Chapter 11
Hog
“When did that happen?”
I’m lucky it’s quiet and we have time to throw together breakfast for the crew this morning, because I definitely wasn’t going to last until lunch.
I’m in the kitchen with Sumo and am in charge of the bacon while he handles the home fries and eggs.
“When did what happen?” I feign ignorance.
“You and Bodhi’s sister.” Sumo cocks a thumb over his shoulder to where Bodhi is sulking in the main room.
He marched in before I could catch him outside for a quick word, and he’s been avoiding me since. He won’t be able to for long though. If he won’t let me talk to him alone, I’ll talk to him with everyone around at breakfast.
“It’s new,” I admit to him. “But I’ve carried a torch for years.”
“No shit. But you never made a move?”
I turn and throw him a pointed look. He immediately throws his hands up and chuckles.
“Right. Hey, she’s a great girl, and I, for one, am happy for you, brother. Bodhi will get over it.”
Much the same thing I told Anika, but it turns out my otherwise calm and collected friend is far more stubborn than I would’ve given him credit for.
With breakfast on the table and everyone busy serving themselves, I try to catch Bodhi’s eye, which he ignores even though I sat down right across from him.
“Hey…Bodhi,” I call his attention, and that of everyone else around the table. So be it.
It clearly pisses him off and he throws me a dirty look.
“Really, Hog? In front of the fucking fire station? You need to rub that shit in my face? Bad enough every time I drive by her house to talk to her your damn truck is in the driveway.”
“You and Anika?” Vic interjects, a big grin on her face as she leans over the table to see past Sumo, who is sitting beside me. “I fucking knew it. It’s about time.”
Her outburst does not go over well with Bodhi, who surges up, kicks his chair back from the table, and stalks toward the sleeping quarters.
“Fuck,” Cap mutters at the end of the table, before his eyes find me. “Better go fix that.”
Dammit. So much for a proper breakfast. I get up, shove a couple of strips of bacon in my mouth, and head after Bodhi.
He’s on his bunk, one arm across his stomach, the other behind his head, looking casual, except for the narrowed look aimed at me the moment I walk through the door.
“She’s my sister.”
“I’m aware,” I calmly state, taking a seat on the edge of Cheddar’s bunk across from him.
“Some kind of friend you are,” he fires at me.
I sit forward, my forearms resting on my knees and my eyes fixed on him.
“I’m the kind who tries to ignore his feelings for years out of respect for a friend.”
Bodhi snorts.
“But let me ask you something; as my friend for all those years, you want to tell me you never clued into the fact I had feelings for your sister?”
“So? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe it’s because I don’t have siblings, but it’s puzzling to me why you’d prefer some stranger for your sister over someone who’s been a friend for years and has actual feelings for her. I’m sorry, I don’t see the logic in that.”
With that, I figure I’ve had my say and get up to let him stew for a bit.
But Bodhi isn’t done.
“You’re ten years her senior, for Christ’s sake.”
It pisses me off he throws that in my face, mainly because it is one of the issues I’ve struggled with myself.
“So is Bill to Vic. And your wife is four years older than you, what of it?”
When he has no retort, I take my leave and head back to the dining table, just as the alarm buzzes with an incoming call.
So much for breakfast.
“Hey!”
A woman comes running across the street at us.
We’ve just pulled up in front of a modest house on the outskirts of town. The call was for an out-of-control brush fire, but it looks like it was too close to the attached garage, which is now also in flames.
“I think he’s still in there. I saw him come home earlier and his truck is still there.”
The truck she refers to is haphazardly parked in front of the burning garage.
Cap immediately starts barking orders.
“Roadkill, Hog, check the house. Vic, you and Cheddar get a line on that garage.”
When we’re geared up with tanks and full-faced masks, I grab the Halligan tool and lead the way to the front door. I hear Bodhi’s boots right behind me.
Smoke is already seeping from a crack under the door. Not good. I make room to give Bodhi a chance to knock and ring the doorbell. Then I step in and set the forks of the Halligan between the edge of the door and the doorjamb. With the back of his axe, Bodhi hammers the tool deeper in the jamb, giving me enough leverage to force the lock open.
When thick smoke streams out, I turn my back and fit my mask over my face while my partner does the same beside me. Then I follow him into the house, crouching low.
“Fire Department! Call out!” he yells in front of me.
There is no fire visible but I can feel the heat, so I know it can’t be far. If we’re going to get anyone out of here, we’ll have to hurry. When I catch sight of stairs going up to the second level, I tap Bodhi on the shoulder and point up.
“Checking upstairs,” I let him know, and wait for his thumbs-up before making my way upstairs.
It’s distinctly hotter up here, and when I peer up through the thick, black smoke, I spot what looks like blistering on the ceiling. Not good at all. I’m going to have to hurry.
Three doors, two are open. Staying low to the ground, I duck into the first one.
“Fire Department! Call out!”
I don’t get far, since the room looks to be used as storage and is packed full. Great. All these boxes and bins will make nice fuel. I quickly move on to the next open door, which turns out to be a bathroom. Nobody in here either.
It’s becoming harder to make anything out by the time I get to the third door. I test the knob, which isn’t hot to the touch, so I push open the door, just as my radio comes to life in my ear.
“Hog, Roadkill, anything? We’ve got the roof engaged,”Cap’s tinny voice announces.
“Negative down here.”
“Clearing the last room upstairs,” I report, working my way into the bedroom.
“I need you both to clear out.”
No sooner does Cap give us the order, when a deafening crack shakes the house around me. I turn and dive for the door as the burning ceiling comes down, slamming me to the floor.
“Hog!”Bodhi yells in my ear.
It’s the last thing I hear.
Anika
“She’s adorable.”
Esther proudly shows me another picture of her latest grandchild. A little blond cherub with big blue eyes and a gummy smile. She’s cute as a button.
“We think so,” Esther agrees, beaming.
“So this is number what? Five?”
“Six. My youngest boy and his wife had their first right before Christmas.”
“Oh, that’s right, I remember now. Matthew, right?”
She smiles at my reflection. “Yes, our Matthew.”
I set down the curling iron and grab my round brush to run through her short hair, which she likes wavy. Esther is a salon regular, who comes in once a month for a trim and style. The quirky thing is she’s not partial to any one of us and is happy with whomever she can get for the appointment she wants.
Today, I’m the lucky one.
I finish her hair with a light spray of product before leading her to the cash register. Molly is in the back, washing a load of towels, so I ring Esther up. When I return to my station to clean up, Kim walks over.
“Do you have a minute?” she softly asks.
My next appointment isn’t here yet, and both Monique and Landon still have someone in their chair, so they can keep an eye on the door.
“Sure, in my office?”
“Please.”
Kim follows me to the back where I grab us a couple of waters from the fridge before we retreat to my office. I was due for a break anyway. Amazing as last night was, I definitely feel the aftereffects today. My body is aching, and it’s not entirely pleasurable.
“What’s up?” I ask her when we sit down.
“I talked to Mel just now. She managed to get me in for an appointment to see a counselor tomorrow morning.” She winces. “It’s at ten fifteen. I can call and see if they can change it to either Saturday afternoon or Monday morning.”
I know only too well how long it can sometimes be to wait for an appointment with a healthcare professional. Mel obviously used her connections to get her in quickly.
“No. Take the appointment tomorrow, who knows when the next available one is.”
“I only have one client scheduled before lunch, who I can probably move to the afternoon. I can call her now, if you’re sure it’s okay.”
“Positive.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry for all the?—”
“Don’t finish that,” I stop her. “I already told you there’s nothing for you to apologize for.”
She darts me a smile before she leaves my office, her phone already in her hand. I take a couple of minutes to check emails until Monique pokes her head in.
“Your appointment is here.”
“Thanks.”
I get to my feet, take a sip of water, and round my desk.
“Everything all right with Kim?” Monique whispers.
“Yeah, she has an appointment tomorrow morning so she’ll be in later.”
“Nothing serious I hope.”
“No.”
We don’t usually have many secrets here, but given Kim asked to talk to me out of earshot of the salon may mean she doesn’t want this information out there. Either way, the information is not mine to share.
I walk out to greet my new client and spend a few minutes talking to her to find out what she’s looking for. I’m leading her to one of the sinks for a wash when Kim comes walking in, her face drained of color.
“Please have a seat. I’ll be right with you,” I tell my client.
Then I grab Kim by the arm and pivot her back to my office.
“What happened?”
“My house is on fire.”
“What do you mean?”
“The client tomorrow morning, it’s one of my neighbors. It’s crazy, she says it was a brush fire that got out of hand. Some firefighters went inside to look for Chris—his truck is parked outside—and the roof collapsed. She says more firetrucks just arrived. All my stuff…”
But I’m no longer listening. I stopped when she mentioned firefighters and roof collapse. I’m digging my own phone out of my purse and dial Bodhi, knowing if he’s out on a call he won’t answer. He doesn’t, and neither does Hog who I try next.
Then I pull up the number for the firehouse. When it too rings and rings before bumping me to an automated message, my chest gets tight. I end up bent over, my hands braced on my knees as I try to fight back the mounting panic.
“Anika?”
I look up at Kim, who looks freaked out and ready to collapse. Immediately, I straighten up, regaining my control.
“Sit down before you fall,” I instruct her firmly. “And stay here, I’m going to see what I can find out.”
I take my phone and cross the hall, ducking into the supply room for some privacy while I try to get a hold of my sister-in-law. Another unanswered phone call. I could try my parents, but I don’t want to alarm them for nothing.
In a last-ditch effort to get some information, I give Bill Evans a call.
“What have you heard about a roof collapse at a house fire,” I barge right in. “Kim and Chris Cooper’s house.”
“Damn,” he grumbles, sounding like he’s out of breath. “News travels fast. I don’t know much, I can’t get hold of Vic, but the crew usually leaves their phones in the rig when they’re on a call. From one of our patrol units on the scene, I heard a couple of firefighters were in the house looking for Cooper when the roof collapsed. They were able to get them out, but a few more firefighters sustained injuries. A bunch of them are being transported to Mercy, and I’m on my way there to find out more.” I hear the slam of a car door. “Make sure Kim stays put until I figure out what the fuck is going on. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll call you when I get there.”
Then the line goes dead.
I’ll make sure Kim is looked after, but I’m not about to wait around. Hell no.
As I head back to my office, I call down the hallway.
“Monique? I need you back here for a minute. Please?” I remember to add.
When I enter the office, Kim surges to her feet, but before I have a chance to fill her in, Monique joins us. She must sense something is wrong, her expression is one of concern as she looks from Kim to me.
“There’s a fire at Kim’s house,” I rush to explain, giving Monique a condensed version of what is going on. “I hate to do this, but I need to go to Mercy, can you handle the salon?”
“Sure, yeah, absolutely.” She nods confidently.
I turn to Kim. “Evans wants you to sit tight until he finds out what is going on. I’m sure he’ll be in touch, or I will.”
She nods, wringing her hands nervously. Maybe those hands should stay busy.
“I’ve got a new client waiting for me by the sink,” I tell her. “Would you mind looking after her?”
Monique puts a hand on my shoulder. “You go. We’ve got this covered, and Molly can help. Just let us know when you hear something.”
Then she gives me a little shove out the door.
I hold my shit tight until I get behind the wheel of Hog’s truck. Then I let go and end up crying the entire way to the hospital.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been scared. I know the profession a firefighter chooses is dangerous. Hell, they run in when everyone else is running out of danger. It’s what they do. But I mostly find out after the fact, when the dust has settled and the outcome is known.
This time I’m in the dark, and with my resilience already heavily tested—too many of those fucking bumps in my way—and my imagination running rampant, the lack of information is putting serious cracks in my armor.
Anger is an effective detraction from fear, and I don’t hold back when an idiot slips into a spot close to the emergency doors I’d been waiting for. As a result, by the time I find an alternate place to park the truck, my tears have dried and my panic is relatively controlled.
It doesn’t stop me from running through the doors, only to be stopped by Sumo, who blocks my path.
“Whoa, easy there. Your brother is going to be fine; bumps, bruises, some minor burns, nothing serious. Cap wanted him checked out.”
I grab on to Sumo’s arm and lean forward to catch my breath when I’m hit hard with relief.
Then I realize he’s only mentioned Bodhi and I snap up my head.
“What about Hog?”