"Officer Jackson, answer the question. Why did you spend twenty minutes listening to Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe complaining about their granddaughter after it was confirmed to you she went to a friend's house after a party," the female director asks.
John stands at the door holding the box of sandwiches everyone ordered, still speechless that they started the meeting without him and that she asked him a question immediately upon entering the room. He tries not to look at the smirks from the other officers in the briefing room.
"Officer Jackson, you can put the sandwiches on the table now."
"Thank you." The officers snicker when he puts the food on the back table; he just smiles and swallows his dignity, he doesn't want to make waves.
"Now answer why the department paid for your work hours for a conversation?"
"Well, I..."
"It's Ma'am and don't have your back to me when you address me. You do know how to address your superiors don't you?"
He immediately turns to her. "Yes Ma'am, I didn't..."
"Good, now answer the question officer," she interrupts sharply as the other police officers snicker again.
He stands up straight. "Ma'am, they still seemed upset and I thought calming them down would..."
"Have private conversations on your own time officer," she says with some bark in her voice.
"Yes Ma'am," he says simply. He tells himself to understand her frustration. That she's dealing with a tight budget and recent complaints of unreasonable force from police raids.
"Make it up to the department by passing out everyone's lunch officer...now."
"Yes Ma'am." His understanding depreciates as he turns around and picks up the box.
As he ignores her "things are going to change" speech, he remains calm and puts up a false smile as he starts passes out the sandwiches. When he sees Jackie's turkey and cheese sandwich, his pulse quickens but remains calm.
He looks around and sees that she's sitting in the back bow. Her hair is up in a ponytail, so when he starts walking to her and their eyes meet, he can clearly see her smile at him. As she uncrosses her legs and slowly moves them back and forth he feels butterflies in his stomach.