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Captain Sancrelli had a impish grin that suggested a school
boy's crush as he watched Dr. Sanchez walk out of the room. "Cap', tell me you're pulling my leg, you didn't actually think that I'd work with that chick, did you?", Joe said, hoping this was all a practical joke. "I'm sorry this won't work out Joe. I'll have your new assignment by mid week. You can have some time off until then.", Sancrelli said. "Holy Sh%t! You're serious", Joe said, as all hope of a practical joke faded from his heart. "Unfortunately I am. Dr. Sanchez is in charge of this |
| case now Joe. She gets to decide who she has on her team.
Unless you can change her mind, I think you'll have to sit the rest of the
game out.", Sancrelli said. Joe ran through how unfair this was in his head one more time, then decided he wasn't going to be shaken that easy. He didn't know who this Sanchez lady was, or why she seemed to be so integral to the case in the eyes of the brass, but that was the situation. Joe knew he had to role with the punches in this line of work, even if it was his own guys punching him. He bolted out of Sancrelli's house, |
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knowing he was going to have to do a little groveling. As he sprinted out the front door, he saw Sanchez's car just about to pull out of the driveway. It was a Mercedes convertible. Very high priced car for a police officer's salary. "Dr. Sanchez, please wait!", Joe shouted. Maria stopped the car and looked up at the frazzled Detective. "Yes Joe?", she said. "I - I'm sorry about in there. It just I've worked so hard on cracking this case and to have to bring in someone new, I - I... it's tough is all." |
| "I appreciate you're apology Joe. No hard feelings, and
I wish you the best of luck with your career. I'll have Captain Sancrelli
fill you in on the details of how the Pagnetti bust went down", Maria
smiled "No, no, look Dr.Sanchez, I want to be on the case", Joe said, still trying to mask his rage. "I don't know Joe. I need a subordinate who will follow my lead. The work I'll have to do undercover is very delicate, and I have to know those in my command will be executing very specific orders, otherwise someone, most likely myself, could get killed.", the lieutenant said. |
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Joe swallowed his pride and said, "I can do it. I'll
work for you. Just let me stay on the case" "Mmm, I'm not sure Joe. Are you sure you can act as my subordinate?" Joe paused, then said, "Yes, I'm sure". Maria paused as well. She looked as if she was thinking it over in her head. "It would save time if I didn't have to reinsert someone totally new into the crime family", she said quietly, as if she was talking to herself. "I know just about everything there is to know about the Pagnetti crime family Dr. Sanchez", Joe pitched. |
| "And you'll follow all of my orders, no matter how unorthodox
they seem at the time?", Maria asked. "Sure, whatever" "Joe, you need to convince me of that" "Yes, I will follow all of your orders...for real", he said, trying to sound more sincere. "Fine. Pick me up at 515 Wilshere at 9:00 tomorrow, don't be late Joe", she said as she put the car in drive and pulled out of the driveway. Joe was left standing in the middle of the Sancrellis' driveway, wondering what had just happened. All he knew for sure was that the game had changed. |
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Maria was obviously unhappy when she got into Joe's car. Joe
knew it was going to be a long day. "Joe, what time did I tell you to be here?", she asked. "9:00", Joe said, fighting the urge to kick her out of the car and speed away. "Joe what time is it now?" "9:12" "Joe, I called Francis last night and told him that I was going to give you one chance to make this work. I told him that I don't have 100% confidence that you can work for me by the end of the day, I'll need that list of potential partners. Are we clear?" |
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Joe fumed for a moment then relented. "We're clear" |
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have a more comfortable working relationship." "I'm comfortable", Joe said, not even trying to sell the lie. "We both know that you're not. I can understand why though. We've gone through the unpleasantries of setting our roles in the relationship. Let's start over on the personal side. Let's be completely honest with each other. I'm going to ask you some questions, and I'd like absolute honest answers. I know when people are lying Joe, just as you do, so save us some time and answer honestly ok?" "You got it Maria", Joe said. |
| "Ok, I'll be honest first. I'd like you to refer to me
as Dr. Sanchez for a while. I see the use of my first name as a gift I give
to someone who has earned my trust.", Dr. Sanchez said. "Ok", Joe said quietly. That comment sealed her place in Joe's mind as the most irritating woman he had ever met. "I'll give you some more honesty Joe. I mentioned my methods are unorthodox. Many people disagree with them, many people think they go to far, and can be too personal. I think we are in a very personal line of business. I don't know any cops, that can truly make |
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a separation between professional life and private life. Especially
cops who work undercover." "I can agree with that", Joe said. "So if we are going to intermix private lives, lets start at the center of what we keep private. I want to talk about your sexuality" "What?!", Joe shouted, "Are you kidding me? You won't let me call you by your first name, and you want to discuss my sexuality?" "Yes.", she said firmly. Joe thought about "Francis" sending over the list of potential replacements, "Fine" |