Slow days were appreciated at Station Eight. That meant there were no fires and, for the moment, people were safe. Jared and Laredo had the radio blaring while taking inventory of the gear. Cooper was taking his turn in the kitchen, showing off in front of the new recruit. Mike inhaled. Hmm, oven fried chicken. The kid was preparing one of Mike’s favorites.
Shep had been closed up in his office. Mike tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
He stepped inside and found Shep buried in paperwork. “Anything I can do to help?”
“I’ve been going over the updated manual. Nothing new. It outlines the same procedures we followed in training last month.”
“But?” Mike asked as he settled himself in one of the two chairs in front of Shep’s desk.
“I keep tracing our steps on this one.”
“We did everything by the book,” Mike interrupted.
“Wilson is a by the book guy. But I wonder how the perpetrator managed to get the gas open and get out of the way before anyone caught on. How?”
“The bastard was watching us, waiting for his opening.”
“Still. Someone should have seen him. Smelled the gas, even if he’d planted the shit before the crew showed up that morning.”
“What else can we do? Put guards at our training sites?”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Shep raked a hand through his cropped hair in frustration. “How did the son-of-a-bitch find out about the training site? The location, the time? How the hell did he get his information?”
“Following procedure and Wilson keeping the crew back is what kept the number of injuries down. For this to happen the way it did, this character had to be planning this strike for a while.”
Shep stared out the window with an exasperated expression. “What pisses me off even more is the prick could have been there watching.”
“The thing that scares the shit out of me is he wore a firefighter suit, walked around with the rest of us. Like he was one of us.”
By the grim look on Shep’s face, he didn’t like the concept any better.
“Close enough to set it up, but at a distance where he wouldn’t be in the fallout.”
“The cocksucker planned for men to get hurt.” That was one thing Mike could not ignore. If he got his hands on the guy, he’d snap the motherfucker’s neck.
Shep released a sigh. “Hooley’s on it. He’s a good investigator and he won’t stop until he gets his man.”
“Does he have any leads?”
“You know Hooley. Closed mouth. He won’t give up anything until he has all of his facts.”
“What about the film?”
“After you guys had your say, he made the rounds, stopping at each fire station. The perp covered himself pretty well.”
“No one recognized that guy?”
Shep shook his head.
“Jared, Coop, Laredo and me went back to the Wimer place. Took another look around.”
Shep narrowed his eyes. Mike read the expression somewhere between disbelief and pissed the hell off. It was the look Shep gave when you didn’t know if he was getting ready to let you off the hook or ream you a new asshole. Mike quickly threw up a hand in defense.
“Look, Shep. I know we were supposed to stay away from the site, but things like this just don’t happen. Besides, it’s been weeks. We just wanted to scout around. See if we could come up with some sort of explanation.”
“And did you?”
“Well…” Mike hesitated as he rubbed the back of his neck. “There’s no way a man could have gotten by us unless he was in full gear. I just hope that guy on the film was the only one.”
Shep’s mouth turned down as he studied the desk calendar in front of him. “I can’t believe I didn’t consider another conspirator. After Hooley’s visit, I just thought it was the one guy.”
“This guy knows too much. To fit right in, walk among us like he belongs there … You think a firefighter might have had a hand in this?”
“I’m not ready to believe that, or the idea of an inside source. This guy could be working alone.”
“Our arsonist has balls. He walked right in and helped himself to Station Nine’s equipment. What’s to keep this guy from entering any of the stations?” Mike didn’t want to think of some criminal messing around the firehouse. Damn, what a staggering notion.
Shep seemed to consider Mike’s words for several minutes, then he wrote some notes in a book. He tossed his pen down on the desk. “The bastard walks in here, he’s going to get a nice surprise. I want every man on alert. I’ll give Hooley our suspicions. We’ll take a closer look at that film.”
Mike gave a nod. He wanted the prick caught. Now that there was a woman in his life, he’d rather spend his time thinking about her. Being with her.
“Got something else on your mind?” Shep closed the binder he’d been writing in.
“Nothing,” he answered a might too quickly. Cassie was always on his mind, but Shep didn’t need to know that. “The guys are keeping themselves busy. Glad to have some free time without a crisis.”
“You never know how long that will last.”
“Yeah, I know. By the way, did you, uh, call Tammy and tell her about your brother?”
Shep leaned back in his chair, making the seat creak. “Yeah, I called her.”
“Getting something out of you is like pulling teeth with a pair of pliers.” Mike rested one ankle over the opposite knee.
“What do you want to know? I called her. Told her Eddie would to see her.”
“What did she say?”
“Said she wanted me to go with her.”
“Is that so?” Mike enjoyed seeing Shep squirm. Even if there were no obvious signs, he knew the man was uncomfortable. When Shep didn’t offer anything more, Mike prodded him. “Was the woman civil to you?”
“Yep.” Damn, the man was tight lipped.
“Was that before or after you told her about Eddie?”
Shep studied the ceiling and Mike grinded his teeth waiting for an answer.
“When I told her who I was, she did act kind of, out of breath.”
Now that was interesting. Mike couldn’t help himself. “As in heavy breathing? Over the phone? Like an obscene phone call.”
Shep shot him a scowl. “You want to hear this or not?”
Mike held up his hands in surrender, but a chuckle escaped.
“Once I told her why I called, she talked my ear off. Kept thanking me. Took me by surprise when she asked me to go with her.”
“You going?”
“Yep. Already made the appointment.” Shep stretched his arms behind his head and propped his feet up on his desk. “How are things going with you and Cassie?”
Mike noticed how adeptly Shep changed the topic. Let’s see how Shep liked one-word answers. “Fine.”
Silence.
Sometimes Shep irritated the hell out of him with his calm, composed, unruffled demeanor.
“Well?” Mike asked.
“Well, what?”
Mike’s booted foot hit the floor as he sat straight. “You want to know, so why don’t you ask.”
“Figure if there’s anything you want to tell me, you will.”
Irritating ass.
“She’s getting too close,” Mike blurted.
Shep passed him a look full of condemnation. “She is? Or you are?”
“I can’t have a relationship.”
“Seems you already do.”
Yeah. He’d known spending the night with Cassie would be special. He didn’t expect his time with her to be so spectacular that he couldn’t stop wishing for more.
“I can’t … I can’t afford an attachment. You know that.”
“I don’t know any such thing. You’ve babbled such nonsense before. I don’t see any reason you and Cassie can’t have a future.”
“Future? You forget my mom walked out on my dad because of his profession?”
“Don’t mean Cassie will.”
He wished that were true. Cassie was a special woman, but how could he be sure she wouldn’t leave? “It takes a certain kind of woman to accept her husband being a firefighter.”
“You think she wants some pencil pusher?”
He didn’t know what Cassie wanted. Their relationship had not progressed far enough for him to find out. Hell, they just started dating. Even though they’d shared a hell of a lot more than a date. He wouldn’t get his hopes up. She wouldn’t stick around.
“My job is too dangerous.”
Shep scooted his chair forward and braced his arms on the edge of his desk, locking his eyes with Mike’s. “If a woman loves you, she’ll accept your job.”
Mike gave a harsh laugh. “You’re one to talk.”
“My being single has nothing to do with my job. I hope to marry the right woman someday. You and Cassie make a fine couple. From what I see, that woman loves you. Don’t throw that away.”
Mike scrubbed a hand over his clean-shaven face, and admitted what he’d been afraid to admit. “I want her in my life. I want her for keeps. But I can’t let go of the fear that she’ll leave.”
“You’d be—”
Three loud tones came across the intercom. Shep shoved from his chair without finishing his sentence. Mike rushed out the door behind Shep and hustled toward the bay. He threw on his suit, jumped into his boots, and grabbed his gear. He climbed into the truck the same time as Jared.
“What we got?”
“Wreck downtown,” Jared answered, buckling his seat belt.
“Shit. At this time of day, traffic will be a bitch.”
Mike leaned back against the seat, letting the hum of the engine seep into his bones.
Within minutes, they were at the scene. Lights flashed from two police cars parked off to one side while one of the officers directed traffic away from the blocked intersection. Jared pulled up behind the police cars while Laredo drove the quint to the front of the wreckage.
When Jared jerked the Midi to a stop, Mike jumped out, rushing to the collided cars to see if there were injuries. He and Jared had just reached the front of their rig when a loud crack sounded. He must have flinched—something he normally did not do—for his helmet jerked to the side and something buzzed past his ear.
“Shots fired. Shots fired.”
Before he knew what was happening, Jared knocked him back, behind a fender. Officers grabbed their guns and stood in a crouched position behind the mangled cars.
“Christ.” Jared fell to the ground beside Mike.
“What the fuck?”
“Some asshole with a gun.”
“Stay back,” Shep’s voice came over the radio. “Don’t get out of the trucks. If you’re already out, stay the hell on the ground. We’re in the middle of gunfire.”
“Right, Cap.” He managed to radio back while keeping his head down. Crouched together, he and Jared didn’t budge.
“I need to ask Cooper if Hoss stands for horse,” Jared gasped. “I feel like I tried to tackle a wall, big guy.
“Check in,” the radio barked.
Mike silently counted as each crew member replied to Shep. Thank God, no one on the team had been hit. What the hell had they run in to?
Mike peered around the bumper, keeping his head low. Sweat ran in his face, but he knew better than to remove his helmet. Flames rose from under the hood of one car.
“Cap. Better get those cops away from that car. It’s going to blow if we don’t get those flames out.”
No sooner than he’d spoken, he heard Shep shouting to the policemen. No more shots had been fired—still the officers weren’t taking any chances. And neither were he and Jared. Jared spun around and sat, leaning back against a wheel.
“I don’t hear anything but I ain’t going out there.”
Minutes trickled by, seeming like an hour had passed.
Sirens sounded, coming their way in a hurry. Tires squealed while sliding to a stop as more police officers arrived. Mike raised his helmet and wiped at the sweat dripping into his eye. He took another glance at the burning car.
“Those flames aren’t getting any smaller, Cap. Do you think the gunman is gone?” he spoke through his radio.
“Hold.” A moment later the radio crackled. “The officers want to secure the scene before we move.”
“They better fucking hurry or we’ll be directly in line of the explosion.”
“Uniforms entered the building where the shots came from. Hold your horses.”
Waiting had never been Mike’s strong suit.
“What about the drivers of those cars? Anyone still in them?” Jared asked.
“You mean you don’t know?” Shep’s voice came back.
“We never made it from the truck.”
A curse and another moment of silence.
“All clear,” Shep barked from the radio. “Get to it.”
Mike and Jared leaped to action. Cooper and Laredo hosed the cars while Mike and Jared searched for survivors. The vehicles were empty.
An officer waved, signaling Mike over. Standing beside the cop, a man had his arm around a sobbing woman. As Mike drew closer, he saw a policeman sitting on the curb. He’d been shot. Mike removed his helmet and swiped again at the sweat on his forehead.
Crouching, he examined the wound, then ripped the pant leg to see the extent of damage. Blood trickled, but he could tell the bullet had shattered bone.
“Put pressure here until we can get him to the rescue squad,” he told the officer standing behind him.
“Are you okay?”
Mike glanced at him in surprise. “I’m fine.”
“Sorry to put you guys in harm’s way. We had no idea a shooter was here until you guys showed up. We thought it was just a routine accident when we got the call.”
“You guys have my respect,” Mike told him. “You never know what you’re walking into. At least we know there’s a fire and we aren’t usually surprised by anything else.”
“Well, you got one this time.”
Mike agreed just as another officer approached.
“Are you all right?”
Mike looked up and realized the policeman was speaking to him. The cop should be more concerned about his teammate who had been shot. Then Mike saw the stripes and figured this officer must be a Police Captain.
“Yes, sir. I’m okay. I’m taking this guy to the medic squad.”
“What the hell happened here? We got a call that shots were fired at firefighters.”
“That’s what happened. When our trucks rolled in, the scene appeared like a normal traffic accident. We got out and all hell broke loose.”
“The shooter got away. My men are still searching for him. No evidence of more than one.”
“I better get this guy over to rescue. My captain is over there.” Mike pointed to Shep.
After he secured the injured officer, Mike took stock of his surroundings and was pleased to find no other injuries. He wondered what the hell happened to the occupants of the vehicles. Steam hissed from the smashed cars, people huddled on sidewalks gawking at the incident. Even TV3 News had showed up. When a camera man headed in Mike’s direction, a policeman blocked his path. The last thing they needed was someone to get hurt while the squad cleaned up their equipment.
“You hurt?”
“Naw, Cap. We stayed behind the truck while the shooting was going on.”
“There a reason you’re not wearing your helmet?” Shep’s tone had Mike pausing in mid-stride.
“I took it off while I was checking out a wound,” Mike answered.
“Whose blood on your face?”
Mmm. He must have smeared it on himself when he’d wiped his brow. “One of the officers got shot.”
Shep acknowledged with a nod. “Damn, what a clusterfuck. I’d rather fight fires than bullets any day.”
“You and me both.”
“Let’s wrap this up and head back to the station.”
“You got it, Cap.”
“You okay, Hoss?” Jared asked as he shoved the shifter into gear.
Why does everyone keep asking me that? “I’m good. You?”
“I’ll feel better after I change my underwear. I nearly shit my damn pants.”
Mike would laugh but he didn’t feel much like laughing. He had been scared too.
“I tell you, I’ve never been shot at before.”
“Sheds a whole new light on first response.”
“I’d rather tackle a burning building any day.”
Mike agreed, but at the moment his jaw ached and his temple throbbed like hell. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
Back at the firehouse, Mike was peeling off his gear when he heard a shrill whistle. He glanced over his shoulder and found Laredo holding Mike’s helmet, clearly fascinated by it.
“Would you look at this?”
“Damn, Hoss. You lucky to be alive,” Cooper said, staring at it.
“What are your dumbasses gabbing about?”
Laredo held out the helmet. “See for yourself.”
Mike took the headgear and a knot caught in his throat.
A bullet hole.
“You sure you’re okay? You’ve got blood on the side of your head.”
Are you all right?
Whose blood on your face?
Mike touched his temple, remembering wiping what he’d thought was sweat.
“You’re looking a mite pale there, Hoss.” Cooper clasped him on the shoulder and proceeded to examine Mike’s head. “You better thank the man upstairs. He had an angel watching out for you tonight.”
Still in a haze of shock, Mike glared at the kid. “That is a bullet hole, right?”
“Sure looks like one to me. You’ve got a crease, right here.” Cooper touched a spot above Mike’s ear and drew back a spot of blood. “With your black hair, this blended right in.”
“I thought it was sweat.”
“Maybe you better get checked out, Mike,” Laredo said, sticking his noggin right in Mike’s face.
“Blood? Thought you said it was the officer’s blood.” Jared stepped next to Cooper.
“Looks like Mike’s helmet caught a bullet,” Laredo told Jared. “I better go tell the Cap.”
“You sure you’re all right?” Jared asked Mike.
“Hell, I was until I saw this.” He handed Jared his helmet. Jared gave a whistle. Pain buzzed in Mike’s temples to the drum of his speeding pulse. “Guess I am a lucky bastard.”
“I’d say.”
“So are you. You were right beside me.” Like a building falling on his head, the impact of what could have happened crushed into his skull. Jared could have been shot, too. He’d knocked Mike out of the line of spraying bullets. Mike thought they’d missed. An inch or two over and the bullet could have entered Mike’s brain.
Blood drained from his face to his toes. Nausea cramped his belly, nearly making him puke. “Thanks for shoving me out of the way.”
“Are you kidding? I was trying to save my own ass.”
Mike gave Jared a look that clearly stated he knew better.
Jared clapped Mike on the back. “All in a day’s work, Hoss.”
Heavy boots with a sharp stride clonked on the cement. “What’s this I hear about a bullet hole?”
Jared handed Shep the offending object. His brows slanted down and the muscle in his cheek tightened, making Mike worry it might pop.
“Looks like the bullet went through here,” Shep said, pointing to the shield.
“I remember hearing a hiss. As for the shield, I figured it got scraped.”
“Laredo. Take him to the hospital.”
“Now, wait a minute. I’m fine.”
“He’s got blood on his head.”
At Cooper’s words, Mike shot him a glare. “A scratch.”
“Yours?” Shep asked, his piercing eyes intense. “Not the officer?”
Mike shrugged.
“Get your ass to the hospital and don’t say another damn word.” When Shep used that tone of voice, you moved your ass and kept your mouth shut. “The rest of you, get this gear stowed.”
Mike gritted his teeth in annoyance. And dread.
He could have been shot in the head.
***
Damn tightlipped hospital nurses.
Wouldn’t tell him a goddamned thing.
How was he supposed to get any information with half the fire department in the waiting room?
Seth crept back to his vehicle in the parking lot, his muscles tight with tension. Leaning against the back bumper of his SUV, he lit up a cigarette, tilted his head to the sky, then released smoke into the air.
He could hardly wait for the news to reach his enemy. “Your brother has been shot.”
Feel that, motherfucker.
Now you’ll know what it feels like to have your guts twisted when you hear that kind of news.
It would be dark soon. Although that wouldn’t make much difference inside the hospital, it did mean shift change.
The staff always slacked off at night.
He’d get his chance.