Through Smoke: The Troubled Heroes Series

by J. R. Tate

  “So what brings you back here?” She exhaled a long stream of smoke through her nose and it lingered above them. “Think I could hook you up again?”

  Casey reached out, taking a long drag off of the cigarette and handed it back to her. “No one else would open their door to me, Joy, not even my brother.”

  She scoffed and extinguished the butt of the cigarette. “Who is he to judge you? What an asshole.”

  Before Casey could respond, a loud knock thudded across her front door. It was so hard that it looked like the walls would cave in. She glanced down at her watch. “Who the hell would that be?” She looked out the window and back to Casey. “You know some dude with long hair and gold teeth?”

  His heart skipped a beat. “Shit. How the hell did he find me?” He walked to the door and opened it. “Viper. What do you want?”

  His bookie grinned and folded his arms over his chest. “Where does your brother work?”

  “Why do you want to know about him? I don’t live there anymore. I’m not associated with him.”

  Viper’s smile faded. “Don’t make me ask twice. I know he’s some type of fire person or something. Now answer me.”

  Casey leaned against the doorframe. “Why are you even worrying about it? The games haven’t even been played yet. I haven’t lost the bet. Aren’t you reacting too soon?”

  Viper clenched his hand around Casey’s throat, shoving him back against the wall with full force. Casey gasped for air. “No, you haven’t lost this bet yet. But you have lost others. You still owe me for the other shit you got into. Now answer my question before I do something to your chick that you won’t like.”

  “He works at Ladder Twenty One.” Viper released his hand and Casey bent over, his vision dark and fuzzy. “Please Viper, don’t mess with him. I’ll get you the money, just wait for the series to play out.”

  “And if the Yankees lose?” Viper slapped him across the face. “Don’t worry about your brother. You got your own things to be worried about.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Mikey, why are you pacing? You got used to those twelve hour shifts, didn’t ya?” Darryl patted his shoulder and sat down at the kitchen table, thumbing through the paper.

  Michael sat down across from him and looked up at the clock. The twenty four’s didn’t bother him, but he had so much on his mind that he couldn’t focus on anything. Even after Eva got back from transporting the tower victim, she was short with him. She let him know that the guy was in critical condition but would more than likely be okay. Nothing else was said. So bad did he want to pull her aside and get it all straightened out. It was best to play it cool at the moment. He didn’t want to scare her any more than he felt like he had.

  Darryl snapped, getting his attention. “Earth to McGinnis!” He tossed the sports section his way. “Damn, you need a nap or something?”

  Michael shrugged him off. “I’m good.” He read the main heading about the Yankees and the upcoming schedule. His stomach tightened. They were on a roll in the previous four games, smashing their opponent with no problem. The Mets series was coming quick.

  “Hey man, you wanna see if we can get tickets to one of the Mets game when they play the Yankees? We should have at least one of those nights off.” Darryl leaned back in his chair. “You need to get out, you’re acting all tense and crap.”

  Michael tossed the sports section back to him and arched his eyebrow. “I hope the Yankees take the series.” He stood up and rummaged through the refrigerator. He wasn’t really hungry, but he was bored. Baseball talk wasn’t helping his worries.

  “Huh? Mikey, what the hell are you thinking? Don’t tell me you’re creeping to the other side! Since when do you root for the Yankees?” Darryl leaned on the door and Michael didn’t even realize what he had said until Darryl had responded the way he had.

  “Don’t worry about it. I don’t feel like talking sports.”

  Before Darryl responded, one of the medics came up the stairs. “McGinnis, there’s someone down in the garage asking to talk to you.”

  Michael was hoping it was Casey. “Who is it?”

  “Some guy with long blonde hair. He looks kinda shady. Want me to tell him you aren’t here?”

  Long blonde hair. Viper? Was that his name? What the heck did he want? “Nah, I’ll go see what this is about.” His mind raced as he walked down the steps. Maybe something happened to Casey and he was here to break the news. There was no telling, and Michael couldn’t ignore the nerves he was feeling.

  Viper was standing out on the sidewalk, exhaling a long trail of white smoke. He flicked the end of his cigarette into the gutter. The same arrogant smile parted his lips when Michael walked toward him. The same smile that Michael wished he could do something about. He wasn’t here to help him. His body language had trouble written all over it.

  “Well if it isn’t Mr. Hero in the flesh.”

  Michael stood back, clenching his fists. How did he find out where he worked? “What the hell do you want?”

  Viper lit another cigarette, extending the package to Michael. He declined. “We need to have some dialogue.”

  Michael shook his head, stepping closer to the nuisance. “Casey is no longer staying at my place. You and I have no reason to ever speak again. I’m at work. I don’t have time to chat.” He began to turn away but felt Viper’s fingers dig into his arm, pulling him back toward him.

  “Oh, I do believe you’ll wanna hear this, Fireman.” The end of his cigarette lit up with every inhale.

  Michael jerked his arm away. “I do believe you’ll wanna let go of me.”

  Viper released him and let out a low laugh. “You really have no idea who the fuck you’re dealing with, do you?” He stomped the butt of the cigarette out. “You’re brother is in a world of shit. He owes more than what he might win off of this game he placed a bet on. It’s only a dent in what he owes.”

  Michael folded his arms over his chest, trying to hide his emotions. He had no idea that Casey was in that deep. There was a lot of stuff he obviously didn’t know about his little brother. So many questions boiled to the surface, the main one was him wondering how credible this Viper character was. He could be some doped up guy who was out of his mind. “And how do I know you know what you’re talking about?”

  “Because I’m his bookie.” Viper patted his chest. “I want to make damn sure you know about all of this.”

  Michael shrugged. “Why?”

  “Because you’re now involved too. If Casey doesn’t pay up, you’re going down too.” Viper poked his index finger into Michael’s chest. “I’m a man of my word.”

  Michael grabbed his finger as tight as he could, gritting his teeth. “Is that a threat?”

  “A promise.” Viper pulled his finger away. “Like I said, I’m a man of my word, Fireman. Remember that.”

  Michael was finding it very hard to compose his anger. If he wasn’t at work he probably would have laid right into him, but that was almost an immediate grounds for dismissal, even if he was being threatened. Viper wasn’t worth it. “You got some nerve coming down to the station to tell me this. You come down here and threaten me again, I’ll make sure the cops are waiting right at the end of the street.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Better yet, make these threats when I’m not on duty. My bet is that you’re a damn chicken shit. Now get the hell outta here. We have no reason to ever talk again.”

  “Oh, I’ll see you soon.” Viper turned to walk away, that same smirk on his face that was like nails on a chalkboard to Michael. He had to get everything straight. He needed to know exactly what Casey was in to and what they needed to do to get him out of it. The hard part was going to be finding him again. He had no idea where he was staying or if he was even in the city anymore.

  Eva was feeling more guilt now about her situation with Michael than ever. He didn’t deserve this. He needed an answer. She couldn’t help but think about all of the times men had ended it with her with absolutely no explana
tion or closure. It was a horrible feeling and now she was doing it to him. She could only hope that what she had to say wouldn’t chase him off for good. Honesty would be the best way to go.

  She walked up the stairs and into the living room. Darryl was on the couch, about to fall asleep. There was no sign of Michael. She was sure that if she asked where he was, rumors would fly, but that was the least of her worries.

  “Darryl? Hey Darryl!” She raised her voice, attempting to pull him out of his doze.

  He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Yeah?”

  “Sorry to wake you, but where’s Michael?”

  He pointed toward the beds in the back. “Being a social recluse. Find out what the hell’s the matter with him. He’s been acting like a hormonal teenager all day.”

  That made her feel even worse. Was he acting that way because of her? Swallowing her pride, she made her way to the bunk beds. There was no turning back now. She had to do this. Her hands were clammy and she wiped them on the sides of her pants. Thankfully, he wasn’t asleep. She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear, flashing him her best smile. Her stomach jolted when he didn’t respond to it. The blank expression on his face was painful.

  “Hey Mikey, you got a minute?” He nodded his head, but remained silent. “We need to talk. I haven’t exactly been the best friend lately.”

  There was still no response from him. Was this a mistake? Was he going to be a complete jerk to her? Maybe she deserved it.

  “There’s no better way to say this, so I’m just gonna say it. I’m scared to get involved with a firefighter. It’s nothing you did. I enjoy your company and I wasn’t just using you the other night, for, ya know.” She moved her hands, embarrassed to even say the word sex. It was like she was back in high school. “There’s just so many risks. You’re a great guy. I’m just terrified to get attached.” She debated on whether or not to mention her fear of getting attached to anyone, but figured he needed this to absorb first.

  He let out a deep sigh and looked up. His expression still didn’t change. “Well, I guess if that’s your feelings then there’s nothing else to say.”

  She grabbed his hand and felt like someone had punched her in the stomach when he didn’t grab it back. “Honestly, I don’t know what I want. I just wanted to tell you that I’m not meaning to avoid you. I care for you. Do you understand?”

  He nodded and pulled his hand away. “Yeah, I understand. I’m being punished for my job. Thanks for letting it be known, though. I appreciate that.” He rolled over on his side, turning his back toward her.

  For some reason, Eva felt like their chat only made things worse. She couldn’t help but think that she deserved every bit of his bad attitude. There was so much more that she wanted to say. Michael definitely wasn’t in the mood, so she walked away, fearing that she was losing one of her best friends.

  Seven the next morning couldn’t have come soon enough for Michael. With everything on his mind, he was tempted to end his shift early and take some personal time. He toughed it out and now had the next twenty-four hours to try and sort some of the drama out. Where to start? The stuff with Eva could wait. He needed to find out if this Viper guy was legitimate. The only person who could answer that question was Casey and he was M.I.A.

  He went back to his apartment, hoping to get some rest before he started searching. It was times like this he wished Casey had a cell phone. For all he knew, Casey did, he just didn’t have the number.

  Sleep was impossible. He tossed and turned, his attention being pulled to every small sound that echoed throughout the apartment. At first, he didn’t take Viper seriously. To Michael, he was just some cracked out druggie with nothing better to do than make threats. Now that he had time to think about it, he wasn’t too sure. Drug addicts were capable of crazy stuff since they weren’t in their right minds. And Casey had mentioned his bet. Of course there would be a bookie involved.

  Walking to his closet, he pulled out a black box from the top shelf. Running his fingers over the top, he left a trail through the dust on the lid. Inside was his nine-millimeter Taurus, a handgun his father had left behind. His mom had given it to him and he never really thought he would have much use for it. Now he was thankful he had it. He clicked the magazine out. It was empty, and he loaded it to capacity. It held fifteen bullets. Michael was almost certain it needed to be cleaned. It hadn’t been shot in years. It didn’t matter. He just needed it for protection. All of the fancy stuff wasn’t a necessity.

  He placed it on his nightstand, keeping it in reach. Was he being paranoid? It was better to be safe than sorry. He didn’t want Viper to succeed in scaring him since that was half the battle. Leaning back, he stared up at the ceiling. It was almost ten and he hadn’t slept a wink. Giving in, he got up and showered. It was time to start searching for his little brother.

  Walking down the street, he tried to think like a drug addict. Where did they gather? What do they do in the morning? When Casey was strung out on cocaine he rarely slept. For a second, Michael debated on whether or not to bring the gun. He decided that it was probably safe to just leave it at home. He had been out on these streets, and while they could be unsafe, at this time of day it was highly unlikely.

  His first stop was the shelter he had referred Casey to. There was a very skinny girl sitting at the front desk, her hair tied back in a ratty ponytail. She forced a smile at him and slid a clipboard his way.

  “Sign in, Mister. We don’t usually start letting people come in until later in the evening. I’d suggest you come around sunset, it gets packed by then.”

  Michael held his hand up to stop her. “I’m not here to stay.”

  “Then what are you here for?”

  Michael ran his hand down the back of his neck and adjusted his baseball cap. “I uhh, I was wondering if you could tell me if someone has been staying here?”

  The girl chewed on her pencil eraser and arched her eyebrow, sliding the clipboard back to her desk. “Are you a cop? Is there someone in trouble?”

  “No, I’m not a cop. But yes, someone could be in trouble. I need to find him.” He paused and buried his hands in his pockets. “Truth is I don’t even know if he’s staying here. I just thought it might be a possibility.”

  “We really don’t have permanent records of people who come here. Most of the time they are around for an evening and we never see them again. The only thing we ever have of documentation is the clipboard, and it’s a day-to-day basis. As you can see, it’s pretty empty right now.”

  Michael stepped back. “You said everyone starts showing up later in the day?”

  She nodded, her facial expression blank. She was making him feel stupid.

  “Okay, thanks for your help.”

  He started to walk away when he heard, “Mister?” He turned around and was caught off guard by her sympathetic look. “I really hope you find who you’re looking for. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you out.”

  “Thanks.” He walked back out onto the sidewalk, pausing to watch as the heavy traffic drifted by, just a few steps away. The city sounds were loud and overwhelming. He was pissed at himself for not knowing any of Casey’s friends better. Maybe he could come back later and hopefully catch him. His instincts were telling him Casey wouldn’t be here, nor would he ever.

  Michael ignored people as they bumped past him, a few of them complaining about the man standing in the middle, right in everyone’s way. To him, he was the only one out on the street corner. Was he overreacting to a harmless threat from a man who was so cracked out that he had lost all touch with reality? It didn’t matter. He had to know for sure. It was Casey who could be in jeopardy, and despite the fact that he and Michael had their problems, Michael still had to protect him.

  Coming to his senses, he trekked north. Unsure of where he was going, he just meandered down city streets. He found himself near Darryl’s apartment building. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed his best friend. Maybe he would have some ideas
on what to do, though Michael was going to leave most of the story out, especially the part about Viper threatening him.

  “Hey Mikey, what’s happening?” Michael wasn’t surprised that he was so chipper. There were only a few times he could remember Darryl being grumpy, and that was mainly after bad fires.

  “You hungry?” He leaned against the bricks, getting out of the way of joggers and pedestrians.

  “Huh?”

  “I’m right outside, get your ass down here and let’s go grab some lunch.” He hung the phone up and paced back and forth.

  Darryl came down in the matter of seconds, tapping at Michael’s hat. “A Mets hat? Didn’t you say yesterday you were hoping the Yankees would win?”

  Michael swallowed hard. “That’s what I’m here about. We need to talk.”

  Darryl patted him on the shoulder. “Okay buddy, lead the way. I don’t care where we eat.”

  They went to a small pub on the corner. Michael really wasn’t hungry, so he ordered a beer and a small sandwich. Darryl stared at him. It was obvious that he was anticipating what this chat would be about.

  “Mikey, what’s on your mind? I could tell for days that something’s buggin’ ya. What gives?”

  Michael sipped his beer, wondering if it was a mistake that he got one. In times like this he always took it to extremes. “Casey’s in trouble again.” He paused to let that sink in, but Darryl didn’t reply. “Has a bookie after him. It’s a huge bet on the Yankees and Mets series coming up.”

  Darryl leaned back in his chair. “Holy shit, bud.”

  “I can’t find him. I don’t know where he is. He was staying with me and I kicked him out. That’s another long story, but I gotta find him. It’s like trying to find a needle in a damn haystack.” It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Darryl about the threat he received yesterday, but he kept that quiet.