Lynda Sandoval - You, And No Other

Nods and murmured hellos followed.

Cagney didn’t know if she would use the word esteemed to describe her half-hearted contribution to public safety, but whatever. It meant a paycheck every two weeks.

“Have a seat,” Blackman said. “What brainstorm have you come up with, dear? Goodness knows, we’re just going in circles here and could use a fresh perspective.”

As she took a seat, she glanced surreptitiously at both her father and Jonas. Chief looked red-faced and ready to blow a gasket, and Jonas? Confused and more than a little intrigued. Maybe a tad annoyed, too, but so be it. She’d had enough of impossible men to last her ten lifetimes.

Steepling her hands on the table before her, she addressed the eager members of the group, letting her gaze pass over the two men who probably wished she’d never happened to come by. “As you all know, I purchased and renovated the old horse saddle plant several years ago.”

“And you did a fine job,” Hennessy blustered.

As if he knew. She smiled anyway. “Thank you. What you all might not know is this—I received approval from the building inspectors to use the space as residential property once I’d finished, but it’s still in an area of town zoned for business. And the building is extremely large, of course, having been a manufacturing plant.”

“Three stories tall, isn’t it, Cagney?” the mayor asked.

She nodded. “More than fifteen thousand square feet, all told. I chose to live on the second and third floors, and I left the street level floor unfinished. It’s just over five thousand square feet of wide open warehouse space.”

“What’s your point, Cagney?” her father growled. “We’re having a meeting here, if you hadn’t noticed.”

Walt frowned at him. “For God’s sake, Bill, let the woman talk. She’s not a child anymore.”

“She is my employee.”

“Yes, well, right now she’s off duty and she’s here as a citizen of Troublesome Gulch,” Mayor Blackman snapped. “So let her speak her piece.”

She didn’t even look at her father. “My point is, I would be more than happy to allow the city use of the street-level space to build the youth center you’re discussing, since, as Chief says, we’re a bit short on free space in the city proper. Like Jonas, I’ve thought for years now that we need a teen center in the Gulch.”

Excitement rippled through the room.

“That’s ridiculous,” Chief said. “You don’t want the town’s riff-raff loitering in the same building as your home. The place will need an almost constant police presence.”

He was falling right into her trap. It was almost too easy. “Makes it convenient, then, since I happen to be a police officer. And I relate well with disadvantaged teens, none of whom I consider riffraff. As a matter of fact—” she glanced at the council members “—I’d be willing to hand over my patrol duties and take a fulltime assignment at the youth center, since Chief thinks we need round-the-clock law enforcement there. I’ve worked as a resource officer at the high school. I know a lot of these kids.”

“Oh, Cagney, are you sure?” Blackman asked. “You’re such a valuable member of the force.”

She choked back a scoff. “I’m more than sure. Most of the cities and towns in Colorado have community policing projects like this. We don’t, and that’s a shame. Law enforcement shouldn’t be strictly punitive.”

“That’s true,” Hennessy mused.

She rushed ahead. “As for the budget concerns—”

“There are no budget concerns,” Jonas said. “I can pay for the center.”

She inclined her head. “Okay, then to get the community involved. I’d love to seek donations of building supplies from local businesses and renovate the space myself to save the city—and our benefactor—their money, whether it’s necessary or not.” Cagney shrugged. “I certainly have the renovation experience, and I think it’s important to involve the residents of the Gulch as much as possible.”

Murmurs filled the space.

“Just think how much local business donations will increase community investment in the place,” she added.

Again, eager conversation ensued.

“Wait one damn minute,” Chief barked, silencing everyone. “Officer Bishop, you are being insubordinate. It is not your place to waltz into a meeting to which you weren’t invited and change your duty assignment on a whim.”

“For goodness sake, Chief, stop being such an unreasonable taskmaster,” the mayor said, spreading his arms. “I realize the young lady is your daughter and your employee, but she’s what—thirty years old, Cagney?”

“Yes.”

“Not to mention, she’s making a generous offer and a professional sacrifice. There is no reason to accuse her of insubordination when she’s showing the kind of community spirit that makes Troublesome Gulch a great place to live. You should be proud of Cagney instead of reprimanding her.”

“She should receive a commendation,” Hennessy added.

Cagney started to say that wasn’t necessary, but—

“And considering the fact that we increased your budget so you could hire five new officers this year, surely you can spare one for this excellent cause,” fired off one of the longest-standing, most respected city council members, looking over his half glasses at Chief. “Why is it we don’t have any community policing projects in this town, Bill?” he asked.

The room hung in suspense.

Chief didn’t bother answering the council member’s question. Cagney knew he wasn’t of the kiss-babies-and-hand-out-balloons school of law enforcement. “Fine. Open your youth center, but I’ll assign an officer of my choosing,” he said finally, struggling to hide his rage.

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