“You might want to take a look at Johnny’s Twitter feed before you go home for the evening.”
Mike clenched his jaw to hold back a curse. “I will. Thank you for the head’s up.”
It seemed that his problem influencer’s streak of good behavior had ended. Mike logged on to the social media network and went to Johnny’s profile to check it out. He’d posted a thread of polarizing political tweets, leading to a firestorm of fury in the replies. Mike looked at the clock. It was almost time for him to leave. Unfortunately, the tweets were incendiary enough that he needed to stay and address the situation. They were too inflammatory to leave up overnight. Mike would have to contact Johnny, get him to delete the thread and tweet an apology, then have yet another discussion on what was expected for a representative of Marin’s Outdoors.
Mike sighed in resignation. Talking to Johnny was always a pain in the ass. If he wasn’t so popular, bringing in millions of views to Marin’s products each month, Mike would have cut him loose him as soon as he’d taken over this position. He was reaching for his office phone to make the call when his personal cell rang. Grateful for the reprieve, he changed course and answered his cell instead.
“This is Mike Zielinski.”
“Mike, it’s Strong.”
“Strong. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. Do you mind swinging by the headquarters after work? I’d like to talk to you about the other night.”
“Not at all.” He wasn’t surprised to receive this call from the director of the ACG. Stardust would have filled his commanding officer in on the incident with the mugger and included Mike’s involvement in the report.
“Great, I’ll see you here in a few hours.”
His reprieve over, Mike ended the call and pulled up his office phone to call Johnny.
∞ ∞ ∞
After work, Mike drove to the firehouse. He had to grit his teeth and push to keep driving forward when he got close to the barrier. The ACG auditory defense device made him itch beneath his skin. Thankfully, once he drove through the mirage the buzzing stopped, and Mike shook off the unsettling feeling. A minute later, he walked into the Guardian headquarters. Strong was there, along with Caleb. A young East Asian man was in the back workout area, doing chin-ups on the exercise machine.
“Thanks for coming in,” Strong said as they shook hands. “You remember Caleb?”
Mike nodded at the young man with his bright blue hair and a pair of icy blue headphones on his head but tilted behind his ears.
“Hello.”
“And that’s Ignite over there working out.”
Ignite paused in counting out his reps to call out a greeting.
“‘Sup!”
“Hey,” Mike called back.
“Let’s talk,” Strong said after the quick introductions.
Mike followed Strong into his office. The lieutenant closed the door behind them, waved Mike to one of the chairs in front of his desk, and took the other for himself. Then he got right to the point.
“I understand from Stardust’s report that you helped him out the other night.”
“Yes,” Mike answered. “Someone robbed and assaulted one of the employees at the club where he works.”
“And you stepped in with the assist. Stardust appreciates that. And so do I.”
Mike wasn’t sure that Stardust appreciated his help after the grudging thanks he’d given, but he let that go unmentioned. “I was happy to help. I couldn’t stand by while someone was in trouble.”
A satisfied smile spread across the lieutenant’s face.
“You know what you sound like.”
Mike laughed. “I don’t think helping out one person one time makes me a hero. It was all spur of the moment. A random bystander probably would have done the same. With that being said, I do want to join your team.”
“Excellent!” Strong said, clapping his hands together once.
