Page 116 of A New Days Don

He…

He has been pushing us to solve the case. Micromanaging and sticking his nose into the files. I know for a fact he has been pressuring Vicek, or I would not have been brought onto this case to begin with.

I barely hear the conversation between Massimo and Ren as I slowly back out of the office.

“Send the maid and Alverez samples to confirm.” That's the last thing that Massimo says before he follows me out of the office. His dark eyes are laser-focused on me as we progress down the hallway. “What do you know?”

“Nothing. More than nothing. The fact that Gerardo’s DNA was found means that I have and know a big fat zero!” By the end, I’m exasperated and more than exhausted, “This whole case is a big bowl of tangled up wires, and I’m in over my head. I’m just a junior officer.”

I didn’t realize I was tugging at my hair or pacing until Massimo caught me in his arms, gently extracting my fingers from my hair and forcing me to look up at him. Tears of frustration, burning my eyes and blurring my vision when he opens his mouth to speak, “Breathe, Mila.”

He wants me to breathe? In a time like this? When I have zero proof that this all leads back to Gerardo. Aside from the evidence we found on Jazzy, nowhere in our profile or in the other mish-mashed pieces of evidence does anything tie itself to him.

“Breathe.” Massimo growls, his voice firm and demanding. I do as he says, sucking in a lung full of air before releasing it slowly. “We have DNA tying it to Gerardo. He was clearly careful, and it fits the fact that whoever is doing this has an abundance of knowledge of the processes you use in investigating. He knows exactly how to avoid detection, and if he has enough power, he could have been the one messing with evidence.”

“But he has been nowhere near this case, other than pushing Vicek to figure it out and being on our asses; he doesn’t handle the evidence.” Nothing is ever cut and dry, but something deep down tells me it isn’t Gerardo. Maybe I’m biased. Maybe I want to believe he is innocent because he has been nothing but kind and understanding towards me, but something isn’t right. Something is missing.

“You did say the person doing this was cocky. Maybe he wanted you to try to find him. Maybe he was getting off on the fact that no matter how much he pushed, you weren’t able to find him.” Massimo offers.

There are so many loose ends.

Someone has to have more information on Gerardo. If he is doing this, then there will be signs of some sort. Aggression towards women and street workers. Something.

“I need to head in for work. Call you later?” I ask, and Massimo gives me an uneasy look.

“I would rather you didn’t go in.” His confession makes my heart swell. He isn’t going to tell me what to do, but at the same time, he cares and loves me enough to want to keep me from harm's way.

“We aren’t going to solve this any faster if I stay here,” I tell him.

I know what I am going to do next, and if I’m going to make this happen, then I need to put everything together quickly and quietly. Without Gerardo finding out.

The department is oddly quiet for nine in the morning. No recruits at their bullpen desks, and our secretary is still out of the office. The overhead lights, along with those in most of the offices, are off. Except for one. The bronze metal plaque outside the door reads Gerardo Vitelli.

My heels click quietly on the tile floor as I reach for my gun, slowly making my way up the steps and creeping along the hallway to his office. My heart thunders in my chest, but no matter how quiet I try to make it, I still can’t hear a sound coming from the office.

Slowly peeking in, Gerardo looks up from his computer, his tired eyes narrowing on me.

“I was waiting for you to come in this morning. Please, have a seat.” His voice is calm, though in the raw raspiness of it, I can tell he hasn’t been sleeping.

I slip my gun back into my holster, slowly creeping into the room, keeping a steady gaze on the man in question. Once I am seated across from him, he rests back in his chair and steeples his fingers.

“What is it?” I ask, and he sighs, shaking his greying head of hair.

“In part, I fear that it may have been my fault for pushing you to join this case, but I thought it would help you to recover from your trauma and make things more comfortable in your position.” Gerardo begins.

What is he going on about?

“There have been suspicions that you may be going above and beyond the department in order to conduct your investigations. In addition, you were investigating when you were suspended, though we cannot prove that. We are deeming this a case of an officer going rogue.” The word bounces around in my mind, my stomach sinking further and further as I realize what Gerardo is saying, “This is why we will be reviewing your position here in the department. Effective immediately, you will return your badge, gun, and taser. You will have no privileges within the department until we have run a thorough investigation on you.”

Was that why he was downtown near the entrance to the tunnels? Was he following me?

“Wait, you can’t–”

“Oh, but I can. It is a part of my job to make sure that my employees act appropriately in and out of the station and abide by the law.” Gerardo continues, his ears becoming a little red with anger.

My mouth opens and closes as I reach for my gun, but I can’t think of an argument against this.

“You have to let me continue with the case. I’m getting closer. I swear it.” I try to bargain as he accepts my weapon, and I retrieve my badge.