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“Late night?” Shai asked, taking the open seat on my right. All of our coworkers knew better than to take that seat although Shai was always one of the last to enter the conference room. Even newbies like Aria were aware.
“Something like that,” I muttered.
I wished I’d had a late night. I remembered nights going out with my so-called friends. People I’d met through my ex. People who evidently had considered me disposable after my divorce. Not that some of them didn’t come crawling back when I started making national news with my legal wins.
After I’d lost my family and friends but still had that shiny new job, I’d sought after the most high-profile cases in hopes of that very thing. I wanted them to regret leaving me behind . . . and they did. Except for the people I’d really wanted to prove myself to. Shawna, my ex, and my parents didn’t even make a pretense of caring.
My parents had surprised me most. I thought for sure that when the money began appearing, nothing would be able to keep them away. But I guess in the end they had at least respected me that much. My last words to them had been screamed.If any part of your corrupt souls love me, stay away. Forever.
So they had. And in the end I knew I had no one else to blame for my loneliness. My decisions had brought me right here.
Susie cleared her throat, calling the attention of all those in the meeting. Conversations ceased and all eyes were on our leader: the woman in the power suit who’d given each of us hope for our second, third, or sometimes last chances. The respect for her held by every person in that room was nearly palpable. She had saved each one of us and asked for nothing in return. She only offered more and more opportunities. She was a saint who had somehow overcome one of the greatest pains known to man, and now spent her life helping others to do the same.
“Good to have you back,” Susie said pointedly to Aria.
The room erupted in cheers. We’d all worked that never-ending night. Some of us were closer to Aria than others, but each of us had been personally invested in saving one of our own. Seeing Aria back in her chair in that conference room was like a trophy of our win.
“But it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” Susie said as she widened her eyes, willing the tears to evaporate. No one blamed her. We knew she cared for all of us, but Aria was her blood.
Susie’s assistant, Tina, began passing papers around the room. Most of our communication was virtual, so actual handouts meant something. I wasn’t sure what, but it was out of the norm.
“I want you to keep this sheet Tina is giving you posted somewhere you’ll see it every day. This is our new company policy. Anyone who doesn’t follow it—you’re out. We aren’t giving second chances on this one, folks. I care for each of you too much to allow this to ever happen again.”
Susie had attempted the last sentence in a lighter tone because Aria’s cheeks had become a bright red at some point during the speech. Susie seemed to notice her niece’s discomfort at the same time I had.
“This new policy is not to say that anyone who may not have followed this protocol in the past did anything wrong. This is my oversight and I take full responsibility. This is me learning from my own actions. No one deserved what happened to them. If anyone is at fault, it’s me.” Susie said this to all but focused the last part on Aria.
Aria gave a swift nod but kept her eyes lowered, seeming uncomfortable with the attention of the whole room on her. Who would have thought there would be so many downsides to being kidnapped even after being rescued? Or in Aria’s case, kicked butt and escaped.
I quickly scanned the paper. I had a feeling I’d be memorizing it soon if I posted it on the wall of my cubicle. I tended to read the few things on my walls over and over, anytime I needed a break from all of the paperwork swamping me. Which was often. Susie had told me to take time off with the rest of my team, so I had, but today wasn’t going to be fun catching up on all the paperwork I’d neglected while working in the field.
I saw something about teams never being in less than twos, clearing a room of combatants anytime one was in enemy territory even if the room seemed harmless, and calling in for backup in nearly every situation. That last one had about twelve addendums.
Susie was right. Aria’s situation might have highlighted our need, but these were things we should have implemented long before. We’d become too lax, relying on the fact that we were the best of the best. But two of the best were always better than one. And many of the best were better than two.
Out of the corner of my eye I tried to gauge how Aria was doing. But all I could see was the top of her head. She pretended to be intent on reading the paper she’d been handed. I knew this had to suck.
“I’m glad Aria wasn’tonthe toilet when she’d been taken. Then we’d now have new rules about how to take a pee,” I muttered loudly enough for just my team to hear.
Ella let out a single laugh before trying to cover it with a cough. Shai shook her head but I saw her lips twitch with a smile. Most important were Aria’s shaking shoulders. My job had been done.
“Any questions?” Susie asked, her eyes narrowing toward me. She had to know I was behind our team’s distraction but didn’t call me out on it.
The room stayed quiet so I was guessing there weren’t any.
Susie pulled her gaze away from me, glancing around the room, and then nodded, seeming satisfied.
“The next item of business I’m sure many of you have already heard about. Our case is no longer active. They haven’t closed it, but the police force has moved on to other things,” Susie said, sighing.
A few disparaging remarks about the Chief, or just cops in general, were uttered from all parts of the room.
“Let’s not go there,” Susie said, raising her hand. “I don’t agree with this decision, but we will not speak ill of our friends even if they don’t work with us here in this office.”
This was why I loved Susie. She was a combination of kind and no-nonsense—the perfect mix, if you asked me.
Shai had texted us the day before about the cops’ decision, so none of our team was surprised. We were disappointed, and I wasn’t sure how Aria was taking it, but we understood there was nothing we could do . . . other than solve this case ourselves.
“I’ve got some feelers out to see if we can get any of the case files, but so far I’ve been denied access. I’m sure I’ll wear them down eventually,” Susie added.
