Uncle Tom stumbled, trying to gather himself. “B–but I-”
The woman, now standing just a few feet away from Allvar, spoke again, her voice like ice. “Release him. Now.”
Without hesitation, the chief barked, “Get those cuffs off him, immediately!”
Uncle Tom fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking so badly he could barely fit the key into the lock. The crowd watched in silence, everyone too stunned to speak. Even Serena’s boyfriend, who had been smug and arrogant moments before, now looked like he was ready to melt into the floor.
As the cuffs clattered to the ground, Allvar flexed his wrists, wincing at the red marks left behind. He looked up at the woman, who nodded slightly in acknowledgment but didn’t say a word to him.
Serena, who had been watching wide–eyed from the sidelines, finally found her voice. “I… I didn’t mean for things to go this far,” she stammered, her voice small and trembling.
The woman turned to her, her gaze chilling. “You didn’t stop it either,” she said simply, making Serena shrink back.
The chief, still fuming, turned back to Uncle Tom, who was still holding his cheek, looking as though he’d just been run over by a truck. “You’re done, Tom. Fired. Effective immediately.”
Uncle Tom’s eyes widened in panic. “Wait, Chief, you can’t be serious!” He took a shaky step forward.” This is a mistake! I was just doing my job, trying to keep the peace!”
The chief’s jaw tightened, his gaze hard and unforgiving. “Your job? Your job isn’t to go around handcuffing innocent people and throwing your weight around like a thug.” He pointed a trembling finger at the stunned crowd. “You’re a disgrace to this department. There’s enough evidence here to end your career, and believe me, I will.”
Uncle Tom’s face twisted with desperation. “Please, Chief, you don’t understand-”
“Enough!” the chief snapped, cutting him off. His voice was full of authority. “I don’t need to understand. I’ve seen enough to know you’re unfit for this job. Now, get out before I have you removed.”
Uncle Tom’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. His eyes darted around the room, searching for support, but no one was coming to his aid. Serena’s boyfriend had slunk back into the shadows, and the rest of the bar was frozen in silence. Defeated, Uncle Tom turned and stormed out, his boots heavy against the wooden floor.
The tension hung thick in the air as the door slammed shut behind him. The chief let out a deep breath, his anger slowly dissipating, before turning to the woman. His entire demeanor shifted, becoming almost deferential. “Thank you for stepping in, ma’am. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”
The woman’s icy expression softened just slightly, though her voice remained firm. “Make sure it doesn’t. People like him shouldn’t be in positions of authority.” She paused, glancing briefly at the others. “I expect this to be handled properly.”
The chief nodded vigorously. “Of course, ma’am.”
14
+25 BONUS
Satisfied, the woman took a step toward the door, her movements graceful and deliberate. Before leaving, she glanced back at Allvar. “You should come with me.”
3
Allvar, surprised by the suggestion, furrowed his brow. “Come with you? I don’t even know who you are.”
She gave him a small, almost cryptic smile. “You will soon enough.”
Mikel, standing next to Allvar, whispered urgently. “You can’t be serious. You don’t even know her.”
Allvar hesitated, looking between Mikel and the mysterious woman. Something about her command of the room, the way she’d effortlessly handled the situation, made it impossible to refuse. His curiosity outweighed his caution. “I’ll go,” he said, his voice steady.
The woman nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of satisfaction. “Smart choice.”
