Free Red Rock Rises; Sexy Romantic Suspense; Book 1: The Red Rock Series (The Red Rock Seies) by Taylor Lee Page B

vulnerable kid. Dameon wrapped a big hand around Jesse’s arm and pulled her up next to him. He said in a low voice for her ears only, “Are you okay?”
    When she nodded to him, he turned his anger on the clerk.
    “What’s the meaning of this?”
    The middle-aged fleshy woman squinted at him surprised and stammered. “I… don’t understand, sir.”
    Dameon asked Jesse, “How long have you been waiting here?”
    “Over an hour, almost an hour and a half.”
    He glanced at the clerk’s nametag. “Did you tell Mrs. Peterson that you are Trey’s mother?”
    Jesse nodded. “Yes, four times.”
    “Can you explain why when Dr. Chambers arrived you immediately agreed to take him to a conference room and get information about his son but you kept his mother waiting for over an hour?”
    The flustered woman glanced from Jesse back to Dameon. “I’m… sorry. I assumed because he was a doctor that he was busy and wouldn’t want to be in the waiting room with all the other people….”
    “I see. But you assumed his mother would?”
    “I’m sorry—”
    Dameon cut her short. His voice was crisp.
    “Do you have children?”
    Jesse tugged on his arm. “Dameon, it’s okay.”
    “No, Jesse, it isn’t okay. That is not the kind of department I run.” Turning back to the clerk who looked angry as well as embarrassed, he repeated, “I asked you if you have children.”
    Mrs. Peterson glowered at Jesse making it clear that she blamed her for the trouble she was in. Seeing Dameon’s determination, she mumbled, “Yes.”
    “If your son was arrested and the woman at the desk refused to give you any information about him for over an hour and your husband came in and he was immediately taken to a conference room, would that upset you?”
    When the woman refused to answer him or meet his eyes, Dameon said, “Your behavior was inexcusable. You can pack up. You’re done for the day.”
    Mrs. Peterson looked up, startled. “But… I just got here. My shift isn’t over until—”
    “You’re done. Who is your supervisor?”
    Fear riddling her face and voice, Mrs. Peterson whispered, “Moses Shapiro.”
    “I’ll discuss your actions with Mr. Shapiro. He’ll let you know on Monday if you can come back.”
    “But Sir—.”
    Dameon was curt. “Don’t call us. We’ll call you. And by the way, since you seem to be impressed by titles: this woman is a decorated retired Major in the U.S. Army and happens to be associated with this department. But the only title that you needed to hear is that she is Trey’s mother. Do you understand?”
    Ignoring the woman’s angry glance first at Jesse and then at himself, Dameon looked instead at the crowded waiting room. He stepped to the front. Even dressed in casual clothes, the only sign that he was a policeman the shield clipped on his jean’s pocket, he commanded the crowded room.
    “Excuse me, everyone. Are there other people here who have been waiting more than thirty minutes for information about a family member?”
    Dozens of hands shot up as a surprised murmur ricocheted around the room.
    Dameon pointed to the front desk.
    “Please form an orderly line. My name is Police Chief Macarios. Please accept my apologies for your inconvenience.”
    Turning to the surprised man standing in the doorway, Dameon ordered, “Officer Sorenson, get as many clerks as you need to break through this back log. I want it cleared within the hour. Do you understand?”
    The befuddled officer nodded yes and jerked out his walkie talkie.
    “And Officer Sorenson, please leave a message that I want to address the front desk staff the first thing in the morning. I will describe what constitutes a professional customer-centric organization that from now on will be SOP in this department.”
    When Officer Sorenson looked askance at the waiting room filled with what he clearly considered the dregs of society, Dameon glared at him.
    “Yes, Officer. These customers. The citizens who pay our