Page 11 of Rookie Days

“Lieutenant?” Ellie called her back when she started to turn.

“Yeah?”

“What happens now?”

With a slow and deliberate glance at the heartrate machine, Quinn pursed her lips.

“Now, you take care of yourself and make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions.”

“Am I suspended?”

“You’re on medical leave until further notice.”

“Suspended then,” Ellie muttered. “Right?”

“Don’t push me,” Quinn warned in a hushed tone that still packed plenty of heat. “Gonzales is a child molester with a long list of disgusting charges to his name. He slashed you. Would have stuck his knife into a police officer’s throat if you’d let him. No one will want to believe that you were not acting in total self-defense when you fought back, even if he remembers enough by the time he wakes up to try to claim otherwise. But I know what I saw today, Ellie. You weregone.And now you won’t even talk to me? Answer a simple question? What am I supposed to do with that?”

Seeing such disappointment flash across her eyes was more painful than a knife wound. It made Ellie shudder.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Yeah, so am I. Because if anyone sniffs a bit too close, they could argue that his injuries point to a little more than simple self-defense. It’ll be your word against his, and you know thecurrent climate. How quick people are to rally against the police. Without a credible witness to back you up on this one—"

“I don’t want you to lie for me.”

“Jesus Christ,” Quinn snapped. “I did not hear you say this to me, Detective. Go home when your doctor says you can, and make sure to clear your head. I’ll see you in my office at oh-eight hundred Monday morning.”

???

Janet did not hear the conversation, but Quinn was fuming when she came out of the room. So incensed and oblivious to anything else that she would have slammed right into her if Janet had not grabbed her by the shoulders to stop her.

“Eyes up, Lieutenant.”

“Dammit, Janet!”

“What? Take it easy, okay? I’m not one of your troops.”

Quinn inhaled deeply and blew.

“Yeah. Fine.”

Janet could not resist a little extra tease.

“Is Lia’s absence messing with your rhythm?”

“No.” Quinn frowned harder. ”You got news for me?”

“It’s been a hot minute, beautiful. Your man will stay asleep until tomorrow, as you know. He’ll need reconstructive surgery for his nose, perhaps a few cosmetic interventions…”

“You can forget about all the fancy stuff. He’s going straight to jail as soon as he’s well enough to be transferred.”

“Fair enough.” Janet nodded. “How are you doing?”

“Me? I’m fine.” Quinn frowned, stress radiating out of her in waves. “I need to get back to the station and crack on. Do me a favor, Jan?”

“Of course. Need a hug?”

“No.”