VINDICATED

“Nobody said movies were smooth or logical. I mean, have you ever seen the SAW movies? Nothing is normal or sane about those.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’ve never been stalked by some weird puppet with bad stage make-up and a tricycle before? What rock have you been living under?”

            “Then it was about time someone said it to you.” Pulling out a glass and a bottle of bourbon, he prepared her her drink of choice. Sliding it over the counter, he then accepted the hand extended towards him. “Rafael. I’m sure we can make up for your awful day with a few of these bad boys,” he gestured towards her drink, “and more awful pick up lines from my side.”

“Nice to meet you, Rafael,” Elisa reached for her new drink, downing a generous amount before placing it back onto the bar top. “Fun fact I’m sure you’re already aware of: all pick up lines are awful. But I’ll happily help judge which ones are truly horrific and which could probably earn you a smile, maybe a laugh if there’s enough alcohol involved. Whatcha got?” 

“C’mon, he was clearly looking for something a little more salacious. You couldn’t just throw him a bone?” 

“I don’t believe in charity work when it comes to men. That's like setting yourself up for disappointment.”

“It should be since most seem to have lost that lesson in translation. I can see it now Ramos’ book of hard knocks. If you ever patent that shit, I expect some sort of gratitude.”

“You know, it would be a pretty lucrative idea to patent and sell my infinite genius to the rest of the world. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to send a couple bucks your way while I’m lounging on the beach on my private island.”

“Give the poor guys a break, El, it’s not like all of them can be as naturally witty and charismatic as I am. One of these days you’re just gonna have to settle for less than me, hard as that is.”

“Poor guy? He makes a dumbass remark that I call him out on and somehow he winds up being the victim? You’re supposed to take my side. I’ll be sure to remember this next time a report with your name comes across my desk.”

“One could hope that after awhile it would come to a halt– but some cliches are never ending.”

“Imagine how much more enjoyable life would be for everyone if they just aimed a little higher for themselves.”

Placing the glass at the edge of the counter, Rebekah loudly tapped against the bar, signalling for the bartender to get her another round. “I work tomorrow morning, Elis, I’m not gonna get hammered.” Refusing to look at her friend, the officer could feel the patronizing gaze sent her way. “Okay, I don’t enjoy being hungover for work so I won’t get hammered,” she corrected as they both knew she had gone to work hungover multiple times. “If anything I’ll be able to walk to your car, but you’ll have to walk me to my door.”

Elisa was tempted to ask when work the next morning had ever stopped Rebekah before, but she chose to remain silent. “The fact that you even know what being hungover at work is like...” Her voice trailed off, taking a sip from her own glass before leaning up against the bar. “Have you ever considered, you know, just having one drink? Two, at the max? Then you could walk yourself to the car and walk yourself to the front door. Maybe even be able to drive yourself home,” Elisa’s hands lifted towards the side of her head, hands mimicking her head exploding. “Wild idea, I know.”

Thinking about her response, Ethan couldn’t help but agree with her. With a shrug, the man took a swig from his own beer, letting out a refreshing sigh. Placing the bottle back onto the bar counter, he folded his arms under him, is gaze falling upon the football game playing on the overhead television. “Okay, you have me there,” he confessed, keeping his icy blue hues to the TV. “However, that just means you’ve been surrounded by assholes most of your life and haven’t met someone who would genuinely treat you better than a lousy pick-up line.” Finally averting his gaze back to the woman, he lightly nudged her arm with his elbow.

“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me, Parker?” Elisa questioned with an amused smile, elbow leaning against the bar top as she reached for her glass. “Because that’d be a shame. You know I require at least a level fifteen friendship to unlock my tragic backstory.” And the detective knew better than to ever let anyone close enough to get anything too personal. “Also, the assumption that I have such a low opinion of myself that I only surround myself with assholes is a bit rude, don’t you think?” She took a sip from her drink and despite her biting words, still had a smirk on her face. “Or were you referring to yourself?”

“A decent lawyer?” Ethan said, looking toward the woman through his lashes. “I would say he had an excellent attorney, Ms. Ramos,” he added smugly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ll let this one slide,” he joked as he pushed a few forms across the desk toward the detective. “I need your signature on a few of those forms basically just you verifying you were the detective on the case and once I get his signature the case is done.”

“Someone has a high opinion of themselves,” Elisa replied back quickly, though the smirk on her face made it clear the statement was meant mostly in jest. Leaning forward in her chair, the detective pulled the file folder closer to her end of Ethan’s desk as her eyes quickly scrolled over the forms. Nothing out of the ordinary jumped out at her and nothing that made it obvious the meddling she’d done to ensure things would go according to plan. “Need anything else?” Elisa mused as she scribbled her name across the appropriate lines. “My social security number? A blood oath of some kind?”

“Yeah some of us guys are severely lacking in that department. Kind of makes the rest of us normal ones look bad.”

“So, which one are you? Normal or severely lacking?”

          “How is that new? Isn’t that a really old cliché thing all the kids find on google? –Well, it was an observation, but I’ll also happily buy you a drink. What do you want?”

“I didn’t say I’d never heard the phrase before, I just said I’d never heard it directed at me. Bourbon on the rocks. It’s been a long day.” She extended her hand out, given the other deserved that much. “Elisa.”

“To be fair, I ain’t ever met a cop who didn’t love to abuse their power with ‘em, so it ain’t that far from a possibility sweetheart.”

“Well, sweetheart, I can only assume that’s because the only cops you’ve met are the ones slapping those cuffs on your wrist because you were dumb and got caught. Some advice? Don’t break the law.”

“Well, callin’ them pigs would probably be an insult to all the swines out there so we can’t really win, can we?” Cheyenne laughed with a languid shake of her head. “Sounds like you’ve got a fetish of your own going on. Makin’ a mockery of those poor souls who don’t know any better? Aren’t there any cute boys your age to keep you busy instead? Not to sound crude or anythin’, but I’m sure that would be much more fun.”

“Cheyenne, you insult me by thinking I’d waste my time with a boy when clearly what I’m on the hunt for is a man,” Elisa chuckled, helping herself to another generous sip from her glass. “How about you Chey? I feel like out of the two of us you’ve definitely earned a night of fun, no?” She knew a few of the details about what had transpired within her friend’s marriage, which was why in Elisa’s opinion, anything Chey wanted to do was fair game.