Wells opened his locker glancing at Pete every now and then as the rest of the guys entered the locker room. "So I guess it's official" Ed said directing his comment at Pete.
"What's official?" Pete asked distractedly. Jim knew that this would be something dumb. "That the girl Isn't gonna cut it" Pete froze "That girl has a name" "Ok. Lasky isn't gonna cut it" Pete angrily bit his lip trying to hold back a snappy reply.
"Lay off Wells. She's done really good so far" Reed protested stepping in. Ed laughed "She froze! Seems to me that anyone who freezes any time they see a gun ought not to be a cop. She not going to be any good to us on the force." Pete had enough and gave in to Ed's attempt to rile him.
"Alright Ed you wanna know why Erika froze like that? Because she had to watch her father die when she was fourteen. She had to watch that barrel point at her. She had to watch him being shot to the ground. Sure Erika's shaky at first; it takes a lot of guts for her to do this. Something maybe someday you'll have less of because you charging in without a plan certainly didn't help her. So maybe you should think about that before you open your big mouth!"
Pete slammed his locker and stormed out of the room leaving everyone in uncomfortable silence. Jim followed a moment later to try and find his friend. It didn't take long. Pete was just outside the door leaning against the wall.
"Pete? You ok?" He shook his head "No... I can't stand people putting her down especially when she's worked so hard. She's had that all her life. And then bringing all that up that happened to her..." Jim stared at his partner. "You were there too weren't you"
Pete turned around to face Reed his blue eyes barely holding back tears. "He was my best friend, Robert Lasky. The sergeant, Father of four, and a darn good police officer. Everyone loved him" he paused in his story to sigh regretfully
"The units were tied up on some protesters. We got there just in time to see him fall... poor Erika... running up begging us to do something. There was nothing we could do. He was dead. I held her that day... after I pried her away from her father."
He shook his head swallowing hard. Jim didn't know what to say as he thought of his own family. Little Jimmy. Jeane. How would he feel... how would they feel? "It's so unfair" Pete continued suddenly "A good officer's life taken from his innocent daughter and a murderer still out their to roam the streets. All Robert ever did was help people"
Just then sergeant MacDonald came up. His eyes were sad but he tried to smile anyway. "It's was a hard time. Why don't you guys get home huh?" They nodded as officers started to file out of the locker room.
A few sent sympathetic glances in their direction and a few wouldn't even look. Ed was part of the few that wouldn't look.
Malloy and Reed started to walk away side by side when Pete turned around. "Mac I promise she can make it. She'll be the best cop you've ever seen." Mac just smiled "I know Pete I know."
