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Of all the days to schedule something at seven a.m., Vanessa had to pick this morning to appear on a morning television talk show. She’d slept badly because of her confrontation with Chase, and didn’t feel like putting herself on camera. But she had to get back on track, and this would be a good start.

Thankfully, the building which housed the affiliate to a national news company, WROC, was close to City Hall. A new structure in the city, it was made of stone and glass. Big and imposing came to mind. She preferred the grandeur of the old structures in the city. Pulling open the heavy door, she walked inside and over to the receptionist. “Hello, I’m Mayor Jordan. I have an interview with Kelly Kramer.”

“Yes, Madam Mayor. She said to bring you right in.” The woman led her down the hall of the first floor and knocked on an office door. Vanessa heard, “Come in.”

She entered. This space was more ordinary than the outside, a rectangular space with a big desk, and two love seats.

“Hello, Ms. Kramer.”

“Mayor Jordan.” Kelly stood. “Let’s sit over here for now.” They took the sofas. “Thanks for coming. I’d like to brief you on some questions before we go on live.”

“That would help.”

“You’ll also need some hair and makeup attention.”

“Is that necessary?” She’d held interviews before, and usually managed to get out of fussing with her appearance.

“We won’t do much. You’re a beautiful woman.” She handed Vanessa a sheet of paper. “So, here’s what I’d like to talk about.”

Fifty minutes later, they pinned the mic on her suit lapel and seated her in the studio living room. The set was girly with a deep pink couch, white arm chairs and a warm oak coffee table.

Kelly smiled at her from across the stage. “Ready?”

Vanessa hoped so.

Once on the air, the anchor turned to the camera. “Good morning, viewers. We’re lucky to have the mayor of our fair city, Vanessa Jordan, with us today.” Kelly turned to her. “So, Madam Mayor, what’s your favorite thing about being mayor?”

“That’s easy, Kelly. And please, call me Vanessa. As for what I like best about this job, it’s having an effect on people’s lives. Providing them with what they need to lead a good life. Within my means, that is. I have a council to answer to and a budget.”

“You were elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility. How do those two jive?”

“Simple. Taxes. With an eye on expenses, we can put more money into the pockets of our citizens.”

“Could you give us an example of that?”

Vanessa detailed some cost-cutting measures and how those savings were passed on to Rockford’s citizens.

“Thanks for the specifics.” She cocked her head. “You’re a woman, working with all those powerful men in businesses, the police and fire departments, the parks and recreation division. How do you do deal with all that testosterone?”

Lately, not well, she thought, remembering her and Chase yesterday. But said, “First of all, I present my opinions or decisions clearly and logically in hopes there won’t be much to argue with.”

Kelly smiled. “Vanessa, it’s well known some of the rows you’ve had with our fire chief. Very public ones.”

“Yes, well, emotions run high in our meetings.” She shrugged. “I do try to take their egos into account.”

The audience laughed. Kelly’s brows rose.

“No, really, I do. I understand men. Maybe not as much as I understand women. But I think I’m fair. They’re responsible for their own opinions and actions, and I go from there.”

“Speaking of men, do you have an opinion on the male members of congress accused of sexual misconduct?”

Vanessa knew the politically correct answer to this was to hedge. But she had an opinion. “I believe the women.”

“Welcome to the Tenth Annual Regional Chiefs Conference. The topic Make Your Department Safe, Tackling Behavioral Issues, is the first of its kind.”

The presenter, a well-respected officer who’d served three decades in the fire department, clicked into the second slide while Chase sipped his fourth cup of coffee. He’d driven to Buffalo last night with thoughts of Vanessa plaguing him, dreamed of them together then woke early after the fitful night.

They’d said some awful things to each other.

If you think one quick tumble on that couch over there has given you the right to forbid me to do something, you don’t know me any better than you did before we got close.

If you do this, I’ll warn you, I’m going to be your worst nightmare. And you’d better believe I won’t keep our disagreements private.

Chase forced his mind back to the presentation.

“Here’s a list of workshops for our presentations and panels for the next four days.”

Chase read the screen.

Bullying: Signs of Bullying in the Workplace, How to Stop Bullying Before It Starts.

Harassment: Definitions, Sexual Misconduct, Non-Discrimination in Gender Issues, Ethnic Issues and Age Issues.

Personal Relationships: Romantic, Familial, the role of department officers in dealing with this.

Christ. Probably because he’d been so preoccupied, he hadn’t thought about how the topic could apply to him and Vanessa. She could be accused of sexual harassment! Then he calmed. He’d never say he wasn’t willing, let alone press charges, so he squelched his concern and the guilt that came with it.

The room was quiet. No one joked, as often happened when a group of firefighters got together. This was serious business.

“The classes and panels will be two hours, three per day. Some of you are presenters or panelists, and we thank you for volunteering.”

Had Chase volunteered? He could only remember being summoned to Vanessa’s office and told to do this. She could have asked, and he would have accepted because he liked talking at these kinds of seminars.

“We all know that several members of congress have been charged with sexual misconduct. Feel free to talk about that among yourselves, but we won’t be having a discussion on it for legal reasons.” The guy scanned his audience. “Yeah, I know. That’s a cop-out. One of the things we are going to discuss is the reasons victims don’t come forward. First and foremost, they’re fearful of not being believed. In other words, those in power, like me, make tepid responses like I just did. I’m hoping we can help to change this pattern.”

Chase gave him credit for admitting he gave an evasive statement. The senators in question were accused by many women of inappropriate comments, touching and giving them sex toys and telling how he’d like to use them. By Chase’s standards, they should be dead meat.

“I’ll close with a video clip that my assistant sent me just a few minutes ago. It’s from a morning show where a mayor not far from here was interviewed and asked about this topic. I’ll start a bit before the comment.”

It couldn’t be Vanessa, Chase thought.

But her beautiful face came on screen. She looked stunning—her hair all fluffy, makeup on her eyes, lipstick. She faced the anchor but the camera zoomed in on her.

She was asked how she dealt with all the powerful men she was in charge of.

“I try to take their egos into account...I understand men.”

You could have fooled him.

“I think I’m fair, though the parties concerned often don’t.”

Guilty as charged. He was pissed as hell at her.

Then she was asked if she had an opinion on the members of congress who’d been accused of sexual misconduct.

Vanessa seemed thoughtful. The camera caught her furrowed brow and those shrewd green eyes narrowed. He held his breath. She waited. Then, she said “That’s simple. I believe the women.”

The chief switched off the video clip. He looked at them and said, “We should all be so brave.”

Unfortunately, the video, and what the chief said to the participants, only made him want Vanessa more.

After she left the studio around eight, Vanessa walked through the streets, buoyed by the bright sunshine and warm breeze of the still-early morning. On a whim, she stopped at a coffee shop, sat outside and ordered a French roast coffee and a cinnamon bun.

She wondered what she was in for today. The program had aired, and she supposed she would get calls on taking a stance against congress and not mouthing the party line. And of course, the Republican Party had contacted her a couple of times about running for state senate, to replace a man under investigation for fraud in the November elections. Would they object to her comment? Well, she believed what she said and so be it.

“Hello, Madam Mayor.” Police Chief Dane Corrigan walked out of the restaurant proper.

“Hi, Dane. And it’s Vanessa.”

He smiled. She’d never noticed how handsome he was with some premature gray hair at his temples and sparkling blue eyes. “Sneaking a few minutes before the havoc of the day?”

“Yes. You?”

“I woke up late so I’m getting my first cup of coffee.”

“Sit for a bit.” When he did, she asked, “Everything going well in your department?”

“Going great.” Those eyes narrowed. “Why, did you hear something negative about us?”

That made her feel bad. “No, no. If I had, I would have approached you at work. I was making conversation.”

He cocked his head. “I didn’t know you would have.”

It had been two years since she was elected. And he didn’t know that about her? She was bothered by the fact. God, she really had changed.

He studied her. “Maybe you should have some informal sessions with people who head your departments. To get to know us better. And vice versa.”

“I think that would be a great idea. Thanks for suggesting it. You can be my first meeting. I’ll have my assistant call yours.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’d like to ask you a question, but I have to be vague about it.”

“Shoot.”

“I have some people I might want to interview. I can fill you in on the details if you say yes. I’m not exactly sure how this should go down—or if I’m even committed to doing it. But if I came to you for advice, or help in this, would you treat it as off the record?”

“Off the record?”

“As in not filing any report on this until I’m ready to go public.”

“I can do that. I’d need all the details, though.”

“If I go ahead, I’ll give them to you. Right now, I’m exploring my options.”

“Let me know.” He stood, said goodbye and left.

Vanessa stayed and sipped her coffee, finished her treat then walked back to her office. The door was still locked, so she opened it and went inside.

 Betsy wasn’t here yet, which was okay as normal work days started at nine. Vanessa went into her office and sat at the desk. After booting up her computer, she called up her calendar. Starting at eleven o’clock, it was full. She had a meeting with Larry Cook, the Parks and Recreations director about the new youth center they’d submitted grants for. In the meantime, Larry had plans drawn up to show them to her. At least she’d done that—she stood by her principles of fiscal responsibility and helped him get the grants for the projects. At noon, she had a luncheon appointment with her communications manager about some promo Carolyn wanted her to do for the city. Not Vanessa’s forte. Maybe she’d be satisfied with the interview today.

Women. Not my forte.

Don’t think about him! Which was a joke. He’d plagued her all night. True, she’d known before yesterday any relationship between them was doomed, but it seemed so final when he walked out of her office mad as...what was the cute term he used on occasion? Mad as a wet hen!

Vanessa was catching up on some email when Betsy knocked on the open door. “Come on in.”

Looking sharp today in a one-piece thing made of green silk, she seemed perky, too. “I stopped and got us coffee at Starbucks.”

“Super. I had some already, but I need more.” She took the sip and sighed. “Ah, soy latte. Sit down so we can go over my schedule.”

Betsy took a seat. Her posture was always so erect, Vanessa wondered if she’s ever taken dance lessons. She knew so little about this woman who worked for her for a year.

Betsy asked, “Can I ask you something first?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You got back the investigator’s report on the fire at your parents’ house, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Where are we going with that?”

She didn’t know why, but for some reason, Vanessa was beginning to wish she hadn’t shared so much with Betsy. “The private investigator found enough for me to look more closely at House 8.”

“Ah. The tip paid off, then.”

“I guess. Though remembering the caller’s voice still gives me the creeps.”

“Who’s going to work with you on this?” Betsy asked.

“Nobody so far. Bob Zeleny’s...busy and Chase Talbot lost it when I told him what I’d done.” She thought of the police chief. Best not to mention him right now.

“I’m sorry, Madame Mayor. I know you were hoping to stay friends with the fire chief.”

Hmm. Had she told Betsy that? Oh, maybe Betsy got that impression when Vanessa consulted her on what they should do about the photo in the paper.

Her assistant leaned in closer. “Since there’s no one else who’ll work with you on this, why don’t you let me help out?”

“In the interviews?”

“Yes.”

That was an unusual ask for an assistant. She recalled that Betsy had a high school education but worked in the city for several politicians. Maybe they’d involved her in the nitty-gritty. Also, she’d said she wanted Betsy as a sounding board.

“Let me decide what the next step is and when to take it. Then I’ll...talk with you about this.”

“I really want to be involved.”

Again, Betsy pushing to be part of this niggled at Vanessa. It wasn’t exactly right. But maybe she needed a sounding board.

Chase was asked to speak first on his panel to introduce the validity of what was happening in fire departments and to kick off the conversation for the conference. “I’d like you to look at these headlines in Fire Chief Magazine on bullying and sexual harassment in the fire department.”

They read:

How I was gang-raped in the fire house: one medic’s story.

San Diego firefighters accused of urinating on female firefighter’s bed.

Firefighter bites chief’s penis to escape rape.

FBI investigate bullying in female firefighter’s suicide.

“I confess,” Chase said, “that this article highlights the most extreme cases of bullying and sexual harassment in the fire department. But the author picked them to shock you.

“I hope your first reaction is incredulity. It was mine. I’m embarrassed by our fellow smoke-eaters. I’m assuming as chiefs, you don’t dismiss these accusations either. Because if we don’t set an example of how to behave, we’ll be next in these headlines.”

No one smirked. No one made a crude remark to the one about the chief’s penis bitten off. Chase let the point settle in.

“So, we’re all innocent of these kinds of crimes, aren’t we?”

Some rumbles from the crowd.

“Let’s drill down now into things that are more mundane, but maybe more threatening than the above because they’re commonplace. I’m going to put up a quiz on the screen, and I want you all to take it mentally so you’ll be honest.”

Chase let them read through the myths about the more subtle kinds of harassment:

A female boss tells dirty jokes to the other women in the office, so it’s okay because she’s a female.

If someone is offended by my behavior in the break room, they should take their break somewhere else, or at another time, since I am not “working” while I’m on my break, I have a right to freedom of speech.

If most people find a comment amusing and inoffensive, then the one person who is offended does not have a right to complain about harassment.

The list went on. When ample time was given for thought, Chase said, “All right. We’ll take a break now, and then come back and discuss these points.”

He was getting coffee when someone came up next to him. “Hello, Chase.” She was tall and slender, and when she held his gaze her brown eyes studied him. Felicia White from Hidden Cove.

“Hello, Felicia. I saw your name in the New York State roster of promotions.”

“Yeah, I’m a Battalion Chief now.”

“Congratulations. How’s your family? Mitch Malvaso said you had twins a while back.”

“Yeah. Ryan’s a twin.” Even that small mention of her husband made her eyes light. “Want to see the kiddies?”

“Of course.”

Chase tried to hide his surprise at her whole demeanor. Felicia White was one tough cookie. She’d made a name for herself as a firefighter and a woman who stood up for female rights in the department. Hell, she’d spearheaded a blog called the Fire Belles, which had gone national. He’d met her when her group came up to Rockford to talk to him about the advancement of women in his department.

He looked at the pictures on her phone. “This is Hannah and Henry.”

“Hannah looks mischievous.”

“She is. She gets into all kinds of trouble. Her brother’s a doll.”

They chatted about their sister departments, then the lights flickered, indicating the end of the break. As they headed back in, he thought about Felicia. She’d found real love later in life. She took a chance and married. She even had kids.

Though he was happy for her, the notion that he’d never find that kind of love again burned hot in his heart.