Joe's pov
As Em started driving the RMP, I asked, a bit nervous again
"Hey, I know LA and I had the double-checking system for ammo, guns and vests, but I think we should triple check, just in case. Check ours, each others, then ours again. Just... I don't wanna lose you, so I need you to check yourself again after I check you. At least for now. Please."
She hugged me
"Ok. But, for the record, I don't blame you. His family does not blame you. No one blames you. And I've been trusting you with my life long before the Academy. Ok?"
I scoffed
"With safety scissors at age 5."
She grinned
"Potato, potahto."
Smiling a bit, I spoke
"Thank you."
She smirked
"Of course. Now, for a final wake-up to make sure you're bright and alert, I'll let you choose. Either I get freezing water and Ice Bucket Challenge you, or you look at Laurie's text one more time to fully snap to attention."
Not to our surprise, I chose the text, and it worked, of course. Our first case was a burglary gone sour, ending in murder. The location was an upscale hotel, where they were hosting a modeling show. Only a reminder of LA due to his would-be fiancee Aimee. As we approached the scene, I felt like I would throw up, pass out or both. The victim was Aimee. I stumbled back a bit, only to have Em catch me by my arm
"JC? You good?"
That's what she would often call me, due to Joseph Connor. I shook my head
"LA's would-be fiancee. Aimee. Aimee Southwood. Killed less than a month after he was shot by a rooftop sniper in relation to a cartel."
Looking at a report from the M.E., my partner and one of my best friends spoke
"There was foul-play, the cause of death was anaphylaxis."
I spoke up
"Olives. Same as Uncle Jamie, easy to remember. Someone here did this. We're going to find out the who, why, when, where and how."
She squeezed my shoulder in comfort and spoke
"Let's get them."
We began canvassing the area, cracking down on the chef for the event, Lucca Ryne, and Aimee's assistant, Molly Ashe. The other models had alibis that checked out, and, seeing as this was an equal-footing group runway show, had no reason to see her as competition to be eliminated. Em brought me out of my thoughts
"Let's bring them both to the squad. Separately. Toss them each in a box and interrogate away. Ask your Aunt about what deals we can offer to whoever breaks first."
That seemed pretty good to me, and, if they were indeed guilty, or even one of them, we could reduce the sentence from life to 25 with chance of parole. Em went first, taking on Molly first. After an hour, she would not break. Same for Lucca when I had him. Then it hit me
"We thought of the chef immediately because of food, duh. And the assistant because she would know of the allergy as well, and have access to Aimee at all times. But to be honest, neither of them seem like the type to pull this off, or to have a reason to lose their employment. But what if someone who looked like Aimee did this?"
She urged me to continue, curious. Finding the picture I was looking for on instagram, I showed it to my partner
"Kassidy Bright. She and Aimee could be sisters, maybe even twins. LA had a type. Bright's his ex. If I can't have you no one can, much?"
Mouth agape, Em asked
"You're supposing she killed LA as well? Or cozied up to the cartel, asked for someone to do it? Then Aimee knew too much and was killed too?"
I shrugged
"A cartel gun during a cartel chase killed him. We were under too heavy a gun fire to see who shot him. Maybe it was her, maybe it was gun-for-hire. But I found the arrangements to kill Aimee in her DMs with the cartel, using biometrics from a mugshot to open her phone. Bright's the one we want."
Nodding, my partner spoke
"I'm calling your Aunt for the warrants right now."
A few hours later, we had Kassidy Bright arrested for her involvement in both murders and association with the cartel while on parole, thus violating it. Not much later, we went our separate ways to go home, something I had been looking forward to ever since I was informed of what awaited me. I locked up my weapon and called out to the empty house
"Laur? Laurie, where are you?"
Her voice carried out to the whole house
"Upstairs. Better hurry, Detective. I've missed you."
Grinning, I darted up the stairs to our bedroom, only to find her waiting for me on our bed, smile matching mine. She broke the silence first
"Hey. Good day?"
I shrugged, still mesmerized by her
"50/50, but we can talk about that later. You?"
She ran a hand through my hair
"Sorry for the bad 50. Mine was ok, but I missed you."
I crawled in next to her
"I'm sorry. I'm here now."
She replied by kissing me, tugging on my shirt before I helped her with what she was trying to do, and we spent the rest of the night enjoying each other, shutting the world and its hardships out, if only for a little while.
Peter's pov
I was a bit worried about an upcoming court appearance I had, against the Cartel that had been operating in New York City. I was not worried about what I had to depose on, or any legalese matter. It was their reputation of witness intimidation, usually involving a third party. Most law enforcement agents called to testify could hold their own if approached, and that's why the way they operated was to find out who the witnesses testifying against them loved, who they lived for, and would take them instead. I had made it clear during the investigation and depositions and trial prep that the names or even existence of my family were not to be discussed, revealed or even mentioned during the proceedings. I even took them to a location outside the US in advance. Not Costa Rica with Chris and Trevor, that would have been too predictable.
When I got to the courthouse, I felt something was not right. Confirming my fears, I was taken to 1PP where Grandpa told me the cartel boss, Vio Lento, had orchestrated the kidnapping of Lara Jean and our three kids, Evie, Dallas and Austin. Before he could say another word, I stormed back to the courthouse, grabbing Lento in a chokehold outside the building
"Where ARE they?!"
He grinned
"Who?"
I all but growled, knowing my family and other 35000 strong brothers and sisters in blue were locating my family
"My wife and kids."
He laughed
"Why would I tell a soul, let alone you?"
Voice not above a whisper, I replied
"Because then maybe I won't kill you, or at least I will make it quick."
He still wouldn't cough up a location, even at death's door. Regardless, TARU, led by Sean, found them in Mexico, in a hidey-hole below ground. As for Lento, he had claimed police brutality before succumbing to injuries, some of which I had not given him. Regardless, Internal Affairs was having a field day with me. As I walked into their office, I heard this conniving, fake-sugary-sweet voice that nearly destroyed me and then my happy relationship in high school
"Officer Reagan- Kavinsky. Please sit down. I'm Lieutenant Mitchell. Genevieve Mitchell. It's been a while, Peter."
Gen. And my ex still held an unwavering grudge against me and my family for how things ended between us in high school. Never mind that it was all her doing. Greeeatt...