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I always wonder why birds
choose to stay in the same place
when they can fly anywhere on the earth.
Then I ask myself the same question.
Harun Yahya
Em, just entering the room, rushed to grab the ringing phone.
“Hello, Detective Emma Rules.”
“Hello, Cutie. How are you doing back in the real world?”
“Amanda! I’m glad you called. I’ve wrapped up my case. Aside from typing up the results, presenting it to the press, and testifying in court, it’s all over.”
“Wow! That’s fantastic. You closed a major investigation in only eight days?”
“Actually, only seven. I’ve been slaving over a computer finishing all the paperwork. I’m trying to get it completed so we can head to L.A. early to join you.”
Amanda paused a moment before responding. “We?”
“That’s a separate issue. Francine has decided to file divorce papers, but we weren’t comfortable filing them here. We were wondering if you’d put us up so she can file them in California, as well as submitting a restraining order against Jeremy.”
“Oh, of course! I’d be delighted to have them here, though I should advise you, there’s a twelve-month residency restriction before you’re legally eligible.”
“If those are the restrictions, we’ll find a way to work with them. But, if we apply for the order of protection, it’ll buy us time, as well as establishing a basis for her claims. Though, if that’s too long for you, we can always find her someplace temporary nearby.”
“Nonsense. I’ve got so much space here, we’re not likely to ever see each other in passing. I certainly don’t mind the company, especially if it means you’ll be here too. Don’t worry, with all the publicity you garnered, I trust your word is worth more than her creepy husband’s. I don’t think you’ll much of a problem.” She paused, considering what would be involved once they came. “I’d love to have them, and they’ll love it here. I can show them L.A. Instead of buying them cheesy tourist crap, I can treat them to shopping at Prada.”
Em bit her lip, pausing before responding. “Please. Let’s not. Francine is trying to get resettled and Becky’s discovering how to survive in the world. The last thing they need is to learn how to shop at overpriced shops they can’t afford. If you want to spoil them, shower them with love. Becky and her mother will do better if they work on rebuilding their lives, rather than spending other people’s money.”
“Of course, you’re absolutely right. I was getting excited. After hiding who I am for so long, I’m eager to show off my new ‘authentic’ life.”
“If you want, introduce us to your friends, but please, no expensive gifts.”
Amanda giggled. “OK. I’ll have a dinner party with a few other megastars. Instead of buying them something extravagant, I’ll simply blow their socks off.”
“Actually, that’s perfect. Show them what successful people are like, while reminding them how they struggled to get where they are.”
“What about you? Am I allowed to buy my girlfriend nice things?”
Em hesitated. “About that, I think we need to discuss things, which is why I wanted to come out early. We can work through whether we can live in each other’s worlds.”
“Before you say anything, that’s why I called. After you mentioned being unsure about your future, it got me thinking. I didn’t want to mention it until I checked the details, but I’m going on tour soon. It’ll be a fifty-two city road trip which will take several months, but I’ll need someone to handle security for me.”
“Are you suggesting ...”
“Absolutely! You always said you’d never make it to management because you’re too focused on details. It sounds like you’re just not willing to sacrifice for the sake of office politics. You’re ideal as a start-up. If you started your own security business, you’d call all the shots.”
Em held her head, staring at the ceiling as she considered the implications. “I don’t know. I have no clue how to run a business.”
“Then select intelligent people to help you with what you don’t know. As I said, being detail oriented, you’ll discover the right people. Hire some of your cop friends, find a cute receptionist, an accountant and you’re set.”
“Hmm, it’s tempting, but I’ll have to consider it for a few days.”
“Do that, but it’ll solve our problems. If you took the job, you could move out here and follow me across country. What’s more, when I’m back at home recording, you could pursue other leads. A lot of my associates asked about you following your encounter at the after party. They’re eager to hire you. They all have issues with stalkers and over-eager fans, and would love someone who can sweep in and rescue them. What’s more, they’re willing to pay top dollar for the privilege.”
Em ran her hand through her short cropped hair. “That means I’d have to leave everything behind ... friends, my apartment, all the crap I’ve accumulated over the years.”
“Which you were planning to do anyway. If you take a job in Boston or Chicago, what do you think you’d be doing? Instead, why not come somewhere you already have friends and where it’s beautiful the entire year.”
“You make a convincing case.”
“This is the perfect opportunity. Everyone remembers the incident at the Grammys. You’ve got name recognition. What’s more, from what you said, the police commissioners of the bigger cities will welcome you with open arms. Those letters the commissioner wrote will open doors in more ways than one. If they trust you, they’ll eliminate the red tape and provide assistance.”
“Damn, lady, quit the hard sell. You’re already on the inside track. Save a few details for when I get cold feet.”
Amanda laughed, her voice tinkling like crystallized candy on Em’s ear. “Once you consider it, I doubt you’ll have many doubts. I think you can see the opportunity for what it is. Besides, I’d love to discover how we’ll do as an honest-to-god couple. Need I remind you, I can arrange for a kick-ass wedding in Los Angeles.”
Em laughed, leaning back in her seat, putting her feet up, her worries temporarily forgotten. “Again, you’re making the hard sell too early in the process. The key is, tempt me initially with promises of wanton sex, then lower the marriage boom after I’m safely sated.”
“Oh, please! You’ve been fooling around with multiple women for ages. It’s never satisfied you. You don’t need more sex. You’re looking for a relationship as much as I am. The opportunity of an eventual marriage is something which appeals to us both.”
“Damn, quit making the decision so easy. I was anticipating agonizing over it.”
“Well, consider it as you wrap things up over the next few days. When you fly out, we can work out the details.”
“Sounds like the perfect plan. Now that things aren’t quite so chaotic, I can invest the time to plan.” She hesitated again, letting the silence stretch out for a few moments. “I’ve missed having you nearby.”
“And I miss you. I really want you here with me. If I need to, I’ll put on a disguise and slip back into Manhattan. If you lived here, we could both get a hell of a lot more work done.”
“I’ll tell you what, I’m emailing you our proposed schedule. Ask your friends and pilots whether the dates are feasible and get back to me. I agree with you, I’d rather be there than here any day. Don’t get me wrong, I love the city but ... I’d prefer being with you. I suspect, with this job offer, we may have resolved the issues between us. If so, I’m eager to see what we can build.”
Amanda hesitated. Em waited until she worked up the nerve to ask. “Have you ... asked your girlfriends what they think?”
Em laughed softly. “You were right on that account too. Although they were hoping something might develop, they figured out what I couldn’t. They realized I wasn’t satisfied and they’d prefer to see me happy rather than waste all our time.”
“We’ll have to invite them to our wedding,” Amanda teased. “Aside from our awkward first meeting, I really like Lucy and the others I’ve met.”
“You’re going to regret asking as soon as I say ‘yes’. You keep tempting me, and you may not be able to get rid of me. Warm weather, beautiful women on the beach, walking in the incoming surf holding hands. It’s sounding more attractive all the time.”
“Good! Wrap everything up, get Francine and Becky prepared, and we’ll get you out in no time.”
Getting off the elevator, Em headed directly for Mike’s office.
“Great job, Officer Rules.”
“Bang up, case. You made the entire NYPD look good.”
Another officer curled his lip, turning away without comment.
Em blushed. She was never one to seek attention. It was bad enough when people stopped her to rant about her appearance at the Grammys and the rescue afterwards. But it was disconcerting having cops she’d never met congratulating her as well.
“Morning, ladies.”
“Em, wonderful to see you again.” The lovely Stefanie was a delight every time they met. She always had such a sunny disposition, which stood in marked contrast to the seriousness of police work.
“Em! I’ve missed our little pub crawls. You up for another visit to Jeremy’s?” Nicole swept in, hugging and kissing her cheek. She was still a flirt, but that was as far as it went with her. “You did a tremendous job on the last press conference resolving the case. The media ate it up.”
“Nah, I’ll have to pass on Jeremy’s. I’m heading back to L.A. to go over things with the L.A. detectives. They’re interested in developing their case.”
“And spend time with a certain Grammy winner?” Em grinned. Nicole could even make asking about her girlfriend sound like flirting.
“Yeah, I’m hoping to get to know her better.”
Stefanie giggled. “Sounds like you already know her pretty well if she’s parading you around as her girlfriend on national television.”
Em joined the laugh, holding a folder up. “I’m here to see the boss man.”
“You’re always welcome. Right now, he’d interrupt a meeting with the mayor to see you, and Mayor Rosen would, too.” Stefanie leaned in, dropping her voice. “We appreciate you giving the commissioner time to clean house. With this ... mess out of the way, he can get back to work with the unions and changing our training procedures. What’s more, he’s doing several interviews about his affair. It’s actually making him more sympathetic. Accepting blame for a mistake and discussing it honestly accomplishes more than repeated denials.”
“Yeah, and keeping him out of jail doesn’t hurt either,” Nicole added. “Enjoy the warm weather. Though I must say, since this case broke, everything seems sunnier.”
Em knocked on Mike’s door.
“If that’s who I think it is, come on in. I’ve been eagerly awaiting talking to you.” Em entered, stopping to shut the door behind her. “The mayor is pleased as punch with you. He’s suggesting giving you a second key to the city, to unlock whichever doors the first one won’t. I’m pushing for a commendation or two, instead.”
Em held up a hand as if forestalling such accolades. “I can’t stay long. I’m heading to the airport for L.A. I’ll be gone for the rest of the week. I wanted to give you this before I left.”
Mike’s brow furrowed. There was nothing she was supposed to supply him with. All her time, progress sheets and reports were filed. The prosecutors were busy building their case on her notes alone. She’d announced taking the next week off, so that was no surprise, but Mike eyed her skeptically. He took the envelope, slipping the single sheet of paper out. “This isn’t what I think it is, is it?”
“It is. It’s my letter of resignation. I’ll be available to help develop the case and testify, later, but since I’m between projects, I figured now was the best time to submit this. It might prevent you from promoting me to another job I can’t refuse.”
Mike frowned, looking up and slid the paper to the side. “You realize this isn’t necessary. I understand you were worried about your future here, but you don’t need to worry about keeping secrets. All of mine were exposed in the press. It’s water under the bridge. Besides, you’re the hottest thing on the force at the moment. You’re guaranteed a prime position.”
Em shrugged, making herself comfortable on his leather couch. “It’s not so easy and you know it. There’s a lot of resentment about how I got this case. I stepped over several people who’ve waited a long time for a promotion. But, that’s not the reason for the decision. I’ve gotten a better offer.”
“Not Sam Bellows in D.C.?”
Em laughed. “No. I want nothing to do with the Washington crowd. Actually, I’m starting my own security firm. I’ll start out providing security for Mandy’s upcoming concert. That’s part of what I’ll be doing next week, making arrangements and connections. After that, I’ll broaden it to help out several others in the California music scene.”
“Wow. That’s ... quite a change. I’m guessing the pay is better than what we offer.”
“If I can make it work, it’ll be more than you’re making. I’ll handle multiple concerts and protection details on the side.”
Mike grinned. “If things don’t go so well here, would you have an opening for a tired old man seeking a fresh start?”
“Sure. I can use your skills, but as a facilitator setting up arrangements between city governments. I’m also searching for decent cops looking for new opportunities, either temporarily or full time.”
Mike cocked his head, arching an eyebrow. “You aren’t planning on stealing Doug too, are you? I need someone to trot in front of the press and promote to your spot. I figured he’d be a decent alternative.”
“Nope. I talked to him. He’s happy to stay. He’s eager to move into management. However, once Milton Moore is clear of any criminal proceedings, I plan on providing him with supplemental insurance to cover most of his wife’s bills. He’ll be busy flying around the country, but he’ll have plenty of time to assist her between concerts.”
“You sure you can trust him after what he did?”
“I’m willing to give him a break. He was under a lot of stress and made a mistake. But he was quick to acknowledge it and make amends. Hell, he was prepared to take a bullet for his wife. His biggest concern was with John Miller getting away. I think he’ll do well, and he’ll definitely be motivated. Between helping his wife and not going to jail, he’ll be on his best behavior.”
“Sounds like you’ve sewn up the entire case.”
“Not quite. There’s still a lot to iron out, not the least of which is figuring out whether Mandy and I can build a life together. But she’s already talking marriage. I think we stand a decent chance. This job might mean I can almost keep up with her spending.”
“You can forget that. I saw her spread in House and Garden. You couldn’t even afford a shack in that neighborhood.”
“Still, it’ll be enough to justify my hanging around.”
“So this is definite?”
“Yeah. I’ve reached the end of the line here. I’ve got a long list of people upset with me, from my family and offenders I’ve arrested, to officers I’ve jumped over to get here. Besides, you’ll feel better having me as a contact, rather than as an underling. While your affair might be public, the details were never fully exposed.”
Mike smirked. “What makes you worse than a certain CSI team?”
“Easy, they’re still hungry for promotions, while I’ve always stood in my own way.” Em looked him in the eyes. “How are you and Melissa doing?”
Mike shrugged. “We’re ... coping. We’re working on it, but things are still tense. We have a long ways to go but I think we’re both committed. Now it’s only a matter of whether she can let it go or if it’ll continue to haunt her. It was a stupid move, one I’m not proud of. But, that’s life. You end up in situations you never expected. I guess I’m not so different from Milton.” Mike picked up a report from his desk, displaying it to her. “The project Councilman Adrian Adams was planning is being implemented. The entire council voted it through. We’re going to make all political contributions in this city a matter of public record. Voters will be able to determine the effect private money has on elections.”
“Fat lot of good it’ll do. The odds are stacked in the favor of big money.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. There’s a similar movement brewing in Albany. I suspect once it gets enacted, public pressure will mount until other states follow through. Both measures specifically regulate Political Action Committees or PACs. In order for anyone to receive funding from them, they have to specify who’s giving how much to each candidate.”
“It’s a start, but those taking money will only dig in their heels. What’s more, the Supreme Court also ruled for the privacy of donations to protect contributors from exactly what you’re proposing.”
“Which is why we’re pushing this. Granted, it’ll be an uphill fight, but we’re taking it to the public, so it’ll be more difficult for the court to hide behind obscure legalese. Rather than hoping to change the Supreme Courts’ mind, we’re hoping to promote new legislation. I believe politicians and the courts realize what a can of worms the Citizens United decision was. Both Republicans and Democrats are questioning it. It keeps politicians so busy hustling for money from a few power brokers like John, they have no time to pursue legislation. It’s not a party issue, but strikes at the heart of our constitutional system by threatening the concept of one person one vote.”
“Any word on the man who butchered Adrian?”
“Yeah, they caught him this morning based on evidence John supplied. He was planning to murder someone in Prague. The intended victim was influential in the city’s government, so you’ll have friends there any time you want to visit. With him down, we’ve now arrested everyone involved in this fiasco. Your case is officially closed, save the final convictions. You did an outstanding job, and New York will always owe you.”
Em glanced at her watch. “Well, I’d love to stay and reminisce but I’ve got a private jet to catch. Once you finish your tour in office, suggest to Nicole she might want to switch teams. I hate stealing her from you, but both she and Stafanie have such bubbly personalities, celebrities will eat it up.” She stood and offered him her hand. “I’ll be seeing you frequently in the future, but ... well, this is goodbye, as one officer to another.”
He shook her hand, squeezing it with enthusiasm. “I’m sorry to see you go. You’ve done me and the entire city a tremendous service and I’ll always owe you. I’m looking forward to working with you, and I may call you about concert tickets. I’ll always remember you, and good luck with whatever you do.”
With that, Em turned and walked out, waving goodbye to everyone, hurrying to catch the cab to her new life.
