There could be no uncertainty in my body language. “If I’d insisted on leaving during the worst storm of the year, they would have been suspicious.”
Captain Delaney’s eyebrows drew down even further.
It was a wonder the man could see at all. “And the other?”
He tapped his clasped hands on the file. “I have printouts of your recent transmissions. It’s… disturbing.”
A rush of anger so potent I could have easily turned into a fire-breathing dragon threatened to send me across the desk to shake the insufferable man.
“You told me to do whatever it took.”
The low, controlled tone must have surprised him, because he finally met my eyes. “You have failed to successfully send a man in. That’s why you allowed me to try. I’m sure you thought I would fail as well and you’d finally be able to consider me a washout as a detective and send me on my way. But I’m in.”
Damn him.
Damn all of them for being so selfish and condescending that they could not see my value.
Damn them for making my life a living hell.
“All I ever wanted was to be a detective. I worked my ass off to be here, and I deserve this chance as much as anyone else.”
More than anyone else.
“I put up with their bullshit every day. I listen to them make rude comments and snide remarks because I have tits and a vagina. And I see you sit in here, listening but never correcting them. This is my shot, and you’re going to let me shoot it.”
I’d never spoken to him, or anyone else, like this.
But I’d be damned to the darkest pits of hell before I let him pull me off this case because of my conduct when his little pets ran around acting worse than criminals and he didn’t say a damned fucking word.
“Noel—”
“It’s Detective.” I bit out the words between clenched teeth. “You call every single fucking man in this building Detective. You’ll do the same for me.”
His face went crimson. “Be that as it may, there’s still the issue of your recent transmissions.”
“I’m doing my job.” I controlled my voice and willed my hands to stop clenching into fists. “You can try and condemn me for what you heard on the wire, but what I’m doing is working. I’m doing what has to be done to ensure they don’t kick me out.”
They nearly did that first night.
I hesitated to bring that up, knowing he’d use it against me.
The red stain on his cheeks spread across his face.
Captain Delaney stood. “Want me to add disrespectful and insubordinate to your file?”
“Only if you want me to add it to yours.” A thrill of power raced through me.
He needed me for this job.
He’d never willingly say it out loud, but it was true either way.
An image of Rafe’s pretend cruelty popped into my head.
None of them would treat me this way.
And none of them would let anyone treat them with such disrespect.
What if by staying silent, I was accepting their behavior?
