With Josie in the passenger seat, Bender had been driving around in silence for almost an hour.
“Be sure you have a clean class A uniform ready for the funeral. It will be huge, and everyone is expected to be their sharpest.”
“Okay,” she replied, grateful he’d finally spoken.
“We usually sit four deep in black and whites to get there, some pile into the youth services vans, and others drive their own vehicles if they’re on a day off.”
“I understand.”
“Bring several bottles of water and some protein bars or something to eat. You don’t want to be the officer who passes out because of dehydration.”
“If all the Devonshire officers go to the funeral, who handles the calls for service?”
“They’ll have guys from surrounding divisions on loan over here. Because Sinclair was assigned here, management will be sure we all can attend.”
“Does everyone go?”
His gaze shot over to her. “Why? You have somewhere more important to be?”
Heat fanned across her cheeks, raced over her ears, and down her neck. “Oh no, no. That’s not what I meant. I just thought maybe some officers found it too emotional to attend a fellow officer’s funeral.”
Bender sighed. “Yeah, there’s always a couple who can’t stomach it. I feel paying our respects is the least we can do for our brothers…and sisters who’ve given their all,” he added.
“We’ve lived to survive another day. It’s only right to send them home with a lot of fanfare to alert God one of his best and most dedicated children is on their way.”
While she thought she knew how she’d react if an officer was killed in the line of duty, she wasn’t prepared for the tears that filled her eyes at her partner’s comments. She turned her face to peer out the passenger window, and discreetly rubbed those tears into her cheeks.