Chapter 6

Kaitlyn’s POV

I was finishing up some more paperwork, going through countless files. I still hadn’t decided on taking the job or not. It was a huge decision.

I didn’t know if I could do this job or not, if I was the right choice. This is a dangerous and sensitive case, one slip up and I’ll probably come back in a body bag.

I was finally done with my last bit of paperwork and started packing up my things, when Quinn approached me. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, as if waiting for my answer. Oh God. What should I say? “Have you decided?”

I open my mouth but nothing comes out so I just close it again. She saw straight through me and gave me a smile. “Come on, let’s have a drink” she said as she nodded towards the exit.

I grabbed my stuff and followed her to a nearby bar. Me and my colleagues used to go to this bar a lot, but now I don’t come as often. I don’t have the energy to go out anymore, I hardly have energy for anything these days so I save it for work.

We get a seat at a booth and sit across from each other. Quinn ordered a gin and tonic while I ordered a beer.

“You know you don’t have to be so mean to Anna” Quinn said with a smirk.

“I’m not mean, I just.. don’t wanna lead her on.” I shrug as I play with a coaster. Quinn laughed as she shook her head. “Lead her on?” Her tone was questionable, like what I said was so ridiculous.

“She’s constantly flirting with me, never leaves me alone, even when I’m so cold to her she still doesn’t get it.” I defended myself. Seriously, I’m not mean to Anna I’m just realistic.

“Come on, Anna flirts with everyone. She even flirts with me and she knows I’m taken.” The waiter comes with our drinks and Quinn takes a sip. “That’s just how she is.”

Saying “that’s just how she is” when describing a person is the most frustrating thing I’ll ever hear. Just because that’s just the type of person they are doesn’t justify their actions. Anna hasn’t left me alone ever since she joined a few years back and it annoys me.

I keep silent as I take a sip of my drink, knowing it’s better to say nothing when you have nothing good to say. Quinn notices and she now has a more serious expression. She leans forward a bit before saying “You know, Anna’s a really nice person if you just gave her a chance.”

I let out a scoff at her words as I shook my head slightly. I look down at my beer and play with the label. Is she serious? If I gave her a chance? “I told you, I’m not looking for a relationship.” I still pay no attention to her and focus on my beer as if it were the most interesting thing in this room. Maybe it was.

“I’m not saying it like that, I’m just saying.. It wouldn’t kill you to have some friends.” she shrugs. “I have friends, I have you.” I narrow my eyes and finally look at her.

“Of course you have me but Kaitlyn, you’ve changed drastically ever since-” I cut her off before she could finish. “I’m fine. I can handle myself.”

She gives me a sympathetic look and I clench my jaw. I don’t need her sympathy. Ever since what happened two years ago, everyone keeps treating me like some fragile thing, I hate it. Of course it took some time for me to recover, I’m still recovering honestly. That’s probably part of the reason why I’m having doubts about this job.

“You used to be so full of life, Kaitlyn. Even you can’t deny you’ve changed after what happened.” Her voice was soft, as if she was talking to a five year old. She wasn’t wrong, but of course I wasn’t gonna admit that. I have changed a lot ever since Scarlett.

“You used to love going here to drink, there was never a time you shot one of us down for a drink. You were optimistic, always made work more fun than it actually was. Hell, you were the one who got me through countless breakups. And now? You’re so closed off.” Her tone wasn’t cold, it’s not like she was lecturing me either. She pitied me and it pissed me off even more.

“Yeah well, after you watch your best friend get shot I don’t exactly turn into a ray of sunshine.” I say sarcastically before taking a long sip of my beer. “That’s not what I meant.” She clenched her jaw as she let out a breath. I call the waiter over to the table and order another beer.

I know she means well, and she’s only looking out for me. Quinn was a great boss, but she was an even better friend. After everything went down with Scarlett, she was one of the only people I can say was truly there for me. I am truly grateful for her and maybe if I were my old self I’d be kinder towards her.

“Why me?” Quinn’s eyes snap to mine, her brows furrow as she waits for me to elaborate. “Why did you choose me for this undercover shit?”

“Mia’s familiar with you.” She was barely able to finish her sentence when I said “No, other than that.” My tone was cold, demanding another answer.

She stays silent, as if thinking if she should say what she’s about to say. “I have been working behind a desk ever since Scarlett. I haven’t been out on the field ever since then, why should a case so important as this one be my first one back on the field?” I scratch the label on my empty beer bottle, a habit of mine whenever I’m anxious.

“You underestimate yourself, Prescott. I know it’s risky putting such a huge job as your first one back on the field, but I have no doubt you won’t succeed.” It’s hard to believe her words when I myself doubt my potential. I couldn’t even save my own best friend, what kind of a cop lets their partner die?

I let out a long breath as my beer arrived, I quickly took a sip of it before clearing my throat. “If I don’t succeed, there’s a chance I won’t come back alive.”

“And if you do succeed then Mia’s finally gonna be behind bars” She leans forward a bit as a smirk grows on her lips. I feel the corner of my lips turning up to that. She’s right, if I succeed then that’s one less problem for me. Mia Laurent will finally be stopped.

“Listen, I know you have your doubts and this is a huge step to take. It is your first case back on the field after all.” Her expression is softer now. “So if you choose to decline then I won’t take it against you. We’ll find someone else and forget this whole thing ever happened.” I have a feeling she isn’t finished yet.

“But if you do choose to accept, just know that we all have your back. Not that we don’t already right now but, you will not be alone out there. I hope you know that I believe in you, Prescott. You are strong, capable and no matter what decision you make I know for a fact huge opportunities await for you either way.” Her voice was firm with an underlying tone of softness. My expression softens at her words. She always knew the right thing to say.

“Well, if I don’t make it back I hope you know that you were the greatest boss and friend I’ve ever had.” I say with a smile and she realizes what I had meant. “So you’re-”

“Yes, I’m taking the job.” I playfully roll my eyes as I take a sip of my drink. Quinn doesn’t waste a second when she gets up from her side of the booth and comes to sit beside me. She gave me a huge hug as she shook me out of excitement. Yeah, I did have doubts and maybe I just made the biggest mistake of my life taking this job but I knew I’d regret it if I passed on this opportunity.

“You’re gonna do amazing, I know it.” She pulls away with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. I give her a small smile before I scratch the label off the beer bottle. Let’s just hope I’ll be able to handle all of this, otherwise I just dug up my own grave.

We eventually left the bar after one or two more drinks. We ended up going back to Quinn’s apartment as she explained the operation thoroughly. It was a lot of information to take in in only one night. The plan is to basically get close to Andrea, which is Mia’s girlfriend… or something like that. And from there, she would connect me to Mia and that’s when she’ll hopefully take me in her circle and I’ll earn her trust. How exactly will I earn her trust? Fuck knows. I’ll cross that bridge when I’m there.

Quinn then explained to me how the next few days will go. A few days from now I’ll have to act like I just got fired, which I can’t even lie is gonna be fun. I have no idea why it’s necessary to do so but she told me I had to be safe in case Mia checks the security footage.

Soon the day came when I had to walk out the office and act like I got fired. The prior days I had to act like an asshole in the office, especially towards superiors to uphold my “misconduct” cover up. I always made sure there was a camera when doing so, I was only doing this for the sake of the operation anyway. Hopefully they knew I was just acting, otherwise I’d be in deep shit when I come back, or if I come back.

Quinn called me to her office and everyone exchanged looks with each other. I am a very respectable officer, or at least was. Quinn never really had problems with me so I never get called to her office. I got up and made my way to her office.

I shut the door behind me as I entered. The blinds in her office were shut so no one could see what was going on. There weren’t any cameras in here as far as we knew but Quinn still had to make sure. “Kaitlyn Prescott, I’m going to need you to surrender your badge and gun, you’re fired.” Simple as that. She said it with such ease, but of course I reacted with the exact opposite.

I started screaming and yelling how pointless this place was and how this job was bullshit. I even threw a chair across the room. I see a hint of a smile on her face, clearly trying to hold back her laugh. After a few more moments of screaming at her, I left her office and shut the door. I head to my desk where I packed up my belongings. It wasn’t much, just a few picture frames and a coffee mug.

I still acted furious, as if I had actually gotten fired. I threw my belongings in the box with force and frustration and everyone at work was looking at me. Only Ryan, Chloe, Quinn and I knew about all this so me acting out was new for all of them. I rushed out, but not before screaming “This place is fucking pointless, I would quit while I still could if I were you guys.”

As I left the station and got in my car, I went straight to my apartment. I had to pack my shit before going to France. When I said I always wanted to go to Europe, this was not what I meant.

Nothing ties me to the station anymore. I bought a new phone which didn’t have anyone’s contact information on it. I don’t even have my badge or my gun anymore. I should’ve kept the gun, even if I haven’t used it in years and it terrifies me. It would be nice to have something to protect me in case Mia tries to kill me. I’m on my own from this point on.

Well, not really on my own. That night at Quinn’s apartment she told me to meet her at a specific bar no one would see us at. She told me she’ll be there waiting on the 15th of every month just in case I needed any help with the operation or if I decided I want out. That was only for when I’m in New York though, in France I am truly on my own. I’m not worried though, Andrea seems to have a friendly face. Quinn didn’t have to do that, I’m pretty sure it makes everything more risky but she insisted. She really had my back no matter what.

This whole operation honestly seemed fool proof, but it’s Mia Laurent I’m up against. She isn’t exactly a person who is easy to deceive.

But trust me, I will do whatever it takes to make her believe me. I will do whatever it takes to put her behind bars. Far too many people have suffered from her crimes. It can’t even be traced back to her father because all the bullshit she’s done are her own choices. All her father does is make sure she stays out of prison because he needs someone to run their business when he’s gone. Well not for long.

You’ll never know what fucking hit you, Mia Laurent.