The Tail of a Wolff (UNDER MAJOR EDITING)

14. Dirty cops

I'm finally getting discharged today, honestly this time. Doctor Bailey said I'm all good to go, now that we know it was pregnancy symptoms.

He recommended a good gynecologist for me, only if I would be able to afford it. When he told me how much she charges, my eyes nearly popped out my skull. She is pricey! I politely declined.

"The detectives are here. I'll let them in"

Two middle aged men enter the room after doctor Bailey leaves. You can immediately tell that they are law enforcement, their outfits scream 'tryna blend in but we failed and look like chilled security guards'. Any officer who works for the law has a specific way of carring themselves, like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders but are proud to protect their country.

Immediately I know that they are LAPD from the badges on their waist, which they reveal as they move their coats to the side. Organizations like the CIA, FBI, NCIS, etc keep their identification badges in their coats. I will never understand the point of carrying two means of identification: one small badge and their 'passport mini-book'.

"Good morning Ms Lance"

"Morning officers" I already know what they gonna say, which questions they are gonna ask and how they are going to interrogate me. Ever since Dr Bailey told me they've been coming, I've been debating on whether or not to tell them the truth, either way ends badly for me.

If I lie to them, I can get charged with perjury, obstruction of Justice (and more) but if I tell them that it was not a robbery, the case will be taken up with someone higher, a more... specialized division. If that happens I know for a fact that Patrick will come for me.

" I am detective Lee and this is detective Stone -" cue nod from coworker " I presume you knew about our arrival?" I nod.

Detective Lee looks ready to retire in his late 50s, but is fully committed to his job. His eyelids naturally squint as he speaks as his brown eyes look intense, but friendly.

Detective Stone is all muscle at 5'11, his blonde hair contrasts his black eyes. His thin lips smile at me as he starts taking out a small notepad.

"Let's not waste your time Ms, I'm sure you want to get this over and done with" He's not wrong, but it still feels like I'm cheating myself, like I'm depriving myself of the pain that I deserve.

"It wasn't a robbery" I blurt out.

Detective Stone stops writing on his notebook. They both look at me with blank faces "We know. That's why we are here"

"At first, we too, had that theory. The empty till suggested a robbery, but when we properly surveyed the scene we noticed tire marks from multiple cars which also means multiple people. We found multiple pairs of footprints suggesting a team effort"

"The security cameras in the direction of the crime scene were disabled so we could not see what happened. Ms Lance, the one thing that had us thinking, was the autopsy report"

Detective Lee takes takes his turn to speak "The bullet fired into both victims was with impeccable aim. The first victim's autopsy showed that the perpetrator shot with intent to kill"

Stone takes a seat on the chair beside me and says "What was really odd is that your brother's wound was shot with intent to paralyze but not to kill. The bullet missed all fatal organs and lodged itself right into the spine" I try to remain strong but it's still difficult as they go on. I realised that I haven't heard anyone else speak about what happened besides me.

"The bruises on his body and face the chest that he had been beaten, repeatedly"
I start crying when I remember the blows they would give Tallis. How he would look at me when he was talking, trying to explain the best he could to make sure that he stayed alive. I remember how he hung his head in devastation when he saw me outside.