I was standing in front of my new captain's office.

This was the first time we'd meet face to face.

We already spoke on the phone just before my transfer.

It had not gone well.

Taking a deep breath and straightening my tie I knocked gently on the door, which

wouldn't be somewhere, anywhere.

Perhaps back when I squawed.

That was never going to happen.

The new Benson and Hodges Law had 86 the whole damn unit.

Force retirement and large payoffs were the order of the day until I remained the lone

swimmer in an ever-thickening sea of shit.

It's your ass over here, Carver.

The gruff voice demanded from the other side of the door.

The sudden anger washed over me and for a moment I attempted to toss my gun in badge

ex-the station-stage left, but I managed to force it down into the room.

My face carefully neutral.

The captain never looked up and waved me into a nearby chair, so he continued to peruse

the large manila file in front of him.

My name stenciled in harsh black lettering across the coffee-stained front page.

After it seemed like an eternity he finally slammed the file shut and laced his large,

callous hands together, leaning back heavily in his chair.

I raised my eyebrows quizzically, waiting for him to speak.

...