Vancouver’s RCMP E-division headquarters at Thirty-seventh and Heather was old and cramped, with too many people from too many divisions in too little space. Andy said it had only gotten worse once they announced the shiny new headquarters in Surrey, as if the second the idea of more space was planted, the current space became unbearably confining. Kate had been here a few times after Seattle to give testimony and sign off on official reports. The building itself was a study in rectangles, most of them reflecting the early morning sunlight, the rest an opaque seventies aqua colour just now starting to look fashionable again.
The floor was nearly empty this early in the morning, and they stopped briefly at Andy’s cubicle. Kate’s heart warmed at the sight of the pictures she had centred on her corkboard. Alongside a photo of a much younger Denver holding a squirming baby Brindle, there was a photo of Andy in her blue serge uniform standing with Kate, her nephew Tyler, and her mom, Marie. It had been taken at the commendation ceremony about a month after they’d returned from Seattle. Andy followed Kate’s gaze and gave her a small but real smile, then indicated with a nod of her head that they should keep going. It was the only crack in her rigid posture, her unreadable expression. Andy had been varying degrees of untouchable since getting the phone call from Finns the day before.
Staff Sergeant Finns called them in as soon as Andy knocked on his door. He was a handsome man with neatly parted grey hair and a strong jaw that held the evidence of a very recent shave. “Thank you for coming in so early this morning,” he said.
Kate gave a small smile of acknowledgement. Andy sat perfectly still in the chair next to her, saying nothing. Finns seemed unperturbed by this, and Kate realized he was probably quite used to her work demeanour.
“Sergeant Wyles, last week I asked you to unofficially assess the credibility of the threat from the journalist and any link to the four cases of unidentified influenza in Hidden Valley. I read your report and agree with your assessment of low risk, given the limited amount of information at hand. With some new developments, a fifth case, and a reportable death, we’re going to be increasing our presence.”
Finns paused and looked back and forth between them, as if waiting for them to speak. Kate took her cue from Andy and said nothing.
“Superintendent Heath has personally requested both of you. Sergeant Wyles, you don’t get a choice. This is your newest assignment, and it’s your main priority.” He left his eyes on Andy until she acknowledged this with a nod, though her expression didn’t change. Kate could feel the tension rolling off her body.
“Dr. Morrison, Superintendent Heath is familiar with your work from Seattle and would like you to be involved in liaising with the Squamish-Whistler Health team, Public Health, and the coroner’s office. Unlike Sergeant Wyles, it is your decision whether or not you want to take on another temporary consultant position with E-division.”
He paused again, looked between them, and cleared his throat. It was a small gesture, but Kate read it as a nervous one. “Now, the RCMP does not usually allow those who are involved to work together, but under the circumstances, the superintendent is willing to overlook—”
The sentence was not complete, the words barely out of Finns’s mouth, when Andy interrupted. “Willing to overlook or unwilling to acknowledge, which is it?”
“I understand you have concerns, Sergeant Wyles, but we are dancing a strange line here.”
“No, actually, we’re not,” Andy said in a voice that left no room for disagreement. “If it is documented that Dr. Morrison and I are in a relationship, then it will also be documented that the superintendent has signed off on breaching protocol. I’m not letting this come back to bite me in the ass.”
“Sergeant Wyles—” Finns began, a warning in his tone.
Andy ignored it. “Staff Sergeant Finns, I am willing to take an assignment which will possibly take me away from home for who knows how long, and I’m willing to drag Dr. Morrison into the field if that’s what she decides to do. But I am not willing to walk into a highly politicized situation without any kind of protection because the superintendent is a homophobic prick unwilling to officially recognize my sexual orientation.”
Kate had never heard Andy talk about this in public, but the truth of her words did nothing to diminish the harshness. Kate swallowed the awkwardness of the moment, unsure what to do or think or say. Instead, Kate watched Finns’s reaction. She couldn’t detect any hint of shock or anger at Andy’s words, insubordinate as they were. Finns looked at Andy impassively for a long time, then he switched his gaze to Kate. She was surprised to see a smile in his eyes.
“My wife keeps asking me when I’m going to slow down, start taking it easy, and cruise into retirement. And I keep telling her that while Sgt. Andy Wyles is still in my division, that’s just not possible.”
Kate gave a small smile. Finns obviously respected Andy a great deal.
Sergeant Finns turned his eyes back to Andy. “I’ll have you covered, Wyles.”
The simple words were apparently enough for Andy. She nodded once but still didn’t relax her posture. “What happens next?”
“I want you up there tomorrow. The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning.”
“And the new developments you referred to? Has the credible threat risk been reassessed?” Andy said.
“You’ll find out everything you need to know tomorrow, Sergeant Wyles. As you can imagine, this assignment has the potential to be very high profile.”
“You mean because Superintendent Heath’s son-in-law is running for MP in the fall election.” Andy made it a question and a statement.
Finns gave her that same long, impassive look. Kate wondered if they often had conversations that simply involved staring contests. Finns was almost as good at it as Andy.
“I expect your professional discretion, Sergeant Wyles.”
“And you’ll get it. I’d just like to know what I’m walking into.”
“You know as much as I do. The rest is up for you to investigate,” he said pointedly. Andy acknowledged the order with a small, definitive nod.
“Do you have any questions, Dr. Morrison?” Finns asked, turning to Kate.
“Only a hundred,” Kate mumbled and felt a small amount of tension ease out of the room as Finns gave her a smile. “When do you want an answer from me?”
“By the end of today, if possible. I know it’s overstepping, but Superintendent Heath has already been in contact with the director of Vancouver East about the possibility of you taking a brief leave from your job. Apparently, they golf together,” he said with a straight face.
“Okay. I should know in a couple of hours,” Kate said, avoiding checking with Andy to see what her reaction would be.
“Well then, I think that’s all we need to cover this morning. Dr. Morrison, thank you.” He stood and shook her hand.
Andy guided Kate resolutely out of Finns’s office and across the office floor, not quite touching but also not allowing her to slow down. She grabbed her jacket and hat from her desk on the way. Maybe it was the expression on Andy’s face, but no one stopped to talk to them, other than acknowledge a quick good morning. It wasn’t until they were halfway down the stairs to the lobby that Kate recognized a friendly face.
“Katie!” Jack gave an exuberant wave as he pushed back the two laptop bags he had slung over his shoulder, further rumpling his button-up shirt.
Kate took the last few steps quickly, managing to give Jack a hug despite his heavy load. She missed Jack, although she probably saw him more than anybody outside of work, her family, and Andy.
“What are you doing here? Are you dropping off Andy at work or something? Are you guys living together now? Did you get my last text? The one about the gaming cheats for Tyler?” Jack’s questions tripped over each other, his brown eyes shining excitedly.
Kate laughed. “Yes, I got your text, and yes, I passed it on to Tyler, who thinks you’re a god. No, we’re not living together, and Andy is actually about to take me to work.” Kate didn’t mention the meeting, leaving it up to Andy to share the details.
Jack looked at his partner quizzically. “What’s happening, Wylie? Anything I should know about?”
“Finns wants Kate on an out-of-district case. Superintendent’s request,” Andy said shortly.
Jack’s eyes widened. “The one up north?”
Andy nodded. Jack looked back to Kate.
“Are you going to take it?”
Kate shrugged, again avoiding Andy’s expression. She wanted to have the discussion with Andy privately, when Andy couldn’t use her professional wall to hide behind.
Jack, obviously sensing tension between them, said good-bye and took off up the stairs.
“Buy me a coffee?” Kate said, attempting to keep her tone light. It was just after eight, still plenty of time before her shift started at Van East.
“Sure. Let’s walk.”
Kate shoved her hands into the pockets of her light jacket, wondering how cold it would be up in the mountains of Hidden Valley. She stopped herself, mentally backed up a few paces, and tried to start from the beginning. Kate liked the idea of working for the RCMP again. She’d enjoyed working through the case in Seattle with Andy and Jack and the rest of the multi-division team. It had stretched her in a way working in the ER had never done. Taking a break from Angstrom and his useless protocols and committees wasn’t so unappealing, either. But Kate felt like this decision was somehow bigger than any of these small pieces. Last time, the situation had escalated so quickly she never really got a choice. But Staff Sergeant Finns had just presented her with a clear and very personal decision. This time when she left her place in the ER, it would be to consciously pursue something else entirely. Even on a temporary basis, it felt like a statement Kate was making about her life. And what exactly am I saying?
Kate could feel Andy’s eyes on her and she met the look, allowing the uncertainty she felt to show.
“I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to make the decision,” Kate said, hoping to start the dialogue. Andy said nothing and kept walking towards the busy Cambie Street intersection. Kate tried again. “I take it you would rather I had given Finns an unequivocal ‘no’?”
“Not necessarily,” Andy said in a neutral tone, indicating with her head that they should turn left.
Kate felt the first stirring of annoyance. She quashed it almost immediately. Maybe Andy needed to know where she stood first, before giving her opinion.
“I like the idea of working on another case,” Kate said. “Particularly one that doesn’t involve me as a target,” she added, smiling slightly.
Andy didn’t say anything, not even returning the smile. Kate wondered if Andy would ever be able to talk about Seattle without looking so murderous. Maybe Andy was thinking about everything that had happened last time Kate had been a consultant with the RCMP. But she couldn’t be sure because Andy still wasn’t talking.
They arrived at Starbucks, the expected line snaking back towards the door. While they waited, Kate people-watched, noting the expensive outdoor jackets in shades of jade and cranberry and amber, not a single one showing signs of wear. Women talked to each other in too loud tones, wearing their babies or their yoga mats on their backs. She watched how they reacted to Andy in her uniform, to the glowering look on her face. Kate remembered being intimidated by that expression, not understanding what was behind it. She knew better now. Kate knew she had to get Andy talking.
Coffee finally in hand, they walked back out into the warm October air. Andy took them on a different route back to headquarters, and Kate deliberately slowed her pace. She only wanted to have this conversation once.
“May I have the privilege of knowing your opinion, Sergeant Wyles?”
“It’s your decision,” Andy said shortly.
“Thanks. I’d already figured that part out, actually,” Kate said, acid leaking into her tone.
Andy looked at Kate, but her eyes gave away very little. “I’m trying very hard not to influence you.”
“Why? I just want to know what you think about all this,” Kate said, not understanding. Wasn’t this what people did in a relationship, talked things out, asked for the other person’s thoughts and opinions?
“Because it’s your life, Kate. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything or be anything you’re not.”
Kate took a moment with Andy’s words. “Are we still talking about me taking on a case with your division?” Kate asked.
“Yes,” Andy said slowly.
“Really? Because I feel like somehow we’re back to talking about my sexuality.”
Andy flicked her eyes to Kate, then back to the sidewalk in front of them.
“I just think—” Andy started, and then stopped as a group of kids came screaming up the sidewalk. The kids darted around them, laughing, before taking off down the street. Andy waited until they were off in the distance before continuing. “I just think a lot has happened to you in the last few months, and you haven’t had very much time to process any of it. Things are finally settling down and now you’re being asked to once again leave everything that’s familiar.”
Kate lifted the tab on the lid of her coffee, allowing some of the steam to escape into the still air. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if she should be aiming for familiar in her life. But Andy seemed to know. Andy always seemed to know.
“So it’s not just one thing you’re worrying about,” Kate said.
Andy watched Kate carefully now. “I’m not doubting your abilities, Kate. I have every confidence in you. In fact, I know exactly why Heath and Finns want you on this case.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re smart, you’re fast, you see things other people don’t. You can walk into any situation with any group of people and get them to listen to you and trust you. It helps that you were good with the media. You came across as professional and approachable but not attention-seeking,” Andy said succinctly.
“So I’m good at it, and I like it. Isn’t that an answer?”
“It’s one answer.”
Kate decided she needed to be direct.
“Do you hate the idea of working with me again? Would you prefer I wasn’t involved in your work?” Kate knew it wasn’t fair to try to pin the decision on Andy like this, but she needed to know.
“No, Kate, I don’t hate the idea,” Andy said softly. “Not at all.”
They didn’t say anything more as they approached the parking lot, walked to Andy’s car, and got in. Andy didn’t start the car, though. She sat and looked out the windshield at the now full lot. Kate took her first sip of coffee, waiting.
“It might not be easy. On us, I mean,” Andy said finally.
“We’ve done it before,” Kate reminded her.
“That wasn’t what I would call easy,” Andy said, her voice sharp. Kate knew she was thinking about Angler, about the scar on Kate’s arm.
“Nothing happened, Andy,” Kate said firmly, wishing they could get past this. “I know what happened with Angler was an isolated incident. My arm healed faster than your gunshot wound, and I didn’t have any lasting side effects from the lorazepam overdose. Nothing happened. Nothing is going to happen.”
Andy was quiet, playing with the lid of her coffee, an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.
“I don’t know,” she finally murmured. “I’ve always secretly suspected your IQ dropped a few points after the overdose,” Andy said and smiled.
Kate looked at Andy, stunned, before punching her on the shoulder.
“Hey now, no assaulting the police officer.” Andy laughed. Kate felt relief spread through her body at the sound.
They were quiet for a minute as the tension that had built from yesterday eased away.
“So should I tell Finns you’ve made a decision?” Andy asked.
Kate met Andy’s eyes, her beautiful grey eyes which looked at her in a way no one ever had before.
“You can tell him I’ll take him up on his offer. I’ll go up to Hidden Valley.”
“Okay,” was all Andy said, and she checked her watch. “Then I should get you to your last shift.”