Soulburn

Chapter 3 Part 4

Guyton was out of the shower long enough to put on a robe, when his phone rang. HQ, said the Caller ID.

"Jeez, Birch," he muttered. "This couldn't wait until I get a little sleep?" He poked the Answer icon. "Guyton."

"It's already started," the voice on the other end greeted him.

"Astin? What's already started?"

"Your slide down. I've got your record right here. The higher-ups will be putting a black mark on it any minute now."

"Why?" Guyton demanded. "I went by the book. I isolated the perp and eliminated him with no witnesses. I even moved his car and parked it out of the way while nobody was looking."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Astin snapped. "You deliberately put your hand to your weapon in public."

"Oh, come on." This was familiar territory for the old Guyton, pushing back against a superior who wanted to chew him out for whatever he had done this time. "For one, I figured the best way to isolate him was to panic him. Not let him think about what he was doing. Besides, I never unholstered my weapon until I was actually ready to use it. Second, he was about to suggest people quit their churches and dump their spouses, so they could get ahead by whatever means necessary. I don't know if any souls in that room were one nudge away from their one-way ticket to Hell, but you don't know there weren't."

"Listen—" Astin began, then went silent. Guyton began to think the connection had crapped out, when he spoke again. "You SOB," he said, but without heat. "The higher-ups just put a check on your record."

"What does that mean?" Guyton asked, hope welling up. Had he paid his debt already?

"It means they're okay with how you did your job. This time, anyway."

"Great," he replied. "So... the higher-ups. Who are they, anyway?"

"Way beyond the likes of us." Astin sounded apprehensive, to Guyton's surprise. "And in case you're wondering—if your diversion ever gets revoked? That comes all the way from The Top. No appealing that one."

The way Astin said The Top chilled Guyton, but only for a moment. "Yeah. So maybe I was a little unconventional, but I got the job done. Within the parameters of my charter, so say the higher-ups, right?"

"Don't get cocky with me, Guyton. I know a rotten cop when I see one. Even when he's biding his time. Thing is, when you do step out of line, it ain't me you gotta worry about. Getting your diversion revoked might be the worst thing that can happen, but it's not the only one." The connection went dead, this time for keeps.

"I do appreciate your confidence," Guyton told the phone. "That's desk patrol for you—can't be bothered to do the work, but they have plenty to say about how you do it." At least the higher-ups were on his side... so far.