Rescued Duty (Last Chance Fire and Rescue #5)

Chapter 26

TWENTY-SIX

S omething furry tickled Naya’s cheek, and she opened her eyes to Ingram’s cat, Coco, nuzzled up next to her on the sofa. Naya yawned and pushed herself to a seated position.

Her back protested the position change, and she turned to the side to stretch. “Looks like someone else didn’t want to be alone either.” She stroked the cat’s back, and he purred.

Naya picked up her phone to check the time. It wasn’t even seven yet. She still had two hours before she needed to be in the office.

After she’d gone back to Ingram’s hospital room, she’d broken the news about Will. Ingram had been in shock, and the tears hadn’t stopped. After being discharged, Ingram had asked Naya if she would stay overnight at her house. Naya wanted to support her friend however she could, and if that meant having a sleepover like when they were kids, she’d take it.

Naya picked up her duffel bag and moseyed down the hall to the bathroom. Ingram’s door was still shut, and no light peeked from the bottom crack.

Naya washed her face and brushed her teeth before starting her makeup routine, mindful not to make too much noise and wake up her friend. The past twenty-four hours had taken a toll on both of them. Naya figured she’d need a whole bottle of concealer to cover the bags under her eyes.

The conversation with Zack yesterday still played in her mind like a broken record. It was a wonder she’d gotten any sleep last night. On one hand, relief filled Naya knowing she finally had the full truth. There was no more guessing. The sincerity in Zack’s tone as he’d shared the details had told her all she needed to know.

He hadn’t intended to hurt her, and she believed him.

Naya pumped the liquid foundation onto a sponge and blended it into her face.

He didn’t want her to continue pursuing leads for the story. But he’d told her how he’d gone back for that bracelet. He hadn’t given up on what mattered most, and she wouldn’t either. Which was exactly why she couldn’t drop this story until she found out what was really happening with Ethos and the Green Warriors.

She zipped up her makeup bag and let out a sigh.

Ingram had pleaded with her through watery eyes last night to let the story go. God sees what’s going on. He won’t let justice be lost on this. He won’t turn a blind eye to this forever.

But she needed to focus on what was most important. Truth. Justice. Healing. Not just for herself, Ingram, or Zack, but for everyone involved in this case. These people and their families deserved to know they mattered. That a blind eye wouldn’t be turned to their situation.

Lord, I need You to direct my steps. Reveal the truth. Show me what I can do to shine light on the situation.

Naya changed into khakis and a patterned blouse, then made her way to the kitchen. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. A box of honey oat granola sat in the corner, and she poured herself a bowl, mixing it with some almond milk.

“How’d you sleep?”

Naya turned around at Ingram’s question and did her best not to reveal her shock at her friend’s appearance. Ingram had her hair in a messy bun, although that was an understatement. The ponytail barely kept the locks in place, and flyaways stuck out in every direction. Black streaks sat just above her cheeks from leftover mascara that hadn’t been wiped clean. Her sweatpants and T-shirt told Naya she wasn’t about to make an appearance to the world today.

“Coco kept me company.” Naya ate a spoonful of cereal.

“I’m glad.” Ingram offered a half smile. “I called off work today, even though everyone is working remotely while they clean up the building.” She slid onto a barstool next to Naya and propped her elbows on the counter.

“Want me to stay here?” Naya’s friend was more of a verbal processor, and all the introspection on top of being home alone might compound the distress she was in. “I can work remotely.”

“No, I’ll be fine.” She waved her hand. “What are you going to do today?”

Naya opened her mouth, then realized what Ingram was asking. She didn’t want to know if she was working today but rather what she was working on.

“I really want to see this story through, Grams.” She took another bite of granola. The crunch drowned out the turmoil in her mind over what to do.

“I appreciate you wanting to stick up for me with Will, but the police should be the ones to handle the case.”

“And they are,” Naya affirmed.

“Then find another story to write. One with less stakes. Maybe a happier one.”

“What will happen to whoever has caused all this havoc? They killed Will. They might even be responsible for Zack’s parents’ deaths. So we just let them walk free without exposing the truth?”

“Will’s dead, Naya. And I’m left to pick up the pieces of a broken heart.” Ingram pinched the bridge of her nose. “You don’t have to write every story that comes your way. Not when you could lose so much. You’ve got Zack. He cares about you. I don’t want to see you throw it away.” She swatted at a tear.

Naya swirled her spoon in leftover milk.

“You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, Nay. You’re you because of who you are, not what you have to offer to anyone.” Ingram went over to the fridge and poured a glass of orange juice before returning to her seat.

Did Ingram realize what she was saying? What Zack was asking of her?

“I could care less about the promotion.” She dropped her spoon in the bowl with a clank. What she’d done to build her career didn’t matter. “It’s so much more than that now. A man is dead, and lives have been threatened.” Naya cleared her throat. “I need to head into the office.”

She rinsed her bowl and put it in the dishwasher. “I love you, Grams.” She hugged her friend. “A shower might also do you some good. Add a fresh smell to the room.”

Ingram pinched her lips. “So you can say you love me and tell me what to do to move on with my life, but you won’t take advice from those who love you?”

Naya grabbed her purse and a light jacket.

“You lost your family once, Naya. You really want to risk losing those who’ve become your family again?”

Naya bit her lip. That’s why she was pursuing this story. She loved them enough she wanted them all to have closure so they could move on with life. Without a killer on the streets wreaking havoc. “I’ll be back after work.” Naya got in her car and drove off.

Naya turned the music volume down. You’ve given me a second chance at family, Lord. How can I stand by and not defend them? Not fight for them?

Wasn’t that what families did? They fought for each other. Protected one another. Jesus had done that for her on the cross. He’d made a way to bring her into His forever family by laying down His life. That was love.

By the time Naya pulled into a parking spot at the Tribune, she’d made her decision.

She took the elevator to the third floor and knocked on Tucker’s cubicle. “Can we talk?”

Tucker motioned her inside, and she took a seat across from his desk. She’d only been to his space a handful of times. When they’d been dating, she’d insisted they keep things professional around the other employees, which meant visits to each other in their offices had been few and far between.

The early morning sun streamed through the window and revealed a meticulous area devoid of any dust or stray belongings. Yet it still felt stuffy without any personal touches to adorn the mahogany wood desk and filing cabinet.

“What do you have on the water contamination story?”

Tucker leaned forward in his chair and raised his brow. “You want me to divulge information to get you closer to reaching your goal of landing the promotion?” He laughed. “We have five more days. No way am I doing that.”

“This story has already put my life in jeopardy enough times. Yesterday a man was killed.” She’d lain awake remembering Will lying on his kitchen floor. “This is bigger than a promotion.”

“I already told you I wasn’t responsible for any of the attacks. Although…” He squirmed in his chair.

She’d been around the man long enough to pick up on his tics and when he wasn’t being completely honest. “What do you know?”

“The note someone put on your car…” Tucker paused. “I didn’t write it, but I can tell you who did.”

Naya wanted to jump up and say it had been him. Instead, she gripped the chair handles. “And you kept this a secret because…”

“I was planning to tell you I saw it, but the woman acted sketchy when she slid the note under your windshield wiper. Like she wasn’t supposed to be there.”

Clearly not, when the note was a direct threat.

But if Tucker hadn’t written the note, then Will would have been her next guess. Not a woman. Given the likelihood of him being behind two of the other attacks, she’d made all kinds of assumptions. If it was a woman, that meant more than one person might be involved in the illegal activities.

“Yeah. After hearing about the other series of, uh, events, I thought coming clean would put a target on my back too.”

Not only had Tucker kept quiet, he’d done so to save face. The confession stung. How could he have been so selfish? Clearly, he didn’t have her best interests at heart. He was in it for the job.

You’ve got a guy who cares about you. Don’t throw it away.

Ingram’s comment earlier resonated. Zack’s disagreement with continuing to write the story had been a hard pill to swallow. Although, now she understood the difference between the two men.

It didn’t bother Tucker whether her well-being was at stake. He’d signed on to do a job, and he was going to finish it one way or another. And if she got hurt, it wasn’t his problem.

Instead, Zack was willing to risk stepping into the crosshairs alone to keep her safe. Not because he didn’t think she was competent—rather, he cared enough to have her back.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Tucker cocked his head.

She hadn’t realized she’d spoken the gratitude out loud. “Nothing.” She waved her hand.

He’d helped her see what she needed in a friend and a potential significant other. The qualities she’d overlooked before were actually the greatest assets.

She needed to talk with Zack. But first Naya had to finish what she’d come in here for. “Do you know the person’s name?”

“No. I never talked with her. Only observed from a distance. But she had short blonde hair.” Tucker held up his hands to his ears.

Naya grabbed her phone from her pocket and swiped through pictures until she came to the one she’d been tagged in. “Is this her?” She held up the image of Sylvia.

“Right there. Front and center. That’s her all right.”

Acid rose in Naya’s throat, and she swallowed to push it down. But it didn’t ease the burn.

It was time to go to the police with this information. Finally put an end to this mayhem.

“I can’t write this piece anymore.” Naya stood up. She had the pieces she needed to fulfill her quest for the truth. “I have friends who care about me. For their safety and my own, I’m done.”

Tucker leaned back in his chair. “Just like that, you’re going to hand over the promotion?”

“It’s not worth it.” What would the promotion win her if she got injured and couldn’t even do her job anymore? “I’ll send you the documents I have. I’m going to write a human-interest piece instead. Show people what one of the rescue squad members, Zack Stephens, is doing to help kids in foster care. If Drew doesn’t like it, then so be it.”

At least she’d still give it a shot. It might not be the piece their boss had asked her to write, but she could still submit something to showcase her work for the promotion.

“May the best writer win.” Tucker stood up and tugged on his suit jacket.

Naya walked back to her office and shut the door.

She needed to call the police, then fill Zack in on her findings. If Sylvia was involved in the schemes, it might not matter that Naya had forfeited the story.

The knowledge Naya possessed was enough to kill for.