“I love you too.”
Not a drop of rain or gust of wind, yet the traffic mania was underway. Flash barely had time to grab a quick bite before the alarm blared into action. Then it was one accident scene after another. By ten o’clock that night, the rush of crashes had slowed enough that Engine Eight could return to the station. Flash grabbed a bottle of water and a pre-made sandwich from the refrigerator, retreating to the bunkroom to call Athena.
“Hey, y’all must be busy out there,” Athena supposed when she answered. “The traffic was crazy even here on the northwest side, and I only had to drive two blocks.”
“Yeah,” Flash confirmed. “This is the first chance I’ve had to call since you texted. If it keeps up all night, I’ll be tuckered come morning. But I still want to hang out. What’s up?”
Athena hesitated. “If you’re going to be too tired—”
“No, no!” A burst of energy filled her words. “I won’t be too tired.”
“We’re planning to check out a rundown, abandoned building that could be linked to the arsonist. Chief Burks thinks it’s a good idea to bring someone from arson investigations, or at least a firefighter with some arson knowledge and experience. I thought—”
Flash plopped onto her bed, enthusiasm deflating. “You thought you should take Bonnie and don’t want me to be mad about it. Look, just because I don’t have bugles doesn’t mean she’s better than me. And if something were to go sideways, how’s she going to react to being shot at? I’m bigger and stronger than her,” Flash declared, her protective nature surging to the fore. “I know, Ice and Hernandez, but they can’t do everything.”
“Would you hold your rant for a minute?” Athena’s tone slapped a lid on Flash’s tirade. “Why are you reverting to that rank and title bit again? I thought we’d had this discussion already.”
“Sorry.” Flash hung her head. “You were saying?”
“Lieutenant Ballard volunteered to come with us,” she admitted.
Flash smirked.Of course she wants in—more time with Athena, play hero, edge me out, steal my girl right from under my nose.A vein in her temple ticked, but Flash kept her mouth shut.
“But I think you are the better choice to assist.”
Athena wantsmeto help with an investigation!A thrill shot through Flash at the realization.
“Damn right, I am,” she avowed. “But why me?”
“Don’t get cocky,” Athena cautioned. “You’re knowledgeable and experienced; so is Ballard. And there’s the physical difference—an asset for sure. The kicker is, I don’t know Ballard; I do know you. I thought about you coming through the window in the middle of that harrowing Grove fire, how calm and take-charge you were, how protected you made me feel. There are two important things I can count on you for—no matter what. You’ll keep me safe. Second, you’ll follow my orders without question. You proved that to me before. Maybe nothing will happen. But, if it does, I have unwavering confidence in you.”
Flash let her declaration settle for a moment. It was everything she’d ever hoped to hear from Athena. “I love you,” she stated. “I’ll do exactly what you need me to, no argument. And, yes, you bet your sweet fortune I’ll keep you safe. So, what are we doing?”
Tension melted, satisfaction settled in.
“I want to make sure you’re well rested,” Athena began, “yet still want to run this before any storms arrive. That’s why I set up our visit to Bubba’s Tire and Auto for one o’clock. The latest weather predicts a sixty percent chance of thunderstorms, starting around four in the afternoon. They are frequently wrong. Still, that gives us a big enough window to check for evidence that an arsonist was there. And there’s one more thing.”
Knowing Athena believed in her was all Flash needed, no matter how many other things were tacked on. “What?”
“It could be a trap, like the one the Los D’s set at Grove. Ballard might be an arson investigator, but I’d rather have you in a raging inferno than anyone,” she declared. “Maybe nothing—but he could’ve rigged the place to burn. He might even be hiding out there. I know you can’t bring the firetruck for a maybe, especially with all the extra traffic as the hurricane approaches, but you’ll know what to do.”
“I’ll bring a suit and a couple of extinguishers, just in case.” The alarm roared.
“I heard that,” said Athena.
“Yeah, gotta run. Can you swing by and pick me up?” Flash asked. “I can’t carry the gear on my bike.”
“We’ll do that. Watch for the van about a quarter to one. And Flash?” Athena’s voice brimmed with promise. “I love you too. Always.”
“Always.”
Yeah. She’s the One.
Chapter 26
The next day
“OK, this is how it goes down,” Athena instructed as the team huddled around her in the close quarters of a white van with a phony business name stuck on its side. Paulson’s wheelchair was clamped in place at his mobile surveillance station while agents Ice and Hernandez crouched across the way. Shoops and Flash pressed in so tight that Athena could hear them breathe.
