Chapter 2
Mercy
Pulling into the little town, it’s hard to miss the tired, sad look to it. I’ve been all over this area and there are more towns that look like this one than look like Wildwood.
Doesn’t matter though. I’m not here for fun and games. This is work.
Parking by the mayor’s office, I open the door and stalk up to the tiny office building that looks like it used to be somebody’s very tiny cottage. It’s got a glass door that I push open and the bell tinkles over it.
“Hello?” I call, standing with my arms crossed by the little counter. I’m exhausted. I want to go to the firehouse and then find a bed to fall into. In that order.
“I’m coming! Just a minute!” The cheerful voice drags me out of the dark thoughts that have been plaguing me all day.
The woman that hustles around the corner almost makes me smile. She looks like a cross between my grandmother and an aging hippie. If that’s a thing anymore.
“Can I help you?” She asks, her dark eyes twinkling at me. I can’t help the smile that reluctantly creeps across my lips.
“Yeah. I just wanted to see what kind of bed and breakfast or hotel you’ve got around here? And check in with the mayor.”
“Well, you’ve done part of your job,” she laughs.
Holding out her slim hand, she grins. “I’m the mayor of Maple Hills.
Petal Franklin. As to the bed and breakfast and hotels…
well, that depends on how long you’re going to be here.
If it’s only a few days, I’m sure that Fern can find you a room.
She’s pretty packed right now but we’ll see.
What are you in town for? Work or play?”
“Work.” I hold out my id and badge. “I’m with Colorado DFPC.”
“Oh my!” Her dark eyes widen. “They said they were going to be sending someone out after the last fire. We’re sure happy that you’re here but it’s a bad time to find a room. There’s a festival going on right now.”
Nodding my head, I tuck my wallet and badge away. “That’s alright. Surely, there must be somewhere I can hole up while I’m looking into this. I’m hoping that I don’t have to send for more resources.”
The mayor smiles wryly. “You’re hoping that it’s someone local. Well, we’re a pretty small place and I hate to say it, but I can’t think of anyone that would do this that’s from around here.”
“You’d be surprised,” I mutter.
“I tell you what. I live with my son but we’ve got plenty of room. You can stay with us. Save yourself some money and time looking for a room.”
“That’s alright. It’s on the state’s dime.”
She shakes her long, silvery blond head. “Yeah. Doesn’t matter. Might as well stay somewhere where you might get a little home cookin’. It should be pretty convenient for you.”
“Why?” I cock my head and she grins.
“My son is the lieutenant of the fire department.”
Blowing out a breath, I run my hands through my hair. “If it’s not going to be an imposition, I guess that would be alright.”
“Nonsense. We haven’t had company in ages. I’m sure that my son will be excited to meet you and discuss all of those fire things.” She waves her hand negligently.
“Okay. Well. I guess I should go to the firehouse and meet with him then.”
“You can actually walk there from here. If you need to get a little exercise after that drive. He can show you where to go and answer any of your questions.”
“Where’s the chief?”
“He’s actually on his honeymoon. He’s not going to be back for at least two weeks. They went to Europe. She always wanted to go, you know.”
She laughs and I nod my head, shooting her a small smile. I have no idea what she’s talking about. It’s been ages since I did anything that wasn’t job-related.
“Just head out the door and it’s two blocks to the left.”
Nodding my head, I stalk out the door and into the crisp morning air. I nod at a few people that I pass, enjoying the slow pace of the morning.
I don’t often get this. My job is busy and involves a lot of travel. I’ve got a house but I’m rarely there. It’s actually close to Wildwood and I’ve gone to the small town many times.
It’s nothing like this. It’s usually bustling with activity. The businesses are freshly painted and there’s a boom in traffic in the area.
I think most of them are women trying to find the calendar firefighters!
I’ve got no interest in firefighters anymore. Not since…nope! Not going there again.
It’s been at least eight years since I met my former partner. Since I fell in love like a damn rookie.
Since I found out he was happily married and living in another town. With kids of his own.
That was the first and last time I let my heart rule my damn head.
Growling, I stomp around a corner and find myself standing in front of the tiny firehouse with two bays for the firetrucks. There’s a small addition along the side that I assume is offices. And an even smaller second story that I assume is where they sleep when they’re on duty.
One of the bay doors is open and I step inside, my eyes adjusting happily to the dimmer light. Damn, it’s bright today!
Another glorious Colorado spring day. Hard to believe that something as ugly as arson exists on a gorgeous day like today.
“Can I help you?” One of the burly men steps out from behind the firetruck he’s working on. He’s dressed in a black t-shirt with the Maple Hills FD logo on it and a pair of jeans.
“Yeah. I guess I’m looking for the lieutenant.”
“Anything I can help you with?” He smirks, his blue eyes sparkling as he runs them down my body.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Men are the same all over.
“I don’t think so.” His smile fades but he hollers.
“Hey, Lou! Somebody’s here to see you!”
“Send them back!” A deep, gruff voice hollers back. My heart rate quickens, shivers trailing down my spine.
Stuffing whatever the hell is going on down into a locked part of me, I nod towards the back and the guy grins and waves me on.
It takes me a minute or so to find a tiny office that looks like a closet. “Yeah…come in. What do you need?” That gruff, husky voice calls and my belly clenches, sweat dotting my forehead.
“I’m from DFPC. You called us about a string of fires?”
A dark head pops up and the deepest, darkest brown eyes I’ve ever seen widen and then narrow. “You can’t possibly be the arson investigator,” he growls.
Slapping a hand on my hip, I square off with him. “Why is that?”
He stands up and up and my eyes follow him, widening. He’s huge! Easily six three and built like a linebacker. His skin is tanned and taut but I can see the faint fan of lines around his dark eyes that show that he’s older than I think he is.
His mouth is probably usually soft and sensuous. But it’s tight and angry right now. Just like the flare in his chocolate eyes.
He crosses muscular arms in front of a broad, barrel chest and growls, “because you don’t look like you’re more than one hundred pounds soaking wet and eighteen years old! This is serious!” His dark eyes slice down my body and I feel it on my skin like a touch.
“I’m a pretty serious person. Also, it’s none of your damn business how old I am or how much I weigh!”
“Sweetheart, I’m just saying you don’t look like you’ve been doing this job long enough to work alone.”
Cocking my head, I growl, “You’re digging a hole deeper and deeper. None of that matters. Just so you know though, I’ve worked this job eight years.”
“Humph!” He snorts. “Fine. But I’ll be checking up on you.”
“Good to know. Now…perhaps you’d like to fill me in on your problem.”
He growls and waves me to a seat that barely clears the doorway.
Sitting down, I pull out my notebook and eye him wryly. “Continue.”
This guy might be sexy as hell but he’s the biggest neanderthal I’ve met in a long time.