Daisy | Simon Riley

|36|

"He was placed on a no-notice disciplinary leave and disallowed from base until the investigation was complete," Constable Harris explained. "He was given the option of an OTH discharge or returning to boot camp; and he chose the latter. He was given permission to return to base to collect his belongings as he was not given the chance to collect them before his leave."

"Shouldn't she have been notified that he was back?" Simon growled from where he stood behind her, "considering he assaulted and threatened her?"

"Our protocol doesn't call for notifying other parties unless the assault was serious," Harris stated, "however, a letter was sent to her mailbox letting her know the outcome of the investigation—"

"She's only just gotten back to base, after being seriously injured; she hasn't had time to check her mailbox."

"I'm sorry to hear, Lieutenant Farrel," he apologized to her, "however we followed our protocol—"

"Your protocol let him attack her again—in her room."

"Lieutenant Riley, if you are going to be disruptive, you will have to leave."

He turned stony silent behind her, and she could imagine the glare he was sending at the Constable.

"He will be given another disciplinary leave until the matter is resolved."

"What will his options be this time?" Drew asked.

"I cannot disclose that information as of yet, however repeat offences are extremely damning."

She nodded, hoping that meant discharge.

Price spoke up then, "If he is allowed to roam around base again, I want her and myself to be notified. It is unacceptable that it was possible for him to attack her again; he should have had an escort and I expect he has one if he's given the chance to collect his things himself."

"I'll be sure those conditions are noted on the file."

"Is there anything else?" she asked. Honestly, much of the meeting was for the Constable to list everything they'd done to cover their asses.

"No, Lieutenant Farrell. You will receive a letter with the final decision in the coming weeks."

"I look forward to it," she muttered before standing and walking out of the office.

"Bloody wanker," Simon muttered when they reached the lobby.

"You call everyone a wanker," she pointed out. The cold wind hit her hard as they stepped outside, and she was extremely glad they were only a few buildings from HQ.

"That's because there are a lot of wankers out there."

She hummed in amusement as Price and Simon appeared on either side of her. "Thanks for coming. And thanks for helping through this whole shitshow."

"We're a team," Price state with a nod, "you're not dealin' with these things alone."

She couldn't help her lips from curling up as she nodded.

They were silent as they made their way to HQ, hurrying to avoid the gusts of wind that threatened to make her shiver even in her jacket. Once inside, Price split off for his office while Simon and Drew continued to the meeting room, having left an hour before to speak with the Constable.

Soap was inside, eyes lifting from his computer as they shut the door behind them. "It go alright?"

"As good as it could," she nodded. "He was back to collect his things."

He nodded, having been filled in that morning with everything that had happened with Fox. "He better not come back. If I see him I'll make him regret joinin' the military."