He glanced up from the papers on his desk and removed his reading glasses. “Not bad, Cash. How are you doing? Did you ever get by to talk with the chaplain?”
“Not yet, what with going to California and all,” she explained rationally. “I’ll try to make it when I’m off shift. Hey, some warehouse fire the other night, huh?”
“It got a bit sketchy when the ethanol ignited.” He squinted, pointing a finger. “And you went back for Woods—after I gave the order to evacuate.”
“Well?” Flash offered him her most innocent expression, squinching up her shoulders and tilting her head.
Jake tried to keep his expression grave, but pride snuck in. “It worked out this time. I have to admit, that was gutsy, but Cash, seriously, you must follow my commands.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied. “Speaking of the fire, have you talked to Arson Investigations yet?”
He shot back a puzzled expression. “Why?”
Flash pulled out her stunned look and blinked. “Didn’t the report mention the V patterns and accelerant we found in the office? And that strange little piece of wire, curtain remnants piled up in and around a trashcan, the cushioned office desk chair dragged over to the point of origin instead of where it belonged? I was sure Lieutenant Edwards said he was including all that in his report.”
A shadowof suspicion drew across O’Riley’s face, and he steepled his fingers in front of him. “Close the door and sit down.” He flicked his gaze to the chair across from the desk. Flash obeyed. Nerves coiled in her stomach. Would she be in trouble? Would Edwards? She lifted her chin with an air of confidence to ward off fear.
“I was too busy coordinating with the other crews and making sure the perimeter was secure, that the fire didn’t spread, to go inside. Tell me in detail what you saw.” The captain stared intently at Flash, but not in accusation.
She repeated her account of the odor, everything she’d observed from the office, beginning with when she and Waylon first entered the building. Occasionally, Jake nodded or asked a question, but mostly he listened. Leaning back in his chair, he lifted a piece of paper from his desktop and waved it at her.
“This doesn’t include any of that. It’s a satisfactory report, accurate in its timeline, critical of your decision to run back into an exploding building. It states I followed you to save your ass, but we both know what happened. From the inside, it was evident we had another thirty seconds. I don’t like cutting things that close, Cash, but I like leaving a firefighter behind even less. And don’t tell a soul I said this—you made the right call.” Staring at her like a parent schooling his daughter, he laid the page down. “You’re certain you shared your concerns clearly and accurately with Lieutenant Edwards?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what was his response?” Captain O’Riley leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and his chin atop his clasped hands, his gaze fixed on hers.
Flash swallowed. “He said I wasn’t a fire investigator, that I should stick to my job, and he’d handle everything else. Captain, I don’t mean to go over his head or to step out of line, but I couldn’t, in good conscience, sit on what I witnessed and say nothing. Maybe I was wrong or misread the signs. I know I’m not an arson specialist, but you know a woman’s olfactory sense is stronger than a man’s, and I spent my entire childhood smelling that BBQ lighter fluid. Add that to the other things, and, well, I thought it was important.”
Letting out a sigh, Jake stood, and Flash copied his action. As he rounded the desk, he admonished, “Don’t talk to anyone about this, and especially don’t tell Lieutenant Edwards.”
She could tell by the pensive lines carved into his face that the situation disturbed him. What was he thinking behind that wise, older façade? “Yes, sir, I won’t.”
“I’m going to add your testimony as an addendum to the report, pass it up the line, and shoot a copy over to Arson Investigations. I know they’re working on a case from earlier this summer at the Nutty Smooth Peanut Butter Cannery. If I recall, they identified a melted plastic blob recovered from the scene as a BBQ lighter fluid bottle. This might be completely unrelated, but I suspect they’ll want to look into it, just in case. Now remember—mums the word.”
“You’ve got it, Captain. My lips are sealed,” she vowed, making a zipping motion across her mouth. As Flash exited the office, relief poured over her like a healing stream, and she adopted a genuine spring in her step as she strolled to lunch.
“It’s about time!” Nita called, waving her to a saved spot at her table.
Flash’s nose informed her that Shaquille had made his famous spaghetti with garlic toast and salad.
“You in trouble or something?” Bobbie raised his brows at her, cutting a wide berth as he carried his plate to the table. “I saw you coming out of the captain’s office.”
“No more trouble than usual,” she chirped with a grin. “I’ll survive—but only if I get a hearty helping of that spaghetti and meat sauce.” Her coworkers laughed and carried on with their conversations, making no further mention of her trip to the captain’s office. This was good. Very good. The matter would be looked into, and Edwards wouldn’t be all over her about it. However, one thing puzzled Flash—why did Jake want to keep it a secret?
Chapter 11
A week later
Flash had enjoyed having Athena over to her place on Sunday, showing her all her little treasures, like an unusual shell she’d collected from Galveston Beach, photos of her family and friends, and, of course, her Medal of Valor and Snuffles’ Canine Good Citizenship Certificate. She played her favorite CDs while they talked for hours. When it cooled down outside, Flash took Athena on a motorcycle ride. With Athena’s arms tight around her, her breasts pressed into her back as they zipped through the city, Flash felt like a medieval knight fleeing with her sweetheart on a gallant steed. Her girlfriend swore it was her first time riding on one, and, while terrifying, she knew she was safe with Flash.
After dinner, they’d returned to the loft, where they walked Snuffles before testing out Flash’s bed. “I have a confession,” she’d told Athena, as she caressed the silky skin she craved more than she’d ever imagined. “You’re the first woman I’ve made love to in this bed.”
Athena’s hazel eyes blinked at her as her lips parted, her expression inviting Flash to giggle and go all gooey inside. “Not your bed at home and not this one either?” Athena asked. “Maybe you haven’t seen all the action your reputation suggests after all.”
“I just always end up at the other woman’s place. It’s safer, all the way around,” she had explained. “That way, I don’t have memories to haunt me here after the fling is over, or someone I had hoped would last decides my job is too dangerous for them to handle. But you’re special, and I’m all in. I guess if you break up with me, I’ll have to get a new bed, or a new apartment, or both.”
Athena’s response was a searing affirmation—not just of desire, but something deeper. In her awestruck state, the woman had sent her on a wave of ecstasy that lasted well past midnight, setting every nerve in her body tingling with radiant pleasure. Just thinking about it filled Flash with a warm glow.
