End of Watch

You're looking skinny.'

'Skinny? Me? You must be looking at somebody else.'

'I'm looking at you, lady. You've lost weight.'

Gail fluttered her eyelashes. 'I haven't had anybody to cook for me.

'We're gonna change that. Sit. Get comfortable.'

Frank produced the oysters, arranged on a platter between mounds of horseradish and lemon wedges.

'Now, I know these would be great with a beer or an icy Fume but maybe I can interest you in a faux wine cooler instead?'

Gail laughed, the dry, throaty chortle that made Frank's crotch ache. 'That would be lovely.'

Frank mixed white grape juice with club soda and they slurped oysters as Frank grilled the steaks. The doc chatted through dinner and Frank listened happily. She missed her red wine a couple of times, but briefly and without intensity.

After they pushed their plates away Gail noted, 'This is when you'd bring out the port or the brandy. How has it been going through all this sober?'

'You mean New York and all?'

'Yes.'

Gail's eyes were shadowy, flecked with candlelight. Frank had an immediate glib answer, but she checked herself.

'Parts of it were difficult. But in going through all of it I'm starting to see just how numb I've been. For as long as I can remember. And truth to tell, even the pain feels good. Well, not good, but at least real. Honest. I feel like I'm coming out of the deep freeze. It hurts when limbs start defrosting but I can hear again and see and taste and feel everything. So, if that's the price . . . that's the price. Something I should have done a long time ago, but you know, I just couldn't. I wasn't ready. Everybody has a bottom. I hit mine. Had to go as low as I did. And now I don't ever have to go there again. So yeah. Parts are hard, but there are more parts that are beautiful. Overwhelmingly so. Like sitting here with you.' It sounded like a throwaway line but Frank was suddenly close to tears. Gail reached for her hand and Frank said with a small laugh, 'That happens a lot lately. I just... I don't know. I get moved easily. It's like this ... I don't know . . . this realization how sweet life is. How good. Even when it hurts. Makes me all weepy. It's fucking weird. Downside is I get angry a lot easier too.'

'I think it's lovely.'

Frank was wordless. Rather she was full of what she feared were the wrong words, so she concentrated on Gail's hand in hers. Before she could say something stupid she gave a little squeeze and let go. 'I got some movies. Took the liberty of hoping you'd stay for one.'

'What did you get?'

Frank listed them and Gail frowned. 'You hate romantic comedies.'

'I don't hate 'em. Just don't want to spend eight bucks on 'em in a theater.'

Gail wagged her bob. 'The oysters, the candles, the sweet music. If I didn't know bet—'

A cell phone rang and they both got up. Gail's was on the table near the door, next to Frank's. They checked their messages and Frank swore.

'Franco,' she answered.

'Frank, it's Lewis.'

'S'up, Sister Shaft?'

'We got word Diaz is in La Quinta. Probably at a friend's house. Me and Darcy want to go get him.'

'Whoa. Slow down. Let's call La Quinta PD, see if they can find him. If they do, they can pick him up, then you can go get him.'

'Naw, Frank, I got it deep that he's there. I don't want no jake bustin' my play and losin' my boy for me. I want to get him myself.'

'Lewis, I can't authorize OT to go get a suspect that might or might not be there. Call the locals, let 'em do their job. Then you can go.'

'What if I went on my own time?'

Frank sighed. 'Why you want this so bad?'

'You saw what he did to his wife? I want that mo-fo locked up and put away! You can't do shit like that in my 'hood and walk away. Nuh-uh. And I don't trust them Palm Desert cops to do the job right. I want it done right, I gotta do it myself. See it through. And it ain't no skin off the department's nose if I go off the clock. So what's the big?'

'No big,' Frank admitted. 'One thing though. Two. I'ma call Palm Desert and arrange backup for you. And you will use it, is that clear? You're not to go in alone.'

'Yes, ma'am,' Lewis replied sweetly. 'And the second thing?'

'Call me. Keep me in the loop. Call me when you get him and if you don't get him call and tell me why. Clear?'

'Crystal, LT.'

'A'ight. Be careful.'

'I will.'

Lewis banged the phone down and Frank winced. Gail was clearing the dishes and Frank called, 'Hey, don't do those. I'll just be a sec.'

But it took a while to get hold of someone at Palm Desert PD who could authorize Lewis's backup and by the time Frank was done Gail had finished the dishes.

'I thought I told you not to do those.'

Gail leaned back against the sink, drying her hands.

Frank couldn't help but cup her hand against the doc's cheek. 'You look beat. We'll save the movie for another night.'

'No.' Gail smiled. 'I'm fine. You don't have to go in?'

'Nope. Just arranging for Lewis to pick up a suspect. She's a regular Stakhanovite.' Frank grinned. 'Reminds me of me when I was her age.'

'What's a Stakhanovite?'

'Hey,' Frank said, surprised. 'Not often you ask me what something means. Stakhanovite's a hard worker, real industrious person. See, when I got my medical degree I got a linguistics degree, too.'

'So I see.' Gail laughed. She touched Frank's face. 'I liked that. What you did with your hand.'

Frank held Gail's cheek again. 'That?'

'Yes.'

Then it seemed that the next right thing to do was to kiss her. So Frank did. On the lips, slowly, mouths lingering.

Gail pulled back. She smiled but said, 'How about that movie?'

'How about it?' Frank returned the smile.

CHAPTER 47

Gail nodded off about forty minutes into the movie. Frank tried to stay with it, waiting for Lewis to call, but she dozed off, too. The DVD defaulting to menu woke her. Gail was still out. Frank remoted the TV off.

For a while she watched Gail sleep, lulled by the doc's breathing. She still didn't wake when Frank got up for a blanket. She draped it over the doc who muttered, twisting against the pillows. Frank smoothed Gail's hair, whispering a 'shh.' Instead of sending Gail into a deeper sleep it roused her. She looked at Frank, dazed.

'Hey. You fell asleep during the movie.'

Gail righted herself, looking around.

Frank knelt and took her hand. 'Let me put you to bed. In the guest room. You shouldn't be driving home.'

Gail nodded and Frank helped her up. She kissed Gail's forehead, steering her toward the spare room.

Frank turned lights off and double-checked locks. She looked in on Gail, calling through the bathroom door, 'Want a toothbrush?'

'Please.'

Frank brought her a new one, and a clean T-shirt. 'Thought you might like to sleep in this.'