“Bobby—battalion commander is waiting for you in the captain’s office.”
He had only been back in the fire station for ten minutes before a new fireman named Dex who looked like he had just graduated from high school delivered the message. This wasn’t a good thing to hear. The chief only made appearances when he was handing out some kind of medal or disciplining someone. He didn’t think he was getting a medal.
As he walked to the office in the back of the station, he thought of the man who had died beside him that morning. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Those other faces and figures stayed with him, too. They would remain shadows for the rest of his life. That simply came with this road. He could handle the reminders.
Chief Russell didn’t stand or even greet him, but rather seemed eager to get down to business. His weathered face showed lines from wear and tear, not of emotion.
Bobby sat in the chair facing the desk and the man behind it.
“The widow’s looking to file a complaint against the department,” the low growl of the chief said.
A complaint?
“It’s the prelude to a suit against the city,” the chief continued. “Typical shakedown. Probably looking to claim fifteen to twenty million. The charge will be ‘proselytization under color of authority.’ ”
A suit? Fifteen to twenty million?
“What exactly does that mean?” Bobby asked. He was suddenly out of breath and felt like he was twirling around on some fast-moving roller coaster.
The thirty-year veteran always seemed like he had a droopy face, but Chief Russell gritted his teeth and gave him a cold stare.
“She’ll claim you implicitly threatened to withhold necessary care from a dying man unless he accepted your religious beliefs. And that your inattention to duty contributed to his death.”
He let out a that’s ridiculous chuckle. He shook his head.
“I’d never do that. Besides, she wasn’t even there.”
Chief Russell nodded, obviously taking his side, obviously believing him.
“She’ll claim the restraining officer was complicit in your actions. Look, we’ve gotta defuse this thing before it gains traction. So here’s how it’s gonna work: You’re gonna craft a carefully worded apology, explaining how you made a mistake in the heat of the moment. A professional lapse. And it’ll never happen again. I’ll help you draft it. Then you’ll read it on camera for one of the local news affiliates that gets it on the record.”
It suddenly felt like Bobby was on a grill and tongs were grabbing him from both sides, squeezing.
“I can’t do that,” Bobby said.
This got a reaction from the chief. His thick eyebrows shifted down and his eyes thinned. The look on his face suddenly became cloudy, questioning.
“Why not?” Chief Russell asked in a low-rumbling roar.
Bobby moved to sit on the edge of his seat, trying to get closer to the chief to talk frankly with him.
“I’m not sorry for what I did. And if I ever wind up in the same situation, I’d do it again. It’s part of my obligation as a Christian. But only after my professional duties as a first-response caregiver are complete.”
Chief Russell gave him a look a father might give to a child who just fell off his bike trying to do a wheelie.
“Look, Bobby. You’ve got beliefs, and I respect that. But I’ve got a membership and a pension fund to protect. On behalf of your brother firefighters. Am I getting through here?”
Bobby’s faith wasn’t a brand-new thing. The guys knew about it for various reasons. For the times he had declined to go out with them, or the moments he had walked away from conversations. It wasn’t that Bobby tried to preach to anybody or even talk about his faith. But it wasn’t a secret.
“I’m not sure,” Bobby said. “What exactly are you saying?”
“If you can’t find your way to apologize, then the union is gonna have to distance itself from you. We’re gonna have to admit that you acted outside your authority, and on your own behalf.”
This was crazy. Bobby had only been trying to help the man live. Then he was simply offering the man hope. Now he was being sued and told to lie about things?
Glad I pay my union dues.
Chief Russell wasn’t finished.
“Your legal defense—as well as any damages—are gonna have to come out of your own pocket. Plus I’ll be forced to suspend you without pay until this thing is settled. Off the record: you’re gonna lose everything. Is that what you want?”
“No,” Bobby said.
“Good. So you’ll read this statement.”
The chief offered him a sheet of paper but Bobby shook his head and told him no.
“Chief, I won’t apologize for sharing the Gospel with a dying man. And I can’t promise that I’ll never do it again.”
Chief Russell now looked like a bulldog after a long walk. He was more tired than frustrated. Bobby knew this was one big inconvenience for the man.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” the chief told him.
Bobby didn’t move until being told what the next steps were going to be. But as he listened and waited to be excused, he couldn’t help hearing the same voice over and over in his head.
What are you doing, Bobby?
He didn’t know. But he did know this.
He was doing the right thing.