“Right before everything happened,” he chose his words carefully, “I got a 911 call. A girl; she was legitimately in trouble. She needs help and I don’t think we can get anyone to her with all that’s happening.”
“I really fail to understand what that has to do with you,” Klein replied. Parker noticed a heavy dusting of dandruff on her shoulders.
“I’m it,” Parker said. “I’m all she has.” He was surprised at the intensity of his commitment. Of his voice. Somewhere in the course of this, without him even noticing, he’d become fully invested in the wellbeing of the girl. “The world has gone to shit, there is no help for her, and I’m not needed here.”
Klein looked at him, thinly veiled contempt in her eyes. Scratch that, Parker thought. It wasn’t particularly veiled, thinly or in any other way. She started talking, aiming her words in spikes of distain.
“In the case of a city-wide emergency, I decide who is needed. That’s always been your problem, Parker,” she went on. “You always seem to forget who runs the show on swing shift in this center.” She drew herself up, waddle quivering with indignation. “Besides,” she half snarled, “you’re no hero. I know about the boy you shot. You’re no longer a cop, and that girl, whatever trouble she’s in, is better off without you.” Her face fairly gleamed from the red spots rising on her cheeks.
Parker felt the old rage rising up in him. The rage that was now such a constant companion, ever since Sara’s disappearance. His right hand balled up into a fist. His heart sped up again in his chest and he narrowed his eyes.
He inhaled and willed the adrenaline out of his body.
Don’t respond to Klein; she’s nothing, nobody, he thought. I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the only thing I can do. Another young girl was not going to be lost on his watch. It wasn’t going to happen; he wasn’t going to let it.
“Goodbye,” he said firmly.
“I’ll have your job!” Klein practically screeched as he began walking to the door. He felt the eyes of his colleagues on him as he left. “I’ll have your job for this!”
“Take it,” he muttered, and swung open the door.
Without looking back, he crossed the threshold in front of him.
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