Complaints
[originally written for Nanowrimo 2018. Told from the viewpoint of Jane Westmuir. Also starring Leo Scaliger.]
”You wanted to have a talk with me, boss?”
Leo asked, when he stepped in to my office.
”Please, close the door after you.”
I asked and he did as he was told to. I gestured him to sit down, and he did, again, follow my orders.
I arranged the papers on my desk, although they were already in the correct order and I already knew what they said. But Leo didn't, and I owed him that.
”There has been a complaint made of you. An official one.”
I said and Leo burrowed his brows. He clearly didn't connect.
”It's Mr Franco. He sent me a complaint regarding their last mission and a certain… meeting with a vampire.”
I stated calmly, ready to give him an apologetic, but understanding smile, but he exclaimed.
”That's bullshit!”
He shouted and immediately realized how impolite his outburst was.
”I mean, mrs, It is outrageous. I was only trying to stop them getting killed! That vampire was too strong for us, and without any backup we would have been KIA!”
I sighed and shook my head.
”Yes, I understand, you may file your own report on what happened. But the truth is, this is now official business and officially I'd need to put you under an internal investigation, but that would need manpower we gravely lack. I'd need to suspend you while the investigation is going on, and then we'd need at least a team of 4 to conduct the research, and we'd need to borrow them from other departments. And that, we just cannot do.”
Leo seemed relieved by my explanation, but my stern face made him question on why he was still in the room, if the situation was so simple to solve.
”You see, the easiest way is just to accept the complaint and withstand the punishment.”
Now he got it. Finally. I wasn't happy about this situation, but it just needed to be done.
”I'm sorry, Leo. I hope you can understand where I am coming from.”
He was quiet for a moment and then just shook his head.
”Yeah, I can.”
He said, bitterly, but I allowed it. You would be bitter too.
”I know you did what was essential at the moment and were able to keep everyone safe.”
I had to say, to make it easier for him. I wasn't angry at him, no. I pitied him and felt bad for him, because if I would have had enough staff, I would have put the complaint under the investigation, even though I knew he had done nothing wrong. Especially when you took into account his background.
Leo stood up. He didn't want to say anything, I could see that, but he forced himself to keep a straight face.
”Thank you for informing me. Excuse me.”
He then said and left. I didn't call after him.
”You wanted to have a talk with me, boss?”
Leo asked, when he stepped in to my office.
”Please, close the door after you.”
I asked and he did as he was told to. I gestured him to sit down, and he did, again, follow my orders.
I arranged the papers on my desk, although they were already in the correct order and I already knew what they said. But Leo didn't, and I owed him that.
”There has been a complaint made of you. An official one.”
I said and Leo burrowed his brows. He clearly didn't connect.
”It's Mr Franco. He sent me a complaint regarding their last mission and a certain… meeting with a vampire.”
I stated calmly, ready to give him an apologetic, but understanding smile, but he exclaimed.
”That's bullshit!”
He shouted and immediately realized how impolite his outburst was.
”I mean, mrs, It is outrageous. I was only trying to stop them getting killed! That vampire was too strong for us, and without any backup we would have been KIA!”
I sighed and shook my head.
”Yes, I understand, you may file your own report on what happened. But the truth is, this is now official business and officially I'd need to put you under an internal investigation, but that would need manpower we gravely lack. I'd need to suspend you while the investigation is going on, and then we'd need at least a team of 4 to conduct the research, and we'd need to borrow them from other departments. And that, we just cannot do.”
Leo seemed relieved by my explanation, but my stern face made him question on why he was still in the room, if the situation was so simple to solve.
”You see, the easiest way is just to accept the complaint and withstand the punishment.”
Now he got it. Finally. I wasn't happy about this situation, but it just needed to be done.
”I'm sorry, Leo. I hope you can understand where I am coming from.”
He was quiet for a moment and then just shook his head.
”Yeah, I can.”
He said, bitterly, but I allowed it. You would be bitter too.
”I know you did what was essential at the moment and were able to keep everyone safe.”
I had to say, to make it easier for him. I wasn't angry at him, no. I pitied him and felt bad for him, because if I would have had enough staff, I would have put the complaint under the investigation, even though I knew he had done nothing wrong. Especially when you took into account his background.
Leo stood up. He didn't want to say anything, I could see that, but he forced himself to keep a straight face.
”Thank you for informing me. Excuse me.”
He then said and left. I didn't call after him.
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