Kate looked away from him. “Not quite.”
“Fuck.”
Kate nodded. “Basically.” She sat up and leaned on the edge of her desk. “She isn’t escaping responsibility. Her insurance is paying for the damage to the other car and any medical expenses for the… for the other driver.”
Crois felt like there was a boot print in the center of his chest, right on his sternum.
“So that’s why I’ve been getting some strange looks from the other LEOs?”
Kate’s mouth was barely a thin line. “That might be a reason.”
“I’m in trouble for doing my job.”
She remained silent and he swore he could feel waves of angry energy coming from her smaller form. Kate wasn’t someone who suffered fools.
She had a way of taking people to task for their mistakes but making it all a learning experience. She took training seriously. She took her leadership role seriously.
She was a damn good sergeant and Crois felt like this wasn’t her fault.
She was the one having to break the news to him, so he didn’t want to get angry at her.
He was just… angry.
Putting his hands on the arms of the chair, he looked across the desk. “So… can I leave?”
Kate hesitated and then nodded her head. “You can go and sign out.”
Crois stood with Kate getting up at almost the same moment. “Is this going to be a problem for me with the CCPD?”
Kate hesitated for a moment before she spoke. “I’m going to do what I can to smooth this all over for you. I just want you to understand that you did not do a damn thing wrong. I’ve written a report about the incident that is in your file and Pilar’s. You both did everything right.”
He heard her words and appreciated them, but he couldn’t help but feel that her assurances were well meaning, but he wasn’t sure whether it would make a difference overall. Kate was a sergeant, but this woman… Veronica, he rolled his eyes, was related to Captain Catalano. He was connected to the local government honchos and even if he preached transparency, he usually meant ‘other people’s’ transparency.
Crois was starting to realize that just being good at his job wasn’t good enough.
If the Captain had a bone to pick with him, his neck might be on the line.
He’d just have to wait and see.
“Okay, boss.” He gave Kate a smile because he could see how stressed she was. It wasn’t her fault that the captain’s niece drove drunk and erratic. “Can I go?”
Kate nodded and gestured to the door.
She walked him out into the bullpen and gave him a hearty clap on his back. “You take care of yourself, okay? Get somethinggood to eat tonight and relax. If you need something, you’ve got my number.”
Crois stood there for a moment looking at her, wondering how much of a mess his career was going to be. “You know,” he managed a half a smile, “I’m just focused on getting Pilar to the wedding and hitched to her husband. The rest we can figure out later.”
Kate gave him a genuine smile. “You’re a good man, Crois. I know Pilar sees you as a good friend and a partner. That kind of relationship is the kind that will never end. You both… Well, it’s my pleasure and honor to work with both of you.”
Crois couldn’t say anything after that.
He nodded and walked away.
He bypassed the locker room and went straight to his car.
He needed to go and do something to get his mind off of the craptastic situation he was in.
Crois got behind the wheel of his car and sat there for a moment. He knew better than most what happened when someone drove when they were upset or angry. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be just a statistic.
