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Reid glanced toward the garage.  I don t think I can. A twinge
of pain tore through her chest at the thought of being in Jimmy s
truck. Joey had driven it home from the station and parked it in the
garage, and no one had touched it since. She returned her attention
to the bike.
 I can drive you. Isabel had just made the offer when the
engine caught and roared to life.
 Thanks anyway, Reid called over the rumble. No doubt,
the image of Isabel in her robe would linger for the rest of the day,
and she didn t need even ten minutes close in the cabin of a car to
make things worse. She pulled on her helmet, threw her leg over
the bike, and settled into the seat.
Fifteen minutes later, she strolled into the truck bay of Station
9. It was outfitted similarly to the other forty fire stations in the city.
Each possessed the basic work areas, vehicle bays, storage space
for equipment, and personal areas that included kitchen, sleeping
quarters, and a living room of sorts furnished with a garage-sale
assortment of furniture and a television.
Everything felt different. Maybe she was imagining things,
because nothing seemed to have changed. The engine was parked
in the left bay and the ladder truck in the right. Along the wall a
row of turnout coats hung on hooks with their respective helmets
on the shelf above. The boots stood on the floor with pants folded
down over them, all ready for the firefighters to step into and go.
But midway down the row was an empty space. Things were
different. Jimmy s gear was missing. His helmet now held a place
of honor on a shelf in Chase s room. Reid had been touched when
Chief Perez gave it to him after Jimmy s funeral.
As she rounded the corner of the engine, Joey clapped her on
the back.  Hey, Reid, welcome back.
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FULLY INVOLVED
 Thanks. She squeezed his shoulder as they walked into the
station side by side.
 The chief wants to see you, Nathan called out from the
kitchen.
 Yeah. Thanks, Brewer, Reid muttered, heading for the
offices.
She knocked once on Perez s door before she pushed it
open.
 What s up, Chief?
 Sit down, Reid. Perez leaned back, regarding her across
the expanse of his scarred wooden desk.
Reid saw kindness in his eyes and sympathy on his expressive
features. He folded his hands together over his sizeable belly and
didn t say anything until she was settled in the chair.
 How are you doing?
 I m okay.
 How are the ribs?
 Fine. She still had some soreness but it was nothing she
couldn t handle. And she certainly wasn t going to risk being put
on light duty by admitting it.
 Good. Are you sure you re ready to be back?
Reid tensed, suddenly feeling defensive. She d already been
off for more than a week, and it wasn t going to get any easier to
return.
 I m ready.
 Listen, nobody would blame you if you took a few more
days.
 To do what, Chief? I just want to get to work.
 Okay. If you need anything, my door is open. She stood
but he stopped her.  Reid, headquarters is assigning a rookie to
your crew.
 Chief, Reid started to argue. The last thing they needed to
worry about was training a rookie.
 This decision comes from higher up, Reid. It s a done deal.
She starts today. And there s one more thing. He hesitated. Reid
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ERIN DUTTON
waited.  You know you were the next one in line for a promotion.
Effective immediately, your rank is captain. And they decided to
keep you with your crew.
She was stunned. She had known she was near the top of
the list, had been for six months. Jimmy had helped her study for
the test, and when they had posted the results he had helped her
celebrate. They had sat on his back porch, each holding a beer,
and he congratulated her. She d argued that she had only ranked
seventh.
 But the list is good for a year. They ll definitely make that
many captains in a year. You are so in, Captain Webb, he d said
with a grin.
He d been right. They had promoted everyone ahead of her
and she had been next in line for over a month, but to get promoted
like this felt tainted. She didn t want to take Jimmy s place on the
crew, and she didn t want some rookie coming in to take hers. She
wanted things the way they had been.
Isabel settled on the sofa with her open laptop. The early-
morning sun stretched across the hardwood floor. The spacious
feel of the living room, which boasted large windows on both
exterior walls, was one of the features Isabel liked best. It helped [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]