Chapter 20 #2
Athena’s brain ticked. Everyone said Nolan wanted the office to himself, which is valid.
But they could have been anywhere else—the breakroom, wandering the halls, in harm’s way.
Instead, Booker calls a staff meeting and orders them all to the far side of the building, almost as if he knew it wasn’t safe around the office. Now that’s interesting.
“And Mr. Booker never mentioned Inspector Nolan?” she voiced aloud.
“No,” Velasquez answered with a bewildered look. “And I swear, if I had the slightest suspicion of who caused that fire, I’d be tracking him down myself.” Opening her palms on the table, she added in a small voice. “Now I’m the one under arrest.”
Just then, the door flung open, and Chief Burks stormed in. “Damn it, Carmen!” he vented, red cutting through his deep brown complexion. “You didn’t have to flush your career down the toilet! Why didn’t you come to me for help?”
Bach was on his feet, and Mr. Smith rushed in behind the fire chief. “Come on, Raymond,” Mr. Smith said, taking hold of his arm. “This isn’t helping.”
Velasquez locked gazes with him, tears in her eyes, every muscle drooping. “You weren’t supposed to know. Nobody was. I just needed to get back on my feet. I’m so sorry!”
“Why isn’t her attorney here?” Burks bellowed.
“Mrs. Velasquez waived her right to have a legal representative present,” Harmon said.
“The U.S. Attorney’s office has authorized me to offer her a deal, to show leniency after the assistant chief’s decades of service.
She’ll be barred from ever working for or with the Houston Fire Department again, will be assigned community service, and be placed on probation for two years, but nobody wants to send Ms. Velasquez to prison, especially on account of her youngest child’s condition. ”
Velasquez dropped her gaze and mopped at her tears.
Burks nodded and let out a deep sigh. “We’ll see what can be done about your pension,” he said to Velasquez.
“I can’t promise anything, but we’ll see.
Sorry for busting in on y’all. This is just so …
” He fixed an anguished expression on Velasquez.
She didn’t look up. Turning, Chief Burks vacated the room, and Mr. Smith closed the door behind them.
“Hey, Flash,” Athena said into her cell phone. “What are you doing right now?”
“I’m just over here at the Buffalo Bayou walk, taking Snuffles jogging with me before it turns into an ice-skating rink,” she said, puffing into the phone. “What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you, and it can’t wait,” Athena said in a measured tone. “I might not make it over tonight either, because a lot of apples are falling from the tree.”
“Captain already said it’s all hands on deck tomorrow, so I’ll have to go into the firehouse early anyway. What’s wrong?”
Athena recognized the worried tone in Flash’s voice. She hadn’t mentioned anything being wrong, but Flash could tell. She was intuitive that way.
“I just need to tell you in person, and no,” Athena emphasized, “I do not want to break up with you. Put that thought far from your mind. Can you meet me at Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve? It’s almost halfway between here and there, and dogs are allowed. You know the little bench on the corner?”
“Yeah, I know where that is. We’ll be there ASAP. Are you OK?” The concern in her voice had deepened.
“I am. Thanks, sweetie. See you soon.”
Athena practiced what to say on the drive over, but it didn’t really help. When she told Flash, she watched her pass through several stages of grief.
“No. You’re wrong. She didn’t do that,” she insisted.
Then anger erupted, and with it, Flash flew off the bench.
“Why? Why would she be so stupid? I trusted her, looked up to her. And she took a freakin’ bribe from some crooked plant manager?
I thought I wanted to be like her. Athena, I’m nothing like that.
If I didn’t have a nickel to my name, I’d protect my integrity. ”
“You don’t have children,” Athena said, “a little girl with special needs, and her husband died.”
“Your husband died, and you didn’t enter a life of crime!” She paced while Snuffles cowered in Athena’s lap, worried and afraid, not understanding what was happening. Athena stroked her with a calming touch.
It hurt Athena’s heart to see Flash so upset. “No, but I still had my parents and a driving purpose. I never had to worry about money, and, before you say it, a single mother with children who depend on her must care about money.”
“She won’t have to go to prison, will she?” Flash asked, switching tack. “Not after everything she’s done for the city. It was just looking the other way a couple of times.”
“No. The assistant U.S. attorney offered her a good deal. It’ll be tough for her for a while,” Athena explained.
“She’ll be publicly disgraced, lose her job, and have to find someone who’ll hire a woman near fifty who’s only ever been a firefighter.
Old friends might shun her. She’ll need someone in her corner. ”
“Are you suggesting I stick up for her?” Flash blinked, her jaw dropping as she whipped around to face Athena. Snuffles whined. Flash combed her fingers through her hair, damp with sweat.
“Didn’t she stick up for you?”
Flash huffed out a breath, her shoulders slumping, as she shook her head.
She took several long strides, turned, and plopped onto the bench beside Athena in surrender.
Without jostling Snuffles, Athena slipped an arm around Flash’s waist. Her head fell onto Athena’s shoulder, and they sat quietly for a few minutes.
Flash sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand before petting the dog. Snuffles stretched up, took a few steps, and began licking her tears. The moment was so tender, Athena’s throat choked. No crying, she told herself. There was nothing like the love between a dog and its human.
“When can I see her?” Flash asked. All anger had drained, leaving only sorrow.
“I’ll find out.”
“You’re right. Velasquez will need all the friends she can get. Such a distinguished career destroyed by a lack of judgment.” Lifting her head, Flash sought Athena’s gaze. “Don’t ever let me do something stupid like that.”
A smile quirked Athena’s mouth. “I’ll do my best. But even if you slip up in another way—and it’s bound to happen, as you’re only human—I’ll still love you.”
“Same goes. Thank you for telling me in person, for letting me vent. Now I need to go home and process all this. You’re sure you have to work late?”
“Yeah. More interviews ahead. Deeper dives to run,” Athena said. She brushed her lips to Flash’s. “We aren’t any closer to finding the arsonist, and I really want to before tomorrow. It’s going to be a busy day for you. Will you be able to sleep tonight?”
“I’ll drink a few beers and put on a boring movie. I love you. What’s more, Snuffles loves you. Isn’t that right?” she directed to the pup, smoothing her head with a gentle hand.
Those hands. They knocked down doors, subdued fires, rescued people on the worst day of their lives. They were strong hands and yet could give such pleasure. Tough and tender. That was Flash. How could Athena not love her?
“I am honored to have been accepted into Snuffles’ family.” Athena kissed the dog too.