“Always do,” his dad replied. “I take it you’re in town for a while.”
Carrera nodded. “It’s good to be home.”
“It’s good to have you home, son.”
Slash
At just pastfour that afternoon, Slash walked into Cooper’s office. Brit, Addison, and Emerson were already there. The stage had been set, the plan in place. Now, it was up to them to carry it out.
She shut the door and extended her hand to Cooper. “I’m the last person to get mushy, but I’m going to miss you guys. If you give away my job?—”
“That would never happen,” Cooper said as they shook hands. “You’re irreplaceable. You and I go back?—”
“Way back,” she said and swiped a tear.
Brit hugged her. “I won’t let anyone take your desk.”
“We’ll see you Saturday at Brit and Rebel’s dinner party,” Addison added.
“Not if I’m working,” Slash said.
“Tell Karen Woodside you’ve got a pre-existing commitment,” Brit said. “You’re already giving one-hundred-percent by even doing this. You deserveonenight with friends.”
“I agree,” Cooper said. “Who will I do a Jell-O shooter with?”
Slash laughed. “We haven’t done those in years. Alright, I’m in for Saturday.” After steeling her spine, she said, “Let’s do this.”
Cooper held out his Glock. “I’m going to ask for your weapon, so give mine back to me.”
She tucked it into the back of her pants.
Cooper opened the door. “How dare you talk to me that way!”
“You deserve it!” Slash said. “I worked that case for months and you’re taking it away from me?”
“It’s taking you too damn long,” Cooper yelled. “You’ve got too many cases and you’re spread too thin. Plus, we’ve had some complaints about the way you’re talking to witnesses.”
“You need to do a reality check.” Slash carried the argument into the hallway. “We’re done with this convo, and I’m not giving you that case.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Cooper said, following her. “I took it, and if you continue disrespecting me, you won’t have a caseload.”
“Fuck you, Cooper Grant!”
Providence came rushing around the corner. “I can hear you on the other side of the building! What’s going on here?”
“Mind your damn business,” Slash hollered. “You don’t manage the Ops, but maybe you should because he sucks at it.”
“That’s it! I’ve had it,” Cooper exclaimed. “You’re terminated for insubordination.”
“You’re firing me? Are you out of your mind? You don’t need a reality check, mister, you need an effin’ sanity check!”
Cooper got in her face. “Give me your weapon.”
Glaring, she handed his Glock back to him.
As she stormed past the employees who stood there with their mouths agape, Slash shouted, “I’m fired, so you dumb asses better watch what you say or do. If you step out of line by a damn inch, he’ll fire you too!”
She strode down the hall, grabbed her handbag from her office, and hoofed it outside.
