Risk it All

by Fiona Price

  "Shane, we just got off the phone." Matt stated. "What, did you forget to yell at me or something?"

  "Are you boarding a flight back to Florida now?" Shane asked.

  "No, I'm about to go out for pizza." Matt answered, trying to make his answer clear to Shane that he wasn't going to drop everything and run back to Miami.

  "Are you booking a flight soon?"

  "No, I'm focused on pizza right now. Shane, I won't be back for a few days, okay?"

  "Can you come back soon?"

  "What, do you miss me?"

  "A little bit, yes, but we just got in a new case that we could really use you for."

  "I'm not going to be home right now, Shane. I'll be back in a few days to help out."

  "You'd better promise."

  "I promise. Babe, I gotta go but call me if you need something. Let's go for the record of calls received from one person in a row." He said before hanging up. Alissa gave him a look.

  "Was he calling for work?"

  "Yes, but I told that control freak that I wouldn't be back for a few days. So, I can't stay here forever. I have to go back." He spoke, suddenly serious, sitting down on the edge of the couch.

  "So, what are you going to do, Alissa? You can stay here or come back to Florida with me. And I know what I want your answer to be, I'm hoping what you say is what I'm hoping for, but I'll respect the decision you make."

  "When's your flight back?" Alissa asked, wanting to use his answer to gauge where he was at to formulate her answer.

  "Friday." He answered. It was in three days. Alissa sighed. Though she had already decided what to do the night before, it had suddenly become real to her that she actually had to act on her decision and go back.

  "I think, if I can be with you, I'll go back to Florida with you. I don't know what I'm going to do once I'm down there, though." Alissa answered, sitting next to Matt on the couch.

  "I wouldn't worry about that." Matt answered, sounding so sure, wrapping his arm around her waist.

  "You sound pretty confident, which is kind of scary since I'm not confident at all." Alissa answered.

  "I don't know, there might be a couple of surprises waiting down there for you." Matt teased, obviously knowing more than Alissa did. "You've just gotta trust me."

  "Oh man, you can't just say that and expect me to wait! Tell me, Matt. What is it?"

  "You have to wait!" He laughed, not wanting to spoil the surprise.

  "Matt, do you think that my curiosity will wait? I will find out before we get back."

  "No, you won't." He stated. "I'm trained to resist interrogation."

  "Oh yeah? How are you going to stop me from finding out?" Alissa challenged. He wrapped his arms around her and said before pressing his lips to hers and falling back onto the couch cushions,

  "I think I have a plan."

  Alissa spent the next three days emotionally preparing herself for her return to Miami. It became real when she booked a ticket for Matt's flight and she pulled her suitcase out of her closet. She thought there was nothing left for her in Miami, but he begged her to reconsider. Matt didn't expect to be the reason she went back, but he liked to think he was a factor. But, he didn't want to spoil the surprise of everything waiting for her upon her return to Miami. Matt just wanted her to be happy, and hoped that he could give her things that would make her want to stay.

  The night before their flight was set to take off, Alissa spent the night awake while Matt was asleep. Matt was starting to get a handle on his insomnia, but he discovered that Alissa was still awake when he woke up after a few hours of sleep.

  "Alissa, what's keeping you awake?" He asked, his voice sleepy.

  "I'm just worried about going back."

  "You don't have to fly back to Miami with me if it's not really the right choice for you. You don't have to come back just for me."

  "No, I think it's the right thing, I just don't know how to rebuild. I kind of left things rough, and I'm not sure if it'll be the same when I go back."

  "Don't worry about rebuilding. I can't spoil the surprise, but I really wouldn't be concerned with that. But if you need more distance, just let me know."

  "I don't know what I need, Matt. To be honest, I'm thinking." She spoke. "But, I know I need you."

  Matt wrapped his arms a little further around her and fell back asleep, leaving Alissa to lay awake thinking about what things would be like when she got back. Though, when the plane landed, there was nothing that could have prepared her for what it was actually like.

  The flight from New Jersey to Florida wasn't that long, which was both a stressor and something Alissa was grateful for. She didn't want any more time than necessary to be alone with her thoughts before she got to Miami, but then again, returning to Florida came at her fast. Matt knew she was nervous and did what he could to comfort her. He knew that her fiancée was still recently passed, and she couldn't return to the home she had with Alex, and that only scratched the surface. She was shot, discovered that Alex was working with a cartel, she's been through a lot. Matt understood that. It wasn't going to be a quick and easy fix.

  Their plane landed in the early evening, and it was sunset by the time Matt drove her to the house by the beach that she was going to move in to permanently. He was driving particularly slowly down her street with a secret smile on his face, and Alissa instantly knew that this was part of her surprise.

  "Let me help you take your things inside, and then let's go get dinner and drinks, yeah?" Matt communicated the plan, and reached into his pocket as he turned the corner. "And how about you drive?" He asked, handing her a set of keys as he pulled into her driveway.

  To her surprise, there was a car laying under a tarp that Matt parked behind, and Alissa jumped out of his Camaro before it was even in park. She grabbed the end of the tarp and pulled it off the car, and sitting right before her eyes was her classic cherry convertible, as good as new.

  "While you were gone I had it fixed to its exact specs. I knew it meant a lot to you." He spoke, and that was all the words he could fit in before she smiled and kissed him.

  "Thank you. This means the world." She spoke gratefully. "While we're at it, are there any more surprises up your sleeve?"

  "A few." He answered, leaving Alissa to wonder what was coming next.

  It wasn't long before they were heading to the bar, Matt had helped her unpack a little bit and dust away the cobwebs from her house before they left. Alissa was excited to drive her car again, but Matt suddenly wasn't excited to be the passenger when she was speeding down the highway. They walked into the bar together, Matt suggesting they sit on the patio. It was dark and the lights were twinkling off the dark waves, the patio lit by torches. They emerged from the shadows and into the warm lighting coming from the fire of the torches, and Matt guided Alissa to a table with Vicki, Scarlet, Max and Shane sitting there already.

  "Hey, guys, looks like we made it just in time." Matt spoke, getting their attention as he pulled out one of the two empty chairs for Alissa to sit.

  "Matt, good to have you back with us, buddy, and look who came with! Hey, stranger!" Shane greeted with a smile, standing up from his chair to give Alissa a hug.

  "Welcome back, Lieutenant." He greeted. "We missed you."

  "Hey, this round's on me, and we're toasting to Alissa, how about that?" Shane spoke, and the table cheered. She sat down in the chair Matt had pulled out, and he sat towards her, his hand resting on her thigh as she had her legs crossed.

  "Oh, so that's a thing thing now?" Shane asked, gesturing to them.

  "What did you think I went to New Jersey for, man?"

  "I don't know, I figured you were finally having that mental breakdown that's been coming for the last seven years."

  "You drive me to the edge, Shane, I hate you, so the mental breakdown is coming, believe me!" Matt answered, poking fun at his partner, getting a laugh out of everyone.

  "Okay, if it wasn't a mental breakdown I think I know what happened. Cor
rect me if I'm wrong, but you took an impulse flight so you could get some tail!"

  "Yeah, that's just about exactly what happened." Alissa confirmed, turning to Matt. "Don't even try to backpedal, that's the truth." She laughed.

  "Well, we couldn't be happier that you're both back with the task force." Shane mentioned again.

  "I'll drink to that." Alissa spoke, raising her beer glass to meet the others in the middle of the table, the glass chiming against one another.

  Even though Alissa had lost her fiancée, it turned out that she didn't lose any family. They were all at the table, surrounding her with good food, drinks and laughter, and maybe Alissa didn't leave things as rough as she thought she did. Maybe Matt was right, and it wouldn't be so hard to rebuild after all.

  VIII

  It was early in the morning when Alissa's phone rang next to her on the bed. She didn't expect anyone to call, since she had only been back for a few days, so she aimed to turn the phone over until she saw the caller ID. Shane was calling, and it must be something important if he was calling her out of the blue one morning. She tapped the accept button and lifted the phone to her ear, still mostly asleep.

  "Commander, what's up?" She greeted.

  "Alissa, we got a case, can you make it down to the office in an hour?"

  "What's it about, why do you need me?"

  "Trust me, we can't do this one without you."

  "Alright, I'll be there, see you soon." She agreed, hanging up the phone and crawling out of bed to grab a shower before she put on her favorite floral blouse, dark jeans and nude flats. She was confused by their dress code since Shane always veered casual while Matt wouldn't be caught dead in anything but slacks and a button-down. She had no idea what they needed her for or what the nature of the case was, so she was preparing herself for anything.

  Alissa tied her shoulder-length hazelnut colored hair up in a bun and finished her cup of coffee before she got into her convertible and drove to the office. When she pulled up, she saw people setting up a podium and chairs on the lawn, and Alissa wondered to herself what event they were setting up for. She signed in as a visitor, little did she know that it would be the last time she had to do so, before she made her way to the task force offices.

  "Good morning, Lieutenant!" Shane greeted.

  "Commander, it's good to be back here." Alissa smiled, the familiar office surrounded her.

  "I sure hope it is," He chuckled, and Alissa wasn't sure how to process his response.

  "Hey, any idea what they're setting up for out there?" Alissa asked, gesturing to the event that they could see from their window.

  "I guess we'll just have to find out, shall we?" He asked, beginning to walk out the doors towards the event outside.

  "What about the case?"

  "We'll get to it in a bit." He answered before talking with some people that had filtered in for the event before Alissa and the team sat down in the first row of chairs. After a few minutes, the Mayor of Miami got up and spoke at the podium.

  "Shane, what's going on?" Alissa asked, getting nervous. Everybody seemed to know what was happening except for her.

  "And now it is my pleasure to bring up the leader of the task force that has helped tremendously in keeping Miami safe, Commander Shane McAndrews." The mayor spoke before there was light applause and Shane stood up, shook the Mayor's hand and stood behind the podium.

  "Thank you, Mayor. We are here today to recognize the tremendous skill, courage, intelligence, bravery and sacrifice of Lieutenant Alissa Montgomery demonstrated during our investigation into a high-stakes gambling ring linked to the cartel." He spoke, addressing the small gathering first and then Alissa next.

  "Considering her exemplary expertise and merit, it would be our honor and pleasure to incorporate Lieutenant Montgomery onto the task force."

  Alissa, shocked and just beginning to put all the pieces together, turned to Matt and asked him in a harsh whisper,

  "Matt, is this my swearing in ceremony?"

  "Yep, I promise this is the last surprise we had planned." He answered.

  "Nobody ran this by me!"

  "Then it wouldn't be a surprise. I sure hope you say yes, or this will be awkward for all of us."

  "Of course, I'm going to say yes, but-"

  "You better get up there, then!" Matt answered guiding her up to the podium with their commander. Still a little bit wide-eyed and confused, Shane began to lead her through the oath.

  "Lieutenant Montgomery, do you solemnly swear to uphold the laws of the State of Florida and of the United States?"

  "I do."

  "And do you promise to act at all times with reason, judgement and with the highest caliber of duty and honor to serve the people for the greater good?"

  "I do."

  "Congratulations, Lieutenant." Steve spoke with a smile has he shook her hand. They turned to face the crowd to accept the applause, and a moment later Shane traded her Visitor's badge for a shiny gold task force badge. After some pictures were taken, they made their way back into the office. Alissa was still in shock.

  "Matt promised me this was the last surprise you had lined up, and it better be because I'm not prepared for any more surprises."

  "I can't guarantee there won't be any more surprises, but we haven't planned anything." Shane chuckled right before his phone rang, and they all knew that a case was coming. He was off the phone in minutes, then he turned to the crew and spoke the words they were all waiting to hear.

  "We just caught a homicide, gear up guys." He spoke.

  "Wait, I have a question. There's an odd number of people here. I know Shane and Matt ride together, then Scarlet and Vicki, so do I third wheel with one of you guys, or do I take my own car?"

  "That's a good question." Matt answered, as the group all looked at each other, but it wasn't long before the girls swept Alissa up and took her with them.

  Vicki had been sworn in to the team while Alissa was in New Jersey and soon after, Shane proposed. They had decided it was time to settle down together, and Vicki had proven to be a helpful part of the team. Vicki's do-no-harm-but-take-no-shit attitude was rubbing off on Scarlet who didn't play well with others. Vicki tried to be as positive as possible, but she didn't let Scarlet get away with being unnecessarily ornery to others.

  It wasn't long before they arrived at the crime scene and were being briefed as to the nature of the crime. The Crime Scene Unit and Forensics was processing the scene. It felt very familiar for Alissa, it was her first case as an official member of the team, and it was all too similar to the death of Alex.

  "Alissa, you doing alright?" Shane asked the new member. Alissa took a moment to herself before responding.

  "Yeah, I'll be okay. It just reminds me a lot of when Alex died. But I'll be fine, and I just want to help whoever I can."

  Shane nodded and understood, and they continued their work at the crime scene. Alissa's moment soon passed, and she was able to help them get a lead on their prime suspect. As the afternoon faded into the evening, they pulled up to the suspect's house. Shane quickly briefed his team before they approached the locked front door.

  "Alissa, will you do the honors?" Shane asked as they prepared to go in to the suspect's house.

  "Gladly." She responded.

  "On your mark, Lieutenant." Shane instructed, letting her know that they would follow her lead. She nodded and stood with her back to the door, delivering a strong kick to force open the door, leading them right to their suspect. A wave of adrenaline flowed through Alissa. With the force of the kick, her ballet flat shoe flew right off her foot, and she had to chase after their suspect barefoot. The team gave her cover as she pursued the suspect, chasing him down and arresting him in the middle of the street. She ran right into traffic to get her suspect, and the cars barely stopped in time and narrowly avoided hitting them. She slammed her hand down on the hood of the car that honked at her as she pulled out her handcuffs and turned back to their suspect. Alissa knocked him down, c
uffed him, grabbed him and pulled him up off the asphalt to meet the team. She handed the suspect over to Shane, and Matt approached them moments later.

  "Good work, Lieutenant." He praised, ready to book the suspect she caught.

  "Alissa, I think you might want these back, but after what we've seen, you might not even need them." Matt spoke, holding out her nude flats to her. She chuckled, wiped the gravel and grass from the soles of her feet before slipping her shoes back on and rejoining the team.

  She never expected to be working for the team that, for an extended moment, thought she was a murderer. But, when she had run out of family, they were there for her.

  That sentiment didn’t last long when it was two in the morning and Alissa was wide awake.

  She had landed a great new job and broke a case wide open, she should be exhausted, but she wasn't. She should have been sleeping soundly knowing that things were going well, but despite the positives, she felt nothing but sorrow.

  The last thing she expected to hear was her phone ringing. She picked up her phone off the countertop and discovered that Matt was calling. She first thought that he was in trouble or something was wrong, but she was mistaken when she answered his call on the third ring.

  "Hey, Alissa. What are you up to?" Matt spoke. Alissa didn't hear any panic or sense of urgency in his voice, so she knew that nothing bad was happening.

  "Um, it's two in the morning, so nothing." She responded, wondering what he was going to expect her answer would be to his question. "I have to ask why you're calling me in the dead of night, though."

  "I was awake, and I just had this gut feeling that you weren't sleeping either." He answered, knowing that she was still being kept awake by the things that were haunting her. "How about I grab some coffee and donuts and I'll be at your place in 20?"

  "I'll have the door open for you." She answered, welcoming him to come over. Just like he promised, within a half an hour he had pulled into her driveway. He knocked on her door to let her know he was there before he walked in, and Alissa emerged from the hallway, a throw blanket draped around her shoulders, to meet him in the living room. Matt put down the carrier of coffee and a dozen donuts on the table before he went right over to Alissa.