Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Olivia
T he court square was hopping with energy when Rosie and I went into town the next evening. The Main Street Planning Committee hosted events several times a year to draw visitors to the downtown area. Market vendors were set up on all four sides of the courthouse sidewalk, shop owners had their doors opened, with chalkboard signs offering deals to patrons, and restaurants and bars in town had different wines available for tasting. The sidewalks were a crush of people out milling around during the Sip-n-Shop event.
The historic old courthouse had opened its doors for visitors to tour the hundred-plus-year-old building. Children played in the small grassy areas behind vendors under the twinkle-lit trees, and on every corner, a different musician had set up, offering an array of different music styles.
It was noisy and quaint and everything small town.
“Oh, Mom, can we go to The Mercantile? They have a carving of a boat that I know Mac will love. ”
I followed her into the store, picking up a book that I thought he might also like.
“I can’t wait until you guys make things official, and I can tell the world,” Rosie said as we left the store and headed toward the coffee shop.
I grinned because I was as ready to brag as she was. Having to keep our relationship status secret was the only damper to the otherwise joyous weekend.
Across the courtyard, Thoren exited the courthouse, pulling a cap low on his forehead. Hoping that his girlfriend Kylie and her friends might be around, I called his name. I dragged Rosie with me and tried to catch up to him.
“Thoren,” I called.
He slowed, looking over his shoulder.
“Is Kylie with you?”
He turned then, looking somewhere over my shoulder. “Nope.” The muscle in his jaw ticked as his gaze lit briefly on me before shifting to Rosie.
“This your daughter?” His voice was off.
He tugged his cap lower on his forehead before shoving his hands in his coat pockets.
Beside me, Rosie laughed. “Of course, silly. Don’t act like you don’t know who I am because I kicked your butt at pool the last time I was at the station.”
Thoren shuffled, watching his feet, the cap blocking my full view of his face. “You got me.”
“Well, tell Kylie I said hello, please.”
He nodded and turned to leave without a goodbye.
“Weird,” Rosie complained.
Something didn’t sit right with me over the exchange either. “Yeah.” I watched him until he blended in with the rest of the evening crowd .
“Let’s go down this block next.” Rosie tugged me along behind her, Thoren already forgotten.
Minutes later, a loud boom sounded from the direction of the courthouse, and people began running out of the historic building.
I hauled Rosie to the corner and pushed her back to the brick side of the building, out of the way of the chaos.
I needed a radio, and I needed it now. Instead, I called 911 on their direct line.
“This is Chief Hawkins,” I yelled into the phone. Fuck professional. Fuck calm. This chaos was real.
“I’m downtown, and there’s been an explosion of some kind at the courthouse,” I yelled over the screams as people ran by me. The building had been open for tours, and there was no telling how many people were injured.
“10-4, 1201. We’ve received multiple calls, units are en route.” The wail of the engines started before I could even end the call.
Headquarters was only two blocks away. I could run Rosie down there for safekeeping, grab my radio, and make it back to the scene.
Smoke rose from under the copper dome and began pouring out of the building. People darted across the street, right out in front of cars. Someone was going to get killed if they hadn’t already.
I glanced at my daughter, my heart thumping from the adrenaline coursing through me. There was no time to get Rosie to the station, even though it was only two blocks away. I couldn’t leave this scene.
Engine One pulled up on West Court Square, blocking traffic.
“Rosie, come on,” I yelled, grabbing her hand and darting through pedestrians, sprinting to the engine. I could put her by the truck, and she’d be safe, and I could keep an eye on her and do my job.
I made it to the crew as they were pulling hoses and ordered Rosie to stand at the back of the truck, out of the way of the crew, but in a safe zone.
Then I set to work. “Lieutenant. SITREP. I’m without comms.”
He was busy working the pumps, looking at the hoses and back to the gauges. “Engines from Two, Three, and Four are en route.”
In that moment, I felt like the most useless chief ever. I didn’t have a radio. I couldn’t take scene command. I didn’t have bunker gear. All I could do was stand there and?—
“Extra radio in the cab, Chief,” he yelled over the noise of the pumper.
I went to grab the radio and established command. Mac would hear my voice and know Rosie was on scene with me.
Water flowed into the hoses as the first two interior crews approached the structure. Despite the personnel packed up and ready to go, and the ones waiting to go in next, we’d need more backup if we were going to save the historic building. We needed all hands on deck, plus mutual aid. I made a quick call to the county chief and requested help to cover zones and provide an additional aerial truck.
Moments later, a rescue squad truck and a second engine from the outlying stations pulled in.
The police department established a perimeter. A relief ambulance stationed behind the trucks.
With a glance to ensure that Rosie was still safely tucked where I’d left her, I walked toward the opposite end of the courthouse to get a visual of the crew entering.
I saw Mac pointing, leading his crew. His bunker gear hung on his hips, jacket on but unbuttoned. Well-used helmet on his head.
Seeing him was a relief I hadn’t known I’d needed. Just one moment of clarity and stability. Mac was that touchstone.
I clicked my mic to tell him that mutual aid had been requested. Nothing. My radio was dead.
Jogging across the square to him, I called his name as I got closer. He scanned me quickly, and his expression lightened almost imperceptibly.
“Do you have an extra radio in your truck?” I asked. “Mine died, and we’ve got flames showing on the first floor. South side. I need you to relay that.”
Around us, the square was packed with firefighters in bunker gear. Plump hoses filled with water crisscrossed the lawn. Smoke rose in the early evening sky. Red lights flashed from the tops of the engines, reflecting off the glass of nearby businesses. The whole scene was chaotic, and yet, it had a beautiful rhythm to it.
“No radio.” He scowled, yelling over the drone of the diesel engine. “The damn spare won’t hold a charge.”
Inadequate equipment on a life-and-death scene—the idea made me nauseous.
Things had to change. I’d started the process, but there was still more to accomplish.
I pitched the useless equipment into the truck. “I need you to establish command, because I have no comms.” I knew full well this was not my best option. As chief, I should be in charge of the scene. But without the ability to communicate, my hands were tied.
“Okay.” Ever confident, capable. That was my Mac. “Where’s Rosie?” The worry in his voice mirrored my own and nearly set me over the edge .
“She’s at the back of Engine One. I’m going to check on her now. I’ve called in mutual aid. County should be here with their aerial soon.”
Relief flooded his features, I imagined both at the news that Rosie was fine and that help was on the way. “Good.”
“If this thing gets any hotter, we’ll have to go to defensive stand.”
His jaw went taut. “Give us a chance, Chief. We can’t give up. Trust us. Let’s see what we can do.”
Of all the people on this scene, I trusted Mac the most. He was the only one I would’ve relinquished command to. He stood before me, tall and proud and strong and one hundred percent ready to give his all.
With a nod and a long look that I hoped said so many things I couldn’t voice, I turned over command, taking his radio and announcing, “911, NFD 1201 turning command to NFD 1222.”
“10-4, NFD 1201. Establishing NFD 1222 as Incident Command.”
I stepped back and watched as Mac shifted into leader mode.
In that moment, I’d never felt like more of a failure. My crew needed me. The citizens depended on me, and I was left without a radio. No way to dictate decisions, to support my crews. They could get my decisions through Mac, but it wouldn’t be my voice directing them. Letting them know I was in charge, that they could trust that I would take care of them.
I prayed that the mayor wasn’t on scene and watching me hand over command.
My probationary period was nearing the end, but he’d been looking for a way to terminate me since day one. This might be his opportunity .
My dad would be so ashamed of me.
I swallowed my pride and squared my shoulders. I wouldn’t go down without a fight. And what better way to fight than to let the best do their job.
I caught Mac’s attention and motioned toward Rosie.
He nodded my way, attention already shifted to the job at hand, issuing orders. The first attack teams—three crews, six personnel—were already inside, relaying scene details. Knocking down the raging fire.
Two-man teams from each of the four trucks paired off, their backups waiting for the call for relief. Mac made the call to send in secondary support, and two teams from the eastern block of the court square raced across the lawn.
And I stood helplessly and watched.