Chapter 22 Rafael

The pain Rafael felt was like a knife twisting in his chest when Andrew left him in the living room. As he sat alone in the darkness, thoughts raced through his mind, all centered on how to keep his relationship with Andrew. He climbed the stairs to freshen up and told Gabriella he was going to the department to do some paperwork.

He left the house, weighed down by a heavy sense of darkness. He didn't know what to expect from the department. He drove to the station, parked his car, and walked in, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and apprehension. As he passed the information desk, the workers greeted him with their usual warm smiles and friendly hellos. Nothing different.

A few straggling officers were getting ready for their shift and greeted him as well . Are they okay with me being gay or are they just pretending?

He stopped at the captain's office.

"Can I help you, Officer Duarte?"

"Just checking to see if you told Miller to inquire about the letter sent to the department about me."

"Absolutely not. It's none of anyone else's business. The letter has been discarded."

"Thank you, sir."

"You did an outstanding job at the hostage scene."

"Thank you, sir." He left the captain's office and walked down the hallway to Miller's office.

As Rafael pushed open the door, he was met with a rush of stale air and the faint scent of coffee. He closed the door behind him, shutting out the noise from the hallway. Rafael locked eyes with the man behind the desk. They were competing for the same promotion and Rafael knew Miller was looking for a way to cut him out of the promotion to another department he had wanted for years.

"Sit down, Duarte." Miller looked up from his desk, a smug expression on his face. "Duarte, sit down," he said again, his tone dripping with condescension.

Rafael remained standing. "I understand you're interested in my private life. Why did you say the captain told you to call me?"

"Just thought the truth should be out in the open before promotions are considered."

"Can't you compete fairly? Do you always have to get one up on people, so you can win?" Rafael spoke much louder than he had intended.

"Fuck you! No one wants to work with a gay cop. You're a disgrace to the force."

"You're a fucking liar!"

"You're a lousy cop, Duarte! You won't get the promotion, so withdraw your application."

"You should be fired for your incompetence on the job. And no, I'm not withdrawing my application. I'm the better cop for that job."

Miller leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "That letter…it's quite the revelation. You should quit the department. Save yourself the embarrassment. Save us all the humiliation of working with you!"

Rafael's fists clenched at his sides. "My personal life is none of your business, Miller. And it has nothing to do with my ability to do my job." Rafael was so angry he could easily admit he was gay, something he'd never thought was possible. The anger pushed his fear away. Maybe finally being with Andrew gave him something to fight for and defend. Andrew didn't want to live in hiding anymore. He now fully understood his need to live openly.

Miller's eyes narrowed. "You're a disgrace to the badge. You think you can compete with me for the lead Criminal Investigator position? You're delusional."

Rafael's voice rose, fueled by righteous anger. "I earned my place here just like everyone else. My sexuality doesn't change that."

Their argument grew louder, echoing through the station. Just then, the door swung open, and the chief walked in, his face stern. "What's going on here?"

Miller pointed a finger at Rafael. "Chief, this man is unfit for duty. He's—"

The chief cut him off. "Enough, Miller. I don't care about Rafael's personal life. What I care about is his performance, and he's proven himself repeatedly. You need to mind your own business."

Miller's face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "But, Chief—"

"No buts," the chief said firmly. "Rafael, congratulations. You've got the promotion."

"Thank you, Chief. That means a lot to me," Rafael said.

Rafael felt a rush of emotions—relief, pride, and a deep sense of validation. He had fought for his place, and he had won. As he left the office, he couldn't help but smile, knowing he had stood up for himself and come out on top.

He made his way to the front of the building, where a few congratulated him on his new position in Criminal Investigations, something he had wanted forever. All the officers he had feared would reject him didn't. So far, only Miller had because they were competing for the same position. He had worked long and hard at the department and earned respect, especially after the hostage situation.

As soon as he arrived home, he pulled out his phone and called Andrew to tell him the good news, but he didn't answer. Why wouldn't he answer his phone? He punched in a text to Andrew.

Rafael: Can you meet me at our Love Nest? Midnight?

He waited for Andrew to respond, but no message came.

Rafael: Where are you? I'll meet you wherever you are.

Rafael sat in the living room waiting for Andrew to respond. He drank a beer to relax. He wanted to celebrate his promotion with Andrew in person. His heart sank as he realized Andrew was ignoring his messages and calls. He'd said he needed time to think.

The doorbell rang, its sharp chime piercing the silence, and he quickly rose from his seat to answer it. His mother and Mrs. Star stood there in casual clothes. They didn't look angry. What did they want from him?

"Come in." He led them to the living room, where they sat side by side on the couch.

"We're here to talk to you about Andrew," his mother said.

Feeling like the wind was knocked out of him, his breath caught in his throat. "Did something happen to Andrew?"

"No, he's okay, but I'm upset because your father and my husband punched him, leaving him with bruises on his face and a black eye."

"Why are you two here?"

"I'm here to tell you I don't agree with your father and I'm not willing to throw you away because you are with Andrew. You can call me anytime. I'm here for you."

"Your mother called me and told me what happened to Andrew, and we met after all these years. We don't agree with our husbands. I'm here for Andrew, and you too. There's no way Andrew deserves what happened today."

"I'm so happy to hear that. Is Andrew home?"

"No. He left and said he'd be gone for a couple of days. He didn't say where he was going," Mrs. Star said.

"Can I get you two anything to drink?"

"No. We can't stay. Just wanted to have a quick talk and now we need to leave."

They got up, and each hugged Rafael, then they left the house.

As soon as they were gone, he reached for his phone to send Andrew another text, but it rang. He hoped it was Andrew.

"This is Chief Moreno. I have some information you might like to know concerning that letter. I had some officers find out where it was mailed from, then do some in person investigation. Do you know Miss Amelia Smith?

"Yes. I've seen her many times at the Blue Star Diner."

"That's who sent it. I had two officers pay her a visit, and she admitted to writing it. We told her she was banned from the Blue Star Diner. She said she was doing God's work, so two officers went to her pastor and told him what she had done. He'll be dealing with her."

"Thank you so much. I never expected all this support."

"You forgot to do your paperwork on the hostage incident. So come in tomorrow."

"Thank you so much. I'll be there tomorrow."