Chapter Thirty-Five
Max
A week had passed since that night with Madison, and things had been great. We’d had several meetings over coffee to discuss how things should go moving forward, and we’d met up twice for a bit of ‘after-work activity’ as Madison liked to call it. Everyone at work seemed relieved that the two of were getting along again. Thomas had walked up to me to shake my hand and to tell me that he couldn’t imagine a better team than us.
“It just didn’t make sense that the two of you were apart,” he said. “Do you have any idea how jealous we all were of how good you guys were? Everyone wanted to be in a team like that.”
Thomas had been right. It just didn’t feel right working with anyone else. I woke up that morning to a message from Madison to say that there was a big meeting happening at nine-thirty and that I mustn’t be late.
I’m not on your team, I had replied.
Everyone is required to be there.
I got to work early and spent some time at my desk, going through paperwork. Paperwork had always been the part that I despised the most. I liked to be out on the field, actually doing something. But the paperwork was necessary; I knew that as much as I hated to admit it. My problem was that I put it off for so long and then when it came time to doing it I always had so much to do. Madison was the opposite of me. She got through a little bit of paperwork every day, so she never felt overwhelmed by it. I chuckled as I thought of her now. She was right, and we both knew it, and yet I still continued to the do the same. I was so engrossed in the work that when I looked up, I noticed that there was hardly anybody around me. I looked at my watch and saw that it was quarter past nine. That was strange. The place was usually packed by this time.
“Marty,” I called out to one of the only guys I could see. “Where is everyone?”
“They’re in the big meeting. Aren’t you supposed to be there too?”
“Yes, but it’s at nine-thirty.”
“No, according to the email, it’s at nine.”
I groaned. I hadn’t bothered to look at the email because Madison had told me nine-thirty over the phone. Had she screwed me up on purpose?
I hurried over to the conference room. As I walked in all heads turned to look at me, and Madison called out, “You’re late!”
“You told me nine-thirty,” I said and took a seat.
“No, the email said nine, didn’t it?” she said to the rest of the room. Everyone agreed.
I groaned. “You’re impossible,” I said, and everyone laughed.
I watched as Madison ran the meeting with great ease. She told everyone what her new team was up to and how much they had accomplished over the week. It was a lot for people that had only just started working together, and I saw that the chief was grinning at her. I was proud of how far she had come. Madison had worked her way up the ladder at work and deserved this title more than anyone here. She was born to do this job.
“Now, as you all know, Max and I had been a team for a very long time. Of course, that was before he ran off to work by himself. The idiot,” she said. This elicited even more laughter from the crowd, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“Silliest decision of my life,” I agreed.
“But let’s be honest, I’m not as good without him. And I’d like to hope that he’s not as good without me,” she said.
“He’s not!” someone screamed out. More laughter.
“I need one more person on the team. I’ve already spoken to the chief, and he thinks it’s a good idea for Max to become our final member. Max, we’d love to have you on board,” she said and grinned at me.
“Hmm,” I said. “I’ll have to think about it. Just kidding. I’d be honored.”
“Wonderful. Okay, thanks for coming, everyone. Could my team members stay behind so we can have another meeting, please?” she said.
I looked around the table at my new team. I was so much happier here than I had been on patrol and I was sure that everyone could sense it. It was hard to hide the fact, and I eventually burst out, “Man, it’s good to back here.”
“Good to have you, man,” Thomas said.
We sat around making plans for the upcoming weeks and discussing urgent matters that needed sorting out. Madison created teams within the team and naturally put me alongside with her. Then she looked at me.
“Are you ready for your first big job?”
“Always.”
“Well, we have some urgent things to do today. I need a few people to stay behind at the station, but I’d like Thomas and Mac to get strategizing on their undercover work, and Max you and I will be out on the field today. You ready?”
“Ready!”
I notice that Madison had been assigned a new car to use, and when I questioned her, I wasn’t ready for the answer that she gave me.
“The van . . . uh . . .”
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“That’s where I was on the night that of the big drug bust. They came in and dragged me out of the van. I said I didn’t mind driving it again, but the chief seemed adamant that I use something else. The van has been assigned to another team. They’re getting a new one for me to use. And, to be honest Max, I’m glad. I felt myself getting panic attacks every night I got into that thing. It’s so stupid.”
“It’s not stupid at all. Hell, Madison, that must’ve been so scary for you. You know, everyone has been going on about how brave I was and how much I have been through. But they keep forgetting that you went through the same thing. In fact, you went through more. I might’ve been shot, but I also had no memories of that day for a long time. It was easier for me to deal with. But you remembered everything. Every last detail. I can’t imagine how difficult this must’ve been for you. Are you sure you’re ready to be back out there?” I asked. I didn’t want Madison to do anything she wasn’t ready for yet.
“I’m ready,” she said. “After all, this is what we signed up for when we decided to go into a career like this. So, I’m fine. I’m better knowing that we’re a team again. I’d rather be out here with you than out here alone.”
“Well naturally. I mean, let’s face it, you get the good cop and the bad cop, and I’m obviously the good one.”
“Oh yeah, and what makes you so sure about that?”
“I was just born this way,” I said.
Madison giggled. “You’re so annoying.”
“You know, it’s a pity we don’t have the van anymore,” I said.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“It was so spacious.”
“Spacious? What’s that got to do with anything?” she said. Then she took one look at my face and laughed. “Oh.”
“Madison Hayes, are you blushing?”
“I do not blush. I’m simply not a blusher.”
“That’s strange. Because your face has gone a shade of pink,” I said. I put out my hand against her cheek and nodded. “And it’s very warm.”
“It’s just a hot day today, that’s all.”
I grinned. “I like it when you blush. It turns me on.”
“Okay, we need to have some boundaries here,” she said in her serious work voice, which just seemed to turn me on even more. I still couldn’t fathom how I had worked with her for so long without making a move.
“Boundaries? What do you mean?”
“As tough as this is, I think we need to keep our work life and our personal life separate. I don’t think we’re going to make a very good team if we’re just sitting in the car kissing while the bad guys get away. So, what I propose is that when we’re on the job, we are back to just being partners.”
“God, that’s going to be hard. A full day of not being able to touch you.”
“Yeah, but just think how good it’s going to be when we do get the chance to be alone.”
I grinned. “You have a point there.”
“I always do.”
“Just one more thing though: are you coming over tonight? Because I think we need to have a celebratory dinner now that I’m on the team.”
“Good idea. Anyway, it’s your turn to cook.”
I laughed. “Spaghetti or pastrami?”
“Let’s stick to spaghetti. I’ll bring the champagne. Now, are you ready to go out there and get some bad guys?”
“I’m ready. Team Maverick is back and stronger than ever.”