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Ripley interjected, her tone unapologetic. ‘We saved lives, Carter. And we got your killer. Isn't that what counts?’
Carter leaned back in his chair, his expression unchanging. ‘Yes, you saved lives. Yes, you caught the killer. But at what cost? You went against direct orders, compromised the integrity of this bureau. That cannot go unpunished.’
Ella knew there was something else at play here. This wasn’t about their actions, this was about Carter’s dislike of Ripley.
‘Punishment? After everything we’ve done?’
‘I won't have agents who think they're above the rules. Your actions have left me with no choice. Effective immediately, you're both suspended.’
The words hit hard. The reality of it began to sink in. All the risks they took, the lines they crossed – it had come to this. She and Ripley had put everything on the line, and this was the thanks they got.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Ripley yelled. ‘Suspended? All because we didn’t call you while we were chasing a murderer?’
Carter ignored the question. ‘You're to hand in your badges and firearms to Agent Simmons on your way out. You’re both suspended with pay for now, but make no mistake, there will be a full inquiry. Punitive measures will be considered.’
Ella glanced at Ripley, seeing a mix of anger and disbelief mirrored in her partner's eyes. It was clear they were both grappling with the same sense of injustice.
With a heavy heart, Ella spoke up. ‘Sir, we did what we believed was necessary. If that means facing consequences, so be it. But our actions were always in the best interest of the bureau and the safety of the public.’
‘This isn’t the last of this, Carter,’ Ripley said, ever the fighter. Ella grabbed her partner by the wrist and gestured her out of the office. This fight wasn’t worth it, she reasoned.
Ella yanked the door open and escaped into the hallway, Ripley in tow.
Ripley broke the silence, her voice softer than before. ‘What now, Dark? This is unbelievable.’
Ella pondered the question, the uncertainty of their future looming. For the first time in their partnership, they were no longer active agents, no longer on the front lines fighting for justice. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
‘We accept it. What can we do? Challenging him isn’t going to help.’
She reminded herself of her battle with Arthur back in Connecticut. Sometimes you have to accept that you lose.
‘This isn’t over,’ Ripley said. ‘Not by a long shot.’
Ella paused for a moment, taking in the enormity of what had just happened. The FBI had been their life, their identity. Now, suddenly, they were adrift.
‘Right now, we wait,’ Ella said, her voice calm despite the turmoil inside. ‘We let the inquiry run its course. We've done our job, Ripley. We've done it well. They can't take that away from us.’
‘That son of a bitch is punishing us for being good at our jobs.’
‘You know, Ripley,’ Ella began, a small smile forming on her lips despite the situation, ‘I've never been one for following the rules to the letter. We may be suspended, but I don't regret a single decision we made.’
Ripley returned the smile, her warrior spirit still intact. ‘Neither do I, Dark. We'll get through this. We always do.’
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Ripley stormed up and down her living room, her hands animated as she recounted the day's events to Martin. He sat on the couch, a concerned expression on his face, clearly trying to keep up with her rapid-fire narrative.
‘This is the man whose eye you gouged out, yes?’ he asked.
‘It's like he doesn't get it,’ Ripley exclaimed, frustration in every syllable. ‘Carter is so caught up in rules and appearances that he can't see the forest for the trees. Ella and I, we were out there saving lives, catching a killer, and all he cares about is that we didn't check in with him every five minutes.’
‘Mia,’ Martin said softly, ‘just relax. Doesn’t this mean you can just wait out the days until you sign off for good? Even if you have to do another six months, so what? You could spend a month of that at home. Just think of this as practice for when you hang it up.’
Ripley ran her hand through her hair and said, ‘It’s the principle of the thing. I've dedicated my life to this job, to chasing down the worst of the worst, and for what? To be sidelined by a desk jockey who wouldn't know what field work looks like if it gouged his eyes out?’
Martin got out of his seat and cut off Mia’s pacing. He took hold of her hand. ‘Fighting the system is like banging your head against a brick wall. Maybe it's time to step back and think about what's next. You've had an incredible career; no one can take that away from you.’
Ripley breathed a sigh of defeat, her energy spent. Two days chasing a killer, nearly being suffocated and now suspension. She wasn’t so concerned about what would happen to herself. She’d be fine regardless, but her sympathies were with Ella, whose only crime had been hanging around Ripley too much.
