Detective Badass

Ashely Janice Smithfield (4)

"Why didn't you save me?" "Why did you let them take me?" "Help me!"

I jolted awake by the screams of my nightmares and the ringing of my phone. Another sleepless night for me since Ashely was killed. I answered the new number.
"Hello?"
"Detective Garcia?"
Shit I have to remember to answer the phone better. "Uh- yeah. Yeah it's me."
"This is ADA Rafael Barba. I'm just calling to let you know that we are meeting today at the courthouse to go over your cross examination. At 1pm."
"Yeah, I'll be there."

I was still shaken from the dream when I rode up to the courthouse on my bike. I ran up the steps and into the courtroom.
"Detective Garcia?," a man in an impeccable suit came over to me.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm early."
"Better early than late," he smiled and looked down at his watch. "How did you get here so quickly?"
"Took my bike."
"Bike?"
"My motorcycle," I lifted my helmet and gestured to the gear I had on.
"Are you sure you should be riding that with your head injury?"
"No but it calms me and gets me to places faster."
He nodded but was weary of my answer. "Let's get started then."

"So you told Lieutenant Benson that you made people feel comfortable and that people liked to confide in you, is that correct?"
I shifted in my seat remembering Ashely. "Yeah. That's right. I took a course on counselling."
He walked over to me. "So the lieutenant assigned you to keep an eye on the victim, Ashely Smithfield."
"Yeah."
"The young woman did confide in you and gave vague descriptions of her attackers."
"Yeah, she said the male had green eyes and the women had reddish hair. From what she could see through her drugged induced haze."
"Just say the first part, I don't want you to be called out by the parent's lawyer for that last part."
I nodded.
"Detective Garcia, can you tell me anything else about Ashely?"
I took a shaky breath. "She kept thanking me for being so kind to her. She was scared and looked for me to comfort her." The tears that I was holding back fell down my face. I wiped them away quickly.
"Are you ok? Would you like to take a break?"
"No, no, I'm fine. Do you think their lawyer is gonna ask me questions?"
He shook his head. "The lawyer they have does mostly workers compensation. He sounds very inexperienced."

"How's your head?," Fin asked when I showed up at work later that day.
"Fine. No more headaches."
"Good."
"Garcia, can I see you in my office," Liv asked me.
I walked over.
"Shut the door behind you," she added.
"What's up, Lieutenant?"
She leaned back in her chair. "Barba called and wanted me to check in on you. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"He said that if you're not up for the trial, we can still get these people if-."
"I'm fine, Lieutenant. It's just that-". I paused and shook my head and walked around her office. "It's terrible. I'm having nightmares about her."
"Hey, don't blame yourself. You did everything you could for her," her words were soothing but they didn't help.
"I know but did I?"

We had all of the evidence that proved that they were guilty. The photos were of Ashely and of her friends. Future victims if we hadn't found them. The camera still had the videos on it's memory card and we found the dad's DNA on the clothes. It was obvious to the jury and to the court.

"She kept thanking me for being so kind to her. She was scared and looked for me to comfort her."
"Thank you, detective," Barba nodded to me. "No more questions, your Honor."
"Mr. Quinn, any time now," the judge grunted at the lawyer appointed to the parents.
"Uh," he fumbled with his papers and then looked at me as if I could help him with his paperwork. "No questions, your Honor."
"Ok, detective, you may step down."

We were all waiting outside of the courtroom for the jury to come back. I was bouncing my leg up and down when Sonny sat next to me.
"You did good up there, Garcia."
"Thanks, Sonny."
"This is the worst part, I believe. The waiting."
I agreed.
"The jury's back," Barba announced.

"Guilty on all accounts, your honor," Juror 1 spoke.
I was elated. Everyone looked relieved and happy that this particular case was over. I went over to Barba next and shook his hand.
"Thank you," I told him.

"Cheers! To Garcia for taking a blow to the head and helping put those sick bastards away," Fin shouted for everyone at the bar.
I laughed. "Cheers!"
Those sick people would be locked away for life. We all went to a bar afterwards to celebrate the win.
Everyone congratulated me but it wasn't just me. The whole team was there too ya know. I don't want to keep my hopes up but I do hope the next case is as open and shut as this one was.