The Next Generation: The Legacy (Book 3)

Chapter 4 - The benefit of the doubt.

Chante

I was pleasantly surprised when my first official shift ended, and I was still alive. It had been such an eventful day, that it felt as if I had done the job my entire life. I handed in all of our equipment while Officer Campbell parked the squad car, and I was on my way to meet with the captain when I saw him walking into her office. I hung back, not wanting to interrupt them, but the captain waved at me to join them.

My first thought was that they were going to sack me! It was the only reason I could think about Officer Campbell going and seeing the captain!

“Freddie tells me you had an eventful first day, Simmons.” Captain Bradley smiled. Her reputation was well-known in the academy. She was a tough captain that demanded excellence from all her officers, but she was fair.

“Yes, but I suspect it’s all part of the job.” I nodded and smiled. I wasn’t entirely sure what to say next.

“Well, I thought it would be a good idea to have Officer Campbell here for our meeting since your decision will affect him as well.” She sat down, but he remained standing, so I remained standing.

“What decision?” He frowned as the captain paged through my transfer paperwork and I held my breath.

“Simmons here has requested a transfer.” The captain looked up and frowned, and suddenly I felt like I did the one time I was called to the principal’s office!

“I just thought it would be best. Nobody wants to work with the daughter of a traitor.” I couldn’t look at either of them and silently swore at my father for the millionth time!

“Best for whom?!” Officer Campbell’s furious question made me look up. “Best for any of your fellow officers or you? I’m sorry, but I don’t agree. This station is the best place you could be. Your father was one of us. Okay, he made a huge mistake, and even I have my doubts about you, but this is the best place for you.” His reaction surprised me. He was honest about how he felt about my dad, but at least, he was giving me the benefit of the doubt.

“I tend to agree with Officer Campbell, Chante. There is no better station out there for you. Your father made a mistake, but it was not your mistake. It is not your fault he did what he did, and I know I’m a little biased, but there is no better training officer than Officer Campbell.” She smiled at him and I wondered what their relationship was. As far as I knew, the captain was married to someone else, but you never really know what happened behind closed doors.

“I … I don’t know.” I hesitated.

“Okay, let’s try this. Stay. If you have any problems, then you come straight to me. No matter how small. If it becomes too unbearable for you, then we will revisit the transfer option.” She tilted her head to one side and I sighed deeply before nodding. These people were trying their best in the worst possible circumstances. The least I could do was give them the benefit of the doubt and stay.

“Okay, I’ll stay.” I nodded. I wasn’t the kind of person that took a long time to decide about anything. I believed that one's first instinct about something was usually right. My instincts were telling me that I was safe there. No matter what my father did, and no matter that it was the most dangerous station in the country. My instincts were telling me that I was safe.

Freddie

Okay, so I had a hidden agenda for keeping her there, but I was glad when she decided to stay. After she left Christa’s office, I sat down and Christa poured us a drink from her secret drawer. I gladly took the glass. I wasn’t in a hurry to go home. All that waited there for me was emptiness and loneliness. At least, she had a husband to go home to.

“Now that your rookie is sorted out, how are you doing?” Her eyes said it all. She was just as worried about me as she was about the newbie.

“I’m okay. It was a tough first day, but she was good. She handled herself calmly and followed the procedures to the letter. It meant I could focus on the job at hand and keep both of us safe.” I shrugged.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Christa raised a brow at me and I sighed.

“Yeah, I know. Actually, I was thinking of maybe getting a housemate. You know, just so that the place doesn’t seem so empty.” I sighed and she burst out laughing.

“Is that the only reason, or do you want someone to share a beer with after shift?!” She laughed out loud, but it quickly died down as soon as she saw my sad reaction.

“I guess old habits die hard.” I shrugged. That used to be our thing. The three musketeers. It didn’t matter what time we got home after the shift. Whether it was in the late evening or early morning. We would always have a beer before going to bed. “I miss him.” I sighed while studying the amber liquid in the glass.

“Yeah, I miss him too.” I could hear the sadness in her voice. “But he would absolutely hate this.” She perked up and I laughed. She was right. Miller would have hated seeing us sit around feeling sad that he wasn’t there. That was the reason I came back. I knew he would have hated seeing me waste away my life just because he was no longer there.

“Okay, I had better get out of here before my next shift starts.” I got up and she giggled at the reference. After our first ever shift ended back when we were rookies, I was so pumped I was ready to work another.

“Take care of yourself, Freddie. I really don’t want to lose you.” She walked around the desk and I pulled her into my arms for a hug before leaving. It was a good day. A busy day, but a good day.