Partners In Crime - Tagged

[Tess Walker]

Today was the day. She had gotten the news from the Captain earlier that morning about a new partner, she could tell that there was something not being said but then again what cop didnt have a few skeletons? Tess didnt mind a lot of things, after all they had all had complaints of some kind made against them but she was just glad to finally get a partner and not float around the ‘where am I needed’ fence which seemed to have been where she was.

Give her speciality wasn’t always required she join on other cases now and again and she was looking forward to actually getting a second set of eyes on things that she hadn’t just been partnered with the five minutes before a call. Lone wolf was fun to begin with but after a while she wanted the stability of another cop. The thing that came with knowing the job inside and out and of course bomb squad to which was a bonus. A partner that wasn’t about to scream at the sight of wires.

Yes it had happened to her more than once but to her, a house fire was terrifying where as anything that went boom not so much. She had been in an explosion had the scars to prove it as she wore her gloves that day to not freak any new partner out on the first day. Her fingers were mainly okay, it was just the backs of her hands and the palms in places but it was a new day and she was looking forward to it.

Tess stood in the Captain’s office waiting to see who it was she was going to get. Male or female, tall dark and handsome or short stocky red head it didnt matter to her as long as she could trust them she thought as she tapped her leg lightly. She stood at the far side of the room away from the door as she forbid herself from pacing, bad habit she thought as usually calm and unshakable was her style but this time it was a more first day nerves thing she felt as she waited.

Tag: Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

As Evan navigated the sea of detective's desks, he had to admit to feeling more than a little trepidation about this coming arrangement. Just how would the department feel about a civilian being thrust upon them? He had an extensive background in engineering. A background that extended to explosives. But that knowledge didn't mean the detectives and officers around him would like it. He stopped in front of the closed door, the stylized lettering across the glass window panel reading Captain Franklin H. Benz. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. Evan knocked—a single rap, but loud enough to be heard. There was no backing out now.

A moment later, a muffled 'come in' reached his ears and he did so, closing the door behind him. Sitting behind the desk was the precinct captain—a stern looking man with glasses Evan immediately felt was studying him. And, standing in the far corner of the room, presumably the detective he'd be working with. He wasn't sure what to make of her yet. She looked – uncertain, maybe – like she didn't know who or what to expect. Evan had just enough time to nod his greeting to her before the captain got their meeting underway.

"Mr. Cross—"

"Doctor, if we're using titles, please. I do have a PhD."

Evan saw the man visibly exhale. "Doctor Cross, this is a highly unorthodox request coming in from the mayor's office. I'm assigning you to one of our best detectives—against my better judgment. I have strong reservations about having a civilian consultant in the field." Then the captain fixed the room's other occupant in his sights. "Detective Walker, make sure he doesn't get himself killed. That would be a PR nightmare I would rather not deal with."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess jumped slightly as the knock on the door came, usually she was an unshakeable person but this. The new partner thing, well the thoughts running through her head provided her with a whole new level of nerves she never thought possible. She had no clue what to expect and that usually was the fun side to her job but this, this was like waiting to see who was behind door number one that wasn’t able to be closed once opened. A little like Pandora’s box in a strange way, who knew what was going to happen.

Plain clothes officer she thought silently to herself as she relaxed a little. Well not so bad she thought until the Captain started the meeting. It was Mr. Cross now. No detective or sergeant or anything else it was Mr. Cross. Then as if she needed her immediate thought confirming Mr. Cross said he had the title of Doctor and he had a PhD, so he was one of those types Tess thought as she rolled her eyes lightly with a sigh that was slightly more audible than she thought it was.

She could barely speak as she gave the captain a look that said he had to have been drinking to allow this. “Get himself killed? Are you joking he’s a civilian, of course he’ll get himself killed.” She spluttered looked at Doctor Cross. “What is this some kind of joke because I’m not seeing the funny side.” Tess snapped as she gave up on standing in one place as she started to pace back and forth her mind whirling with reasons why a civilian wasn’t a good idea. Tess shot a glance back toward Doctor Cross.

“Doctor Cross, you know what I do right? Bomb squad. I’m military trained and explosives aren’t to be messed with. This isn’t a mission impossible movie, things self destruct and go bang. People get hurt including me and if you are that crazy you actually want to do this, then...” She had no words for what he was other than hoping an explanation would make things make sense somewhere along the way. Either Cross had no idea what he was walking into or someone had been drinking on the job she thought still staring at the man as if anything she said would change the situation.

Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

"Those are impressive credentials, Detective Walker. I can see why the captain thinks so highly of you." Evan folded his arms across his chest, a clear sign he'd begun to grow agitated with the situation at hand. He could at least understand where both of them were coming from—they thought he was a liability with little to no actual experience handling explosives. However, it was that conclusion that had driven him out of his usually very laid-back state. "But I am not a child playing with things I don't understand. You do not need to coddle me. Perhaps, before you jump to assumptions, you'd be interested in hearing my credentials. Or are demonstrations more your thing? I swing both ways."

A small smile tugged at the captain's lips, but never quite formed. If nothing else, this civilian consultant his precinct had been saddled with had some fight in him. That, in itself, made this slightly more palatable. He held up a hand stopping either one from continuing. "Enough. Both of you. This is not up for debate. I don't get to tell the mayor no. You're going to have to learn how to work together—whether you like it or not."

"I think her thoughts on that are rather clear," Evan piped back in. He wasn't sure he wanted to know whether Tess was still shooting daggers at him with her eyes, though if he had to guess, yes seemed like a safe bet. "You are aware she's armed, right?"

"You should have thought about that before. Now, unless there's anything else..." He gestured towards the door.

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess was all but ready to argue with Evan when he said she had impressive credentials. Well there was no arguing there but still with his arms folded across his chest it was easy to see he wasn’t exactly happy with the situation. To Tess a civilian meant that he was some entitled person who wanted a bit of adventure and bomb squad was not the place to do that. Homicide, sure why not or robbery division but not when things went boom. “Swing whichever way you like but until you can prove this isn’t just some joy ride for you, I’ll keep my assumptions. But sure if you’d like to do show and tell why not?”

Tess almost glared at the Captain though when he held up a hand and said enough, was this guy really work a disciplinary action against her. At the moment she wanted to shoot the man herself but no if the Captain said it wasn’t up for debate, then she was stuck with the guy. It was the words work together, she had to bite her lip not to start up a fresh argument as to why it was a very bad idea but then the captains words were final in her head despite wanting to keep arguing.

“You only think because I can do my own version of a demonstration if that’s more your style?” She said placing a well practiced smile onto her face. Maybe her mother’s political career had finally shown her something. Smile even thought the world was falling apart she thought silently while staring daggers at Evan. Tess couldnt stifle the chuckle as Evan stated she was armed, well maybe that would terrify the guy enough to wriggle out of whatever thing he had going with the mayor.

“No sir, thanks Sir.” She said with as much edge to those words as she felt comfortable with as she strode out of the door and took a few steps toward her desk. Tess spun on her heels as she took a moment to see if Evan had changed his mind about the partnership.

Tag: Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

Things could have gone better. Getting into a verbal sparring match and kicked out of the captain's office with instructions to 'figure it out' and 'work together' didn't inspire much confidence in that happening. Tess could put on a show—her own personal demonstration—all she wanted. It didn't bridge that great big gaping chasm between partners. Perhaps he needed to extend the proverbial olive branch.

Because something she had said back in the office continued to resonate with him. Until you can prove this isn't some joy ride for you, I'll keep my assumptions. She thought he was some spoiled, rich, corporate type, doing this for the thrill of it. Well… at least one of those was true.

"Look, I get it," he explained, following Tess back to her desk. "If I were in your shoes, I'd be suspicious of me too, but have you even once thought about asking me why I'm doing this? But, since I'm sure that doesn't matter to you, how about a little wager? You think I'm not cut out for this. That a civilian can't possibly be useful."

Maybe, he reasoned, this was the way to get through to her. Prove he could handle what she did—what she dealt with every day—while giving her a way out of the trap she was convinced she was in. "Bomb squad keeps schematics on devices they handle—in part, for training purposes. Pick one—the more challenging the better. I wouldn't want you to accuse me of getting lucky. If I can't tell you exactly how to disarm it—in whatever set period of time you deem to be appropriate—I'll march right back into the captain's office. Tell him I changed my mind. You never have to see me again."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

She had no clue what she was going to do with a civilian. Dont get him killed well that wasn’t difficult if he stayed inside the precinct all day though she doubted that was what Evan had in mind. How was she supposed to work with a guy that had no idea about cops or what they did, he had a PhD but then would that save him if he trod on something he shouldn’t do? Probably not as she wondered how long it would take her to make him freak out over a real bomb and not just some lab tested one.

No she had to get on with him and find some way to do it which didnt involved duck take and handcuffs. Tess listened to Evan and nodded, oh yeah he practically just took the words right out of her mouth. ‘Not cut out for it’ and ‘cant possibly be useful’ her various was slightly less polite but yes it was the general gist of things she felt. “Wager it is.” She stated firmly deciding that there was no chance he was ever going to win or reason with her over it. He was a civilian, a precinct was no place to joke around at pretending to be one.

Tess eyed Evan for a moment as she considered his wager, well that was going to be a short lived experience for the guy she thought. She smiled sweetly as she motioned for him to follow her as she headed toward a filing cabinet and yanked open one of the draws. She pulled out a few schematics for things she thought were entirely too difficult before she picked the toughest one she could find. “Here.” She said as she passed the sheets across to Evan.

“How about I take pity on you and give you what... five minutes? Any wrong answer and your time is cut in half and if you completely fail and kill everyone in the building, figuratively speaking that is you swear you’ll tell the captain you changed your mind?” She asked just to be sure on that point as really she had seen many a new officer fail on the schematics she handed him. “Want to read it over first and then I’ll start your time?” She offered smiling again as she leaned against the cabinet.

Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

Evan raised an eyebrow when Tess indicated he should follow her. She'd agreed to the bet, but did she have something else in mind? If she led him to the building's sublevels and then returned without him… that would undoubtedly look suspicious. He couldn't help but eye the handcuffs at her waist. She could probably overpower him -- okay, no probably about it -- and handcuff him to a pipe down there. He wouldn't put it past her.

Instead, Tess led him over to one of the filing cabinets lining the walls and started rummaging through it. She certainly seemed confident he'd flunk this test, but this was the person who was convinced he didn't bring anything to the table. Not exactly the most reliable source, considering. He took the large sheets of paper from her, setting everything on the nearby table, but otherwise ignored the schematics for now.

"That's what I said," Evan confirmed. He wasn't just saying that. If he failed, this partnership ended before it ever really kicked off. "If I beat your test... the arrangement stands. I get to stay on your case. For as long as I want. Oh, and you have to at least try to be nice."

He reached out his hand to seal the deal. "But let's make it three minutes, shall we? And I won't read anything first. Wouldn't want to make this too easy. You can start the clock."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess partially wished she could just lead him down to the basement and leave him there; she was still struggling with the Chief’s attitude of just get on with it. The Chief was a cop, did the guy not understand how dangerous having a civilian around could be and now she was even told not to get him shot. Well it wasn’t as if she planned for things like that to happen but if Evan chose to stand in the way well she couldn’t watch his every move all the time. Still there was no way he was going to pass the test so he was only her problem for the next ten minutes at most.

At least that was what she told herself to make things seem a little brighter. When he took the sheets of paper from her and he set everything out on the nearby table Tess was wondering if she had been too hasty in her judgement. She was amazed that he was still sticking to his agreement as maybe it was the cop in her that was used to getting three different stories before lunch. “Oh I can try to be nice... no promises though but pretty sure I won’t need to try.” She said confidently as she took his out reached hand and shook it.

Tess raised her brow as she looked at Evan for a moment, there was confident and then there was... well she wasn’t exactly sure what it was she was hearing as she nodded. “Clock started, go go go.” She said as she leaned back and waited to see what he would do and at what point he would be going home. Well it was the toughest schematics; he had shaved off two minutes and not looked at them before the time started. Surely the guy was going home; even she would be pushed to take on a challenge like that. Not impossible but pushing the boundaries of comfortable at least.

Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

That was how time started ticking away.

Tuning out the surrounding hustle and bustle of the precinct, Evan studied the schematics with a practiced eye. "These here." Evan finally tapped on a series of lines that corresponded to wires on the actual device. He almost felt bad getting her hopes up like this by purposefully picking incorrect wires that wouldn't 'kill' them both. Almost. He looked up with a mischievous grin a moment later. "They're actually dummy wires designed to make the design look more complicated. They don't actually do anything. How many people actually fall for that one?"

But he didn't have time to waste toying with Tess too much. Negotiating his time down to three minutes was going to be cutting things very close. Hopefully the added pressure would help convince her that he could handle this.

He continued to make sense of what would look like complete gibberish to most people. "Really? You chose a device that requires the wires to be cut in a specific order? That's almost impossible to figure out just by looking at the schematics. That's ice cold, detective."

Evan glanced up at the clock on the wall. And he had one minute to figure it out.

This was going to be one part mechanical engineering knowledge, one part educated guesswork, and one part luck, but he could make this work. He pointed to each of the four wires in turn. "This one. This one. This one. And this one. Final answer."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess stood watching Evan intently, she couldnt deny she was curious to see what he would do and how he would handle things but at the same time she had never routed for someone to fail. Yes she wanted him out of the door and yes the diagram was for a paper exercise but it was a serious thing. The sort of lesson that was learned and you went on to know what you were doing. It was why she tried to hide the smirk on her face the minute Evan tapped on the series of lines.

Obviously he was wrong because the guy had no idea she thought as she could almost see him marching out of the precinct with his tail between his legs. That was until he spoke and she saw the mischievous grin on his face. Her heart had flown and now it had crash landed when he said they were dummy wires, she grumbled before deciding to answer the question honestly. “About ninety nine percent.” She stated almost wanting to strangle him now for that. Still she had lasting hope that he would fail.

She stood silently and watched again grinning as he spoke, the man knew a thing or two she would give him that but he had get to not get himself killed on paper. “Yes, specifics are what we live by and Ice cold is what we deal with, pays to learn the easy way.” She said as she nodded. The time was certainly running out as she could only hope for the best outcome and that Evan would go back to his penthouse office and be a businessman and not some sort of cop wanna be.

Tess stared at him for a moment as she followed where he point. The words ‘this one’ had never been so disappoint to her in her entire life. “Final answer with time to spare... congratulations you’re not dead.” She said a little curtly wishing that he had at least got the wrong order. So her dreams of a fail were now shattered as she stared at him for a moment. “PhD huh?” She said as she pulled the pieces of paper back before she placed them back in the cabinet and slammed the door shut. Tess turned away for a brief moment before she plastered the smile onto her face.

“Welcome to the Chicago Police Department Mr. Cross.” She said barely able to keep the tone of annoyance from her voice. “Try not to get yourself killed.” She added not exactly able to keep all of the annoyance from her voice with that one. “So you know explosives so how about guns? You carry or do we get you a vest just in case?” She asked smiling sweetly at the thought of forcing him to wear a bullet proof vest for his entire day. Small mercies she thought silently.

Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

Evan watched with a smug expression as Tess snatched the schematics off of the table, stuffed them back where they belonged, and slammed the cabinet drawer shut—a telling reaction to their wager. Oh, yeah, was she ever upset with the outcome. Even if she did try to hide it behind a pleasant smile just a few seconds later, as she welcomed him to the Chicago Police Department. "But I'm a civilian. I don't bring anything to the table. That's what you thought. That's why you accepted our little bet. How does it feel to be so… very wrong about me?"

Now that Evan had taken away Tess's one way out of their partnership, she had started to get a feel for her new partner, asking if he carried a weapon. Evan vehemently shook his head in response. "I design and sometimes test them. I don't use them. Don't ask again." Of course, he brightened considerably when she mentioned looking into get him outfitted with his own tactical vest. That meant heading out into the field. "Oh, but that's a great idea! I've wanted to get a closer look at WhitTech's tactical vests for a while now. Um, can we put scientist on it?"

Evan knew he should probably tone things down, but after the hard time she'd been giving him, he was finding it difficult not to gloat just a little bit. Plus, she'd gone and called him Mr. Cross—that was his dad, not him. She kind of deserved it for that alone. "I'm sorry. I'm enjoying this a little too much, aren't I?" He grinned sheepishly at Tess. "I tried to tell you, detective. You just didn't want to listen. I am a technology and explosives kind of guy. I designed my first bomb for a science project when I was still in middle school—which didn't go over very well with the authorities either. Go figure."

He'd come even further since then. Work with Cross Consolidated did have its advantages—and his work within the company had helped expand that brand further. "I've been contracted by our military to develop not just explosives, but other fun toys. Not that I can go into specifics, you understand. Some of that is classified. Suffice to say, they don't usually go to people, if they don't know exactly what they're doing."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess wanted to break her own finger when he brought up being wrong about him. Could she shoot him right there and just say her gun went off? No too obvious, maybe on a call where she could say he jumped in front of the gun she thought as she took a breath so not to rant at him. “Yes, you’re right. Civilians don’t usually know what they are doing and until you’ve worked with me, you still don’t.” Tess stated as she rolled her shoulders in an effort to feel less stupid for thinking he would never be able to pass.

“It feels good in one sense, at least if we do get a call you’re not going to kill me right away but this isn’t a laboratory condition setting. Things go sideways and people panic.” She said having seen many a person be cool under test conditions where the worst that could happen was smoke and sparks but when people were involved. Screaming, crying and panic set in things had their own way f taking over. Still he had passed the given tests as she clapped her hands a few times. “How does it feel to prove a detective wrong?” She asked giving him a little leeway on things.

It was only when Evan spoke about not using a gun she felt there was something more to it. Deciding not to push the boundaries too much in the first hour she left it along. “Then rule one, stay behind me and don’t get shot.” She stated, so now she was human shield to a civilian just great and one that didnt carry. Tess furrowed her brow as she was surprised that he knew who designed their vests though it took her all of two seconds to put the two together. “Yeah great idea... no. No scientist because I’m not getting the blame for it when you take their designs. You can look because it might just save your life but please for my sake. No scientists.” She asked not entirely sure if he would take her seriously or just do it anyway.

Tess shrugged as if it wasn’t bothering her in the slightest though she was finding it hard not to shoot him though that soon chanced when he told her about his first science project. “Oh no, I mean why not teach that stuff in schools.” She said smirking impressed that he had done it. “No I didnt want to listen but explosives are my world so you can obviously handle the paper so chalk one up for the tech guy.” She added though he was starting to grow on her a little though she was still unsure if this would work out. “And you can drop the detective too, it’s Tess or Walker or whichever you’d prefer but since we are working together don’t call me detective unless you want to lose a finger.”

Usually she didnt take to threatening people but for Evan she would make an exception. The simple thing was obvious he knew what he was doing with explosives and technology but if he couldnt figure out if she was serious about shooting him. Then that worked in her favour though she wasn’t quite sure if he had figured out that she wouldnt. Tess listened to him explain about what he did and no specifics as she nodded. Classified was what she had worked with and she understood the rules.

“Trust me when I say this, no matter what the ‘toys’ are that are designed back here, they still get into the hands of the bad guys.” She said as she pulled up the sleeve of her jacket slightly to show the beginnings of the burns she had suffered. “The rocket launcher that fired the weapon wasn’t supposed to be out in the open and my unit get’s hit with it three days after it was transferred for testing. Wrong hands, worst weapon and I was the lucky one.” She said trying to explain a little before she tried to lighten things a little, “It must be fun to be the R&D department for the military? Lots of cools toys and do tell, the new Wheelbarrow Robot is that your company? There are rumour.” She asked with genuine curiosity, well rumours had to be verified at some point she thought and who better to ask that someone who would know.

Evan Cross

[Evan Cross]

Evan sighed. Tess was going to be a tough nut to crack. Even having passed the worst she could throw at him, she still insisted he didn't know what he was doing—until he'd worked with her, at least. Sure, he didn't like danger, but he wasn't about to forget everything he knew about explosives just because he was outside a lab. Though Tess did seem to grant him some leeway, asking how it felt to prove a detective wrong. He directed a charmingly cheeky smile her way. "Depends. How often are you wrong?"

He chuckled at her reaction to WhitTech's tactical vests. Had she really thought that was his plan? "First, I'm not getting Cross Consolidated sued into oblivion. Second, I don't need to steal ideas. And that's a little insulting, by the way. Third, I know their CEO. We're good friends, but she'd kill me, if I did that. But having my vest say 'police' on it, well... it's not exactly accurate, is it?"

Would someone be less inclined to shoot at him, if he announced himself as a noncombatant? Of course, if it wasn't internally debating the likelihood of getting shot at by the bad guys, it was the detective you were working with threatening to cut off an appendage or two. "I'm very attached to my fingers... Tess." Evan tried using the detective's first name, but it sounded strange as it rolled off the tongue. It'd take some more getting used to. But since they were throwing titles out the window... at least he could politely remind Tess to trash that title that wasn't doctor right alongside detective. "Lose the Mr. Cross then. It's Evan."

Growing quiet, he nodded in understanding, some of the wind taken out of his sails when Tess rolled up one of the sleeves on her jacket and showed him where the burns on her arm began. There wasn't anything to say. Or nothing that seemed appropriate, at least.

Her cautionary tale completed, she brought up working R&D."Well, it's not technically my company," Evan corrected Tess. "The 'Cross' in Cross Consolidated is my dad. I'm just the head of Applied Sciences."

She seemed to keep up with some of the latest technological advances—though, given what she did for a living, that didn't surprise him in the least. It opened the door for him to geek out a little about that kind of thing in the future. "We did just deliver one to the army for testing, not that you heard that from me, but we also contract for law enforcement as well. You'd have to sign a confidentiality agreement, but I could show you some of the behind the scenes at Cross Consolidated. You know, if you want."

Tess Walker

[Tess Walker]

Tess smirked and shrugged when she saw his charmingly cheeky smile, “Not too often but with you I seem to have made the exception.” Being wrong she could admit to even if it did dent her pride a little, she had assumed and she was wrong though outside the precinct time would tell. He either would or wouldnt though given she had been wrong before she felt it only right to give him the benefit of the doubt the next time, even if it did annoy her to do so.

WhitTech and Cross Consolidated, it was a technical nightmare on what to do about it all. Then again it was all above her pay grade though she had to admit she was curious what he wanted to do with the tactical vest. “Sorry for the insult but people have tried it before. Just need to make sure you know.” She offer realising how it sounded, she really needed to work on her subtly she thought though soon pushed the idea from her mind as it sounded as if she had turned into her mother. “No, not accurate. How about...” She said tapping her finger against her chin.

Wanna be, annoying, man, civilian oh she had so many words though insulting him through a tactical vest. No the captain wanted them to work together so she had to play nice. “How about Tech Guy? Unless you’ve got something you want to be called?” She asked offering him the chance to at least stamp it as his own. It might bring him luck in not getting shot she thought silently. Tess knew that no matter what side guns were out there and if he was with the wrong side would they stop and ask first before he got shot?

That was a headache for later if it happened at all. Tess chuckled a little when he said he was attached to his fingers though she was glad to hear her first name being used. Her last name was for orders, detective was official so it was nice to be called by her first name. “Okay Evan it is, sure you don’t want doctor Evan?” She teased though she was more than willing to call him that. It was strange that five minutes ago she outright wanted rid of him and now he was growing on her little by little but he seemed to be the okay sort even if he was a little, annoying.

“Ah I see, so is this to prove something to your father?” Tess asked jumping a little to an assumption but it was a dangerous thing to do if she was right. “Head of Applied Sciences isn’t too bad, not too many people with that title.” She added with an aim to redeem herself if indeed she was wrong about why he was there. On the one hand he had proved he knew what he was doing even if she was loathed to admit it and yet on the other she had no real idea why he wanted to tag along with a detective.

“My lips are sealed.” She said with a grin, okay tech stuff was a dream and new technology was even better than that. “Are you serious about that?” She said almost squealing as she tried not to jump up and down though she realised she was practically on tip toes already. Tess realised she was probably showing a little bit too much excitement over the offer for behind the scenes at Cross Consolidated. It was a little like seeing behind the scenes at a movie set, that Tess wasn’t too bothered about but a place like Cross Consolidated well that was even better than a movie set. “Well you know, if you have time... it would be alright I guess.” She said trying to dampen down her reaction as she tried not to turn any shade of red that was recognizable.

Evan Cross