by Piper Stone
“Sheffield. Good. Too early to tell given the explosion, but there are suspicions of a bomb. Only this time, it wasn’t called in,” Captain Phillips huffed. “Asshole had no idea what he was hitting.”
“Maybe he did.” The Martin Industrial plant made and housed ammunition. No wonder the fire had spread. “Are the others on the way?”
“Yep. Get your ass in here. Bus is leaving in ten.”
“I’m too far away. I’ll meet you there.”
“All right. Just get there. I’ll have one of the guys grab your gear.”
“On my way.” Riker tossed the phone and pressed down on the accelerator, flooring the engine.
The place was on the outskirts of town, located in an up and coming industrial area. If the bomber knew what he was hitting, this might have been the original target, but why wasn’t there a call? What in the hell was really going on?
He roared through the city, toward the Blackfoot mountains. As soon as he turned on the main road, he could see the fire bomb, orange lighting up the sky. The damn thing already looked like a firestorm. The rain was falling, thunder rolling, the worst of the storm fast approaching. This was going to be a shit storm for all of them.
There were only a few cars on the road given the time, but he was stopped several times by red lights. He gunned through the last one, hearing the scream of a horn as he barely missed getting into an accident. He had a gut feeling this was going to be bad. He was still a solid eight minutes out. Damn it.
Riker pulled onto the road leading to the park and could see flashing lights. He glared out of the windshield at the blaze. The fire had already engulfed dozens if not hundreds of acres. “Shit.” Flashes of lightning coupled with the flames lit up the sky as the thunder rolled.
Boom! Pop!
The explosion jerked his car to the side, almost forcing him to lose control. “Fuck!” A rush of smoke rolled up from the roof of the building, creating firebrands. The large embers were not only pieces of the warehouse, but also shrapnel, no doubt from the boxes of ammunition. The entire thing was going to blow.
He jerked the Camaro to a stop and killed the engine, rushing out of the car and toward the group of firefighters standing on the sidelines. “Where’s the smokejumping team?”
“Already engaged. Hey, you Riker Sheffield?” the firefighter called, beckoning to him.
“Yeah.” Riker hadn’t worked with this particular engine company. He trotted toward the man in full gear.
“Some of your guys left your gear. Over there. They’re already headed up the mountain. We have our hands full here. The damn shit has already gotten away from us. We can’t get close to the building. The ammunition has been going off like bottle rockets.”
Whoosh! Boom!
“Goddamnit!” the firefighter ducked, holding onto his helmet as the embers cascaded down, mixing with the torrid of rain.
Riker remained standing, ignoring the floating sparks as he studied the mountain. He would consider this a blowup, the catastrophic fire spreading rapidly. Grabbing the bag of gear, he struggled to grab his things, the various implements. He had no chainsaw, only an ax. Yanking on the outer gear, he took off running before engaging the communications unit. “Sheffield here. Where are you?”
“Up on the first ridge line,” Antonio called. “Be careful. We’re worried the fire is going to cut us off.”
“I’ll be there.” He headed up the slope, cutting away brush and debris as he moved. The smoke was rancid, already swirling around him, the blackened substance thick. He took long strides, moving up the side of the mountain. Within seconds, flames were all around him. “Where are you?”
Boom!
There was only crackling noise on the other end of the communications line. A third explosion hit the building, the force sending another series of tremors. Flashes of lightning tore through the sky, the brief light accentuating the area. He could tell the fire was headed in the direction of the town. They had to cut it off before it reached the next ridge, or they might lose control.
Taking long strides, he swung his ax back and forth then noticed the control line. The team had been busy. Within seconds, he heard voices and headed in the direction.
“Thank God. Need all the help we can get!” Landen called as he waved.
“Work with Weaver, Lincoln and Frost. The rest of us are moving to the West, past the control line,” Antonio called then motioned for the rest of the team.
Riker jumped in, cutting away debris as the other men continued to dig, working tireless side by side as the flames continued to lap close by. The sound of trees cracking, breaking and toppling over was all around them.
Wham!
“Damn. The entire building is going to be torched,” Sawyer hissed as he took a moment, looking in the direction of the plant.
“They’re at least four units down there, with more on the way,” Riker commented as he rubbed his eyes.
“Keep moving!” Landen called. “We’re making headway.”
“Shit. I don’t see it,” Steel huffed as he continued digging.
They continued to work, time slipping away as popping noises could be heard all around them. The light of morning filtered into the sky and as the storm began to die down, strings of colors washed into the sky.
Riker grabbed a nearby chain saw, pulling the starter rope. When the tool roared to life, he used the power of his upper muscles, swinging the blade back and forth. He moved ahead of the team, now able to see the fire collapsing on one side.
Landen flanked his side, panting as he looked in the direction of the fire. “How the hell long have we been out here?”
“Hours. I don’t know.”
“You didn’t come home last night,” Landen teased as he hunkered over.
“I was busy.”
“Well, Shannon and I talked.”
Riker gave him a look and grunted. “Chit chat is over. Let’s get this thing done.”
“I hear you, brother. I hear you.”
Trinity paced the living room, wringing her hands. When Riker hadn’t come back to the cabin by almost four in the afternoon, she was almost in a panic. She knew what he’d said, that he could be a while, but how long did it take to put out a fire? Her thoughts were all over the place, thinking about their conversation, the way he’d been so tender. She’d garnered strength from his sweet words, the way he’d held her.
Did he believe her? She could only hope so. The cup of tea had given her a nauseous feeling and right now, she needed to talk to him, to be with him. What in the hell could she do? After a few minutes, she grabbed her keys and purse and headed out the door. The moment she touched the door handle, she heard the sound of crunching gravel. A smile crossed her face. Riker.
She dropped her bag and took several steps, her entire body on fire, excited to see him. The car that cleared the trees didn’t belong to Riker. The black Mercedes was sleek, freshly washed and very out of place in a city like Missoula. Who the hell had come to visit her? An attorney? A member of law enforcement. Not driving a Mercedes. Her curiosity piqued, she stood her ground as the door was opened.
“Oh, no way.” Bristling, the man stepping out of the car fueled her already increasing anger. Not now. This shit she didn’t need.
Chance yanked off his sunglasses and grinned before throwing out his arms. “Baby! Are you happy to see me? I thought with your little issue, you’d want some support.”
“How in the fuck did you find me?”
“How?” He swaggered toward her. “Your cousin thinks she’s a smart cookie, but I figured it out. All I had to do was find out that she owned some property and voilà. Here I am.” He took another long stride toward her. “Models are pretty fucking stupid.”
“Just go. I don’t want you here.”
Chance laughed. “You don’t have any choice. You belong to me. Remember?”
“Bullshit! You and I are through. Just get the hell out of here. Now!” She folded her arms and took several steps back.
“No can do, sweet cheeks. When I told Marvin where you were, he was thrilled I was coming to take you back where you belong. We’ll deal with those nasty allegations together. Of course, you’ll have to repent your sins.” He came closer, his eyes sweeping up and down. “Looking rough there, baby. By the way, I never knew you had it in you. Killing a man’s wife. Tsk. Tsk.”
“Get the fuck away from me!” What in the hell was she supposed to do? She inched backward toward the cabin.
“Don’t you dare talk to me that way again or I’ll wash your mouth out with soap.” Chance’s face was red.
Trinity had to get out of here. She bit back another retort and tried to think. Damn. She didn’t know the area well enough.
“Now, let’s go inside and you can fix me something cold to drink. I flew all the way out here and you are going to service my needs.”
“Over my dead body.”
Chance sniffed and looked at the sky as he shoved his sunglasses into his pocket. Then he advanced, grabbing her by the arm, digging his nails into her skin.
“Listen to me, you little cunt. I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you’re not going to treat me that way. You get it?” As he started to drag her toward the cabin, he laughed.
“Get off me, you bastard!” Yanking away, she ran toward the truck, snatching her purse and opening the door.
Grabbing her by the hair, he jerked her back then lowered his head, whispering in her ear. “I think you need a lesson in humility as well as respect. We’ll take care of that inside. You need a hard whipping, the only thing that keeps you in line. You and I have a date with my belt.”
“I’ll fucking kill you!”
He wrenched her neck, his face full of venom. “I wouldn’t try it if I were you, sweetheart.”
“No! You get the fuck off me, Chance or I’ll call the sheriff.”
Chance laughed and dragged her back several feet.
Struggling and lashing out, she managed to free herself once again, stumbling forward.
Growling, he took several steps then his eyes opened wide.
Trinity heard what had to be the sound of a gun, the safety being popped off, the creaking and slapping sound indicating the gun was ready to fire. She peered over her shoulder and grinned. Shannon.
“I don’t think the lady wants anything to do with you. If I were you, I’d get in your fancy car and get the hell out of here before I blow your fucking head off.”
Riker stood under the shower, panting from exhaustion. At almost eight in the evening, they’d spent over sixteen hours battling the fire. Thank God, they’d been able to contain the blaze. From the rain to the lack of significant wind, the team had managed to keep the loss of acreage down, at least in his eyes. The building, on the other hand, was completely torched, several others in close proximity with significant damage.
“That was some shit,” Boone laughed as he turned on the water.
“Yeah. We’re lucky there were no lives lost.” Riker tilted back his head, allowing the almost frigid water to slide down his throat. He preferred a cold shower, the way the cold pinged against his skin.
“How’s that sweet thing of yours?” Moose teased as he grabbed a towel.
Riker gave him a nasty look.
“I’d leave him alone if I were you,” Landen huffed, pointing his finger then grinning. “He’s one protective man.”
Protective. The thought was far too much on the money. He wanted nothing more than to get back to Trinity.
“You okay?” Landen leaned over.
“Fine. Dandy.” What was Riker supposed to say?
“Did you talk to her, find out if the news broadcast was the truth?” Landen leaned against the tile.
“We talked. The shit ain’t what it seems.”
“It never is.” Landen glanced at the other men. “You really like this girl.”
“Yep.”
“Enough to try and convince her to stay?”
Riker shook his head. “I don’t know at this point.”
Landen snorted. “I think you do, which is why you’re in an even worse piss poor mood.”
“And you should talk. Shannon? Kissed and made up?”
“I’m going to see her tonight. Asked her to come to your place. Hope you don’t care. Just neutral ground.”
If Riker had been a better friend, he would have offered suggestions. He had nothing left to offer. “Sure. Whatever.”
“Heads up, gentlemen. The sheriff has arrived with an entourage,” Antonio said as he stuck his head in the shower area.
“At this time?” Boone asked, laughing after the question.
“Says it’s important. Just get out here.” Antonio directed then left.
“What the hell is that about?” Riker watched the jumper as he left.
Landen lifted his eyebrows. “Stoker and Cooper found out some details. That’s all I know. Whatever is going on, must be pretty damn big. See you in the big room.”
Riker turned off the water and grabbed a towel. This should be interesting.
He was the last one out of the locker room and was surprised the mayor was standing beside the sheriff. Instead of her usual suit and perfect hair, she was wearing jeans, her face pale. The fire investigator was also hovering in the background. Frederick Nelson had a curious look on his face. From working with the intense man, he knew Frederick hated pomp and circumstance. When the mayor was involved, you never knew what to expect.
Holding his breath, Riker eased against the wall, remaining quiet. Stoker and Cooper stood at the front, their hands behind their backs, standing at full attention.
“Looks like we’re all here.” Captain Phillips glanced around the room.
“What’s up, Cap’n?” Sawyer nodded toward the mayor.
“First of all, some good news,” Captain Phillips said as he grinned. “One of the reasons that Mayor Falk has graced us with her presence is to announce some commendations that she’s going to bestow on two of you. And I don’t want this going to your heads.”
“Woo hoo!” Garcia whistled as the others began to clap, looking in Riker and Moose’s directions.
“Settle down. We’ll let the lovely mayor explain.” The captain moved aside.
Mayor Falk smiled. “We rarely seem to have any good reason to celebrate. Between our budget constraints, a death of one of our own and the fires we’ve all had to endure the last year or so, life for every emergency team has been difficult. To that end, our fair city and the fabulous smokejumping teams have gotten some good press lately.” She laughed as the men continued whistling.
Riker cringed, knowing what was coming next.
“Well, we’re so very proud of both Riker and Mathew. Not only did you provide national recognition for your team and for our city, but the calls have been coming in, flooding our offices for interviews, even donations to your team. Utterly fantastic.” Mayor Falk held out her hands, clapping. “You should all be proud of yourselves.”
“Ah, shucks,” Boone laughed as he strutted forward, bowing several times.
“Get out of here!” Sawyer grabbed his arm.
“To that end, the city council would like to give both of you men commendations for your bravery and no, I won’t take no for an answer. This is planned for the end of the week, Friday morning, in front of the administration building at nine a.m. sharp. And Riker, Moose, there is no getting out of this.” She nodded in their direction.
“Oh, the boys think they are all that!” Zane exclaimed.
“Going to get those big heads,” Garcia added.
“Won’t be able to get in through the doors.” Stoker nudged Riker.
Riker shook his head. He hated this kind of shit. Looking down, he kicked his boot against the tile floor.
“The man is blushing!” Sawyer teased.
“I’m proud of you guys. I would say grace under pressure but…” Captain Phillips grinned. “We’ll all be there. You can count on it, Mayor.”
�
��Good. That will be a needed break,” she muttered.
After a few seconds, the captain held up his hands. “Now, for something more serious. Just listen and don’t talk. Sheriff, Mayor. They’re all ears.” The captain stepped aside.
Sheriff James cleared his throat before stepping forward. “Gentlemen, first of all, congratulations on your commendations. Well deserved. Secondly, the mayor and I would like to thank you for helping in the situation at the warehouse. Your expertise as well as quick reaction helped contain the fire, preventing any loss of life. Fred, you want to say a few words?”
Frederick cleared his throat and walked closer to the team. “Keep in mind, I’ve just started figuring out what went on, but I can tell you that the bomb was expertly built. Very much a military class, set to detonate from a great distance.”
Stoker shook his head, his face pensive.
“The guy was good, but I don’t think the bomb was supposed to go off when it did,” Frederick continued.
“What?” Moose huffed, taking a step closer.
Frederick held up his hand. “I have a hell of a lot of investigating to do, but let’s just say from a portion of the mechanism I found, I’ll stand by my beliefs. If that is true, either something could have occurred escalating the arsonist’s plans or he or she fucked up. I’m worried there might be additional bombs in town, but this is only my opinion.”
Riker could tell by the smug look on Stoker’s face that he was itching to tell the entire story.
“Thanks, Fred. Appreciate your information, but we believe that we have much more on our hands than bomb threats. We also need your help, gentlemen. There was an attempted break in at the mayor’s house.” The sheriff looked uncomfortable.
“Ah, shit,” Garcia said under his breath as he nudged Stoker.
“Mayor, why don’t you pipe in on this?” The sheriff stepped away.
The volley back and forth meant there was indeed more to this game.
“Absolutely. It’s come to our attention that the bombs are likely a cover for what we believe to be a more heinous crime. We can’t be entirely certain that the break in attempt has anything to do with the bombing, but it’s very coincidental. I understand that Fred believes there are more bombs and there could be, but our main focus is something else entirely. Thanks to Mr. Hansen and Mr. McKenzie, we believe we have a better understanding of why.” Mayor Falk’s face held exhaustion as well as apprehension.
