I was so good. And then Brian flipping Cassidy knocked on her door. Ugh. So I fixed it.
Full disclosure: I worked in social services for 13 years. I spent lots of time working with investigators and school officials and saw my share of legit reports and complete BS reports. So part of this is me channeling my knowledge of social services and me being a mom of a strong willed 4 year old girl who doesn't realize the world doesn't revolve around her. This storyline is already under my skin and if they don't do it just right, I'm going to throw something.
He didn't even see his visitor as he walked toward his office, already reviewing messages on his phone.
"Barba."
He stopped, slowly looking over his shoulder at the offending speaker. The man himself – Brian Cassidy.
"You aren't on my calendar and I have no time for you."
"Better time to come back?"
"How about never?" Barba threw over his shoulder, walking into his office.
"I work here now."
"Yeah, I heard. Trust me. I voiced my strong opposition. I would love to know what you've got on the powers that be around here."
"I'm not like that Barba."
He dropped his briefcase on his desk, loudly. He placed his phone next to it and rested his hand flat on his desk, staring hard at the man in front of him.
"Sure. Whatever you say, Cassidy. Now get out."
"Can't. We need to talk about Liv." Barba laughed, shaking his head, unbuttoning his jacket and sitting down.
"Funny. Funny you want to talk about her now. NOW! Sorry. Your chance passed. Your chance was yesterday. Your chance was coming here the moment that bullshit report hit your desk. Now? You want to talk now? Now is no good for me. Yesterday was good for me. Not now."
"Barba, I've got to take what they hand me. You think I want to do this?"
Barba shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe you do. Maybe you want her groveling at your feet. What? She shot up the ranks while you got shown the door. Forced into retirement early. Boy, I imagine that pisses you right off."
"I always wanted the best for her" Cassidy shot back, going on the defensive.
"Did you? Really?"
"Yes."
"Then how can you do this? How? You know her!"
"This came from a school. You know how seriously the reports from schools get taken."
"Yeah, I know the stats. Do you? Do you need me to throw back at you the number of wasted hours social workers and police and lawyers waste on false claims? On people jumping the gun to cover their own asses? That if anyone had bothered questioning him just a little bit more, or even questioning him appropriate and by the law, he would have told them she did that to him pulling him back from getting mowed down by a taxi walking to school."
"She should have been watching him better." Barba wanted to throw something at Cassidy. Maybe his fist.
"And you obviously have no concept of a strong-willed toddler who just wants to see the world. Noah is curious and he was following the rules. The signal told him to walk. He's smart and he listens to his mother and that taxi was at fault. Olivia is a good mom. No. Olivia is a great mom. That boy is her number one priority each and every day and if you claim to know her as much as you probably have to others, then you would be fighting this bullshit tooth and nail. But, hey, maybe for you, talking down Liv is a win win. You get a big bag and you get to put her in her place."
"Look, Barba. I know you two are close. Sounds like you've spent some time with Liv and Noah." Barba's eyes flared wide and he clenched his jaw. Something about the way this man was so casually talking about Liv and her son made him want to put Cassidy in the ground.
"You don't know shit, Cassidy. You have proven it time and time again and this latest move of yours just proves that."
Cassidy pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against, heading toward the door. "This investigation is happening, Barba. I'm here now. Eventually you will need to talk to me. We are talking to everyone. Don't make me force the issue."
"Don't threaten me, Cassidy. Ever. You have no idea how far I will go to…" he trailed off. Cassidy smiled. "To protect her? Would you lie for her, Barba? Cover for her? If the taxi thing is true, then so be it. But if she's in over her head, she needs help. If you care about her, you will recognize that."
"Go to hell, Cassidy."
Cassidy just shook his head, turning on his heel and heading out the door, almost running right into Fin as he left. Fin glared at the man as Cassidy pushed past him, moving as quickly as he could down the hall.
"I don't know how you all ever managed to work with him on a daily basis" Barba said, collapsing into his seat, looking up at the sergeant.
"He's not the same guy he was back then. It's a shame" Fin replied, dropping into his seat.
Barba nodded, rubbing his hand on his face. "I thought Liv was coming over to talk about the case you all caught last night."
"She had to meet with Langan this morning. I told her to take the day. What good is this title if I can't use it every once in a while, you know?" Barba nodded. "How is she?" he asked. "I tried calling her last night but she didn't answer."
"Honestly, I haven't seen her this shaken up in a long time. It's getting to her." Barba shook his head, letting out the breath he had been holding.
"You know, Counselor, one of these days you may try telling her all those things you just said to Cassidy. I think she might like to hear that coming from you." Barba looked down at the file on his desk, opening it up, shrugging slightly.
"So, you heard all that, I guess."
"Sure did."
"Well, it's all true. All of it. He is right about one thing, though." Barba looked at Fin. "I will go to the ends of the earth to protect her and that boy. Have since the beginning. Don't plan to stop now. Whatever it takes. This is a witch hunt and I will help her prove it."
"We all will, Counselor. But again, maybe tell her all of that sometime? Just like that. You never know."
"Maybe someday, Fin. Maybe someday."