Jul 19, 2009 23:47
The squad room was eerily quiet as the officers of San Antonio worked. It had been this way all week. The mood was somber at best. A black bunting stretched across the top of the entrance to the station. Flowers lay against the side of the building. In the squad room four fresh portraits hung on the wall each with a black band across the top. There were loads of well wishes daily. Some came as far as the United States. There were patches, stickers and photos. There were words like thin blue line, honor and heroes. An officer from a police agency in Texas sent dozens of mourning bands to be worn over the officer’s badges. They all had the same phrase on them “nemo me impune lacessit.” The phrase was Latin and meant loosely “No one attacks me with impunity.”
Each officer wore one.
At 0800 hrs. Pepa Miranda entered the room. The officer looked tired. She was dressed in black slacks, and a plain black shirt. Her shoulder holster seemed to carry not only her Sig Sauer but the weight of the world. Her attire was a distant cry from her usually loud and flashy wardrobe.
She walked to her desk either oblivious to or ignoring the stares that followed her across the room. She sat at her desk and placed a framed photo on it. She opened the top drawer and found one of the badge mourning bands. She carefully picked up the small item and slipped it onto her badge.
She inhaled sharply at seeing the box sitting beside her desk. She could only imagine that the contents were from Silvia’s desk and lab.
She grit her teeth down. She swore to herself that she would not cry in front of her colleagues. She failed to keep Silvia safe. She knew that. The only way she could begin to make up for it was to catch those responsible and make them face justice. She couldn’t complete her task as a blubbering fool.
Rita approached her. Pepa stood and embraced her friend.
“How are you holding up?” Pepa asked Rita.
Rita looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “ I should be asking you that.”
“How is everyone?”
“Devastated Pepa. I’ve never seen it like this. I feel like everything is falling apart.”
“What’s going on?”
“Don Lorenzo never speaks. When he does he yells and then retreats to his office. Aitor is so angry with Sara and Lucas that there is no talking to him. Curtis has buried himself in work and the bottle. Your brother is scrambling to try and keep everything together while an oversight review is being conducted. Not only that but we have five new officers straight from the academy starting tomorrow.”
“It’s a mess.” Pepa sighed.
“I can’t…” Rita began
“Me either.” Pepa finished. “No sleep, can’t eat. Hell I can’t even turn around without seeing her.”
Rita nodded.
Pepa grasped her hands. “The only thing we can do is fight for them. Finish the fight that was brought to us.”
Pepa embraced Rita again. Then turned away, She looked down to avoid seeing the portraits on the wall as she walked into the Commissioner’s office.
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“What do you mean I’m dead!?!” yelled Silvia.
“I mean what I said.” Said the woman.
“Who the hell are you?”
“My name is Special Agent Lydia Duarte. Before you ask I’m not at liberty to discuss whom I work for. The only thing you will need to know is that you are alive because my employer wanted you alive.”
“I don’t understand.” Silvia said.
“I know this is confusing Silvia. This I can promise you, you will return to your old life when our business is through.”
“What business are you talking about? I can’t help you with anything.”
“Actually you can Silvia.. The bottom line is that the assassination of 3 police officers, and your attempted murder was not a random strike by a rogue Mafioso. You were targeted because funding from these criminals has gone to a powerful terrorist organization the ETA."
“Three officers?” Silvia said sadly.
Agent Duarte handed Silvia a manila folder containing the photos of the fallen.
Silvia let the tears roll down her cheeks.
“Your father and wife were unharmed.”
“Why aren’t they here?”
“They believe that you were killed.”
Silvia inhaled and fought back the urge to vomit. Her heart began to ache deeply. If Pepa believed her dead, there was no telling what the brunette may do. She felt the ache of loneliness and guilt wash over her as she slumped back into the hospital bed. A lone tear slid down her cheek.
“How?”
“You were given a compound protein synthesis generated by stem cells immediately upon retrieval. The specifics are far too complex to discuss while you are so weak.”
“Try me.” Silvia said sternly.
“In basic terms, this experimental protein regenerates dying tissue and cells. If administered within 3 hours of death it can virtually jump-start your system again. And luckily for you with your previous gunshot wound, the main damage to your system was in blood loss alone.”
“That is fantasy. It cannot be real or legal.”
“In my world Doctor, a fantasy can be real and legal is a suggestion.”
“This still doesn’t explain why the hell I’m here. I want my family here. Now.”
“That is not feasible at this point.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Silvia yelled. She winced with the pain that the yelling caused. “I’m not a prisoner here. You cannot keep me here.
The agent gently pushed her shoulder back.
“I know it doesn’t seem that way, but I am here to help you.”
“Pepa is going to be devastated. You cannot let this go on.”
“Pepa will survive as she always has, and she will lead us straight into the battle with the ETA. We’ve never been this close before and I doubt that we will get an opportunity like this again”
“Pepa will not give up until everyone involved has been captured or killed.” Silvia said softly.
“I’m counting on that.” Agent Duarte said coldly in response.