The day the call came informing Annie of the tragedy that had claimed the lives of two people she loved dearly, she had been a half a world away, and unable to leave. It had torn at Annie’s soul to know she couldn’t be there to comfort her family. Or to honor her grandparents during the memorial service before they were laid to rest forever.
That had been the turning event in her life. After finishing out her last assignment, Annie had quietly resigned her position and returned to the life she loved and missed.
Art Daniels had been ecstatic to find out his prodigal firefighter had returned, and had promptly offered her a full-time position.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
She slid the picture back into place among the many other memories of her life.
Before today, she’d never quite returned fully to the life she’d lived before. She’d allowed some unknown creep to interfere. Well not anymore.
She straightened to her full height, and sucked in a deep breath.
Today, Annie would take back her life. And she wouldn’t let anyone stop her this time.
Annie crossed back to the kitchen drawer her grandmother had always reserved for extra items and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen.
She made her way around the lower level jotting down a list of chores she would need to do to make the house inhabitable once again.
Most, like dusting, sweeping and mopping, were cosmetic. The updating could be accomplished a little at a time.
Excitement winged through her chest. Now that she’d made her decision she could barely wait to get started.
Thirty minutes later, she emerged onto the back porch with the paper still in hand. She had two pages of chores vying for her attention, and she hadn’t even looked at the barns yet.
“Hey, Sugar.”
The deep rumble of Mason’s greeting filled the silence. Annie’s hand flew to her chest.
“Geez, Mason.” She stooped to retrieve the papers that had fluttered to the porch floor. “Would you please stop sneaking up on me. One of these times I’m gonna go into cardiac arrest on you.”
“Even if I would have rumbled up in a tank, I’d doubt you would have noticed.” His dark gaze searched her features. “I’m just glad it was me who managed to sneak up on you and not someone else.”
Straightening, she moved to pass him on the top step.
“I’m done worrying about that, Mason.”
She descended the porch steps, waving the list in the air above her head. “I’ve got too many more important things to think about. It’s your job to catch the bad guys. Not mine.”
A strong hand on her upper arm halted her progress across the lawn.
“You’re damn right it’s my job, Sweetheart.” He growled. “And that fool stunt you pulled an hour ago is making it awfully hard for me to do that job.”
“Let go of me, Mason.” She shook her arm in a futile attempt to dislodge the vice like grip he had on it. “It’s not my damn fault that you were too busy with your little friend to do your job.” Anger boiled up in her gut. “If you expect me to sit around so that you can line up your next conquest than you’ve got another think coming.”
Annie yanked her arm from his grasp, nearly crashing to the ground from the momentum. She pivoted in the direction of the larger of the two main barns. Let Mason do what he wanted. She didn’t have the time or inclination to play mind games anymore.
“Damn it, Annie.” Once again she found her arm locked up in the steel trap of his hand. “I don’t have to explain anything to you, but I wasn’t arranging any conquests you little idiot.”
Fire snapped in his brown eyes. The muscle ticking in his clenched jaw relayed the level of his ire.
“I was talking to my confidential informant. And yes, my CI is a female, but she’s strictly my CI. There never has been, nor will there ever be, anything personal between the two of us or any of my CI’s for that matter. Like I told you before, I don’t mix business with pleasure.” He raised a hand to halt her response before she could voice it. “Let me correct that. With the exception of you, I’ve never mixed business with pleasure.”
Joy bubbled in her though she fought to keep it from being obvious.
Her gaze searched his dark one. Her mind warned her not to fall for the same old line, but her heart threatened to do just that.
She plastered a smile on her face, and pivoted in his grasp. “I guess I’ll have to take you at your word.” She tossed the words over her shoulder and started off again. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to finish making my list before it gets dark.”
His hand dropped from her arm as he fell into step with her.
“What kind of list are you making, Annie?”
The question held a hint of warning but she chose to ignore it.
“I’m moving home, Mason.” She pulled up short in front of the large double doors that led into the main area of the barn. “There are a few things I need to do before I can move in.”
His appreciative gaze swept the compound that consisted of the house and two large barns before it settled on her again.
“Looks like you could use some help.”
Surprise mingled with a small tinge of suspicion as she eyed her companion closely.
“Are you offering?”
She didn’t bother to hide the skepticism in the question. His offer was the last thing she’d expected.
But it was exactly what she got.
“Yeah I guess I am.” He chuckled. “Surprised the hell out of me, too.”
“You might want to look at the list before you make your final offer.” She extended the tablet before turning her attention to the heavy barn doors. “And that’s just the house. I have no idea what I’m going to find in the barns and outbuildings.”
He scanned over the list briefly.
“There doesn’t look like there’s anything here that I haven’t done before.”
“Good.” The substantial wooden doors swung open almost as effortlessly as she remembered them doing the last time she’d visited. “I can’t pay you a lot up front but once I get my house in town rented, I can mail you a check for what I owe you.”
A sense of loss replaced the joy she’d felt moments earlier. Could she really deal with seeing him everywhere she looked here as well? It was bad enough that she wouldn’t be able to walk the streets of Hammond’s Bend, or through the fire department for that matter, without feeling him there.
She needed a place of solace where she could rebuild her life.
“I’m not a hired hand, Annie.”
She stopped in mid-stride and slowly turned to face him. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were. I didn’t want you to think that I was expecting you to work for free.”
“Oh, believe me, you won’t be getting any free labor from me.” His gaze was riveted on her face for a split second before it moved in a suggestive path over her body and back to lock on her eyes once again. “I can promise you that you’ll get your money’s worth, Darlin’”
The pit of her stomach tingled. She fought the overwhelming urge to move closer to him.
“Easy there Romeo.” She laughed off the dizzying current racing through her body. “I’m not looking for a gigolo. Just a little sweat and blood companionship.”
“Oh I promise to make you sweat, Sweetheart.”
“You are so full of yourself.” Annie muttered indignantly as she snatched the paper from his hand, and marched into the dark, cavernous interior of the barn. “What ever happened to my normal life?”
Despite the certainty she was setting herself up for more heartache, she couldn’t help laughing aloud.
His deep chuckle echoed through the shadows behind her.
~&~
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The muscles in Annie’s shoulder screamed under the added weight of the air tank strapped to her back. The extra work she on the farm over the past three days had taken a toll on a joint that had seen its fair share of trauma in the p
ast month.
“I’ll be damn glad when this madness is over and we can get back to our normal existence.”
The breathing apparatus distorted her pensive tone.
“This might not be connected in any way, Annie.” But the grim expression in his eyes relayed how unlikely even he thought that to be.
She glanced around the tight confines of the cab as the fire engine roared, lights flashing and siren screaming, down the road. Mark Flynn, Josh Bayers, and Brent Rutledge occupied the remaining seats.
Mark’s cold stare caught and held her attention. A shiver of apprehension spread through her body. The crackling of the radio in her ear broke the connection.
“Command One to responding units.” Chief Daniels voice boomed over the airwaves. “We have a five story warehouse structure. Heavy smoke showing from the top two floors. Ryker’s is sending their tanker and an engine. I want two teams on the initial attack. We’ll coordinate with Rykers when they make scene.”
“Copy that, Sir.” Steve Lawson answered up. “We’re less than five out.” Lawson turned his attention to the occupants of the cab. “You heard the plan. Flynn, Bayers, you’re the first team in. Andrews, Ramsay, you’ll be second in.” He faced forward in his seat, and began strapping on the air pack behind his seat. “Rutledge, and myself will be third in.”
The remainder of the short ride was silent. Annie knew from experience that each person was playing every scenario possible over and over in their heads. Though no two fire scenes were identical, the basics of firefighting were the same. Use your head, don’t panic, and above all, if it wasn’t safe, don’t make entry. In the event that things went bad after any of them were inside, it was imperative for them to stay together.
Never leave a man behind.
That wasn’t a lesson taught in an academy, but it was a steadfast rule that every person involved in firefighting practiced.
The sheriffs’ department had the service road leading back to the burning building blocked to everyone but emergency personnel by the time the engine rolled up.
Black smoke billowed from the factory windows on the upper floors of the brick structure. Goose bumps pimpled Annie’s arms. She had little experience with such a large structure. Her gaze shot to Mason as he bundled out of the door behind her. They made quick work of feeding hose out for Mark and Josh before going to work on their own.
In a matter of seconds both lines were fully charged and the teams approached the front entrance of the enormous building.
Each member flipped on their helmet mounted light. She relegated the nozzle to Mason. After all, he had more experience with fires of this size than she did.
“Follow me, Annie.”
Mark looked through Mason where he stood between them. The confidence in Mark’s voice normally served to ground her. Today there was an unusual edge to his words. She tamped down the unease, relegating it to the back of her mind. She needed to have a clear head for the task ahead. Later, if things still seemed out of place, she would revisit it.
“We’ll be right behind you guys.” Mason barked the words, drawing her attention from the man who’d been her partner. He waited until they disappeared through the opening before turning to her. “If anything looks the slightest bit off in there, you get the hell out. Something doesn’t smell right.”
“I’m not leaving without my partner.” She stated flatly. “So you better make sure we both stay safe.”
“You are a damn pain in the ass do you know that?” He growled as he stalked through the doorway.
“So I think you’ve told me once or twice.”
~&~
The teams cleared the first three floors. The building had been cleared and all employees accounted for before the first engine had arrived. Still, Annie knew that it was standard protocol to sweep for any possible civilians who may be on the premises unbeknownst to anyone.
Sweat streaked down her spine as they moved through the darkened stairwell and emerged in yet another smoke darkened corridor.
Annie caught a glimpse of a flashlight beam as it bounced through an opening at the other end of the long hall. It had to be from Mark or Josh’s light.
“How the hell did they get up here so fast?” She voiced the question aloud.
“I was wondering the same thing.” Mason answered.
“Maybe one, or both of them, have been here before.”
“That’s a possibility I guess.” Skepticism laced his words. “But he’d have to be a frequent visitor to remember the layout so precisely under these conditions.”
Annie stuck a gloved hand up at an arms length in front of her. She could barely make it out. Mason was right, the likelihood of Mark or Josh being a one-time visitor was slim.
“Andrews, Ramsay, what’s your twenty?” Marks voice sounded through the radio.
“We just exited the stairwell on the fourth floor.” Mason answered back. “What’ve you got in there?”
Annie followed Mason as he cautiously worked his way down the hall in the direction the other team had taken.
“Lots of heavy smoke.” The sound of flames crackling and licking at wood broadcast over the radio. “No visible flames at this time. No visible damage on the interior here.”
The tiny hairs on the back of Annie’s neck stood on end. Why the audible sound of fire if there were no visible signs in the room?
Something didn’t sound right. Her gaze shot to Mason’s.
“Not buying it either are you, Sugar.” He halted their progress. “No matter what happens you don’t leave my side got it?”
“You’re not going to get an argument out of me on that one.”
“Good.”
He tucked her in behind his large body and for once, Annie didn’t find the move demeaning. They moved the remaining distance to the doorway at the far end.
She peered around his shoulder. With the exception of one flashlight beam floating around the space, no light was visible.
“Something’s not right, Mason.” A shiver ran through her from head to toe. “I don’t like the…”
“Ramsay, Andrews get in here quick. Bayer’s is down. I think the ceiling came in on him.”
Mark’s call for help cut off the rest of her statement in an instant. She was close behind Mason as they rushed into the space. The hose jerked her to a stop. What did it snag on? She searched her memory of the contents they’d passed. Boxes stood in stacks lining the walls, but nothing else.
Her concerned gaze shot across the space to Mark. A crumpled form lay on the floor before him.
Annie flashed her light skyward in search of the collapse Mark had reported seconds before.
Strange but nothing looked out of place in the confines of the space. Had Mark misspoken himself? Had he really meant to report that Josh was down? Not that there had been a collapse?
Unease shot through her as she scrutinized the room yet again. Her gaze landed on the team on the far side of the large space.
Something was very wrong here. Instead of crouching beside his partner, and assessing for injuries, Mark towered over him. Did he know something she and Mason didn’t? Neither Josh nor Mark’s cry alarms had been activated as was protocol with any type of emergency situation. It was one of the first things they’d been taught in the academy, and Chief preached over and over. Unless both members of the team were unconscious, both pass alarms should have been wailing out their distress signals.
Mark flailed an arm in their direction, beckoning them closer.
“I don’t like this one bit.” Mason voiced her thoughts. “Something’s very wrong.”
“Yeah, I feel it too.” She skirted around Mason. “But if there’s something wrong with Josh, we have to help him.”
“I know.” He halted her forward progress with an arm on her shoulder. “Skirt the perimeter. This feels too much like a trap.”
“Kinda like the house fire, huh?”
“Yeah, actually a whole hell of a lot like that.”
“Command… entry … two.” The broken message sounded in their ears. “..report…status… can’t reach…one.”
Never taking her eyes off the two other men in the room, Annie keyed the mike.
“Entry two, here. You’re barely readable, sir. If you can copy this, Bayers is down, unknown cause or injuries. Flynn is with him. We haven’t made physical contact yet. Over.”
Static was the only answer.
“Damn.” Mason grunted.
“I agree.” She squinted through the smoky gloom. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with shall we?”
Her hand slid to the alarm fastened securely to the shoulder strap of her oxygen tank. Mason’s gaze followed the movement.
“You’re reading my mind, Sweetheart.” He turned his attention back to the pair, and started a slow advance. “When we get halfway there, let ‘er rip.”
“You got it.” She sucked in a deep breath, and followed in his path.
Muffled screaming drew her attention away from her feet, and onto the men. Was that Mark screaming or Josh? She couldn’t be certain. Mark’s arms flailed like a propeller in a windstorm.
From her position, Mark blocked her view of Josh. She sent up a silent prayer for the downed firefighters safety.
She would definitely need a vacation after this mess. Maybe she’d take a few weeks off and make the move into the farmhouse. The thought brought a brief smile to her lips.
It was a short-lived joy. The sound of creaking boards under her feet sent chills of terror rocketing through her. Her terrified gaze shot to Mason’s for a split-second before he disappeared right in front of her eyes.
She froze for a second. Confusion fogged her brain. Had Mason tripped on something? Annie’s heart dropped to her feet when the hose went slack in her hand.
She crouched to the floor, feeling the space where he’d stood seconds ago. The jagged edge of wood flooring snagged her glove. Snatching her hand back, she made quick work of depressing her cry alarm. The high pitched wail instantly filled the relative quiet of the building.
Where There's Smoke: The Heroes of Hammonds Bend(Romantic Suspense) Page 17
