JUDGMENT HAS FALLEN – SNIPPET 3
UNEDITED – More Vampire Post Apoc for you! (WARNING: Explicit Language)
Enforcer HQ
Wallace entered the barracks floor, as they’d taken to calling the ninth floor of Enforcer HQ, where most of the cops, now Valerie’s soldiers, had been set up with rooms. Some had families and returned home each night, but those who didn’t were asked to stay here in case they were needed for defense.
He walked down the hallway and nodded to the cop on duty, seated behind a desk. The guard was the only one inside wearing his police cap, so you knew he was on duty. Although Valerie had taken to referring to them as her army, it was easier all around to still call them cops, or police officers, since that’s the uniform they all wore. He was still hopeful she wouldn’t change that—for him, the uniform was a grand tradition, and held certain levels of prestige.
“Any sign of her yet?” Wallace asked, glancing at the cop’s name to remind himself. “Buland?”
Buland just shook his head. “They said you’d be by to ask, and that if you did, to watch my back.”
“And why’s that?” Wallace asked with a frown. He didn’t consider himself harsh, or someone known for losing his temper.
“You never seem to like the answer, and now with your friends in power….”
“Hey, I just want to make sure that if anyone hears anything about Ella, I’m the first to know.” He folded his arms, very cognizant of the couple of heads that had poked out of doors. After a moment, he said, “So, nothing?”
“Nothing.” Buland glared. “As I said.”
“Right.” He was about to go and leave it at that, but then paused and turned back to the man. “You do realize I’m in charge here?”
“If you have to say it, maybe it’s not as true as you think.”
“The hell’s that supposed to mean?”
Buland raised an eyebrow, glancing behind him at the others who’d exited from their rooms and were standing by with curiosity. “We’ve been hearing things, right guys?”
The others shrugged while one shook his head but avoided Wallace’s gaze.
“Now might be a good time to tell me these things,” Wallace said.
“Come on, Wallace. You were a street cop, right?” Buland stood now, hand on his arc rod, as if Wallace might attack him for what he was saying. He had to admit, a part of him certainly wanted to. “A sergeant, right? And now you’re suddenly in charge here, because she says so?”
He felt his cheeks flushing with anger. Where the hell had this talk been a week ago when everything was falling apart around them, when Strake’s armies were invading, and when they were fighting the vampires and Nosferatu? They were cowering behind his leadership, that’s where.
“Who’s got a problem with it?” he asked.
“Top brass,” Buland said. “I’m not saying I’m with you or against you, but let’s be honest. We serve the uniform, which means we have no choice but to follow rank.” (more…)