Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Jessica moved her head up and down and gave a comforting grin. "My name is Jessica. May we each put in our utmost effort."


Lynn nodded vigorously, her eyes now filled with admiration as she looked at Jessica.

The interview process moved quickly. Before long, Jessica's name crackled through the loudspeaker.

She straightened the lower edge of her jacket, raised her chin, and walked with assurance into the space where the questioning would take place.


Three interviewers sat at the front table. The middle-aged man in the center wore a stern expression as he flipped through Jessica's résumé. His previously indifferent gaze froze abruptly when he reached the line: City Police Department Major Crimes Unit.

"Jessica." The interviewer looked up, his sharp eyes boring into her. "Your résumé states you worked in the City Police Department's Major Crimes Unit—under Chief Sullivan, no less. That's one of the most elite divisions in law enforcement. Only the best of the best make it in there."

Jessica sat ramrod straight, her tone polite and measured. "Yes, sir. I learned a great deal during my time there."

The interviewer set down the résumé, folded his hands on the desk, and spoke with a hint of skepticism. "If that's the case, why did you resign? Chief Sullivan is known throughout the industry for recognizing talent. With your qualifications, staying at City Police Department would've offered far better career prospects than working as a consultant here in Autumnleaf District."

There it was—the question she'd been dreading.

Jessica's heart sank. Michael's cold, impassive face flashed through her mind, along with all the tangled chaos between them.

She dug her nails into her palm to steady herself, forcing her expression into one of practiced regret.

"It was due to a family emergency," she said, lowering her gaze just enough to appear sincere. "My parents are getting older, and their health has been declining. I needed more time to care for them. The workload at Major Crimes was too intense—I was afraid I wouldn't be able to give the cases the attention they deserved. That's why I made the difficult decision to resign."

The explanation was airtight, impossible to verify.

The person conducting the interview lifted one eyebrow yet remained silent. He then moved on to pose a number of specialized inquiries concerning her area of professional knowledge.
Jessica answered each one flawlessly, her performance near-perfect.

Yet when she finally walked out of the interview room, there was no sense of relief.

The interviewer's final glance had been cold and knowing—the look of someone who saw straight through her story.

In the tight-knit world of law enforcement, no one just walked away from an elite unit like Major Crimes without a damn good reason. And hers didn't hold up under scrutiny.

Jessica knew it. This interview was a lost cause.

She stepped outside into the autumn breeze, the cool air biting at her cheeks. With a self-deprecating smile, she pulled out her phone and opened her notes app to check the address of her next interview.

"Jessica?"

A voice called out, bright with surprise.

Jessica's head snapped up. Evelyn was striding toward her, dressed in a crisp police uniform, her face lit up with excitement.

"Evelyn? What are you doing here?" Jessica asked, stunned.

Evelyn grinned and jerked her thumb toward an SUV parked nearby, bearing City Police Department plates. "Joint task force collaboration between City PD and Autumnleaf District. Chief Sullivan's leading the team. We're here for a few days to coordinate follow-up on the Fisherman case."

"Chief Sullivan is here?" Jessica's heart leapt into her throat. Her first instinct was to bolt.

Evelyn, oblivious to her panic, leaned in conspiratorially. "And guess who else is here today? Calliope Bishop—your idol, the legend herself! She's here for an inspection tour. She's probably still in the conference room upstairs."

"Chief Bishop?" Jessica's eyes lit up instantly.

Calliope Bishop was the woman she'd idolized since police academy—a trailblazer who'd clawed her way to the top of a male-dominated profession through sheer brilliance and iron will, eventually becoming Chief of her own precinct.

"Yep! If you want to meet her, you could head up to the second-floor corridor right now. You might catch her." Evelyn's enthusiasm dimmed slightly as she added, "Though… Chief Sullivan is escorting her on the tour."

Jessica's excitement evaporated like steam off hot pavement.

Her idol was right there, just a few floors away. Of course she wanted to see her—even from a distance.

But the thought of running into Michael made her stomach twist into knots.

Jessica stood frozen, torn between two impossible choices.

On one side: the hero she'd admired for years.

On the other: the man she'd been desperately trying to avoid.

She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her gaze drifting up toward the row of bright windows on the second floor. Slowly, the ember of longing in her chest began to burn brighter than her fear.

She'd come here for an interview, not to see him. Why the hell should she have to hide?

Jessica bit her lip and forced a smile at Evelyn. "Thanks, Evelyn. I'll… I'll go take a look."

She turned toward the side entrance of the building, her steps deliberate, though her heart hammered wildly in her chest.

Just one glimpse of Calliope. That's all. Then I'll leave.

She prayed silently: Michael, please don't turn around.

 

Jessica had barely taken two steps when Evelyn grabbed her sleeve.

"Jessica, wait!" Evelyn glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered her voice urgently. "Are you seriously not coming back? Are you aware of how unpleasant things have been at the police station? The head officer, Sullivan, has been displaying the worst possible temperament that one could conceive of

. Everyone's walking on eggshells. One wrong word and you're getting torn to shreds."

Jessica lowered her lashes, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Her voice was cool and final. "I can't go back, Evelyn. I turned in my resignation. I left my badge. City Police Department and I… we're done."

"Who says you're done?" Evelyn stamped her foot in frustration and leaned closer. "I was in Chief Sullivan's office this morning dropping off files. Your resignation letter was sitting right there on his desk—unsigned. He hasn't approved it, Jessica. Don't you get it? He's not letting you go. He's waiting for you to come back and apologize."

Jessica's heart skipped a beat.

Unsigned?

What exactly was his intention in acting this way? Was he continuing to attempt to embarrass her? Or was this simply one more example of a distorted effort to assert dominance?


The memory of that night at the bar flashed through her mind—Sarah clinging to Michael's arm, smug and victorious.

Jessica's lips curled into a bitter, self-mocking smile. She crushed the fragile hope blooming in her chest.

"Whether he signs it or not is his business. Whether I stay or go is mine." Jessica gently pulled her sleeve free, her tone polite but distant. "Thanks for telling me, Evelyn. But I've already moved on. Say goodbye to everyone for me. From now on… we go our separate ways."

"Jessica! You're just as stubborn as Chief Sullivan!" Evelyn called after her retreating figure, shaking her head in exasperation.