“But you’re the one I want.”
“I understand. However, there’re a number of captains who’d be extremely annoyed to see this opportunity go to a lieutenant and, in particular, to see it go to me, as they feel I get more than my fair share of the attention as it is.” She decided using the term attention whore to describe their feelings about her wouldn’t be appropriate with the mayor. “I believe Captain Michelle Ruiz, who commands our Emergency Response Team, would be a much better choice. I’m needed in Homicide with two big cases currently in the works and?—”
“Take a breath, Lieutenant. I hear you, and I’ll extend the offer to Captain Ruiz.”
“Thank you,” Sam said with a deep sigh of relief.
“You’re an odd duck, Lieutenant,” Brewster said with a note of humor in her tone. “Most people snap up the lofty positions whether they’re qualified or not.”
“I’m not most people. I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing in Homicide and have zero desire to be promoted. This is my calling, my life’s work, and it’s the only thing in the world I’m good at.”
“Then far be it from me to mess with what’s working. I just hope you recognize the esteem in which I hold you.”
“That’s very kind of you to say, ma’am.”
“You’re the first lady of the United States, ma’am. You don’t need to call me that.”
“I’m speaking to you as my boss, and as such, you are ma’am to me.”
“You could call me Monique.”
“Only if you call me Sam.”
“Deal. I understand our friend Deputy Chief McBride is a new mother this morning and that Chief Farnsworth is eager to get back to work.”
“Yes, we’re thankful that they and their faithful admin, Helen, are doing okay and that the baby was safely delivered six weeks early.”
“I’ve made the full resources of the District government available to Acting Chief Malone and will ensure the repairs to the building are made promptly.”
“Thank you. Everyone here will appreciate that.”
“Even if you’re not our acting deputy chief, please call me if there’s anything you or anyone on the MPD team needs.”
“I’ll do that. Shall I put you through to Captain Ruiz?”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“If you could mention that I recommended her for the position, that might help to smooth another situation I’m dealing with internally.”
“Understood. Will do.”
“Have a nice day, Monique.”
“You do the same, Sam.”
Sam put the call on hold, pressed the transfer button and, after looking up Ruiz’s extension, put through the call, hoping she hadn’t fucked it up. Then she let out a giddy laugh at how she’d successfully killed two birds with one suggestion.
“Why are you laughing like a lunatic?” Malone asked when he came into her office.
“I just took care of some business with Madam Mayor, who is, as we speak, asking Ruiz to be her acting deputy chief and mentioning that it was my idea to ask her.” Sam capped off the comment with her biggest, cheesiest grin. “Alas, I’m entertained by this development.”
“Only you, Holland,” he said with a grunt of laughter.
She dabbed at pretend tears. “The mayor called me an ‘odd duck’ because I’m not interested in being promoted, and honestly, I’ve never felt more complimented.”
“If you’re done congratulating yourself, let’s get you ready to brief the media.”
“Small point of order… In case you may not have noticed, this Russian bombing-slash-Ivanov-murder story intersects with my husband’s office, and there could be questions about that, leaving me to wonder if I’m the best person to brief on this topic. Not that I’m unwilling, mind you. I’m simply mentioning the potential conflict of interest.”
