Shaping up to be a dramatic scene from a slow-moving Brit drama, Rhyme deduced, and sipped the smoky liquor through the straw.
"I've kind of made a decision. I wanted to tell you first."
"Kind of?" Rhyme chided once again.
"I mean, I have made a decision."
Rhyme raised his eyebrow. He didn't want to be too encouraging. What was coming next? he wondered, though he believed he had an idea. Rhyme's life might have been devoted to science but he'd also been in charge of hundreds of employees and cops. And despite his impatience, his gruffness, his fits of temper, he'd been a reasonable and fair boss.
As long as you didn't screw up.
"Go on, Rookie."
"I'm leaving."
"The area?"
"The force."
"Ah."
Rhyme had become aware of body language since he'd known Kathryn Dance. He sensed that Pulaski was now delivering lines he'd rehearsed. Many times.
The cop rubbed his hand through his short blond hair. "William Brent."
"Dellray's CI?"
"Right, yessir."
Rhyme thought once more about reminding the young man that he didn't need to use such deferential appellations. But he said only, "Go on, Pulaski."
His face grim, eyes turbulent, Pulaski sat down in the creaking wicker chair near Rhyme's Storm Arrow. "At Galt's place, I was spooked. I panicked. I didn't exercise good judgment. I wasn't aware enough of procedures." As if in summary, he added, "I didn't assess the situation properly and adjust my behavior accordingly."
Like a schoolboy who wasn't sure of the test answers and was rattling them off quickly, hoping one would stick.
"He's out of his coma."
"But he might've died."
"And that's why you're quitting?"
"I made a mistake. It nearly cost somebody his life. . . . I just don't feel I can keep functioning at full capacity."
Jesus, where did he get these lines?
"It was an accident, Rookie."
"And one that shouldn't've happened."
"Are there any other kinds of accidents?"
"You know what I mean, Lincoln. It's not like I haven't thought this through."
"I can prove that you have to stay, that it'd be wrong for you to quit."
"What, say that I'm talented, I have a lot to contribute?" The cop's face was skeptical. He was young but he looked a lot older than when Rhyme had met him. Policing will do that.
So will working with me, Lincoln Rhyme reflected.