victims, and there will always be bad guys.”
Didn’t he know it? The world seemed to hold an endless supply.
“We can’t fix everything, JD, much as that motivates all of us here. But we can’t fix anything if we burn the candle at both ends. So, I want you to focus on Violet James and stop venturing out on your own surveillance. You will get three square meals a day and a full night’s sleep every night you possibly can. Things are coming to a head, and you can’t run on adrenaline forever.”
“I’m not—”
“Son, don’t try to con me. I’ve been there. We can’t lock all the bad guys away and we can’t keep all the victims safe, but we damn sure increase our odds if we’re in peak shape ourselves. Youth will cover a multitude of abuses to the body, but even you, Mr. Fitness, are not invulnerable. So don’t give me any crap, just say, yes, sir, and do it.” There was a fond smile in Doc’s eyes.
JD sighed. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get the hell out of my hair, what I have left of it.”
“Don’t take me off VICTAF, Doc.” JD couldn’t leave the room without that being settled. He couldn’t go back on patrol or return to the detective squad. What the hell would he do with himself?
“No one else has ever stayed this long, JD. The strength of the concept lies in rotation.” He shook his head. “But don’t worry about that right now. We’ll figure it all out once we’ve punched a hole in this trafficking pipeline.”
JD wanted to stay and argue his case, but he knew Doc too well to believe that would make any difference…never mind that he’d been wondering lately himself about how much longer he wanted to do this work.
But he wasn’t suited to anything else. VICTAF fit him like a glove. It was only that he was tired right now, Doc was right about that.
Since there was nothing he could do at the moment to resolve the situation, he focused on what he could impact. He’d call Violet and make plans for later, then head to APD and the sketch artist.
* * *
“Y OU LOOK DIFFERENT THIS MORNING ,” Avery said. “Sleep well?”
“I did,” Violet responded. That wasn’t the real reason she was lighter of heart, of course, but she wasn’t ready to tell Avery about JD. He’d only worry about her and insist on meeting JD so he could be all big brother about it. He’d earned the right to do it, though, after years of watching out for her and being the most real person in her life, the one she trusted most after her family.
But he’d also feel bad that he wasn’t the one introducing her to Austin and standing guard over her. He was under enough strain without her making things worse. He was faithful about visiting, busy or not, and searching for treats to brighten her day took even more time she sensed he couldn’t spare.
So she turned the tables. “You, on the other hand, look terrible. Is there anything I can do?”
His expression clouded, but almost instantly he smoothed it over with a fond smile. “Just some…unexpected difficulties to iron out, and only I can solve them. But that’s life, eh? Success comes with a price tag…but you know how that is.”
“Aren’t you the person who kept urging me to hire people to help? And not to micromanage but let them do their jobs? Are you heeding your own advice?”
“Well, listen to you. Want to be my management consultant?” He shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve neglected you so badly. When I persuaded you to come to Austin, I thought I’d have more time to spend entertaining you.”
“Avery,” she chided. “We’re long past that. You’re my best friend. You have a life. You’ve made time for me every day since I got here, and even when we’re half a country apart, you’re always there for me. It goes both ways. I’m not company. We’re practically family.”
For a moment he looked unutterably sad, and she found herself wanting to hug him and make whatever was bothering him all better.
But
Didn’t he know it? The world seemed to hold an endless supply.
“We can’t fix everything, JD, much as that motivates all of us here. But we can’t fix anything if we burn the candle at both ends. So, I want you to focus on Violet James and stop venturing out on your own surveillance. You will get three square meals a day and a full night’s sleep every night you possibly can. Things are coming to a head, and you can’t run on adrenaline forever.”
“I’m not—”
“Son, don’t try to con me. I’ve been there. We can’t lock all the bad guys away and we can’t keep all the victims safe, but we damn sure increase our odds if we’re in peak shape ourselves. Youth will cover a multitude of abuses to the body, but even you, Mr. Fitness, are not invulnerable. So don’t give me any crap, just say, yes, sir, and do it.” There was a fond smile in Doc’s eyes.
JD sighed. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get the hell out of my hair, what I have left of it.”
“Don’t take me off VICTAF, Doc.” JD couldn’t leave the room without that being settled. He couldn’t go back on patrol or return to the detective squad. What the hell would he do with himself?
“No one else has ever stayed this long, JD. The strength of the concept lies in rotation.” He shook his head. “But don’t worry about that right now. We’ll figure it all out once we’ve punched a hole in this trafficking pipeline.”
JD wanted to stay and argue his case, but he knew Doc too well to believe that would make any difference…never mind that he’d been wondering lately himself about how much longer he wanted to do this work.
But he wasn’t suited to anything else. VICTAF fit him like a glove. It was only that he was tired right now, Doc was right about that.
Since there was nothing he could do at the moment to resolve the situation, he focused on what he could impact. He’d call Violet and make plans for later, then head to APD and the sketch artist.
* * *
“Y OU LOOK DIFFERENT THIS MORNING ,” Avery said. “Sleep well?”
“I did,” Violet responded. That wasn’t the real reason she was lighter of heart, of course, but she wasn’t ready to tell Avery about JD. He’d only worry about her and insist on meeting JD so he could be all big brother about it. He’d earned the right to do it, though, after years of watching out for her and being the most real person in her life, the one she trusted most after her family.
But he’d also feel bad that he wasn’t the one introducing her to Austin and standing guard over her. He was under enough strain without her making things worse. He was faithful about visiting, busy or not, and searching for treats to brighten her day took even more time she sensed he couldn’t spare.
So she turned the tables. “You, on the other hand, look terrible. Is there anything I can do?”
His expression clouded, but almost instantly he smoothed it over with a fond smile. “Just some…unexpected difficulties to iron out, and only I can solve them. But that’s life, eh? Success comes with a price tag…but you know how that is.”
“Aren’t you the person who kept urging me to hire people to help? And not to micromanage but let them do their jobs? Are you heeding your own advice?”
“Well, listen to you. Want to be my management consultant?” He shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve neglected you so badly. When I persuaded you to come to Austin, I thought I’d have more time to spend entertaining you.”
“Avery,” she chided. “We’re long past that. You’re my best friend. You have a life. You’ve made time for me every day since I got here, and even when we’re half a country apart, you’re always there for me. It goes both ways. I’m not company. We’re practically family.”
For a moment he looked unutterably sad, and she found herself wanting to hug him and make whatever was bothering him all better.
But
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