Page 71 of Can't Help Falling

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“I’ll pass that along to Liz,” he says, with a smirk. “But you should know she almost never listens to a thing I say when it comes to the calendar.”

I shake my head. I’m starting to regret moving back here.

Donoho chuckles. “There’s something else I’ve been thinking about.” His face turns serious again. “You know we could use a new lieutenant.”

“Nah,” I say. “I tried that once. Didn’t go my way.”

He eyes me. “I read the file.”

“Then you know I’m not lieutenant material.”

“Says who?”

“Everyone in Macon?” I say this harshly—harsher than I want.

He sits back in his chair, and I feel like he’s sizing me up.

“I hear things,” he says. “Including things about your former captain.”

I frown. “Oh?”

“Baker? Yeah.” He shakes his head. “Guy’s a class-A jerk. Probably deserved the punch you threw.”

He. . .what? He’s on my side?

“Punches,” I say.

He folds his arms. “Even better.”

“That’s not how the chief saw it.” I have no interest in reliving this.

As if last night’s rehashing of the humiliation of being left at the altar wasn’t enough.

“Talk me through it,” he says. “Your side.”

I sigh.

“Humor me. It’s a slow morning.”

“You have my file,” I say.

He nods.

“So, you know—”

“I know about the learning difficulties, yes.” He studies me.

I pause. I don’t like talking about this stuff.

I give my head a slight shake. “Baker knew about it too, apparently.”

“And. . .?”

I grit my teeth, and I can feel my muscles tense.

“I overheard him talking about another guy at the station. Some kid, just a probie, who’d asked for accommodations. He was diabetic and needed a service animal.”

Donoho nods, seemingly getting it.

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