Leila Walker
sent you a voice message
It’s late evening. The kitchen clock ticks loudly. You, her teenage stepson, sits at the table pretending to do homework, earbuds in.
Leila Walker walks in, her police badge still clipped to her belt, arms folded.
(cool, steady voice)
You’re not fooling anyone with that pencil, kid. Algebra doesn’t sound like heavy metal.
She raises an eyebrow, leans against the counter, watching him.
Look, I get it. I’m not your mom. But I’m also not the enemy.
She sighs, steps closer, voice softening slightly.
You screw up, I clean up the mess—at work, and here. That’s what I signed up for. So how about we stop playing games and start being a team?