Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: "Lap" is short for "laptop"
Sizeable Issues
"Here you go, Sir. I set up your desktop so you just have to click here on the Live Meeting icon. Then you dial in the number on your speaker phone and follow these instructions." She pointed with her pen. "And the mute button on your phone is right here."
Horatio looked at the phone and then at her. "Thank you, Miss Stockburne. By the way, how are you holding up in getting Rick Stetler all ready for his first big teleconference?"
"I'd like to thank you for all the overtime. Between Tallahassee sending us the wrong documents, readjusting the wireless router, and the usual stuff Rick seems to blow up, Tyler and I have our hands full. I don't mind, but personally, I wish his first big teleconference was on a different subject."
"Well, I know how you feel, but it is IAB's job to brief the entire department on the state's new sexual harassment policy. By the way, why are you making sure I knew where the mute button is on my phone?"
"Well Sir, he asked me to stay in his office and lend him tech support during the teleconference. Call it experience, but I know he's gonna say or do something."
"I know, Emmie. But you know Rick. He thinks because he took a couple of tech support classes, he can do your job now."
"Sir, because he took a couple of tech support classes, I'm now doing more of my job."
Emmie arrived in the IAB office five minutes before the start of Rick's teleconference with her portfolio and her tool case. Rick was sitting in his chair, obviously annoyed and stressed while poring over his notes. He slapped his notes on the desk and looked up at her, his eyes blazing.
"You're late, Emmie! What took you so long?"
She shrugged. "Sorry Sir, Tallahassee just sent an update to your presentation. Could you let me in there so I can add it to your desktop?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're looking at an outdated policy, Sir. Updates came in about two minutes ago, and I have to download them." She stretched across his cluttered desk for his laptop and clicked the keyboard. "Hang on. Downloading now."
He bolted up and glared at her. "We start in one minute! How long is this gonna take?"
Emmie looked up at the miffed IAB agent. "It's a big file, Sir, and wireless is slow. Going as fast as I can. Try to stall them or something."
Rick huffed and slapped his notes on his desk. "This is my one chance to make a good impression, and what happens?"
Her ears perked up when she heard a voice over the conference speaker. Quickly she spun around and clicked the mute button in order to silence Rick's stressful fit. Unaware, Rick continued his shouting tirade. She tried to get his attention.
"Uh, Sir?" Emmie pointed politely to the muted conference speaker. Rick paid no attention as he paced angrily in his office, hands on hips. "Just do your job! Haven't you opened those files yet?"
…Sergeant Rick Stetler of IAB will brief the Miami-Dade Police Department on the latest round of changes to the Florida Sexual Harassment Code of Conduct…." a voice said officially.
"Sir?"
"Just do your job and I'll do mine!" Rick snapped as he turned his back and glanced at her as she watched the slow graphics on his laptop.
"Okay, Sir. Got 'em. Hang on!"
Rick seemed unaware of his cue as he huffed and stared at her while she frantically clicked the keyboard.
"Turning it over to you, Sergeant Stetler."
Emmie shrugged and released the mute button. Ready or not, the Miami-Dade Police Department was listening for him, she thought. Finally at his breaking point, Rick stood inches behind her and held his hand up in the air.
"I can't wait anymore, Emmie! Open 'em up already! I need whatever you're hiding!"
Emmie quickly covered her face and slapped the conference speaker's mute button. It was too late, though.
"What the hell is so funny?" Rick's eyes then widened when he noticed the squawking conference speaker. He froze and turned crimson-faced.
Horatio motioned to his chair. "Sit down, Miss Stockburne" he said patiently.
"Thanks Sir."
"Damage report?"
"Frank Tripp's monitor had coffee damage. Detective Berkeley's laptop was broken beyond repair when he dropped his on the floor. Oh, and one very traumatized IAB agent."
Horatio sighed. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Sergeant Stetler came in this morning ranting and raving that you embarrassed him in front of the entire Miami-Dade Police Department when you laughed just before hitting the mute button on the speaker. He insisted that something be done about it."
"What? Sir, I swear I—" she started to protest.
The Lieutenant put up his hand. "Look, Miss Stockburne, you and I both know that what happened was nobody's fault. Strictly off the record, even the Commissioner thought it was funny. Of course Rick could have been paying closer attention, but you know how he is. Nothing is ever his fault. You're a department supervisor yourself, and you know politics."
"So what now, Sir?"
"We both agreed that if you email the department a formal apology, he'll drop the subject. Just take a deep breath and do it. You're a professional, and I'll let you use your better judgment. Once you've done that, we'll consider the matter over and done with. Fair?"
Emmie sighed deeply. "Yes Sir."
Horatio smiled. "And thank you for showing everybody the mute button. It could have been a lot worse."
A sullen Emmie sat in the computer lab and brought up her email. Rick wanted an apology. She would oblige.
To Whom It May Concern:
Please accept my sincerest apologies for my unprofessional outburst during the course of Sergeant Stetler's conference concerning Florida's laws of sexual harassment. At the time this occurred, Sergeant Stetler had me on his lap and was trying to give me something bigger than my system was designed to handle. I assure you that this will not happen again.
Sincerely,
Emmalyn P Stockburne, Senior Cybertechnician, Miami-Dade Crime Lab