Free The Forsaken by Estevan Vega

He also used the words overzealous, supercilious, and degenerate, all in reference to you.”
    “Vallace likes to use flashy words. Gives him the feeling like he’s an actual reporter.”
    “Maybe you’re underestimating him.”
    Jude pretended to tune her out.
    Rachel leaned back in her chair. “By the way, the chief asked to see you.”
    “Welcome to day one,” Jude sighed. After browsing Vallace’s colorful piece, he headed toward Mike’s office and knocked on his door.
    “Abandon all hope, ye who enter,” the chief said from within. Jude opened the door and stepped inside. “Sit down.” Mike wore his reading glasses, and the newspaper covered the lower portion of his face.
    “You asked to see me, sir?”
    “They get better every time, don’t they? Did you read this?”
    “I skimmed it, yeah; I try not to let it get to me.”
    “This windbag quoted us. Vallace has quite the talent for writing fiction, doesn’t he?”
    “Yes,” Jude replied.
    Mike eventually put down the paper. “Ahh, to hell with it. I’m gonna be straight with you, Foster because, contrary to popular belief, I am not the heartless devil you sometimes think I am. I know this isn’t going to be easy. I’ll have you know that it wasn’t fully my decision to bring in a new recruit on this thing. My hand was forced. That’s the beauty of bureaucracy. Everybody’s got a say in how you run your ship.”
    “Who asked for her?”
    “Don’t bother yourself with the details. Bureaucracy may be alive and well, but at least I got a say in who we recruited. In short, I asked for her. Her father’s history with this department and with me made it easy. Still, there are some changes that are going to be taking place in the next few weeks.”
    Jude didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed.
    “Frankly, no one thinks you’re ready to handle a case alone. When I told you I was on the fence about bringing you in on the case, I wasn’t jerking you around. There is still doubt, even in me, about you.”
    Jude scratched his scalp nervously. He felt uncomfortable and unprepared for this uninvited evaluation.
    “Now, I do think you are capable of returning to what you do best, sure. Capable. But I can’t have some rogue out there callin’ all the shots and leaving me in the dark. I’ll be forced to pull you. I mean it. Put all your little charms aside, for now. Detective Sutherland is a good cop. Unlike most of us, she still gives a crap about people. And I don’t want any of your bottled-up issues screwing her up.”
    “Thanks for your vote of confidence,” Jude said.
    “Don’t play the martyr. This old dog isn’t buying it.”
    “Why her?”
    “I can trust her.”
    Jude shifted in his chair.
    “Yeah, yeah, I taught you not to trust anybody. Do as I say, not as I do. She’s his daughter. Despite the differences you and her daddy shared, he was still a vital part of this place. Had his mistakes, like you. But he meant something in this town. And he was my friend, so just respect that.”
    “Conflict of interest, Chief.”
    “Don’t be so cold. She’s a little rough around the edges, I know.”
    “I think jagged was the word you were looking for.”
    “Now you’re being melodramatic. Besides, she could say the same about you,” Mike said. “If this case gets outta control, I need to know that you’ll be up front. Just, don’t be you , okay?”
    Jude cracked his neck.
    “This change can be good for you. It’s time to move on. You can’t use what happened between you and your ex-partner as a reason to stay complacent.”
    “You sound like my shrink.” Jude stood up and headed out.
    “Close the door behind you, slick.”
    Rachel was outside, waiting for him to walk by. “No scars or heavy bleeding. Guessing it wasn’t too bad in there.”
    Jude ignored her with a roll of his eyes and headed toward the break room for a coffee.
    Rachel followed. “I was hoping to talk to you about something.”
    “Can