Page 87 of Burn Protocol

Rodriques and Sanchez, the lieutenant from Rescue 4, are already waiting in the small office when I lead Tommy inside. His nose immediately scrunches up and he crosses his arms in front of his chest. I leave the door open and take my place at the table. When I motion for him to sit, his eyes blaze at me. All the kindness drains from his face and is replaced by a vision of pure hatred.

“What the fuck is all this?”

“Sit your ass down, Tommy,” Rodriques snarls.

This time I do stay quiet. My stare is as neutral as I can keep it. Tommy’s gaze darts through the room and his breathing is shallow. He’s like an animal caught in the headlights.

“I want to know what’s going on,” he demands again.

“Why don’t you take a seat, Valesco, so we can talk about it?” Sanchez’s voice doesn’t leave any room for argument and Tommy deflates. Wearily, he walks over to a chair and pulls it out. His eyes stay on mine as he sits down.

“Good,” Sanchez cuts through the tension. “Valesco, you wanted to know what is going on, but do you have any idea why we could be here?”

Tommy doesn’t turn his head when he speaks. He simply keeps staring at me, his lips pulled into a snarl. There is nothing left of the warm and friendly receptionist that I know him to be. The one who I’d never suspect would do me dirty. The man in front of me is petty and almost pathetic even.

“I bet it’s because of her,” he hisses, nodding at me.

“In a way,” Sanchez shrugs. “Want to elaborate?”

“No need, she knows what she did.”

I raise my eyebrow. “What I did? We are not here for me, Valesco.” I drag out his name, and I see him wince at the sound.

“So this isn’t about me telling the Chief about your affair with the reporter?”

His eyes bore into mine. Each syllable a challenge. I feel my jaw tense up, even if I try to keep my face impassive.

“In a way it is,” I reply. My voice is calm. “But you didn’t just speak to the Chief, Tommy. You used Maya’s good name for your own gain. And in the process you humiliated her, and me.”

He scoffs and shakes his head. “You did that all by yourself.”

Nando slams his fist against the table so hard that I jump at the sound. He has pushed himself off the chair and his chest is heaving now.

“Don’t play dumb, rata,” he hisses between his clenched teeth.

“Rodriques…” I warn him low and slow.

“Did you really think we wouldn’t hear about all the rumors you tried to spread about Elena?”

My head whips up. Rumors about me? But Nando only has eyes for the receptionist.

“That we didn’t hear about how you want to get into Maya’s pants? These women are our family, ¡Joder!”

“Our family?” Tommy’s voice comes out in a squeak. “They shouldn’t even be in here. The station is no place for women. But because of… things like that…” he nods in my direction, “I am stuck behind a fucking desk all day.”

My jaw goes slack at the confession, but he doesn’t stop there.

“And she wasn’t satisfied with taking my job. No, she also has to take my woman.”

“Your woman?” I spit, the sudden rage flooding my body like a flash fire. “There is nothing of Maya that belongs to you, or anybody else for that matter. She is her own person, you filthy little…”

“¡Basta, Elena!”

All faces whip toward the door, where Chief Salisar now stands in the frame. His large posture takes up most of the space. His eyes are on me. Blazing, but not with anger—protection. He is stopping me from saying anything that could be used against me.

“Sir, can we help you?” Sanchez offers casually, as if this conversation is an everyday occurrence.

“Yes. I expect a report from you three on my desk at the end of the day. Valesco, clean out your locker. You are on administrative leave until you can be transferred to another department.” Salisar slowly turns his head, his voice sharp.