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“Yet you call it waste,” he muses. “What could they have spent significant money on that you think completely unnecessary?”
“The former chief’s salary,” I answer without pause. “That’s an easy cut, right there. Chant was amping her wage up fifty percent, year on year. There were no checks or balances in place, Mayor. No one was watching her, so she effectively took the building’s cash for herself. My starting salary here is a mere thirty percent of what she was making, and still, it’s a reasonable amount to live on. So the remaining seventy percent—and the additional fifty percent raise she would’ve given herself this year—more than covers a new tech for the lab. In fact, I could probably bring in two,” I laugh. “Though,” I lower my voice and study my door, like I think a horde of my staff will come barreling in. “I won’t tell them that. Not yet. Anyway, I’ve added all this to a report for your perusal—”
“You don’t have to run it by me,” he inserts. “Not really. I only want to know that your building is running on, or under budget. How you spend it is your business as chief.”
“I’d prefer total transparency,” I counter. “It’s how I work best, knowing there’s an audit waiting just around the corner. In honor of that transparency, I should tell you that I also intend to buy my staff a new coffee machine.”
Silence hangs for a beat, the mayor’s breath the only thing I hear.
Finally, he breaks. “A new coffee machine?”
“Yes. Doctor Emeri killed our last one, and though I’ve enjoyed watching her squirm under the weight of her guilt these past weeks, I also need the caffeine, so I plan to take a corner of the budget and buy us a new machine. Either that, or sneak down to the lab and take theirs.”
I might be wrong, but I swear I hear the smirk on his lips when he asks, “You would face Doctor Raquel’s wrath?”
“For coffee? I’ve faced worse for less.” Then I grin. “Now, if that’s all, I have a meeting—”
“What ofyoursalary, Chief Mayet?”
“Mine?” I sit back in my chair and frown, forced to admit it was wishful thinking that I might get to end our call so soon. “What about it?”
“You’re on a starter salary, not making much more than anyone else on your payroll. It would be appropriate to budget a little for yourself.”
“Why would I do that? I’m no more worthy than anyone else, and I don’t relish the idea of taking cash resources for myself when they could assist in the running of this building.”
“I disagree with your sentiment,” he rumbles. “You not only do the work of a medical examiner, like those who work for you, but you’re also their chief. You schedule staff and mediate issues. You take responsibility for dozens of employees who work beneath you… and I know for a damn fact you’re frequently on the front line, despite the privilege you hold to sit in your office and delegate that work to your subordinates.”
“Mayor Lawrence—”
“You had surgery only a month ago, Mayet. Your body is still healing. Recent news coverage shows your shoulder is still in a sling. You pay yourself a pittance, and yet, you keep the George Stanley running. Eventually, you’ll realize that responsibility does not match the pay, and it’s at that point you may consider going elsewhere.”
“No, Mayor, I won’t—”
“I’d like for your salary to reflect your output, Chief Mayet. Inthisdraft of the budget. If the spreadsheet you send over does not include a line for yourself, then I’m rejecting it.”
“Mayor! We can’t afford—”
“To lose you,” he insists before I can finish my protest. “My word is final, Chief. Fix it, or the rest of your budget goes unapproved. Without my stamp, you don’t get your extra tech—and if you steal Raquel’s coffee machine without first dropping a new tech in her lap to distract her, I worry I’ll lose you both to the war that’ll envelop your facility.”
“You give her too much credit,” I drawl.
On the other side of my wall—which is more like a big window to the inner workings of the ninth floor—Aubree strolls back toward me from the main office area, wearing a ‘hurry up, we’re starting without you,’ look.
“Mayor Lawrence, I appreciate your concern, but Raquel is not scary. And no matter what, there will be no war in my building.”
“I would hope not.” He stops and smiles. “Fix the budget, Mayet, and send it over for me to check.”
“You said only minutes ago I don’t have to run it by you so long as we remain on or under budget.” I sit back and cross one leg over the other. “What’s to stop me from reverting to that rule and simply running my facility the way Chant did?”
“The fact I’ve changed my mind,” he sniggers. “I choose to take a keen interest in this, Chief. Consider me your auditor. So fix your report by the end of this week and show me you can still afford that coffee machine.”
I snort so my chest and belly both bounce. I like him. I really do.
But then he asks, “How’s your arm? Are you taking your pain medication as prescribed?” and I amend my previous opinion.
I like himmost of the time.
“I’m feeling great,” I half-lie, “and hope to be back to normal very soon. My surgeon is pleased with my progress, and my gatekeeper—” I stop and smirk “Sorry, I mean myhusband, ensures I’m resting when required.”
