovered, teasing him relentlessly about it. I was eavesdropping on their hilarious conversation and thus fully aware where exactly they both stood when the bullets came flying around the office.
I knew they must be more than twenty feet away from me and from where I was, Captain Raydor was a few feet further, but once the flying bullets have subsided, and everyone started checking out everyone, I found Lieutenant Flynn on the floor, protectively atop Captain Raydor, his gun out, as his body hovered over her protectively.
It was a miracle he had been alive. I had no idea how he could have moved so fast from where he stood with Lt. Provenza all the way across to Captain Raydor without being hit by a single bullet. He must have been Flash's alter ego.
Looking back, I didn't think much about it that his first instinct was to protect the captain. Of course, back then I thought he was being a patriotic officer to protect a higher-ranking officer (as though we were engaged in warfare) rather than a man protecting his woman.
No wonder Captain Raydor did not object to being intimately pressed against Lt. Flynn's body when all that commotion happened. I was certain it was not intentional for either of them to end up on the floor facing each other when the pandemonium erupted, but they sure looked comfortable and ease.
"Is everyone alright?" yelled Captain Raydor, still on the floor beneath Lt. Flynn.
When it was ascertained that no mor bullets had been flying around, she stood up from her lying position beneath Lt. Flynn by pulling on the Lieutenant's coat as he held her by her hips and butt to help her up.
"Dammit, Flynn! Who told you to fly across the room when it's raining bullets," scolded Provenza.
Flynn pretended not hear his incessant rant about his foolishness, while Capt. Raydor remained quiet, although she may not totally agree with Flynn's actions, she cannot reprimand him in front of everyone since he did it to protect her, and she must understand why he did.
"I'm alright so there's no problem," he calmly pointed out as he straightened his suit, dusting it with his hands before walking out of the room, oblivious to the dark red lipstick stain on the breastbone of his long-sleeved shirt, where Capt. Raydor must have pressed her face during the chaos.
Divorce Papers…
I didn't realize the reason back then why Lt. Flynn had it in for Jack Raydor. Alright, so the man was a sleazeball, a first-class jerk, who wouldn't despise him? But I noticed Lt. Flynn had a deep-seated hatred for the guy. It made me wonder if they had had an altercation in the past, or if they even knew each other from years before. All I know was that his presence in the Major Crimes department would always ruin the Lieutenant's mood. I knew if he could have his way, he'd beat Jack Raydor up every time he would set foot in Major Crimes.
A particular time that stuck to me was the day we found out about the divorce papers.
"What's that asshole doing here again?" blurted Lt. Flynn as he threw his bag on his chair the minute he arrived and found Jack inside Captain Raydor's office.
"A husband needs to see his wife…"
"Ex-wife! They're separated! You hear, they're separated!" he snapped at his friend from Robbery Homicide through grated teeth. I could see the smoke coming out of his head.
"I just came from Captain Raydor's office before Jack arrived. I had a few papers I needed her to sign, and I saw it on her desk… their divorce papers. I think she called Jack to sign them," said Lt. Provenza.
From a boiling blood pressure, Lt. Flynn's face changed to one of bliss. I was stunned at the sudden change… but before anyone could notice or before Lt. Flynn could relish his blissfulness, Jack came storming out of Captain Raydor's office.
"I'm not signing that!" he yelled before slamming the door.
Before anyone could say Timbuktu, Lt. Flynn pounced on Jack, grabbing him by his lapels and knocking him on the floor. Everything happened so fast. One minute he was with us then he was atop Jack, yelling at him as he gripped his collar the next. We were so stunned it took us a minute before pulling them apart. I have never seen Lt. Flynn so red with anger.
"Damn you Raydor! You cheating, son of a bitch. Why do you make it so difficult for Sharon! If she told you to sign them, you godamn well sign them or I'll kill you!"
It took four of us to separate Flynn from Raydor and even then, Flynn was giving Raydor a murderous look.
"Have you gone cuckoo, Flynn?! What was that for?" yelled Jack.
Suddenly Captain Raydor had her hands folded in front of her.
"Stop it!" she glared.
Her presence seemed to have calmed Lt. Flynn.
"Sharon! You better do something about your people going nuts."
He stormed out of the office.
"Lt Flynn! My office," she said firmly, going inside without waiting for Lt. Flynn.
It was Lt. Provenza who scolded his best friend before letting him go to the captain's office.
"Flynn, what's gotten into you? Whatever issues they have with each other has nothing to do with you. I know Jack is an ass but stay out of it."
We saw Captain Raydor close her office blinds as Lt. Flynn stepped into her office.
That should have been an eye opener for me, or for everyone for that matter, but I was blind…. So were they... I think.