Maybe the BAU can help by providing a psychological profile,Athena mused.
Chapter 13
Snuffles raced to the door to meet Flash when she and the crew returned from putting out the park fire. Dry, hot weather had sparked little fires all week—this one likely from a tossed cigarette or sunlight through broken glass. No one was hurt, which was the main thing.
“Were you good while I was gone?” Flash scooped the diminutive pup up in her arms, ruffling her head and ears while the dog’s flicking tongue stretched toward her face enthusiastically. She frequently brought her dog to the firehouse, and the crew had adopted her as their “dalmatian.”
“Lieutenant Edwards,” Jake called. “I need to see you for a minute.”
Flash relaxed once he had left the room and set Snuffles on the floor. She couldn’t believe how he’d suggested that the captain ban dogs from the firehouse. Thankfully, he’d been overruled.
“It needs to rain,” Waylon commented as he trailed in behind her. Snuffles bounded over to sniff his shoes and pant legs. “Want to know where I’ve been?” He lifted the fluff ball with one broad hand, holding her securely to his chest. “Your mama and I put out a park fire. Do I smell like the park?”
She wiggled happily and licked his fingers.
Flores popped a Coke and flipped on the TV. “Oh, good!” he exclaimed. “Murder She Wroteis on.”
“What?” Woods screwed up his face in utter confusion. “That old lady show?”
“I like it,” Bobbie declared defensively. “She solves murders with her brain, and she reminds me of my mom.”
“Come on, Waylon,” Flash said, elbowing him in the ribs. “I’ll pop the popcorn, and you grab me a cold Mt. Dew.”
Within minutes, Flash and her crew were relaxing on the couch and lounge chairs, munching and quenching their thirsts to the cozy mystery program, void of foul language or disturbing images. Snuffles had curled into a ball in her lap, her keen brown eyes alert to every movement and sound.
“You should have minded your own business, Mrs. Fletcher,” snarled the bad guy on the TV as he pulled a revolver from his pocket. Suddenly, Snuffles perked up, her ears cocked and her attention trained on the door leading deeper into the firehouse. She abruptly leaped from Flash’s lap and zoomed out of the room, her tail wagging like a flag at the racetrack.
“Arf, arf!” sounded her shrill, happy bark.
“What’s that about?” Waylon asked, turning a puzzled expression to Flash.
Passing him her popcorn bowl and soda can, Flash bounded up to ensure Snuffles wasn’t bothering Lieutenant Tightass. If her dog got kicked out for poor behavior—no, she couldn’t think about it.
As she rounded the doorframe into the hallway, Flash almost ran smack into a stunning woman holding the joyful, licking ball of fluff in her arms. “Athena!” Flash glowed with unexpected delight to see her girlfriend … here, in the firehouse … heading down the hall with the brass trailing behind. “What’s going on?”
“I was in for a meeting,” Athena stated officially. Then her voice softened, and a sparkle lit her hazel eyes. “It looks like Snuffles tracked me down for kisses.”
“Ah, so you two know each other,” Fire Marshal Zapata observed aloud. Captain Jake focused intently on a random spot on the wall as he breezed past them without a word.
Yeah, he knows,Flash thought to herself.
“Yes, we do,” Athena confirmed, although she offered no explanation as to how well.
Flash glanced at the young woman in a fire inspector’s uniform, walking alongside him. “Bonnie!” she cried out, now more surprised than before.
“Flash!” the woman responded, rushing forward to greet her with a brief hug. Her freckled face beaming with fondness, she added, “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Hey, you’re the one who switched departments,” Flash rejoined with a laugh.
Athena stiffened, one brow arching in suspicion. Catching the subtle change, Flash retreated to arm’s length. “Hey, are you here about the Synergy Warehouse fire? Captain O’Riley said you stamped it as arson.”
“Well,” she fudged as nerves crept into her manner. “I can’t really discuss it, but Agent Bouvier will fill you in if she wants to. I rode over with Zapata, so I’ve got to run, but we should catch up soon. It’s great seeing you, Flash.”
“Good to see you too, Bonnie.” Flash sent her off with a friendly wave and returned her attention to Athena.
“You two seem cozy.” She stroked Snuffles absentmindedly while aiming her human lie-detector focus on Flash.
It tickled Flash that Athena might be jealous, although there was no reason for her to be, and she did her best to contain a laugh. Extending a hand to join in petting the not-quite-a-puppy anymore, she offered, “There aren’t that many women firefighters in the HFD, so we kind of all know each other. Bonnie served on a ladder truck with me when I was a probationary candidate, before I found my home here. She was a couple of years ahead in graduating from the academy, and I learned stuff from her. Bonnie’s sharp and has good instincts about arson, so, when a slot opened up, she applied. I hear she’s good at it.”
