CHAPTER 73

        The new working environment was fascinating as much as it was busy. Both qualities worked perfectly for her. Here you wouldn't see the detectives idling about discussing unnecessary topics and it turned out they weren't as bad as she had thought they would be. They had welcomed them warmly, at least most of them had. When she had requested the captain to look into Kenny's file and see if he was fit for the team, she hadn't expected him to consider. First of all,she was new which meant she couldn't just go around giving opinions in an entirely new place. Secondly, her new boss seemed so intimidating. He didn't look like the kind who took requests from his subordinates no matter how hardworking or obedient they were. Surprisingly he had. To add to that,he had made them partners which couldn't have happened under any other circumstances. They were both new to the homicide department with just a little experience. The wisest thing to do would have been to allocate them to others who had worked there a while longer at least until they'd had a little guidance on how things worked there. She walked across the room. It was an open space with desks placed at intervals. Two at each point. She hadn't learnt all their names but on her right was detective Garcia,the only Latino in the whole team and his partner detective Williams the only African American in the department besides Kenny. They were the most cheerful people in there, also looked really close and open to everyone. There was no doubt they were the chatterboxes in the department. Kenny would fit right in with them and that way she would find herself pulled in there.

              "Lewis,you want to join us for drinks later in the evening? Your partner is in,he's cool and you seem so too."

   Jesus Christ, it was barely eight in the morning. Even the dew hadn't left the grass yet and they were already thinking about getting drinks? Maybe they weren't as serious as they thought they would be. She couldn't judge them though because they were headed into the weekend. Making arrangements earlier couldn't hurt. She would have joined them but she already had made other plans which she couldn't change at any cost.

She shook her head, "Sorry. Maybe another time."

              "Okay,cool," Williams replied with a smile.

               "Don't be a stranger though," his partner shouted after her as she walked away.

  She walked straight to her desk,opposite Kenny and sighed. 

                "Those two,they are not going to give up,are they?" she asked him and handed him one of the two coffees she had been carrying. 

                 "Nope,they aren't," he replied. "They are nice guys,cool to hung around too. Us four would make a super team, don't you think?"

  She looked up slowly and found him looking at her in a suggestive way. They thought that they would all drag her into their posse had not even been fully processed in her head and yet here they were. The idea didn't sound so bad. After all,she had always loved the company of the guys more than women. The other two women in the department looked even more intimidating than their boss. There was no way she was going to get along with them. 

             "Come on Lewis, super friends, super weekends. It will be fun."

  She blew out air,"Fine. I'll come whenever I can but not today or tomorrow."

                "Why not today?" he asked in a disappointed tone.

                "I made plans to go see Teddy and I can't disappoint him. Tomorrow I'm going to spend the day with them."

              "Oh,I almost forgot about that. Man,you really do have a life unlike us." She chuckled. That was true. Her life was just beginning to find meaning. "Can I tell you something?"

    Okay,that never came out as something she enjoyed but rather something Kenny enjoyed most. He most probably wanted to tease her but she nodded for him to go ahead anyway.

                "Sure."

                 "You are acting like one of those very sensitive mothers and that means something."

                 "Get out of here," she replied laughing. 

               "No,seriously. He really looks up to you. I have observed him."

                "Really?" she asked now taking his statement seriously. Truth was,she was nervous and afraid that she was not acting up to the standards. Something she was afraid if she didn't live up to would cause a rift between her and Carly. She took it as her responsibility to make sure that she and Teddy got along because even though she and Carly ere doing really great, just a tiny fracture, something that disadvantaged Teddy could ruin everything. She knew how much Carly loved Teddy and knowing that, she knew he would always be her first choice no matter how in love they were.

   Kenny laughed, "You should see just how nervous you look right now. God,you love that boy."

                 "Yeah, with all my heart. I know it's weird but I feel like he is a part of me. I can't afford to mess up."

               "And that's how you know you can't. Go be with them. Strengthen that bond because I can tell that it's what makes you happy. It doesn't matter whether he is your son or not. Just keep doing what you are doing and everything will fall into place."

                 "Thanks Kenny."

                   "Sure."

    She took a large file from the desk on a case they had started working on but barely after opening it,the captain appeared from his office which was just down the hall from where their desks were. He didn't have to walk up to where they were seated for her to know that she was being summoned. There was nothing wrong she had done but still,she was tensed.

              "Lewis, can I speak to you," he requested even though it sounded more like a command.

             "If I'm not back after five minutes, please come check on me," she murmured to Kenny in a low voice.

              "I will I promi-"

                  "You too Watson."

 They looked at each other puzzled.

                 "Alright, now at least none of us will be left without a partner. We are both gonna die."

   She shook her head amusedly. It was supposed to be sarcastic but Kenny really was scared. His face was blue but she wanted to laugh at him. Seriously, what could be the worst thing to happen to them after what had happened over two weeks before that day. She stood up and led the way,only pausing at the door for a second before going inside.

               "Take a seat please," he said. At least his commanding tone had disappeared. They both obeyed but it took a while before he spoke again. The silence that had reigned in the room was so tight that she could almost hear all their heartbeats had she focused on that. He looked up and met their eyes in turns,taking a good look at them,no,boring into the souls rather as if he wanted to know what was going on inside them. She shifted in her seat and out of the corner of her eye,she saw Kenny do the same. She was sure he wanted to just melt or just disappear under the desk and deeper into the ground.