Chapter 10: Suspension
"What the fuck are you talking about, fatso. We are cops," Caspian grinned while the pain was still visible on his face.
The man wearing the suit couldn't help but pale as he shouted in a shocked voice, "What!? H-how the fuck are you cops!?"
The man then bit the nail of his thumb while whispering in a voice that no one could hear, "But the boss said… shit."
He just slowly raised his hands up as the police started cuffing all of them. One of the police officers then said, "Detective, Sergeant, the captain requested for the both of you to immediately head to his office at 7 AM."
Caspian and Abby nodded their heads. They knew that they were in trouble. They then looked at each other with a wry smile as Abby said, "We should go…. You're still bleeding."
Although it was still dusk, Caspian had to get his wound treated. Just as they were about to leave, the police officer who spoke to them shouted, "Oh, and by the way, good job on holding out! And Detective, get well soon."
Both Caspian and Abby just smiled as Abby helped Caspian enter the car. She then sat down on the driver's seat and glanced at Caspian before she started the car. She then asked, "Do you think they're the ones who did the murder?"
"I'm sure. If it weren't them, why would there be information about the victims, and why was the folder labeled 'eliminated'? It all just stacks up, you know?" Caspian gave a small smile as he leaned his shoulder against the car door.
"Hey, be careful; the door isn't locked," Abby said.
Caspian simply rolled his eyes as he replied sarcastically, "Okay, moooom, I'll be careful next time so I won't fall off!"
Abby couldn't help but giggle as she heard that. Seeing her happy expression, Caspian couldn't help but smile. After that life-and-death situation, a light laugh would surely lighten their spirits.
"Is your leg okay?"
"Yeah, the pain is not that bad. It ain't the first time I got shot," Caspian said as he glanced at the wrapped wound.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital. Although it was already dawn, the hospital was filled with people, left and right. Abby just smiled wryly as she said, "Maybe we should've gone to a private hospital…."
After a while, Caspian was finally admitted to the hospital, and a doctor removed the lodged bullet from his leg.
Caspian then lay on the hospital bed while covering his eyes with his forearm. He was exhausted because of the recent murders and the criminal organization that they had to deal with. He exasperatedly sighed as he turned to his side to see the sleeping Abby.
Caspian couldn't help but smile as he whispered, "Thank you for always helping me, Abby."
He had always found Abby cute. It's just the nature of their job was not perfectly in tune with crushes and romance. Caspian found himself uninterested in relationships due to the tiring nature of his current occupation, and he was sure that Abby felt the same.
As Caspian was contemplating about the situation they were put in because of his stupidity and his stubbornness, he couldn't help but feel guilty about the currently exhausted Abby. While in deep thought, Caspian found himself slowly losing consciousness as he dozed off.
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"Hey, Caspian, wake up," Abby lightly tugged on Caspian's shoulder. Caspian simply gave a sniff as he opened his eyes, which were red from lack of sleep.
"The nurse said you're free to go. They put a cast on your leg since the bullet fractured your bone. I guess you have to walk with crutches for the time being. Oh, and don't worry about the bills. Your workman compensation already covered it," Abby said as she held the crutches in her hands.
"Good, at least I wouldn't have to pay the medical bills," Caspian said with a light laugh.
Caspian simply rubbed his eyes as he sat down while looking at the time. It was 6 AM, which meant that he had only slept for a few hours. With a sigh, he said, "Let's head straight to the captain's office."
Abby nodded as she helped Caspian get up while handing him the crutches.
After signing some paperwork and receiving medication, Abby and Caspian left the hospital and headed directly to the station.
Since the time still hadn't reached the designated time, both of them idled around the station. Caspian immediately headed toward the lab and entered with a knock. As if expecting him, Scarlet was sitting on her chair while immediately beckoning Caspian to sit.
"Any new information?" Caspian asked as he set his crutches against the side of the table.
"It seems our speculation is correct. The latest victim also had the Rh-null blood type, which makes me think that somehow the rarest blood type in the world is rare at all…. But before any of that… I heard you got in trouble?"
Caspian sighed wryly as he nodded. "Yeah, we investigated the picture you gave me, and we got cornered by a criminal organization there. We had to call for backup, or we would've died. I even got shot in my leg, haha."
Scarlet was a bit guilty as she said, "It's my fault that you investigated that place. I'm sorry, I got you hurt, and now the captain will probably punish you."
"Hey, it's not your fault. Abby and I did it of our own accord. We got ourselves in trouble, not you. I bet we'll get suspended without pay, but I feel bad that Abby got involved in my mess because I stubbornly asked her to join me," Caspian said as he fidgeted with one of his crutches.
"Anyway, about what you said?" Caspian continued.
Scarlet nodded as she heard that, saying, "Yeah, the murderer's targets all have the Rh-null blood type if we managed to let the captain know about this!"
"Yeah, I can't do that and get you in trouble too. And besides, the captain has no jurisdiction in my mom's team's investigation. I'll find a way to tell my mother about that info," Caspian smiled as he stood up.
Scarlet simply crossed her arms while sighing, "Okay, good luck."
Caspian then left the room and immediately headed to Abby. He then leaned against the wall right next to Abby, who was currently browsing her phone, and said, "Abby… I think I'm just going to give mom all the information that I know."
After hearing Caspian's voice, Abby stopped browsing her phone. She then said, "It's probably for the best. The captain is probably gonna punish us harshly."
Caspian sighed in exasperation as he said, "Sorry for getting you in trouble. I'll tell the captain that I'll take full responsibility for everything."
Abby simply smiled as she stood up with a laugh, "Didn't I tell you? I told you a couple of days ago, 'don't I'm doing this just because I want to,' so don't take responsibility for anything, alright?"
As the time was up, they immediately entered the captain's office, and they saw the captain reading some paperwork while slightly adjusting his reading glasses.
As the door made a noise after being closed, the captain immediately noticed them and put down the documents he was holding. He then beckoned them to sit down as he said, "My guess is you already know why you're here?"
Caspian and Abby were quiet, but they nodded their heads. The captain sighed as he said, "I'm disappointed in both of you, Detective Ashwood and Sergeant Quinn. You two are the most promising officers of our department, and both of you decided it was best to roam around the city and patrol something that isn't a part of your area and investigate it without proper permission."
Hearing that, Caspian absolutely felt guilty for dragging Abby into his mess.
"*Sigh* Although you two helped take down a criminal organization involved in embezzling and killing, I still need to punish you two for doing misconduct," the captain sighed as he removed the glasses he wore.
"Sir, if I may speak?"
"Sure."
"I'll take full responsibility for all the misconduct done. I just forced Sergeant Quinn to come with me."
After hearing that, Abby shot a glare at Caspian while saying, "No sir, don't. I did it to my own accord, and him getting all the punishment would not make sense."
Caspian couldn't help but feel more guilty about dragging her down.
"*Sigh* You two are to be suspended for two month. It's the lightest punishment I can give you since you helped a lot in taking down that criminal group…." The captain then sat down on the chair properly as he said, "You may take your leave."
"Yes, sir!" Caspian and Abby stood up while saluting and immediately left the room.
As they exited the station and headed to the car, Caspian's guilt kept rising as he pulled Abby to the side while apologizing with sincerity. "Abby, I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. Only I should've been punished, but now you are also suspended."
Abby just smiled as she hit Caspian with her elbow, "Come on, Caspian. It was my own free will to help you. It's my fault I got suspended, not yours."
Abby then palmed her forehead as she said cutely, "And even though I told you not to try and shoulder responsibilities, you tried to do it! *Sigh* Say sorry for that!"
Caspian just stayed quiet, but his guilt still hadn't subsided. He just leaned his back against the wall as he sighed profusely. He scratched his neck as he said, "This makes me wanna smoke cigarettes."
Abby laughed when she heard that. She couldn't help but say, "You? Smoke? Hahaha! Every time you get a whiff of cigarette smoke, I always see your face turn sour. Though, if you said you wanted to drink alcohol, I'd believe you. After all, you're an alcoholic. And don't try to ignore my request!"
Despite feeling guilty, Caspian was somewhat irritated by Abby's words as he replied, "Says the definition of alcoholic herself. Ah, I don't wanna drink alcohol at all. After all the events that recently happened, I feel shit…. And yea… sorry, you did say not to act like the 'goody-two-shoes,' and I tried to act exactly like it."
Both Abby and Caspian just entered the car, sat down, and chatted. They just left the door open and just lounged in there.
Suddenly, he heard loud footsteps approaching them at high speeds. As Caspian turned his head, he saw his mom, who had an incredibly worried expression on her face. Seeing her, Caspian felt nervousness creep into his spine.