I get not getting special favors for being pregnant. Truly. I’ve never expected them. But beingpunishedfor it?
For daring to switch shifts, for daring to have a life outside these walls? That feels like a bit of an overkill, even for this place.
Maybe it’s time to approach the Chief. If this were anyone else, if I didn’t personally know him, I would’ve done it already. But I don’t want to drag him into politics unless I have to.
There’s always HR, but that’s the nuclear option.
I’m distracted the rest of my shift, not enough to make mistakes, but enough that my thoughts keep looping.
Still, I don’t miss Patrick’s press conference on my phone. Well… not his, technically. It’s the departments.
The lieutenant stands at the podium, taking credit like, she always does. Then she steps aside and hands it off to Patrick for the hard part, the questions.
My chest tightens as I watch Patrick step up to the podium. Last night our talk felt really good, like we were finally moving in the right direction. I used to think we had the perfect marriage, but perfection is just an illusion. I’d rather be a work in progress with him than pretend we’re flawless.
Patrick’s height dwarfs the mic. He has to straighten it and lean down just to speak. He clears his throat.
“Yes.” He smiles awkwardly at the raised hands. “Yes, you,” he points.
A reporter stands. “Is it true that while you brought Millie Stevens home, another young woman wound up dead due to lack of resources?”
Patrick clears his throat again. “We-uh-we had detectives on both cases.”
“Do you have any suspects in her death?”
“I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”
“We don’t pay you to watch TikToks on your phone.”
I jump before I realize the voice isn’t coming from the livestream, it’s behind me.
I turn. I have no reason to feel guilty, so I don’t bother pretending.
“It’s my break,” I say flatly. “I can watch TikToks if I want.”
Dr. Murphy gives me a smile that is somehow both polite and smug. “Did you see the new schedule?”
I nod once and go right back to my phone. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of reacting.
“Well,” he says, voice going higher, “I trust there’ll be no confusion going forward. Consistency benefits everyone.”
I keep scrolling, pretending to watch Patrick answer another press question, though I can’t hear a word. My pulse is thundering too loudly.
Murphy finally shifts, tone dipping into false concern.
“With your… responsibilities at home, I imagine structure might help.”
I turn slowly. Very slowly.
“Dr. Murphy,” I say quietly, “if you’re trying to help, don’t.”
His smile tightens. “I assure you, this is equitable-”
“No,” I cut in. “It isn’t. But I’m not going to argue about it in the middle of my break.”
His brows lift, surprised I didn’t explode.
I tuck my phone into my pocket.
