“Still, she didn’t consult or share her plan with you.” Cordova flipped a page.
“There was not an opportunity due to our impending deaths.”
“Then there’s this last paragraph in conclusions. It says here you recommend ‘Firefighter McClunis be put on regular firefighting duties, having shown appropriate situational awareness and ability to respond to high pressure situations.’”
“I stand by my report.” Mateo hoped his voice communicated conviction.
“How many times did she fuck you to get a recommendation like that? Probably what she did with Hector.” Cordova started crumpling up the report.
“Not once. Before you rip that up, I should tell you I hand delivered a copy to Operations Chief Hastings yesterday.” Not the usual protocol, since the captain typically reviewed reports before being forwarded to HQ.
Cordova paused. “And why did you give it to him?”
“Because he asked for it. You’re not the only one who has friends in high places.”
“You did that on purpose.”
Mateo smiled, not doing a great job of imitating the guileless grin of Hastings. “You’re right. The brass is watching. Besides, isn’t it what you want? Have her experience real firefighting and find out if she really can hack it.”
“Do you understand what you’ve done?” Cordova pointed out the window where Leslie was visible, mopping the floor in the barn. “That is the fucking grizzly bear cub disguised as an easy piece of ass.”
“She’s a firefighter, just like any other.”
“She’s not. Look at her.” He waited for Mateo to focus on Leslie. She moved nothing like the men of the station, swift, svelte, and feminine with one stupid mop. “Don’t tell me you haven’t imagined her naked. With a bitchy mouth like hers, she’s got to be a fucking wildcat in bed—too small to be a grizzly bear. Even if she’s actually a dyke, I bet you could straighten her out if you got her naked. Our very own station Lothario.”
“Men and women have worked together in the past. They work fine in PD.” Cordova would not be privy to his own private doubts about McClunis’s abilities to be a solid firefighter. But it wasn’t his choice, it was hers.
“This is not the same. You know what a woman like this does? She sets men against each other. After you bang her, she’ll move onto blowing one of the guys, and we’ll have fistfights over who she ‘belongs’ to. It’ll be that show the nurses from MetroGen bitch about—ER—all rotating beds. Everybody sleeps with everybody. It would destroy what makes this a team and a family. She will destroy everything Cleveland Fire stands for.”
“She’s one person. Out of a thousand.”
“She’s the start of a disease that’ll destroy us cell by cell, brick by brick. How many lives will it cost us to learn you don’t need to fuck with something that already works in the name of progress?” Cordova threw the report in the trash.
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we? I stand my recommendation. And in the interest of fairness, Chief Hastings expects me to do my regular duties, which includes making shift assignments.”
“You ready to risk her life?” Cordova tapped on the window, redirecting the conversation to Leslie.
“I’m ready to risk everyone’s life. Because that’s my job,” Mateo reminded his superior of what their actual job entailed. Not jockeying for political positions and higher appointments. Saving lives was their job. “I’ll see myself out, sir.”
He walked out and calmly closed the door. If anyone were nearby, this had been a regular conversation between the captain and his favored lieutenant. Moving to the barn, he took a minute to watch McClunis clean.
The barn was pretty empty, as none of the others wanted to be around her. He indulged himself to admire the differences between them. She truly did flow; grace, and gumption, so not a guy.
He could admit it. Leslie McClunis had the certain something that drew men to her, right until they saw her claws. Isadora had it in a smaller quantity, but it was that mysterious female elixir guys flocked to, even when they shouldn’t.
Like now.
“Good news, McClunis.” He made his presence known by entering.
“The barn is clean enough?” She set the mop down.
“It’s never clean enough. But even better, I spoke with Cordova. The Medic 15 schedule is being reworked. We’ll be on Engine or Ladder.”
“We will?” For a second, she smiled, and it was almost a starburst. However,, she promptly schooled her expression. “Thank you for informing me, sir.”
“You’ve been here a month. It’s standard,” he lied. “I would suggest covering the Browns football games for the guys. Easy way to gain some goodwill. And you can stop wearing the rape whistle.”
“It broke when I ran from the bear.” She shrugged.
