Consequences and Repercussions

    Special Agent Fritz Ann Dietrich of the Federal Bureau of Investigation sat at her desk, sipping coffee and scrolling through e-mails. She had been at work since early that morning. Fritz Ann liked arriving at the office early, as it allowed her to organize her daily tasks without distraction, and because it enabled her to keep track of what other agents might happen to arrive late.
    Fritz Ann was deleting some older messages when her inter-office phone line buzzed.
    “Agent Dietrich, I’d like to see you in my office, please”. The voice of Chief Investigator Jim Trailer came through the speaker.
    “Yes sir, I’ll be right there”. Fritz Ann responded.
    Jim Trailer had been promoted from his position at the Bureau’s main branch in Washington and made head of the Midwest/Great Lakes Region Branch Office where Fritz Ann was assigned. Some Agents would have been bothered by such a move, preferring to work in a major city like New York or Boston, or on the coasts, but Fritz Ann suspected that Chief Inspector Trailer relished his assignment. He seemed to take pride in the opportunity to protect the country’s heartland from crime and violence.
    Fritz Ann gathered up some files that were relevant to her current investigation and made her way to the Chief Inspector’s office. She knocked and entered. Trailer was seated at his desk.  Standing next to him was a tall, slender blonde woman. Fritz Ann had noticed them arriving together earlier in the day, and she did not recognize the woman. The stranger had a severe look on her face, which made Fritz Ann wary.
    “Have a seat, Agent Dietrich.” Inspector Trailer instructed.
    Fritz Ann sat in a chair in front of the desk and leaned forward.
    “I have some promising leads on the Blackjack case, sir. I’ve received some e-mails from witnesses claiming to have seen him in the Madison/Milwaukee corridor. Some of them are cranks, surely, but several of them seem credible, and with some follow-up I-“
    “Yes, thank you, Agent.” Trailer cut Fritz Ann off. His abruptness surprised her. In their time working together, Fritz Ann had always found Chief Inspector Trailer to be a patient man, giving his Agents time to gather evidence and build their cases. She took notice of the air of unease that seemed to fill the room.
    “Agent Dietrich, this is Agent Kelley from the main branch in Washington.” Trailer indicated the woman at his side.
    “Agent Kelley.” Fritz Ann greeted her. Kelley nodded.
    “Agent Kelley has also had some experience working with Dick Tracy and his unit. Several high-profile cases, in fact.” Trailer explained.
    “They’re a fine group of officers.” Fritz Ann was maintaining a diplomatic tone.
    “I agree,” said Agent Kelley. It was the first time she had spoken. Her voice revealed no emotion.
    “Before we continue, I want to make a few things clear,” Inspector Trailer began. “Agent Kelley is visiting the area on her own time. She’s taken vacation days from her job at the Bureau, and she has made her own arrangements for travel and accommodations. Is that right, Agent Kelley?”
    “I have a sister in Grosse Pointe that I’m planning to visit.” Agent Kelley replied.
    “And her visit here is on a personal matter, to see me specifically.” Trailer went on. “Agent Kelley is NOT here in an official capacity, and no part of this meeting has been officially logged in Bureau records.”
    Fritz Ann was alarmed. In all the time she had known Chief Inspector Trailer, she had never seen him this dour. All his talk about this meeting being off-the-record made her even more nervous.
    “I see,” was all that Fritz Ann said.
    “Last week, I received this letter.” Agent Kelley produced a sheet of paper with an envelope clipped to it from a folder she held at her side. “You’ll note the return address on the envelope. That’s my personal residence. This letter was not sent to my office at the Bureau, and it has not been recorded among my official correspondence.”
    “I don’t understand what all this is about.” Fritz Ann finally said.
    “The letter is from Officer Lizz Worthington-Grove.” Trailer explained. “I think you should read it.”
    Kelley handed the letter to Trailer, who handed it to Fritz Ann. Fritz Ann read it. It was neatly typed and worded very carefully. When she finished, Fritz Ann tossed the letter dismissively onto Trailer’s desk.
    “This is outrageous.” Fritz Ann announced. Trailer and Kelley exchanged a look.
    “So, then, you take issue with Detective Worthington-Grove’s account of the events?” Trailer asked.
    “Yes, I absolutely take issue with it.” Fritz Ann was trying to maintain a level tone, though her blood was rushing.
    “Let’s be clear, then.” Trailer said. “Is it your position that the events that Detective Worthington-Grove describes here did NOT take place?”
    “Well, no, that’s not the issue.” Fritz Ann explained. “I mean, if we’re speaking strictly in terms of what did and did not happen, then yes, she’s basically correct. But she’s seriously mis-representing the situation.”
    “I see.” Chief Inspector Trailer gathered up the letter and handed it back to Kelley. “So you admit that you grabbed Detective Sam Catchem and kissed him on the mouth.”
    “’Admit it’?” Fritz Ann was indignant. “With all due respect, Chief Inspector, I don’t think that that’s the appropriate…Phrasing here.”
    “How would you describe the situation, then?” Trailer leaned back in his chair as Fritz Ann edged forward.
    “It was a playful kiss!” Fritz Ann couldn’t keep the tension from her voice. “We had just caught Blackjack for the first time. We were celebrating! It was like that picture with the sailor from the end of World War Two, you know?”
    “Hmm.” Trailer was non-committal.
    “I’ll remind you, Agent Dietrich, that I received this letter at my personal residence.” Kelley broke her silence. “Apparently Detective Worthington-Grove considered the matter to be significant enough that she wanted someone at the Bureau to be made aware, but not in a way that might damage your career.”
    “Well, thank goodness for small favors.” Fritz Ann’s said sardonically.
    “You do know, Agent Dietrich,” Trailer began, “That Detective Catchem is a married man?”
    “Yes, of course I know that.”
    “And, by all accounts, happily married? With children?” Trailer kept his voice even.
    “Yes, he’s got a wife and two daughters. They’re all wonderful people. I know that nothing is going to happen between Sam and me. That’s why we can flirt like we do!” In spite of herself, Fritz Ann began to sound desperate. She wanted Trailer and Kelley to understand, but for some reason they couldn’t. Or they refused to.
    “So, Detective Catchem flirts with you, is that correct?” Kelley asked.
    “No, no.” Fritz Ann rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. “I flirt with him, and he acts all embarrassed. It’s the nature of our relationship, and it’s cute. It’s all perfectly harmless. Sam enjoys it!”
    “He’s told you that?” Trailer asked.
    “He doesn’t have to!” Fritz Ann protested. “Has HE lodged a complaint?”
    “Detective Catchem isn’t the kind to make a complaint like this.” Trailer observed.
    “Of course not! Because there’s not an issue!” Fritz Ann was gathering momentum. “I don’t know what Detective Worthington-Grove’s problem is, but for some reason she’s decided to meddle in a matter that does not concern her. And frankly, Chief Inspector, I resent being called to the carpet by this stranger-“ she indicated to Agent Kelley, “-Who also has no first-hand knowledge of the situation. I don’t what your agenda is, or Lizz’s, or what’s going on.”
    “All right, Agent, let’s keep a cool head.” Trailer attempted to calm Fritz Ann.
    “I’m perfectly cool, sir.” Fritz Ann replied, with an edge in her voice. “I’m not some flighty, emotional… I don’t know, eccentric who’s given to irrational behavior!”
    A thought occurred to Fritz Ann, and before she could consider the ramifications, she spoke.
    “Is this because I’m a woman?” she asked, rhetorically. “Does Detective Worthington-Grove have some vendetta against me because she can’t stand to see a woman in a higher position of authority? Or you, Agent Kelley? Would you pull all this behind-the-scenes, cloak-and-dagger, off-the-record nonsense if I was a man? Would-“
    “If you were a man, you’d have been arrested!” Agent Kelley burst out. “If a man had grabbed a female co-worker like that and kissed her, he would have been cuffed and charged with sexual assault! At the very least – THE VERY LEAST – he would have been fired. On. The. Spot!”
    Agent Kelley punctuated her words by tapping the desk with her index finger. She continued. “I don’t know you, Agent Dietrich, and I don’t know who you think you are, but I know Lizz Worthington-Grove and I know that she doesn’t have a bitter or resentful thought in her head. And when you pull stunts like this and then try to claim gender discrimination, you make it harder for ALL of us, do you understand me?”  
    An awkward silence filled the room. Agent Kelley replaced a stand of her hair that had come loose. Fritz Ann stiffened in her seat.
    “I understand your position, Agent Kelley.” Fritz Ann finally said.
    Chief Inspector Trailer spoke. “Agent Dietrich, I think you’re an asset to the Bureau. I think you have a long and important career ahead of you. And I would hate to see it get derailed by a matter like this.”
    “Yes, sir.” Fritz Ann’s voice was flat.
    “I’m going to place you on administrative leave.” Trailer said. “Three months, paid. Effective today. During that time, I would like you to seek counseling. A licensed therapist, but not someone affiliated with the Bureau. If you can’t find one on your own, I can recommend someone. I’ve been seeing a counselor myself for some time about work-related issues, and I’m sure she can refer you to someone equally capable.”
    “Sir.” Fritz Ann still betrayed no emotion.
    “At the end of the three months, if your therapist can make a report of progress, then you’ll be reinstated with no loss in rank or standing. In the meantime, your caseload will be re-assigned.”
    Fritz Ann looked at Agent Kelley, but did not speak.
    “Someone local. From this branch.” Trailer volunteered.
    “I understand, sir.” Fritz Ann breathed heavily. “Will there be anything else, Chief Inspector?”
    “No. We’ll need access to your computer, so if you can write down any relevant passwords and such before you leave, please.”
    “Yes, sir.” Fritz Ann stood. “Agent.” She nodded at Agent Kelley.
    “Agent.” Kelley nodded back. Fritz Ann turned and left the office.
    “I’d rather face down the entire Famon family than go through that again.” Trailer said after the door was closed.
    “I’m sorry about the outburst, Chief Inspector. It was unprofessional.” Agent Kelley said. “I hope no one outside the office heard.”
    “Hmm.” Trailer remained non-committal. “I meant what I said, you know. Agent Dietrich is a top-notch law enforcement officer. She’ll probably have my job someday.”
    “I can believe that, sir.” Agent Kelley remained rigid. “She’s certainly passionate.”
    “She is that.” Agent Trailer picked up his mug and took a sip of tea. It had gone cold. “Are you really going to visit your sister?”
    “For a little while.” Kelley replied. “We don’t actually get along very well. But I have some friends in the area I’d like to see. And some contacts I should touch base with.”
    “Hmm, good.”  Trailer set down his mug. “People forget, it’s the relationships that really make this job work.”