They called me in on Tuesday. Tuesdays are good for executions. Not too dramatic like a Monday, not too obvious like a Friday. Just enough time in the week to tie up the body and pretend it wasn’t personal.
I walked into Captain Enrique Donald’s office. He was sitting next to Gordon, both of them looking like they’d practiced the performance already: crossed arms, stern mouths, official silence.
A single piece of paper sat between them on the desk.
“Have a seat,” Donald said, gesturing like I was there to sign for a UPS package.
I sat.
Gordon leaned forward, all fake concern. “We’ve reviewed your training evaluations. It’s… not looking good.”
He slid the paper toward me like it was a gift.
“This is a separation agreement…uh…resign in lieu of” he continued. “Voluntary resignation. Sign this, and you walk away clean. No internal affairs investigation. No black mark.”
“And if I don’t sign?” I asked.
Donald’s voice dropped a register. “Then we proceed with termination.”
I stared at the paper. My name was printed neatly at the top like it had been waiting for this moment. Like I had.
I looked up at them—two men who’d never ridden with me, never saw me train, never asked for my side. Just took the lies at face value because it made their lives easier.
“So… just to be clear,” I said. “I can either resign and admit guilt for things I didn’t do—or you’ll fire me based on evaluations written by people who wanted me gone before day one.”
Donald didn’t blink. “We’re trying to give you an opportunity to leave on your own terms.”
I almost laughed. My own terms.
I picked up the pen. Not to sign—but to look at it. To feel the weight of what they wanted me to do.
And then I set it back down.
“I don’t think I want to sign it. If you want to fire me, then you fire me,” I said.
Gordon nodded, but his eyes said don’t take too long. His eyes said: we already decided what happens to people like you.
Gordon coldly asked for my gun and badge, then told me to go home.
I stood up, nodded once, and walked out.
And just like that, the clock started ticking.
