Too Much Heat (Wounded Heroes: The Redemption #4)

Chapter 3

“You gotta answer your cell, woman. It’s been ringing off the hook.”

Lara froze, holding the sponge as it dripped onto the table where she’d been cleaning up. “Oh, dear.”

The phone rang again. Still, she didn’t take it from him. “Swanson, are you all right?”

She swallowed hard.

“Do you want me to answer it?”

“No. God no.”

She grabbed her cell and turned her back. “Yes, this Lara…Oh…. Oh …I’m at work. You can’t leave…. The police? You called the police? All right, stay there until I get home.”

After disconnecting, she turned and held out the phone. Her hand was trembling. “It’s your phone, Lara.” He’d gentled his tone. She was clearly upset.

“That’s right.” She raised her chin. “Captain, I have an emergency at home. I have to leave work.”

“I thought you lived alone.”

“Please. Let me go.”

He grasped onto her arm. “All right. But you’re in no condition to drive. I’ll take you.”

“You can drive me. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“What doesn’t matter?”

“You’ll find out…. She looked away as if she was embarrassed. And resigned.

He handed her his keys. “Wait for me in my car. I’ll tell Gabe how to handle this.”

He walked out back where the guys were playing football. Their WFD navy T-shirts were damp due to the heat. “Swanson and I have to leave. I’m not sure how long it will take. Gabe, you’re in charge. Call the BC and tell him you need a sub for her.”

“Sure, Cap. You okay?”

“I am.”

He found her sitting in his Civic. He slid inside and started the engine. Address?”

“55 Elmwood Street.”

He knew the streets of Westwood like the back of his hand. He started to drive. Her house was only five minutes away, but she didn’t talk so he took his cue from her and stayed silent. When he pulled up to the modest Cape Cod, she bolted out the side door. Taking note of the cop car running out front, he followed her.

She jogged to the porch. The screen door banged behind her after she hurried into the house. Joe caught up to her and went inside.

She’d stopped at the couch. “No, please, don’t hurt him,” she said.

One policeman held Sammy by the arms. He said, “La-ra. La-ra.” He seemed scared to death.

“We aren’t going to hurt him,” the officer told her. “I assume you’re the homeowner. Your aide here said he attacked her.”

She sent a brief, disgusted glance at the aide. “Look at him,” she said to the police. “He couldn’t attack anyone. He can barely stand by himself.”

Joe noted the guy was thin to the point of scrawny and didn’t have much control of his legs. The police were supporting him. Lara turned to the aide. “Did he hurt you, Mrs. Johnson?”

“No. But he was going to. I couldn’t control him and I was afraid.”

To the police Lara said, “I’m here. I’ll take care of my husband.”

Joe’s mouth dropped. Husband ? She had a husband ?

The guy glanced over her shoulder. “Hey, Joe. Are you staying with Ms. Swanson? Not sure I want to leave her alone with him.”

“I’m staying, Jim.” Though he had no idea what was going on.

Lara crossed to them and removed her husband from the cop’s grasp. She hooked one arm around his waist and put the other around her neck. “Come on Sammy, I’ll get you to bed for a nap.”

The police let them go.

Joe asked, “Is she in trouble, Jim? She’s a firefighter, an upstanding member of the community.”

“No, of course not. But she shouldn’t leave him with an aide anymore or at least get ones that are stronger than the woman today.”

“I’m sure she’ll do the right thing.”

Jim said, “I have to write up the call, but nobody’s in trouble. With us, at least.” He nodded to the closed door. “I’m afraid your colleague has her hands full.”

“So I see. Thanks, both of you.”

He noticed the aide had not left. “Are you waiting for something?”

“She owes me for the whole day.”

“How much?”

“$100.”

Joe took out five twenties and gave it to the aide. Then she walked out the front door. He dropped down on the couch and waited for Swanson to come out.

* * *

Lara tucked Sammy in bed and gave him a sedative. He fell asleep almost immediately. Now she had to face her captain. Yanking the tie out of her hair because it was giving her a headache, she walked out of the bedroom.

“Hey. He okay?”

“Yeah.” She sighed heavily and came around the couch. Dropped down. “You must have a million questions.”

“As your captain, I wouldn’t meddle in your personal life unless it interfered with your job. It hasn’t, until today.”

“I’ve been trying to keep my personal problems out of the firehouse. But I’m tired of covering up my life.”

Gently, he touched her arm and said softly, “Go ahead, tell me.”

“Do you want the whole sad story or should I pick up with today?”

“Wherever you want to start.”

“Sammy has ALS. I assume you know about the malady.”

“It’s a degenerative disease.” A horrible, horrible one.

She clasped her hands in her lap. “He was a firefighter in Elmira and I was a secretary in the fire department. Sammy convinced me to go to the academy and become a firefighter, too. We thought we had the world by the tail.”

“What happened?”

“He started to trip over things. And his grip got weaker. When the symptoms first appeared, it took a while to diagnose what was wrong. He kept going and I kept it together. But eventually these two symptoms got worse. The department put him on disability so we had enough money. He also went on the latest treatment, Radicava, but it only does so much. There’s no cure for ALS.” Her voice broke on the last words.

“I’m so sorry, Lara.”

“His muscle mass diminished and started to affect his speech. Eventually, I admitted we were going to need more help. As soon as I finished at the academy, we came home.”

“Home?”

“Sammy’s from Westwood. He’s older than you are so you wouldn’t have known him in high school. In any case, his mother and two sisters said they’d cover my day shifts. When I’m on nights, LPNs come in.”

“Can any of your friends help out?”

“I don’t have close friends—there’s no time. Maisy Kane, Katie Donovan and Annie Rodriguez and I are just getting to know each other.”

Joe sat back and sighed. “What happened today? That woman wasn’t related to you.”

“His sister Jenny, the one who was supposed to come to be with him, had to stay home with her sick son. I have an emergency list for aides. But he’d never reacted to one like he did today.” Her eyes moistened. “He’s degenerating faster than I thought he would.”

Joe was sitting close and slid his arm around her. She leaned into him. Took comfort from his nearness. The woodsy scent of him filled her head. “I’m so, so sorry, Lara. This is a terrible situation.”

“It’s my life , Joe.” She’d never called him that before.

“I understand that now.”

“I’m not sure where to go from here. He gets disability from the government and my salary is enough to make ends meet, but all the money in the world isn’t going to help him.” When she realized how long he’d held her, how she’d nosed into him, she pulled away.

He faced her. “I have to say something.”

“Please don’t be mean, I can’t handle that right now.”

“Of course I won’t.” Had he been mean? “What I was going to ask was why haven’t you put him in a hospital or home that cares for people with degenerative diseases?”

The notion made her sick inside. “Oh, God, no. I can’t bring myself to do that.”

“There’s places like that right over in Syracuse.”

“He wouldn’t be too far away,” she said choking on her words.

“You loved him very much.”

“I did. I do. We had such plans for our future.”

“I can’t imagine how you cope with all this.”

“It’s tough.” She scrubbed the moisture on her face from crying. Now, she was embarrassed. “I have to stay with him today.”

“I know. There’s already a sub for you.”

“Then we’re off four days.”

“Do you have any relief on the days you’re home?”

“Sometimes one of my brothers-in-law comes over to spell me so I can do errands. Sometimes I go grocery shopping while he’s taking a nap. He sleeps late so on my days off shift I can go for a run.” She shook her head. “Saying it out loud makes my life sound pretty grim.”

“It does.”

She ducked her head.

“Do you want me to stay awhile?”

“No, I’m good now.”

He lifted her chin. “I know that’s a stretch. But I should get back. Why don’t you do some research on the Internet and find the places in Syracuse that could take him. Maybe visit one or two on our days off.”

“Maybe.”

He ran his knuckles down her cheek. “The guys’ll ask what happened. I’ll keep this from them if you want me to.”

“You know what? Tell them. I feel relieved that you know now and I’m sick of hiding my situation.”

He sat back. “I don’t understand one thing. You were on a date with a guy at the baseball game. And you’re married.”

“Brad is one of my brothers-in-law. He brought me to the stadium so I could have something pleasant to do.”

“He called you honey. He hugged you.”

“He’s a warm and affectionate guy. And he’s happily married, too.”

Well, that’s a relief . He squeezed her hand and stood.

She did too. “Thanks again for understanding.”

Suddenly, she was overcome with the need to be held again. By him. So she looped her arms around his neck and cuddled into his chest.

He slid his arms around her and held her tight. Kissed her hair. There was comfort in the embrace, so she let it go on. Until she felt herself go damp. And noticed his erection. They both stepped back.

He cleared his throat. “Goodbye, Lara.”

“Goodbye, Joe.”

He left quickly and she was glad. Dear Lord, he was her captain! Why did she react so strongly, and in a sexual way, to him?

* * *

Joe walked back into the fire station and went right to his office. He dropped down in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. Images of Lara haunted him: her helping her husband to bed…confessing her whole story…the tears in her eyes.

He tried not to think about his reaction to her.

Gage came to the door. “Hey, Cap, you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Swanson come back with you?”

“No. Get the guys together in the kitchen, will you? I have something to tell you.”

When they were all assembled, he saw the irritation on their faces. He knew that emotion had been evident in his dealings with her, too. Maybe that’s what she meant about his being mean.

“I’ll come right to the point. Firefighter Swanson’s been hiding a big secret.”

Gage said, “Can you tell us what?”

“Yeah. She wants you to know now. Probably because she doesn’t want you to think I’m playing favorites.”

“You?” The rookie said. “You treat her like shit.”

Gage snapped, “Watch your tone, Trent.”

“No, he’s right. I guess I did. And you all followed in suit.”

“Not me.” Trent again. The kid didn’t know when to shut up.

Joe said, “I drove her home. That call was about her husband.”

“She’s married?” Pike’s tone at least was concerned. “She never let on.”

“She is. They met in Elmira and moved to Westwood after she graduated from the fire academy downstate. But there’s more. He has ALS.” To Trent he said, “Before you ask, that’s a degenerative disease that robs the person of his ability to function physically and eventually mentally.”

Trent raised a brow. “I know what it is. My uncle had it.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“How has she dealt with it and kept a job? My aunt had to quit hers to take care of him.”

“He has family here. She also hires aides.”

Gage whistled. “That costs a pretty penny.”

“Yeah, our insurance would cover some of it, but I think Swanson’s strapped.”

Shame, now, on their faces. “I feel the same as you obviously do from your expressions. But I suggest we figure out how we can help her. I mean really help her.”

The brainstorming began.

* * *

A knock on the screen door. Lara got up from the chair where she’d been staring out at space and found Trent, one of her colleagues on the porch. “Bobby?”

He held up cartons. “I brought you food. And company.”

“Come on inside.”

She sighed. “The cap told you all, right?”

“Yeah. They were embarrassed as hell at how they been toward you.” He crossed to the table against the wall and put down the heavy bags.

He looked around the place. “Where’s your husband? There’s enough for him.”

“Resting. I had to give him a sedative. He’ll wake up soon for dinner.”

The expression in Bobby’s eyes was sincere. “Rotten luck, Lara.”

“For him, mostly.” Tears threatened again.

Bobby covered her hand with his. His reddish hair framed a face of freckles and youth. “For you, too.”

He opened all the cartons, set out a paper plate and napkins he’d also brought. The scents of meat, noodles and soy sauce filled the air. Bobby picked up a carton. “You ordered cashew chicken at work when we got takeout.” He pointed to a carton. “That’s it. Now, eat.”

Touched that he was so considerate, she sat down. “Stay and eat with me, Bobby. I want you to.” She craved company. It got lonely taking care of Sammy.

He sat. “I was hoping you’d ask me to stay.”

As he dished out food, she checked the clock. “Our shift isn’t over with yet.”

“The cap let me go early.”

“Did he know you were coming here?”

“Yep.” After she served herself, he took a chopsticks-worth of Moo Goo Gi Pan and stuffed it in his mouth. Then he said, “My uncle had ALS. So I know what it’s like. To watch him deteriorate. To meet his needs. My mom helped out her sister and I went with her until he passed away.”

“I’m sorry for your family, Bobby.”

“Thanks. Now, after we eat, you’re heading out to get a drink. Or shop. Or sit on the park bench and stare out at the grounds.”

“No, I couldn’t. He might wake up.”

“I know how to care for him, Lara.” He didn’t look so young, now. “You have to let people help you.”

She wanted time to herself, to be outside so bad. “I do, but—”

“Eat up, Swanson. If you’re not here when he wakes up, he’ll think I’m another aide.”

“He used to be a firefighter. He’d probably appreciate you’re one.”

“Then that decides it.”

She said with a smile, “Okay. To all of it.”

* * *

Later that night, Jackson Kane spiked the serve into the back corner of the gym’s racquetball court in the Westwood Y. It bounced out.

“Shit,” Joe said, shaking his head, walking toward the little blue sphere. He picked it up and tossed it over the net. “Good shot.”

“There’s the Joe I know.” Jackson cocked his head. “You sure you don’t want to quit and talk?”

Joe sighed. “Let’s finish the game.”

His friend lobbed an easy one to him. He smashed the ball back but it fizzled out in the net. “Yeah, let’s quit.”

They walked toward the side of the court, their clothes damp and their hair wet. They drank some water, wiped up with towels then headed to the cafe. The sounds of clanking weights and buzzing machines were noticeable out here in the Y. When they were settled with drinks in a corner of the cafe, Jackson asked, “Spill, buddy. Where’s your mind at?”

“W ho would be a better question.”

Jackson pretended to roil back. “A woman? A woman has you in this state?” His tone was amused.

Joe had dated a lot of women. As soon as the relationship got complicated he broke things off. He didn’t want commitment and the emotions it dragged out of you.

But he was full of those feelings now.

“I’m afraid so.” He looked over into the face of the man he’d trust with his life. Jackson seemed younger in his jock clothes and sweaty face.

“It’s Lara Swanson.”

A vee formed on Jackson’s forehead. “That’s a tricky one.”

“More than. I was handling her okay until I found out her circumstances.”

“Which are?”

“She’s married.”

“Ouch.”

“Sammy Swanson has ALS.”

“Oh, Dear God. That’s a horrible disease. Have you seen him?”

“Yeah. She says it’s stage one, but I think it’s progressed further than that. He needs help with everything. The family comes to take care of him when she works, and she pays for aides, but it’s tearing her apart emotionally, physically and I’ll bet financially.”

“Wow, Joe. I’m so sorry for her.”

“There’s more.” Joe explained their parting.

Jackson frowned. They always said the hard stuff to each other. “You have two choices. Either transfer her to another station house or make it clear that you can’t be in her life romantically.”

“I’m not in her life romantically. It was one time. As for my choices in dealing with her, if I tried to transfer her, she’d get a reputation that she’s hard to get along with people. I won’t do that to her.”

“Yeah. She seems like a nice woman.”

“You met her?”

“Maisy, Katie and Annie took her out to lunch to introduce themselves and tell her they support her role as the only woman on your group.”

“I swear, those women interfere in everybody’s life.”

“Thank God. Diego and I would tell you their interventions were a godsend.”

Joe laughed. In truth, he was jealous as hell.

“What are you going to do?”

“Play it by ear, I guess.”

“Good luck, buddy.” He squeezed Joe’s shoulder. “You’re going to need it.”

* * *

“Oh, excuse me. I thought we were alone back here.” Jackson Kane seemed puzzled when they bumped into someone getting out of the booth.

“I was having a bit of juice in the booth next to you.” And I heard everything .

Romano scowled. Good. The asshole didn’t even recognize my voice. “Let’s go Jackson.”

“Sorry for bumping into you.” Kane was more polite than Romano.

“No, problem. You two go ahead.”

Hmm, a phone call might stir things up. The beeps of numbers being punched in. Then, “Chief Hansen.”

“I have information for you, Chief.”

“Who is this?”

“A citizen. It’s my civic duty to alert you that a captain on one of your squads is sleeping with a woman in his group.”

A pause. A long one. Then, “Tell me the details.”

“Oh, I will, Chief. I will.”