A/N: I just want to thank all my new followers for adding me and this story. There are too many for me to thank you individually. I also want to thank everyone for their lovely comments. All of you support is greatly appreciated and I just want you all to know this. Thanks guys! Enjoy the chapter :)

Chapter Sixty-One



Eli

Because Dani and I woke up late, it's been a rush to get out of the house and to work on time. I think we just scrape in by the skin of our teeth, actually. The rushing hasn't really given me a chance to process this morning's events. I don't even know where to start. Dani let me sleep on the bed, which helped her to sleep better. She was dreaming about me and that made her awful nightmare end on a better note. If those things aren't enough to set me up for a good morning, the banter this morning certainly is. I have a feeling Dani was trying to cover up her discomfort on the whole matter, but the positive thing is that she felt like she could joke around with me; that's a major step forward. I'm so very proud of how far she has come and I don't mean that in a patronizing way at all. She is an amazing person and she's coming out of her shell a bit now.

The morning passes quickly and it's almost noon when I knock on the Cap's door.

“Hey Cap, can I have a quick word, please?”

“Sure. Come on in Eli... What can I do for you, son?”

“I spoke to Captain Greggson last night. He's making an arrest on the Russian bank case later on today. I was wondering if I could watch the interview?”

“Just watching? No getting involved?”

“No sir, I'm not getting involved. I just want to watch. I won't even let the guy see me, I promise.”

“What's your interest in this case? You haven't left it alone. And don't tell me it's just because you don't like open cases. That won't wash with me.”

“I have a Confidential Informant who has given me some info on the Russian Mob. The guy that's being arrested has links to both the Bratva and the bank. It seems like the bank is being used as a meeting house for the Bratva. I think Greggson wants to bring this guy in, see what he says and then go from there. He's obviously building a case against the Bratva so I'm trying to give him as much help as I can.”

“A CI on the Bratva? That's one brave person. You giving this person any form of protection in return?”

“Kind of. They haven't asked for any, so I've pulled in a favor and asked a friend to watch out for them.”

“And that's it?”

“Sir, I appreciate your concern, but everything is fine. My CI is well aware of the risks and my friend is ex-Army, he was under my command in Iraq. He's good at what he does. But I still would like to watch the interview, if you can spare me for a couple hours.”

“Sure. Just don't get seen. I'm assuming Greggson will call you when the arrest is made?”

“Yes sir. As soon as he does I'll let you know. Thanks Cap.”

“No worries. Eli? If you think there's any trouble, you do need to read me in.”

“Yes sir. There's no trouble. Not right now, anyways, but I'll keep you in the loop.”

As I leave the Cap's office, I can't help but think he knows it's Dani. He didn't need to say it, I can just tell. That's why he's pushing the protection issue and asking to be kept informed. Until he pulls rank and makes me tell him, it'll just have to stay the way it is for now. Dani is engrossed in her work as I walk passed her desk. I whisper, “Hey.”

She shoots me a small smile and replies, “Hey.”

“I've got to go to an interview at the 10th Precinct later on today. I don't know what time yet though.”

“Ok. I've got loads to do still. Ash was looking for you just now.”

“Thanks. I'll go find him. How you doing?”

“Fine sir. You?”

“Yeah, you want to go shooting tonight?”

Her eyes twinkle a little. “Yes please.”

“Cool, I'll let you know when I'm on my way back from 10th.”

Ash appears at Dani's desk, but I can tell he doesn't want to talk here. I automatically know what he wants to discuss, so we head into the rec room.

“Did you talk to Dani yet?”

“No. We had other things to talk about last night. I'll ask her later.”

“She ok?”

I shoot him a look. Ok isn't really a term I'd use to be honest.

“She's better than she has been. She had a nightmare before I got home, and it freaked her out.”

“Artur?”

“Yeah.”

“How do you not want to kill him? Now that we've got a face to put against some of those crimes, how can you go to the interview and not worry you're going to go in there and kill him?”

“To be honest, I don't know if I'm going to be able to hold it together. Right now, I want to rip his head from his shoulders, but I know I can't do that. It will ruin Greggson's case and it will compromise our safety. I have to keep my cool, no matter how hard it's going to be. I need you to watch over the team while I'm out though.”

“Sure thing. You sure you don't need someone to go with you?”

“No, I'll be fine. I don't want to have to explain why I'm so angry to someone else. I'll keep it together because I have to. Although I'm going to need to shoot something later.”

“I'm free if you want me to join you.”

“I'm going with Dani, but you can pop in if you want. It might be good to see how she shoots with someone else there now. She's pretty good with me there so it'll be a good test for her.”

Greggson calls me at 4pm, when I'm just about to send the guys into the computerized training scenario. I quickly relay information to Ash and tell the Cap before I leave. When I get into the 10th Precinct, I put my Special Forces mask on; the one that covers all of my emotions and gives nothing away. Greggson greets me at the main desk, “Hey Ramirez, he's in interview room 2. Our guys have just thrown him in there to wait for us. How's your Russian?”

“Not great. I can pick out bits, but I'm not fluent yet.”

“I'm waiting on a translator, in case he's not cooperative. Any chance your analyst would do it?”

“No sir. She won't come down here and to be honest, I wouldn't ask her to be in a room with that guy. He's a nasty, sick scum bag. He's into all sorts.”

“How do you know this?”

“My CI. Nothing I can prove unfortunately, but I don't need proof to know it's true. I can't be seen here though.”

“Fair enough. You can sit in the viewing room just in here.”

“Thanks.”

As Greggson leaves me in the room on my own, my cell buzzes. It's Arrow.

“What's up, man?”

“Why you at the 10th? Do you know they've taken Babkin in?”

“That's why I'm here. I'm watching the interview. You still tailing him?”

“Yep. That's why I saw you go into the precinct. You sure you're going to be ok in there?”

“Yes. Why do people keep asking me that?”

“Because you've got close ties with this one, LT. Just making sure. I've got a backup plan though, if everything goes south. I have security, just so you know.”

“Do I even want to ask?”

Arrow laughs and replies, “No sir. Just leave it with me. I'm on it.”

“Right. I have to go. I'll call you later.”

Greggson and another detective enter the interview room, and introduce themselves before sitting down. The other detective, Cole, says, “Do you know why you've been brought in here?”

Babkin looks bored and smug as he says, “You've got nothing on me. There's no reason for you to bring me in.”

Cole continues, “I beg to differ, actually. We have photographic evidence that you've been associating with some mob connected men. Now, I'm sure I don't need to remind you that a man in your profession is risking his career by associating with people like that. You think the state will employ you again if you even have a whiff of mob affiliation? The District Attorney's office won't be too best pleased about these photos.”

Babkin chuckles, and says, “Why don't you get them down here then? Let's see what they say, yeah? You've got nothing.”

Greggson gives Babkin a smirk of his own as he says, “Are you sure about that? Are you absolutely certain you haven't slipped up or given anything away? Can you be completely sure of that?”

“Are you charging me with anything?”

“Not at the moment.”

I frown. What was the whole point of this then? What is the game plan here?

“I told you you've got nothing. What's the point in me being here then?”

“We'd like to question you about some recent transactions that have been traced to an off shore account you hold.”

“There's no offshore account in my name...”

Well, that was a stupid answer. He's slightly panicked, judging by his response.

Greggson continues, “No. However, we have traced an account back to you, not in your name of course. There was a deposit of $50,000 made into that account. This coincides with increased action at a local bank that you frequent after closing.”

“So? Maybe I had savings that I moved.”

“Maybe. Or you're laundering money for the Russian Mob.”

Babkin chuckles, but it's more like a nervous laugh. “Just because I'm of Russian descent, you assume I'm with the Mob? That's a bit racist, don't you think?”

Cole answers. “Not at all. It's not because you're Russian. It's because of who you associate with. We can cut you a deal. Keep you in a prison away from any Russian Mob affiliations, if you just give us some information...”

Babkin laughs but this time it's more confident. “Not a chance. I have no information to give you.”

Greggson smirks, like he knows something no one else does and then he says, “You're free to go. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Babkin looks shocked, but he tries to cover it with a frown, “What?”

“You're free to go. Thanks. Cole, give him his release papers and see him out, please. Walk him to the front door, would you?”

“Yes sir.”

Greggson leaves the interview room, and then appears at my side. Immediately I ask, “What's going on, Captain? What's the plan here?”

“Just trust me, Ramirez. I've got this under control. He's going to go back to them and tell them he was approached by us. He won't do it straight away, but he'll do it. When he does, we'll be waiting.”

“Any idea where they're hiding?”

“None, but we've got men everywhere. Babkin won't be able to take a leak without one of them knowing.”

I nod. I sure hope he's right. If Babkin slips his tail, everything will go sideways. I leave the precinct before Babkin is released and I send a quick text to Arrow saying, “He's being released. DO NOT lose him. At all costs keep him in your sights.”

I like that Arrow doesn't question my orders. It's nearly 6pm when I get back to our precinct and Ash is sitting by Dani's desk, having a chat with her.

“Hey guys. Everyone done for the night?”

“Yeah. Training was good, LT. The guys are looking good.”

“That's what I like to hear. We heading to the range now?”

They both nod and I see Dani freeze when she realizes Ash is joining us as well. She doesn't comment on it though.



I'm actually surprised at Dani's shooting while Ash is here. At first, her aim is really bad but I have a quiet word with her, telling her to concentrate on the target and forget Ash is there. I explain that she needs to be able to hit the target with other people around because the time she needs to shoot will be the time when people are coming after her. This seems to get her attention, so she uses everything I've taught her and she tries to focus. Her aim isn't as good as when it was just us, but it's not bad either.