“Sly woman.”
“I love my relatives, but I don’t need them running my life. Still, Dad moved. He’s happy.”
“He lives with her?”
“God, no. Those two would kill each other if they lived under the same roof. But she’s a great cook and carries food to his house every day.”
“And you stayed here.”
“I had a career with Station Eight. Dad sold me the house, dirt cheap. Wouldn’t have made me pay anything, but he needed money for a place in North Carolina.”
“Why did you become a firefighter?”
A flicker of sadness entered his eyes and was quickly extinguished.
“It’s in the genes.”
“In the genes?”
“I’ve been around firefighters all my life. My dad took me with him to the firehouse a lot. Guess it grew on me.”
“I think there’s more. You’re good at your job. I’ve seen you in action, remember?”
“Can’t deny that. I like helping people, putting out fires.” His eyes bore into hers. “It’s what I do.”
She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to make of his expression. Okay, change of subject. The question of his mom nagged at the back of her mind. She bit her tongue. What could be so bad? She took a plunge.
“What about your mom?”
A cloud covered Mike’s face making Cassie wish she’d kept her mouth shut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful memory.”
“I don’t usually talk about her because she walked out.”
Way to go, Cass. Here was a wound that obviously had not healed.
“What about your family? Are you from around here?” He smoothly steered the subject to her.
“Born and raised in Staunton. My parents are from Highland County. Both grew up on farms. Moved to the big city when they got married. I have one sister, thank God. If I had another one like her I would not have made it to adulthood.”
“That bad?”
“You have no idea.” Discussing her sister would put her in a bad mood. She had no desire to waste time chatting about Jennifer. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“None. I’m it. Just me and my dad since I was little.”
“He never remarried?”
“Nope.” Mike flipped the check over, glancing at the amount. Cassie took his short answer as meaning end of discussion.
“You ready?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to get back in your muscle car.”
***
Mike had hoped to spend the evening with Cassie, but she received a phone call from her sister and it upset her. She didn’t want to talk about it and suddenly the pleasant harmony of the afternoon changed to a dark cloud hanging over their day. Listening to her end of the conversation, he gathered the sister had called Cassie to come pick up their mother. That wasn’t the part she’d been upset about. The sister was supposed to take care of her mom and changed her mind. She wanted to go out and told Cassie she had to come get their mother. There was more to it, but he could tell she didn’t want to argue over the phone. That put an end to their evening.
It wasn’t all bad. He had one hell of a goodbye kiss. If she hadn’t been in a hurry, he might have had more. Their quick, passionate embrace gave him something to look forward to.
His phone beeped. He didn’t text when he drove, but being a firefighter, he kept up with alerts in case he was needed at the station.
Jared.
He called the station. Jared answered on the first ring.
“What’s up?”
“Hey, man. Shep is calling the team in for a special meeting.”
“Why?”
“Don’t know. Hooley’s here. They had a powwow and Shep told me to get you guys in here.”
“Be there in ten.”
Mike took the next right and headed to Station Eight.
Ten minutes later, he strode into the firehouse and found Jared reclined on one of the sofas with his boots propped on a low table. Laredo and a new volunteer were trying to kill each other on the big TV screen via video game. Two teenagers, regular hangouts who had dreams of becoming firefighters, urged the players on with shouts of instructions and cheers. When Jared saw Mike, he dropped his feet to the floor and stood.
“What were you doing at the station?” Mike asked him.
“Edgar got a new Harley. Drove over to check it out. Cap saw me. Told me to get the rest of the team. Pronto.” Jared gave a toss of his head toward Shep’s office. “Hooley’s in there. Been holed up ever since I came inside. Cap stuck his head out a few minutes ago. I told him you were on your way.”
“What’s going on?”
“Didn’t say. With the investigator here, I figure it’s about the explosion at the training sight. Maybe Hooley found something.”
Mike hoped so. The damn incident had been chafing his brain for weeks. If Hooley didn’t have any news, Mike would grab Jared and Laredo and head back out to the Wimer property. Have another look.
A door slammed with a bang. Cooper stomped into the day room, complaining.
“A guy finally gets a night off. I don’t see no fire. There better be a good reason you called me back in here.”
“Cap said call, I called.” Jared gave a shrug.
“Get over it, pup. You’re not the only one who had to end a hot date.”
Jared smiled at Mike, obviously deducing he’d been out with Cassie. “Only Cooper’s hot date was with Halo Reach.”
Mike raised his brows. “A video game?”
“I’ll have you know I was winning.”
Mike glanced over to the side of the room at the group playing with handheld controls. He’d never gotten into the gaming scene, but his coworkers sure were involved. One of the teens grabbed Laredo’s control.
“My turn.”
The door to Shep’s office opened, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Good. You’re all here. Come on in.”
This felt a lot like Mike’s school days, getting called to the principal’s office. Hooley, the fire inspector, stood to the left, leaning against the wall. Mike nodded to him and took one of the empty chairs in front of Shep’s desk. Jared took the other one while Laredo and Cooper filed in along the back wall.
“I know you all have been waiting, so Hooley is here to give us an update.”
“You find out what happened at the training site?” Jared directed his question to Hooley.
Hooley pushed away from the wall and pursed his lips. “I found several things. For one, the explosion was most definitely arson. We gathered quite a bit of evidence. Gas tanks that an individual had to place and open at just the right time.”
“How the hell was that possible?” Mike burst out. “I was there. Chief Wilson follows procedures by the book. He would not be so careless.”
“We agree on that,” Hooley replied. “I spent a lot of time with the firefighters at Station Nine this past week. I have the film of that day loaded on my computer and I want each of you to take a look at it.”
“Hell, I forgot about the camera,” Laredo said, shoving a hand through his hair. “Is there something on there?”
“I’ve gone over it, but I want you guys to see if you notice anything out of the routine. Anything that might be off.”
“You were a firefighter before you became an investigator. You’d know if something didn’t look right,” Mike told Hooley.
“More eyes, more opportunity that each man might see something different,” Hooley replied.
“Sure thing. Let’s see this film.” Cooper leaned forward, staring at the computer monitor.
Hooley hit a button and the screen came to life. The horrific explosion blew up on screen just as Mike remembered it. He watched every gruesome detail as men shouted and ran. He focused on the team, the instructor, Ryan as he threw the torch. When the footage ended, Hooley started the tape again.
“I didn’t see anything,” Cooper said with noticeable disappointment.<
br />
“It was a clusterfuck.” Jared fisted his hands.
“After the explosion, every man went into action. Looks to me like they did exactly what they were supposed to do,” Shep said.
“Take another look,” Hooley slowed down the feed. “Anything. Anything at all.”
There was too much going on at a rushed speed to catch everything. When the clip stopped, Hooley hit the feed again. And again. By the fourth time—
“Stop. Right there.” Mike pointed. “Back it up.”
Hooley backed up the action.
“There.” Mike stared at the man in a flame-retardant suit.
“What is it?” Shep asked.
“That guy. He was right at the heart of the explosion just a few minutes back. Watch. Back it up.”
Hooley rewound the clip a few frames and froze the image.
“Would you look at that?” Cooper whistled through his teeth.
“If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it. He’s a member of Station Nine.”
Hooley gave Laredo a puzzled look. “Chief says this isn’t one of his guys.”
Mike jerked his head in amazement. Between the film and Hooley’s statement, it was just too much to absorb. Bad enough suspecting a firefighter. But who the hell was this guy if he didn’t belong to Station Nine? He squinted at the image on the screen.
“Got too much gear on to see who he is. The number on his helmet is definitely Station Nine.”
“Every Captain at each of the five stations that were on sight that day has seen this film. Every firefighter has been identified but one. Him.” Hooley pointed to the same man Mike had indicated. “I’ve been calling in every member of each firehouse to see if we can figure out who this guy is. No one has recognized him.”
“At least we know where he got his uniform.” Cooper stepped around Mike’s chair. “Some guy just waltzed into Station Nine and took their gear?”
“It’s only five miles from Station Eight,” Mike muttered out loud. Someone could just as easily have filched a suit from any of the firehouses. Who the hell would do that?
“And why?” Laredo uttered.
“This guy could be anyone,” Hooley explained. “We have no idea of motive. He could have chosen a firehouse randomly or he could have a beef with a certain individual.”
“Maybe we better keep an eye out since we leave our doors open most of the time.” Shep made eye contact with each member of the team.
“This guy is good,” Hooley warned. “He left no trace or clue of his identity. This is our only lead and you guys can see for yourself, it’s not much.”
Not much? It was worthless. Some guy in a fire-suit.
Mike’s gut twisted with unease. It didn’t sit well with him that some nut-job was out there targeting firefighters.
Chapter 18
The color blue is a safe colour - the most universally liked colour of all.
Blue is not impulsive or spontaneous and it doesn't like to be rushed - blue needs to analyze and think things through and work to a plan.
Blue needs to have direction & order- untidiness and unpredictability overwhelms it.
Blue likes familiarity. It doesn't like change and will stubbornly do things its own way, even if there is a better way.
– the colour of truth
Cassie closed the book with a heavy sigh. Not only her favorite color, but the color of Mike’s eyes. Safe? She did feel safe with him. He’d given her more security than anyone she’d ever known. How could that be, when she’d only just met him? Even her confidence had received a boost.
Doesn’t like to be rushed. That sounded like him. Mike had that easygoing, reserved manner. There were times when she thought he held back. Maybe that was the analyze and think things through part. She did a lot of analyzing, herself. To the point where she scrutinized and dissected every practical thought.
Thinking about Mike was a twenty-four-hour occurrence. She’d brought her students to the library for story time with the librarian and slipped to the corner for a few minutes of quiet time for herself. Even though she taught in an elementary school, the library had one secluded corner with shelves housing books for those over the age of twelve. Walking along the aisle, she’d slowly traced her fingers across the spines as she read their titles. One of particular interest had caught her eye.
Fire’s Blue Blaze. Blue was her favorite color. And her firefighter had the rarest hue of blue irises she’d ever seen. Mike’s eyes fascinated her, along with several other qualities he possessed. Interesting, what she’d just read. It made perfect sense. Blue could calm the mind and soothe the soul. But it could also be perceived as cold, unemotional and unfriendly. Like Mike’s moods. Just when she thought she understood him, when she thought he felt the same as she, he’d pull back. Something bothered him and she was determined to find out what.
Admittedly, their relationship—if you wanted to call it that—was still new. Maybe he needed time. His allure might have hit her like a lightning bolt out of the sky, but guys were different. Maybe it would take longer for him. Although, whenever they’d shared a moment of intimacy, he’d been just as involved as she. The way he sighed when he held her, the times when his touch seemed almost possessive. Little things he did that she noticed expressed his feelings more than he knew.
Romance filled her head with believable dreams. To have a man want her. To have him touch her the way Mike did. To have him tell her she was beautiful, even when she knew she wasn’t, although her body had all the right curves in the proper places. She longed for a man to want her. To see the inner beauty. Could Mike be the one to give her these things?
Damn insecurities. Her sister’s taunts came back.
What did she have to offer a man?
More than her body? More than lust?
When are you going to learn?
“Miss Peters?”
Cassie jumped.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’ve finished with your class.”
“Oh. Uh. I was involved in this book.” She held it out as if that explained her jumpiness. She quickly returned the book to its shelf, gave the librarian a nod and hurried to gather her students.
The children kept her busy until the school fire alarm went off.
“All right, children. Line up and remember, no talking in the halls. This is our fire drill. Philip, will you please turn off the lights and close the door?”
Once in the hall, she led her students out of the building, making sure she counted each one as they exited the double doors. Her class knew the procedure and also knew she tolerated no monkey-business during a fire drill. Just like they’d practiced, her students walked in an orderly fashion across the bus parking lot to the edge and stopped, along with the upper grade classes. Each teacher stood with their students waiting for the ‘code green, all clear’.
Even the fates were against her.
Fire drill.
Mike.
His job was a dangerous one. Putting his life on the line for those in need. She gave a slight shudder. Praying for his safety had become another daily ritual.
The principal’s voice on the intercom announced the code green. “Philip, you may lead us back inside.”
Reading a book usually calmed the children after a drill, so she let them choose one and they gathered in a circle on the floor.
She made it through the next hour without further distractions and finally the bell rang at three o’clock. Excited children fled down the hall. Good Lord, she couldn’t handle another day like today.
“Hey girlfriend. You look awful.” Tammy blew into the room like a summer breeze.
“Hey. Heavy thoughts. I’m glad the day is over.”
“How’s this for heavy? I’ve got an idea. Let’s get one of those hunky firemen to come to the school for a show and tell?”
“I’m doomed,” Cassie groaned, raising her head to the ceiling. The fates are definitely against me.
“What’s with you?”
Cassie shook her head in response.
“Think about it. It’s a great idea.” Tammy waved her hands, as if proving her point. “If you don’t want Mike here in your little sphere, we’ll get one of his buddies.”
Don’t want Mike?
That’s the problem. She wanted him all the time.
“Oooh. You do have a glum face. What’s bothering you?” Tammy propped her hip on the corner of Cassie’s desk. “Is it time to go Mexican?”
“I could use a drink right now, but my stomach is not up to spicy food.”
“What’s up?” Tammy’s brows lifted, creasing her forehead into a frown. Since the day the principal told Tammy about Steve’s meddling, she’d been full of piss and vinegar. Her mood had improved greatly this week. Seeing a scowl on her face almost looked out of place.
Cassie turned and gathered papers she’d need to grade this evening. After what had been thrown at Tammy, if she could be brave, Cassie had no business sulking. She gave her friend a smile. “Everything’s good. I’m ready to leave. Why don’t you get your things and walk me out?”
“Sure thing. Be right back.” Tammy left the room with the same speed she’d entered.
Cassie picked up markers, replaced some books, and straightened the students’ desks. Before long, Tammy was back.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready.” Cassie snapped her briefcase closed and placed it in her carry case. With the amount of supplies teachers had to carry, a tote on wheels saved a lot of back pain.
“You seem a little down.” Tammy’s expression was one of concern.
“No. Just thinking.”
“About Mr. Muscles, no doubt.” Tammy’s smile was infectious. Who could be disheartened with a friend like Tammy around?
“Who else? Mike has taken permanent residence in my mind.”
“They why so glum? Unless he hasn’t been spending enough time in your bedroom.”
Cassie stumbled, causing one of the purse straps to fall down. She heaved it back on her shoulder with a jerk. “Is that all you think about?”
“Come on. You know I’m teasing. Besides, you’re the only one getting any action.” Tammy quickened her steps matching Cassie’s stride.
MIKE The Firefighters of Station 8 Page 17
