by J. J. Cook
“Chief Griffin. Good to see you! I had the boat on the trailer already. I thought I might as well bring it out here.”
“Nice sales pitch.”
“Can we keep the boat, Chief?” Tagger asked excitedly. “I love it. Could I drive it once in a while?”
Tagger waved and smiled at the ghost of his former chief.
“Yeah, Chief.” Kent ran his hand along the side of the boat. “Maybe we could take turns taking it out on weekends. It could be kind of a perk for being a volunteer.”
“I call dibs on that!” Bert yelled out as he jumped into the driver’s seat.
“It’s exciting,” Petey said. “What will it cost to outfit the boat for use at fires?”
Stella smiled. That was why Petey was second-in-command. She was always in tune with what was important.
“Rufus?” Stella hailed him as he gave tours of the boat. “Any idea on a price for the boat and what it will cost to get it set up to fight fires?”
He jumped down on the pavement next to her. He was a strong-looking man, with big arms and a powerful chest. He seemed to be light on his feet too. Stella wondered how she could get him to commit to being a volunteer.
“I have everything worked up for you, Chief. I left the paperwork in your office.”
John clapped him on the shoulder. “Tell her the best part. That’s what will get her motivated to clinch the deal with the town council.”
Stella focused on Rufus. “Don’t keep me guessing.”
“I’m thinking about becoming a volunteer,” he said. “I could get the boat set up, no charge, and you could make me captain of the fireboat team.”
“That’s a good idea. John knows I never say no to a volunteer. Suit up with us for practice today. Let’s see what you’ve got.” Everyone, including Stella, put on their turnout gear.
The volunteers ran through their usual practice routines. Rufus had no trouble running up and down the stairs with the sixty-pound hose around him or pulling a one-hundred-fifty-pound dummy across the parking lot without its feet touching the ground. He didn’t break a sweat when he ran up and down the ladder with Allen across his shoulders.
“Does that get it?” he asked Stella with a grin.
“As far as being a volunteer, it does. I’ll have to take a look at the contract for the boat and get the approval of the town council.”
“Good enough. Consider me a new recruit.”
All of the fire brigade members were happy to welcome Rufus into the group. It wasn’t only Stella that had been aware of their shortage of manpower. The new police crossover recruits, Clyde Hampton, Nancy Bradford, and Frank Schneider, only observed this time around. Stella was hoping to have them sign up next time.
“I know you’ve been waiting for our last exercise.” Stella pointed to the old car at the far end of the parking lot. “Kent was good enough to donate this old clunker for our practice.”
“For a hefty tax write-off,” John called out.
“My wife jumped at the chance to get it out of the yard,” Kent said. “I feel bad getting rid of her. She was our first car.”
“1972 Plymouth Barracuda.” Eric eyed the car with great respect. “Sweet.”
“I know, right, Chief?” Tagger laughed. “Remember when you wanted one of those?”
Stella was the only one who noticed the exchange between Tagger and Eric. She gave Tagger a warning look, and he apologized.
“Thank you, Kent.” She returned to the introduction of the new drill, breaking up the razzing Kent was getting about the car and his wife.
“What are we gonna do with the car, Chief?” JC asked.
“We’re gonna light it on fire and rescue Clara and her family from it.” Clara and her family were the group’s training dummies.
Everyone gathered around the car.
“Light it on fire?” David Spratt asked with Hero and Sylvia at his feet. “Isn’t that counterintuitive to being a firefighter?”
“Sometimes being able to experience the real thing with no lives at peril is good.” Stella told him about the first fire the team had responded to at Nay Albert’s old chicken house. It was before he’d joined the group. “I’m always looking for a house where we can do a controlled burn. No luck so far, but the day will come.”
Stella sent Kent with Rufus to hook up a hose to the hydrant at the edge of the parking lot. That killed two birds with one stone—Rufus got to see how to hook up a hose at the same time.
“Is the town okay about using the water for practice?” Kimmie asked.
“More than okay,” Stella replied. “It helps them flush out the system.”
She could see some trepidation on the faces of her volunteers. No one who had ever fought a fire was happy with the idea of starting one. There were always variables, always the chance it could get out of hand.
“I can’t believe I have to miss this,” Petey complained.
“Me either,” Banyin sighed. “At least we get to be here.”
“I don’t think you’re gonna be here much after your baby is born.” Allen shrugged. “That’s what Jake said last time I cut his hair.”
Banyin’s mouth thinned mutinously. “Jake’s got a big mouth.”
Royce and Tagger brought out large fire extinguishers. It seemed that they were ready to get started.
Stella let Tagger have the privilege of lighting the Barracuda on fire after Clara and her family were in the car. He lit a fire under the hood and stepped back.
“Okay. This is going to be easier because there are no seat belts. We want to get Clara, her husband, and her two kids out of the car first,” Stella instructed them. “We have a mock first-aid station over there where you’ll take the family until the paramedics get here. Remember to work together. As the family is rescued, put out the fire under the hood.”
They had to reignite the fire several times so that everyone had a chance to rescue the family as well as put out the fire under the hood. It went very smoothly. Each volunteer did exactly what needed to be done.
Rufus took his turn when everyone else had showed him what to do. He was fast and efficient, taking the two children to first aid and returning for the two adults in record time. Stella clicked the stopwatch and commended him.
“Now we’ll start again,” Stella said. “This time, we’ll be evaluating Hero and Sylvia.”
Chapter 18
“Are you sure they’re up for this, Chief?” Kimmie’s face was flushed and smudged with soot.
“We’re going to find out,” Stella said. “They’ve both been in training to learn how to deal with this type situation. They need practice too.”
Kimmie and David whispered together for a moment. David picked up one of the fire extinguishers and went close to the car. “Ready,” he said.
Stella had to evaluate the dogs too. The state was paying for their training and wanted to know the results. It was also the only way the dogs could be certified to go into emergency situations with the fire brigade.
Sylvia was up first. John and Kent put the dummies back in the car, and Tagger set the fire.
Stella gave the command for Sylvia to rescue one of the dummies. Sylvia whined and looked at Kimmie. She still sat obediently at the side of the car.
“Sylvia,” Stella said again. “Go.”
Sylvia ran into the car and pulled one of the children out. She went in again with no prompting and pulled the other child out before she went back for the adults. Then she went back and sat at Kimmie’s feet, her tail hitting the pavement as she waited to be praised for her work.
Stella wrote down her hesitation and her time rescuing the family, which was still within the parameters set by the state for rescue dogs. She gave Kimmie a nod, and Kimmie praised Sylvia and gave her a treat.
The fire was put out again. The dummies of the family were put back in place.
Stella cued Hero, who’d been waiting at the side of the car.
There was no hesitation on Hero’s part. He barked a
s he leapt into the backseat and dragged out the children. He went back immediately and got the two adults out as well, in less time than Sylvia had taken for rescuing the children.
Everyone applauded and praised the young dog. There was a curious moment when Hero ran to Eric to get his praise. The dog stood there—appearing to lick and snuffle the air as Eric told him how smart and good he was.
“Hey.” Royce pointed to Hero. “What’s he doing over there?”
Kimmie called Hero to her. He came after jumping up and barking at Eric. Kimmie gave him his treat, and the rest of the fire brigade patted his head.
“He shouldn’t have done that.” David frowned. “I don’t know why Hero ran over there, Chief. He broke his training. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Tagger snickered and Eric shrugged, both of them leaving Stella to explain without telling the truth.
“I’m sure he was just excited.” She put away her stopwatch. “Look at these times! We have two great fire rescue dogs coming up in the ranks.”
Everyone was diverted by that, and the moment was forgotten as they took the equipment back inside, cleaned up, and changed clothes.
Stella put Rufus’s name, along with Frank Schneider’s, Clyde Hampton’s, and Nancy Bradford’s, on lockers with a pieces of masking tape. The police officers had decided to join up after they’d seen what would be required of them. “I’m buying drinks for all the new recruits at Beau’s when we’re done. I’m glad to welcome all of you.”
Most of the fire brigade members went to Beau’s when they left the firehouse. Many had to go back to their jobs. Being a volunteer required hundreds of hours away from jobs and families at inconvenient times of the day and night. It was essential, but Stella knew it was hard on them.
Willy Jenkins, the owner of Beau’s Bar and Grill, was there when the fire brigade members came in for Stella’s free drink. Beau’s was a dark place with two pool tables, a few older video games, and sometimes a band playing on Friday night.
“It’s the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade,” Willy called out. He looked like a nightclub bouncer with powerful arms and a wide chest. Stella had never seen him without his red suspenders and a Beau’s T-shirt. “First drink is on the house for all volunteers.”
Stella said she’d still spring for the second drink. Willy was a good friend of the fire brigade and a town council member. He’d voted repeatedly for money the fire brigade had needed.
“Thanks, Uncle Willy.” Rufus shook his hand.
“Don’t tell me you finally did something useful and joined up?” Willy was obviously pleased.
John shrugged when Stella glanced at him. “Didn’t I tell you? Rufus and Willy are family. I think it might make it a little easier to get council approval on that boat.”
“You’re a sneak,” she said, but she meant it in a good way.
“That’s so sweet,” Eric said. “Can we find out what my radius is so I can go home?”
“Chief Griffin!” Willy bellowed her name. “What’s your poison?”
Stella ordered a Coke. It was too early for her to start drinking.
“What’s this I hear about the fire brigade buying a boat from my no-account nephew?”
“I’ve got the plans and the contract. I haven’t looked at them yet.” Stella smiled. “I’ll have to get council approval too.”
“Bring ’em down here to me. I’ll take care of it. I have to keep my brother and this sweet young thing in work.” He pinched Rufus’s cheek.
“Should I tell him about Nay’s boat?” Stella asked John.
“He probably already knows, but you can if it would make you feel better.”
Stella told Willy about going to look at Nay’s boat.
He acted like it was nothing. “That old piece of junk? He’s been trying to get rid of that for the last twenty years. Whatever Rufus offered you is a better deal, I guarantee it.”
She thanked him and told him she’d bring the papers by.
“No reason to trouble yourself, Chief.” Rufus pulled another set of documents from his jacket pocket. “I’m always prepared.”
He winked at her as he gave his uncle the papers. Stella wasn’t happy with the bypass. She was the head of the fire brigade. It would be wrong for her not to present the project to the council after she’d had a chance to look at it herself.
“I appreciate your help, both of you,” she said to Willy and Rufus. “I don’t want to do it this way. I’ll let you know after I look at everything. Then we can present the project to the council.”
Rufus and Willy shrugged.
“Whatever you like, Chief. Just trying to expedite the project,” Rufus said.
“Thanks.” She studied the two men. They were only similar in height. Willy’s hair had thinned and turned gray. He was probably well over three hundred pounds. She wondered if Rufus would look like his uncle in twenty years.
“No hard feelings, Chief.” Willy shook her hand. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about a fund-raiser barbecue I’d like to put on for the fire brigade. I know you need more members. You could have a sign-up here too. The money we raise could be for the boat or whatever you all need. What do you think?”
Stella was glad he wasn’t annoyed with her preferring to present her choice of boat to the council. “Thank you. What do you need me to do?”
He laughed. “Come on by and eat some barbecue, darlin’. Wear that sexy dress uniform you were wearing at the memorial.”
Stella agreed, though she wouldn’t wear the dress uniform. It would be a great opportunity to raise money and awareness for the group.
“I think the uncle and nephew might have to fight it out over you.” Eric seemed amused. “I’m surprised John isn’t knocking them both out of the way.”
“You of all people know there’s nothing solid between me and John.” Stella walked away from the bar with her Coke. Country music was blaring from the jukebox, and Kent was beating David at pool.
“Good call.” John joined her, beer in his hand. “I’m curious though. Why work with the establishment dropping charges against Bob Floyd but not let Willy take care of the whole fireboat ordeal?”
“One is different than the other,” she explained. “With Bob, it’s personal. It’s my decision. With the fireboat, that’s the town’s business. I’m the fire chief. I’m expected to work within the guidelines.”
John laughed and put an arm lightly around her shoulders. “You are so green. Wait until you’re here another couple of years. You’ll be glad someone like Willy is willing to take over.”
Stella stepped away from the casual arm across her shoulders. She didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about her and John. She sipped her Coke and didn’t reply. She understood the boundaries she had created for herself. John didn’t have to understand.
“So how is old Bob Floyd?” JC asked with a laugh as he chalked up a pool cue. “I hear the old man roughed him up a little.”
“What did you expect?” Royce replied. “He held a shotgun on the chief. I wanted to rough him up when he was at the cabin with the bulldozer. The man needs to learn some respect.”
Stella pretended not to hear their conversation. It was exactly as she’d thought it would be. There didn’t have to be any proof to blame her grandfather for what had happened to Bob. It looked like revenge—so that’s what it was.
“I warned you.” John took another sip of beer as he squinted at her. “Everyone knows.”
“If everyone knew, I’m sure Chief Rogers would arrest Ben. But there’s no proof. Just another story about the old man protecting his own.”
She walked away from him toward the door to leave. John started to follow her, but his foot seemed to encounter a slick spot on the floor. No one could find it later. His foot flew out from under him and he ended up on his rear, covered in beer.
“Oops.” Eric smiled. “I guess he’d better watch where he’s going.”
“Really?” Stella asked around clenched teeth as she
walked out the door. “It’s not bad enough everyone thinks Ben had Bob beaten up. Now my dead housemate, the Paul Bunyan of Sweet Pepper, wants to play frat boy tricks because he’s jealous.”
Stella continued walking, ignoring the laughter behind her as everyone made fun of John. She climbed into the Cherokee and drove toward town.
“Frat boy?” Eric asked from beside her in an indignant tone. “I never went to college.”
“That’s funny. You seem to have the humor of a kid in college.”
“And I wasn’t jealous. John was being an idiot. Anyone could see that. They saw it better when he was on the floor.”
“Never mind. Let’s figure out how far apart we can be when I have your shield.”
“All right. How do we do that?”
Stella sharply pulled the Cherokee into the gravel driveway beside the “Madam Emery, Psychic Reader” sign. “Maybe she knows.”
“I don’t like this plan.”
“We can find out what she’s been telling Bob about ghosts and how to get rid of them.” Her brown eyes narrowed.
“I don’t like that look on your face, Stella.”
“Too bad.” She got out of the Cherokee and went toward the older house.
The house and yard had seen better days. At one time, it seemed as though it had been a quaint and cozy cottage. There were old climbing roses, withered and brown now with the cold, growing everywhere with no sign of pruning. The house needed painting and a new roof. The sidewalk leading to the purple front door was cracked and overgrown with weeds.
The sign, suspended from a two-by-four with metal rings, flapped in the mountain breeze. Beside the house was an older Buick that looked as sad as the rest of the property.
“I guess there’s no money in being a psychic reader,” Stella remarked.
“The amazing thing is that this place looks exactly like when I was a kid, seventy-plus years ago.” Eric stared at the broken window frame the same way as he had going by as a child.
Stella knocked at the door. There was no response. “This must be a different Madam Emery. She couldn’t still be practicing that long.”
