Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mac
T wo days after the courthouse fire, I got a call—a demand, really—to attend to one Francis O’Malley at the Brightside Rehab Center.
It had been two full days of making statements to investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state arson investigator. Loren Watkins had been arrested on scene, and this time, he was placed under maximum security. The evidence gathered from Harrison’s detective work, combined with the eye-witness accounts of the shooting at the courthouse fire meant Watkins had multiple pending charges, including homicide and attempted murder.
So, with all the legal stuff being wrapped up, and after visiting Cal at the hospital—Burgess and Mo had been treated and released the night of the fire—I walked into the rehab facility as summoned.
The nurse behind the counter flirted while I signed the guestbook, until an uproar rose down the hall. She tilted her head in the direction. “That’s probably where you’ll find her.”
Mrs. Francis was known to be a meddler, so the assumption fit.
Olivia and I had gone through scenarios and what-ifs, both of us bracing for the council hearing. But when Mrs. Francis called, it was usually important, so I made the time to swing by.
I stalked down the hall, halfway nervous but curious as to why she’d demanded to see me.
The community room in the rehab center was set up with gaming tables. Little old people all sat in circles, cards in hand, and stacks of chips in the center of each table.
“Well, would you looky here.” Mrs. O’Malley’s voice rang out loud. “See, Eunice? I told you he’d show. Y’all, this is Captain Mac Collins, firefighter extraordinaire, rescuer of little old ladies with broken hips. And Mr. December in the annual calendar.”
I managed to hide my cringe at the mention of that damn calendar and made my way to her, taking the wrinkled hand she offered.
“Sit,” she ordered me. “Deal him in, Gerald,” she ordered the elderly black man next to her.
“I can’t stay, Mrs. O’Malley?—”
“I told you, it’s Francis. And yes you can.” She gave my hand a tug. Resigned, I took the seat next to her, willing to play along if only to make her happy for a moment.
“I really can’t,” I said. “We have the council hearing today.”
Francis slapped a hand over the cards Gerald dealt and directed her gaze across the table. I glanced over to see the elderly woman from the night of the fire eyeballing Francis. A whole conversation happened in their stare down.
Francis broke first and pulled her cards to her, picking them up, fanning them out, and rearranging them. “That’s why you’re here, Macmillan Collins.”
She shifted a card from one side of the hand to the other. “You see, Eunice here says that lily-livered bastard is trying to make your woman a… what was it you said?” she asked her friend.
Across the table, Eunice, the woman who helped Olivia, scowled. “That sorry excuse for a mayor is trying to make your woman a scapegoat.”
I perked up at this. Suddenly finding all the time in the world available.
Eunice continued, “I heard what she said the other night. And I’m downright mad. We have funding available to buy equipment for the department. But when I’ve inquired about donating, he’s shut me down. But it was obvious the other night that it’s time he’s removed from office.”
Francis nodded beside me.
“What’s the hearing for?” one of the card players asked.
I didn’t want to answer because the truth was. It was my actions that caused the hearing. And for the past two days, Olivia had been under an incredible amount of stress because I had refused to return to the fire.
I’d relinquished command of the scene and stayed with my girls. It should’ve been grounds for termination.
I knew she was conflicted over it, needing us to be together, while at the same time, I’d outed our relationship and put both our jobs in jeopardy. And likely it would be hers.
But I had a plan.
“It’s a personnel hearing,” I admitted reluctantly.
“What time is it?” Eunice asked .
“Three o’clock today.”
She looked at me across her glasses. “Isn’t that their regular council meeting time?”
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Because this asshat was making a big deal about taking down the fire chief.
“In a called public meeting?” Mrs. Francis frowned at me, then at her friend.
This was doing me no good, sitting here witness to an old-folks’ poker game and surreptitious glances. I had a plan to carry out, action that needed to be taken. Plus, I wanted to be there for Olivia before, during, and after the hearing. I didn’t know what the mayor had on his agenda, but I could guess. And none of the scenarios were good.
“Mrs. O’Malley, I need to get going. Was there something you needed me for?” I didn’t want to be rude to my elders, but I itched to leave, already headed to my next stop in my head.
“No, dear. You have enough on your plate.” She patted my hand.
I rose and, on a whim, kissed her forehead. “Glad you’re feeling better.”
“You too… Santa Daddy.”
I walked out of the room right as my phone rang in my pocket. I answered and slid it to my ear to hide my burning cheeks.
“Mac. It’s Childers.”
“Hey, man,” I greeted my old friend. “Thanks for returning my call. How’s it going?”
“It’s good. Things are good.” The hesitation in his voice told me otherwise.
We’d met years ago in the service and then reconnected in the fire academy. He’d since gone on to run the academy, and we met for drinks every time I went back. We didn’t talk often, but once a part of the brotherhood, those ties ran deep.
“You don’t sound okay. What’s going on, Hal?”
“I’m at my wit’s end. One of my instructors is leaving to head out west and join a search-and-rescue team. None of the applicants are qualified, and I feel like I’m spinning my wheels, again.”
I could feel his frustration through the phone.
“Who’s leaving?” A tiny seed of hope sparked. The reason I’d called him in the first place was to feel out the situation at the training academy. I was grasping for solutions.
“Bohannon. Did you ever meet him?”
I reached my truck and climbed in, noting that I still had time to make it to Olivia’s hearing. Regardless of what the mayor was calling it, this council meeting was going to be a hearing about Olivia.
I focused on Childers. “Bohannon? Tall guy? Had a thing for jumping out of planes?” I recalled taking a CPR recert class from him.
“Yeah, he’s going out west to fly search-and-rescue missions. I think it’s so he can just get his kicks for jumping out of perfectly good aircraft. But what do I know. He’s also had some trouble at home lately. Anyway. It’s been hard as hell to find a good replacement for him.”
“I hear you, brother. What can I do for you?”
“I don’t suppose you know of anyone who’s certified that might be interested in teaching?”
It was hard enough trying to find people to work in the fire service. The long hours, lack of pay… not many people wanted to work a career where you were away from home every third night. Not to mention all the bullshit that came with dealing with some crappy people from time to time. I co uldn’t imagine what the pay as an instructor would be, but I was sure it wasn’t much.
I glanced at the clock, time to head out. “Maybe. I’ll think on it and let you know.”
“Sure. You aren’t interested, are you?”
I swallowed thickly. “You know, I would be… but I’d have to give up my retirement plan. I’m so close… and the training center would mean a pretty hellacious commute.” I voiced my concerns, even though I’d originally called to see if he did indeed have a place for me.
“I get it. It’d be hard to leave knowing I only had a few more years.” He heaved a beleaguered sigh.
“But I’ll give it some thought,” I said as I rang off.
I drove to city hall, forcing the conversation out of my head. Right now, Olivia was my focus, and I wanted to be there to make sure the mayor didn’t come down hard on her.