Chapter 7 – The Hearing
Three weeks later, the conference room at Chicago Fire Department Headquarters was unusually quiet.
Alex sat alone at one side of the table.
Across from him were Captain Hernandez, two Internal Affairs investigators, a representative from the firefighters' union, and the city's legal counsel.
No one smiled.
The first video played.
The elevator doors opening.
Alex stepping inside.
His eyes scanning the passengers.
Stopping.
Landing on Lucy.
Then turning away.
The footage froze.
"Lieutenant Davis," one investigator said calmly, "did you recognize your wife?"
Alex swallowed.
"...Yes."
"And you recognized she was twenty-four weeks pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you assist her first?"
Alex took a long breath.
"Valerie was closest to the opening. She appeared unconscious."
Mark, seated quietly in the back of the room, finally spoke.
"She raised both arms before you lifted her."
The room fell silent.
Another investigator slid Lucy's notebook across the table.
Every timestamp matched the dispatch records.
Then came the medical reports.
Valerie had suffered dehydration, a minor forehead cut, and anxiety.
Lucy had suffered oxygen deprivation, premature labor, and severe fetal distress.
The elderly passenger had experienced a mild heart attack.
The legal counsel closed the file.
"Your judgment that night cannot be justified under department rescue protocol."
May you like
Alex lowered his head.
For the first time in fifteen years of service, he had no defense left.
