Delectable 04 - Gingerbread Palace by EM Lynley

Author:EM Lynley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE mood was somber after Alex and Lacey left.

“Flint?” Captain Riggs sat down at Kevin’s table. “Last I heard they were waiting on simulations and some lab tests. Why are they calling him in for another interview?”

“Why are you asking me?” Before the words were out, Kevin knew it was the wrong answer. “Sir,” he added belatedly. That never hurt.

“Don’t fucking ‘sir’ me, Flint. What did you do?”

“My job, sir.”

“And what specifically did you say or do that got Arson curious?”

“The investigator asked me a few questions and I answered them.”

“What questions and what answers?” Riggs’s brows connected and Kevin wouldn’t have been surprised to see lightning shooting out of his eyes.

Kevin explained. Perez and Taylor stared the whole time.

“Do you honestly think he burned his place down?” Riggs asked.

“No.”

“Then why did you say anything?”

“Because I’m not the one who makes that call. I am supposed to relay information to the arson squad. Sir.”

Riggs let out a breath. “My office. Now.”

Kevin followed him downstairs and sat as Riggs shut the door with more force than Kevin liked.

“Flint, technically, I can’t fault you for this particular incident….”

The pause indicated there were others, but Kevin ignored the implication.

“But you don’t have to follow every single reg, in every single situation. You have to learn when to let the little things slide.”

“Are you saying they aren’t rules? Just guidelines?” He took a chance with the joke and knew he could get written up for insubordination. “Could you explain, sir?”

Riggs shook his head but a shadow of a smile crossed his face. “When it’s a matter of safety, the law, or life and death, then don’t bend the rules. Those things are vital. But little stuff you can cut someone some slack now and then. A guy doesn’t pay back a shift swap now and then, or A Shift drinks your banana smoothie. Let it go.”

“What happens if I let something go and another guy or an officer catches it?” Kevin wasn’t sure why he’d said that out loud to his CO. It was something he worried about all the time. It must be the exhaustion and schedule shifting and Alex Bancroft and….

“Ah. You think you need to live up to some standard of perfection because you’re a Flint?”

Kevin didn’t reply. He stared straight ahead and waited for the captain to continue.

“Look, Kevin. You’re a good firefighter. You know what to do and when to do it, and until the other day I never saw you slip up. But you don’t have to compensate for the occasional slip by being a bastard the rest of the time. You’ve got commendations and awards for service and bravery, but those don’t get you ahead in the department. Being a guy your crew likes and respects is key. Without respect from your peers, you will not make it to the next level. And that means more than respect for how you handle the hose or ladder. It means as a man. And not just a man they want to go into danger with.

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