Biting Off More Than You Can Chew - Part One
By the time the authorities has arrived, all the soldiers had been secured. They had to move them outside after the thermite charges in the robots went off, which in turn set off some nearby rubble. While moving the soldiers, Buck sent Jeremy to make sure the kids and teachers got out through the underground exit.
CJ stood a bit apart from where everyone was gathered and watched her home burn. The only outward sign of her anger was her tightly clenched fists. Buck convinced her to let the police do the questioning, leaving her feeling like she was helpless. It was not a feeling she liked.
Buck finished talking to the police and fire chiefs and walked over. “They’re going to let us watch the questioning. I told them we’re grateful, and asked if we could ask a few if they couldn’t get anywhere.”
“And?”
“They’ll think about it. In the mean time, we should make arraignments for tonight.” He paused. “Are you alright? Aside from the obvious?” He raised an eyebrow at her glare.
She held it for a moment and sighed. “I don’t like this. This is our problem, not theirs.” She nodded towards the police, who were loading the soldiers into ambulances.
“I understand how you feel, Cynthia. However, we do need to cooperate with them on occasion.” She looked up at him. He smiled back with a wink, “Besides, I have every intention of questioning them anyway. Now, we should go.” He put a hand on her shoulder and guided her away.
< ——- >
The police station was a crowded, bustling place. Crammed full of desks with only a narrow lane for the unending stream of officers and detectives going about their business. The Chief of Police escorted Buck and CJ into the only slightly more spacious back of the building. Chief Sweeny opened a door to one of the rooms and gestured for them to precede him.
Once inside, Sweeny closed the door and regarded his two guests. He was an older man, considerably older than Buck. “Buck, I’ve known you for a lot of years. I understand you want a shot at these bastards, but I’m asking you to let us work this out. The mayor is already breathing down my neck about these robot situations.”
Buck winced, “I’m sorry Chief. You know I always try to keep my work, I suppose away from home. I know the mayor and I have never really gotten along,” CJ was a little taken aback when Buck trailed off at the Chief’s glare.
“Not gotten along? Buck, he hates you with a venom I’ve rarely seen!”
“Hates you? I knew you never got along…”
Buck glanced at CJ and grimaced, “He thinks I stole his girlfriend at the time.”
“Did you?”
Chief Sweeny laughed, “Not so much. It was more like she got disgusted with his dirty politics and left.” He shook his head, “The three of us were close one, when we were younger.”
CJ studied the man, then Buck. “You knew Buck when he was younger? I might pick you brain one day.”
Sweeny gave her an odd look, but before he could comment Buck interrupted. “Later, m’girl. Jarvis, I promise we’ll let you take your shot. I you don’t get anywhere, I’m going to send in CJ.”
Sweeny looked at Buck, then at CJ. He nodded, seemingly to himself. “If we can’t break him in twenty-four hours, he’s yours. I’ll run interference with Mayor Todd, but you’ll probably be the one to catch the flack for that.”
“I know, old friend.”
Sweeny nodded again. “Alright, just so we understand one another.”
CJ stood a bit apart from where everyone was gathered and watched her home burn. The only outward sign of her anger was her tightly clenched fists. Buck convinced her to let the police do the questioning, leaving her feeling like she was helpless. It was not a feeling she liked.
Buck finished talking to the police and fire chiefs and walked over. “They’re going to let us watch the questioning. I told them we’re grateful, and asked if we could ask a few if they couldn’t get anywhere.”
“And?”
“They’ll think about it. In the mean time, we should make arraignments for tonight.” He paused. “Are you alright? Aside from the obvious?” He raised an eyebrow at her glare.
She held it for a moment and sighed. “I don’t like this. This is our problem, not theirs.” She nodded towards the police, who were loading the soldiers into ambulances.
“I understand how you feel, Cynthia. However, we do need to cooperate with them on occasion.” She looked up at him. He smiled back with a wink, “Besides, I have every intention of questioning them anyway. Now, we should go.” He put a hand on her shoulder and guided her away.
< ——- >
The police station was a crowded, bustling place. Crammed full of desks with only a narrow lane for the unending stream of officers and detectives going about their business. The Chief of Police escorted Buck and CJ into the only slightly more spacious back of the building. Chief Sweeny opened a door to one of the rooms and gestured for them to precede him.
Once inside, Sweeny closed the door and regarded his two guests. He was an older man, considerably older than Buck. “Buck, I’ve known you for a lot of years. I understand you want a shot at these bastards, but I’m asking you to let us work this out. The mayor is already breathing down my neck about these robot situations.”
Buck winced, “I’m sorry Chief. You know I always try to keep my work, I suppose away from home. I know the mayor and I have never really gotten along,” CJ was a little taken aback when Buck trailed off at the Chief’s glare.
“Not gotten along? Buck, he hates you with a venom I’ve rarely seen!”
“Hates you? I knew you never got along…”
Buck glanced at CJ and grimaced, “He thinks I stole his girlfriend at the time.”
“Did you?”
Chief Sweeny laughed, “Not so much. It was more like she got disgusted with his dirty politics and left.” He shook his head, “The three of us were close one, when we were younger.”
CJ studied the man, then Buck. “You knew Buck when he was younger? I might pick you brain one day.”
Sweeny gave her an odd look, but before he could comment Buck interrupted. “Later, m’girl. Jarvis, I promise we’ll let you take your shot. I you don’t get anywhere, I’m going to send in CJ.”
Sweeny looked at Buck, then at CJ. He nodded, seemingly to himself. “If we can’t break him in twenty-four hours, he’s yours. I’ll run interference with Mayor Todd, but you’ll probably be the one to catch the flack for that.”
“I know, old friend.”
Sweeny nodded again. “Alright, just so we understand one another.”
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