“Come on, Q. You split us up and you hurt the department. Hell, you hurt the state of Washington.”

“Rules are rules,” Quarles said. “Damn good reasons behind them, too. I’ve looked the other way as long as I can.”

“Give us another three months,” Nic said, emphatically, and Winter felt really good for a second. “Winter and me, we know what the other one’s gonna do before they do it. We’re keeping each other alive out there.”

“I’m not that worried about you two staying alive. You know how to handle yourselves. Look, this isn’t a debate. We’re just gonna celebrate your run and call it a night.”

With that, he turned around and slid open the panel on the credenza behind him to reveal the amply stocked liquor cabinet within. There was even a mini-fridge under there.

Ah, the scotch came out. Turning back, Quarles slid each v-cop a tumbler of J & B on the rocks. Poured one for himself.

They all sipped their drinks in silence for a moment. For Winter’s money, J & B had a weird aftertaste. But single malt was not on the menu tonight. He felt a nearly crushing melancholia. 

Nic sighed. “Guess it’s for the best. I don’t want to face that moment, either.”

Winter wasn’t ready to accept it. “We expect civvies to pull that trigger, if need be, every day. Doesn’t matter if it’s your mom, your wife or your kid. What’s it say that you aren’t sure a couple of seasoned v-cops can do what needs to be done?”

“It says I know something about human nature.” Quarles was past arguing about it. “Now quit whining. You two can still go bowling, for Christ’s sake.”

“Who you gonna pair us up with?” Nic asked.

“Rookies. Figure it’s the best on-the-job training we can give ‘em.”

The veterans groaned. Winter rolled his eyes. “What, no pay cut, too?”

Quarles finished his whiskey in a gulp. “All right, you two. Clear out. You can paint the town red if you want, but Angie would be thrilled if I got home before midnight once this week.”


#


Winter opened his locker and peeled off his uniform shirt. Stowed the gunbelt and high-ankled boots.