Committee had remained adamant, and after negotiating generous bonuses and weeklong residence stays in Vienna and London, a majority of musicians had eventually voted in favor of the extended tour. “Anyway, there’s a chance you’ll be joining me in Venice, right?” she went on when I didn’t reply. “Have you renewed your passport?”
I nodded, then looked away.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be making the trip. Something’s come up.”
“Oh?”
“The case I caught today has all the earmarks of becoming a high profile investigation. I don’t think I’ll be seeing any vacation time till it’s over.”
“But can’t you—”
“You know I can’t. We’ve been through this before.”
Catheryn sighed, unable to hide her disappointment. Setting down her fork, she said, “Dan, there’s more to life than being a police officer.”
“Or a musician. With your new job, you’re gone as much or more than I am. And now you’re leaving for six weeks. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ll be the one staying home with the kids.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”
“What, then?”
“Come on, Dan. You spend more time chasing criminals than you do with your own children,” said Catheryn, her voice tightening. “Even when you are home, you’re thinking about your job.”
“I’m a cop. That’s what I do,” I said, realizing we were tumbling headlong into a reprise of last night’s argument. “You knew that from the start.”
“I knew. I just didn’t know all the things it would do to you. And for what? Do you actually think you’re doing any good? Arrest one criminal and two more spring up to take his place.”
“I just take them one at a time. As for the job affecting me, I can’t argue that. Unfortunately, it’s what happens when you’re on the street.”
“Exactly my point. You’re developing a slanted view of life, and it’s driving a wedge between us. Every time you go to work, you shut down part of yourself to get the job done. And it’s getting worse. Granted, someone has to do police work—”
“And that someone is me. Sure, it affects me some, maybe a lot, but you have absolutely no idea what goes on in the real world, Kate. There are people out there who think differently than you and I.”
“And some of them are cops. Read the papers.”
“Don’t trash the whole department because of a few mutts in the pack.”
“I’m not. Look, I know that most LAPD officers are honest, hardworking guys,” Catheryn continued stubbornly. “I didn’t mean to get off the subject. I’m simply saying that—”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. Let’s drop it, Kate.”
“And talk about it tomorrow?” Catheryn said curtly, referring to what she considered an irritating habit of mine of putting off important discussions until later. “Fine,” she continued, backing from the precipice. “I talked with my mother today. If you come to Venice, she’ll be available to stay at the beach while you’re gone.”
“I may have her come either way. I’m going to be busy.”
“Make time for the kids while I’m gone, Dan.”
“What do you want me to do? Quit my job and stay home with them while you’re out gallivanting?”
Catheryn brightened. “Yes, that would be great,” she said with a smile. “Thanks.”
“Seriously, Kate, the kids will be fine.”
Catheryn’s smile faded. “Are you that oblivious to what’s going on? They’re not fine now; how are they suddenly going to better in my absence?”
“I know we’ve all been going through a rough patch lately, but things will even out. Travis is doing well in school—”
“Trav is not doing well in school. I’ve already had two meetings with his advisor. And Nate is still having nightmares. His grades have dropped, and he’s been fighting again. And Allison hasn’t been the same since the
I nodded, then looked away.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be making the trip. Something’s come up.”
“Oh?”
“The case I caught today has all the earmarks of becoming a high profile investigation. I don’t think I’ll be seeing any vacation time till it’s over.”
“But can’t you—”
“You know I can’t. We’ve been through this before.”
Catheryn sighed, unable to hide her disappointment. Setting down her fork, she said, “Dan, there’s more to life than being a police officer.”
“Or a musician. With your new job, you’re gone as much or more than I am. And now you’re leaving for six weeks. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ll be the one staying home with the kids.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”
“What, then?”
“Come on, Dan. You spend more time chasing criminals than you do with your own children,” said Catheryn, her voice tightening. “Even when you are home, you’re thinking about your job.”
“I’m a cop. That’s what I do,” I said, realizing we were tumbling headlong into a reprise of last night’s argument. “You knew that from the start.”
“I knew. I just didn’t know all the things it would do to you. And for what? Do you actually think you’re doing any good? Arrest one criminal and two more spring up to take his place.”
“I just take them one at a time. As for the job affecting me, I can’t argue that. Unfortunately, it’s what happens when you’re on the street.”
“Exactly my point. You’re developing a slanted view of life, and it’s driving a wedge between us. Every time you go to work, you shut down part of yourself to get the job done. And it’s getting worse. Granted, someone has to do police work—”
“And that someone is me. Sure, it affects me some, maybe a lot, but you have absolutely no idea what goes on in the real world, Kate. There are people out there who think differently than you and I.”
“And some of them are cops. Read the papers.”
“Don’t trash the whole department because of a few mutts in the pack.”
“I’m not. Look, I know that most LAPD officers are honest, hardworking guys,” Catheryn continued stubbornly. “I didn’t mean to get off the subject. I’m simply saying that—”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. Let’s drop it, Kate.”
“And talk about it tomorrow?” Catheryn said curtly, referring to what she considered an irritating habit of mine of putting off important discussions until later. “Fine,” she continued, backing from the precipice. “I talked with my mother today. If you come to Venice, she’ll be available to stay at the beach while you’re gone.”
“I may have her come either way. I’m going to be busy.”
“Make time for the kids while I’m gone, Dan.”
“What do you want me to do? Quit my job and stay home with them while you’re out gallivanting?”
Catheryn brightened. “Yes, that would be great,” she said with a smile. “Thanks.”
“Seriously, Kate, the kids will be fine.”
Catheryn’s smile faded. “Are you that oblivious to what’s going on? They’re not fine now; how are they suddenly going to better in my absence?”
“I know we’ve all been going through a rough patch lately, but things will even out. Travis is doing well in school—”
“Trav is not doing well in school. I’ve already had two meetings with his advisor. And Nate is still having nightmares. His grades have dropped, and he’s been fighting again. And Allison hasn’t been the same since the
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