"I called you in to give you an update on the Hayes situation." Morrison leans back in his chair. "After your statements and some additional investigation, we've made a decision."
This is it. This is where I find out if telling the truth was worth it, or if I just destroyed my career for nothing.
"Hayes is being terminated from the police department." Morrison's words are clipped, professional. "Effective immediately."
Relief floods through me so intensely I nearly cry. "Really?"
"Really." Morrison picks up a file from his desk. "After your complaint, we looked into his personnel record more thoroughly. Turns out there were several other female officers who left this department over the past few years. When we contacted them, three came forward with similar stories about Hayes."
"Three?" My voice is barely a whisper.
"Three women who experienced sexual harassment and unwanted advances from Hayes during their time here." Morrison's expression is grim. "None filed official complaints because they were afraid they wouldn't be believed. That their careers would be destroyed instead of his."
Danny's hand tightens on mine. I can feel the rage rolling off him. Rage at a system that let Hayes operate for years, rage at the women who felt they had no choice but to stay silent.
"Why didn't anyone investigate him before?" I ask.
"Because no one reported it officially." Morrison's voice carries frustration. "Without a formal complaint, there was nothing to investigate. Hayes was careful. Never left physical evidence. Never harassed women when witnesses were around."
"Until me," I say.
"Until you." Morrison meets my eyes. "You were brave enough to speak up. And your witness—" he glances at Danny, "—corroborated your version of events. That gave us the leverage we needed to dig deeper."
"What happens to Hayes now?" Danny asks, his voice hard.
"He's been blacklisted from law enforcement in this county. If he tries to get hired anywhere else, his termination will show up on background checks." Morrison closes the file. "He's done. His career is over."
Good. The thought is vicious and satisfying. Hayes deserves to lose everything for what he did to me and those other women.
"What about Collins?" Danny asks. "Is she still on administrative duty?"
Morrison looks at me. "No. You're cleared to return to active duty immediately. Your record will show that you acted appropriately in a difficult situation."
More relief. I can barely breathe through it.
"However," Morrison continues, "given the circumstances, I'm recommending you be reassigned to a different partner. Someone with more experience who can help you develop your skills without..." he trails off.
"Without sexually harassing me?" I finish.
"Yes." Morrison doesn't smile, but there's something almost approving in his eyes. "You did good, Collins. You stood up when it mattered. That takes guts."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet." Morrison's expression turns serious. "Your relationship with Mr. Wells is going to cause problems. Other officers won't trust you. They'll question whether your loyalty is to the badge or to the Savage Riders."
"My loyalty is to doing the right thing," I say firmly. "Same as it's always been."
"And if those two things conflict?"
I glance at Danny, then back at Morrison. "Then we'll figure it out. Together."
Morrison sighs. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"I do." And I mean it. Danny and I might not make sense on paper, but we make sense to each other. And that's what matters.
"Dismissed," Morrison says. "Report for duty tomorrow morning. Seven AM."
We stand, and Danny guides me out of the office with his hand on my back. Once we're outside in the parking lot, away from listening ears, I finally let myself react.
