Franklin stiffened in his seat. “I willnotbe unfaithful to your mother. I pledged my fidelity to her forever.”
“Forever didn’t last,” Justice pointed out. “Mom said you shared an active sex life. She wouldn’t want you to be celibate, Dad.”
Color shot into Franklin’s face. “She said that, huh? Well, your mother was so beautiful I couldn’t keep my hands off her. Would you like to know where you were conceived? On top of the…”
“Uh, no, Dad. That’s just…ew… I don’t even want to think about you and Mom doing the deed on top of the…whatever you were about to say.”
The subject was dropped as they drove aimlessly around Laguna Beach, noting the sights and getting their bearings. On their way back to the hotel, they stopped to get burgers, fries, and Cokes. After they ate, Franklin took a nap while Justice watched a little TV before showering again and dressing for his meeting with Chief Ferguson. His hands shook so badly that he had difficulty tying the black tie he wore with his white dress shirt.
Franklin heard him swear beneath his breath and approached him, brushing his hands aside. “I’m worried you’ve taken on too much. Look, I will admit I want you safe behind your desk at home, working cyber security or something like that, not running an entire police department with everything it entails.” He paused as he adjusted the tie. “And if I’m being completely honest, I…I just want you home. Period.”
When Justice remained silent, he gripped his shoulders. “Talk to me, son. Do you have a migraine?”
“No. Just good old-fashioned nerves.”
“Would you tell me otherwise?”
Justice offered a slight smile. “Probably not.”
“If you begin to feel overwhelmed, walk away. Tell Madam Secretary to find someone else. Or volunteer to be an ordinary cop.”
Ordinary. He’d never been an ordinaryanythingin his entire life. Not when it came to his superior intellect, academic achievements, talent on the football field, or career in the Navy. He lifted his chin a little. “I’m good. But if something feels off, I’ll reconsider.”
“All right.” Franklin stepped back and appraised his son’s firm jaw and determined eyes. “Ready?” he asked in a quiet voice.
“Yeah. Let’s do this.”
* * *
The façade of the Laguna Beach Police Department was reminiscent of California’s Spanish missions. The McQuaids stepped into the busy lobby where officers came and went, and others were taking statements from citizens and handling phone calls. And then something unexpected happened. Officers snapped to attention. They saluted the McQuaids, and chorused one after the other, “Welcome, Lieutenant Commander. Rear Admiral. Thank you for your service to our country.”
Hot emotion swelled in both men as they shook hands with the officers and returned their greetings with heartfelt gratitude and thanks. One female officer, who wore her bright red hair in a tight bun, and whose hazel eyes appraised the McQuaids, detached herself from the others and approached them with her hand outstretched.
“Good afternoon, Lieutenant Commander. I’m Sergeant Tawny Westfall.” They shook hands with a firm grip. “Please follow me. Chief Ferguson is waiting for you.”
“Nice to meet you, Sergeant.” Justice glanced back at his father who nodded his head in the affirmative, a sign he understood to mean that Franklin wasn’t going anywhere, that he’d be there for him if he needed him.
Sergeant Westfall led Justice through a maze of corridors, smiling and nodding at officers and chattering a mile a minute. He barely heard what she said because his nerves were skittering in time to her chatter. Finally, they came to a large, glassed-in office and she said, “Here we are.”
Justice thanked her and opened the door. Attired in her formal black uniform, the color of the Laguna Beach Police Department, outgoing Chief Ferguson moved from behind her modern glass-topped desk and smiled warmly at him. She presented an imposing and authoritative figure?tall and lean with brown eyes and hair and a plain, honest face.
Gripping his proffered hand in both of hers, Chief Ferguson declared, “Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Commander. When I learned you were my replacement, I couldn’t have been happier with the mayor’s choice. I knew my men and women would be in good hands.”
Heat rose in him. He didn’t think Madam Secretary left the mayor with a choice. And Linda Ferguson didn’t look like she was ready for retirement. He definitely could relate to that. They’d both been forced out of the positions they loved.
Embarrassed, he began, regretting his decision to wear a tie, for now it felt like a noose around his neck, “Thank you, Chief, but…”
“No buts,” she replied, her voice firm. “This isn’t about either one of us. I don’t believe you were given any more information than I was. Look, I’ve had a good run and instituted changes for the betterment of this department and community. I know you will do the same because you’re a true leader.” She indicated a huge three-ring binder with a glossy cover embossed with the titleLaguna Beach Police Department Policies and Procedures. “This is your new Bible.”
Justice gazed at it as dismay turned his stomach sour. He couldn’t do it. There was no way he could absorb the information in that binder. No way. “Um…I don’t think I’m the man for this job.”
“Nonsense. You’re the perfect man for this job. Sergeant Tawny Westfall is your go-to girl. She knows this department inside and out. Right now, she’s working on condensing the manual into a smaller, comprehensive version for you. As you make the transition into being chief, she’ll be invaluable to you.” Linda glanced at her watch. “The mayor is swearing you into office at six o’clock. We need to get you fitted for a uniform to go along with this.” She handed him a brand-new badge with his title on it. Chief of Police. Laguna Beach.
He stared at it, feeling more than its weight in his hand. Feeling the weight of his duty to serve and protect and wondering whether or not he would be able to do either.
Linda’s stern voice cut into his thoughts. “Come with me, Lieutenant Commander.” As he followed her, she continued, “We pride ourselves on our uniform shop. Sally Russo is our resident seamstress who provides the force with the best-looking uniforms in the region.”
Too overwhelmed to speak, Justice lost all sense of direction as he walked next to Chief Ferguson through another maze of corridors until they arrived at a double set of glass doors. Inside he could see racks of uniforms and shelves containing Laguna Beach Police Department hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs, water bottles, and other similar items for sale.
