“Whatever you need.”
“Since you helped me pick the case, I’d like you to take lead on it. I’ll help. It’s not like I’d be leaving you on your own. It’s just that the work you’ve been doing has been really great and I’d like you to start heading up a few cases. Jerry’s been making noises about retiring and, with Mr. Nash in semi retirement already, we really need another lead investigator around here. You’ve more than shown you can handle it. This could be a training case. Leads make more money and you’d get out of the office more. What do you say?”
I open my mouth to speak—because she clearly expects a response—but nothing comes out except a squeak. A horrible, embarrassing squeak. I cough to cover it up. She caught me totally off guard. Her eyes are hopeful and before I form the thought I’m nodding my head. What am I doing? Make it stop.
“Sure,” I say, completing the humiliation. My brain is having a meltdown. While it burns, the rest of me goes on automatic, responding totally separately from my brain. I can almost smell the smoke that is surely billowing out of my ears.
“Oh, thank you.” Cora says. Her smile fans the flames. Sirens go off in my head. “I’ll set up the appointment for us to meet with the Freedom Project staff attorney,” she continues, totally unaware of the mass casualties in my skull. “You’re going to do great. Just great.” She backs away toward the door. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Before I can stop her, she’s gone.
What have I done?