Page 16 of No Take Backs

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I have to ask, “Laura did that?”

Ryder nods. “Yeah, right before you left the troopers at Maine State Police and switched to the winning side. There was a fire scene, but at first it appeared medical only. She tried to take command of the scene, which would have been fine if there wasn’t a fire in the walls. Laura put our lives in jeopardy, but worst of all, she put the people still in the house in danger, because she tried to stop us from getting to them once we made it into the house.” He shoots a glance at the open bay doors like he expects someone to come running out at any second. “But when the captain put her in her place, she filed a complaint with the state. As soon as the verdict came down that she was in the wrong, she put in her notice.” He laughs bitterly. “At least she gave BFD enough time to find a replacement paramedic, though, which was good of her.”

No wonder no one in the department likes her. To be honest, if I’d been there for it, I would have had a problem with her too. There are things you don’t do, and a power trip in front of the public is one of them. Especially when lives are at stake.

The sudden blaring of the fire alarm coming through the speakers has both Ryder and me running through the still-open bay doors toward our gear.

“Attention Birch Fire Department. Attention Birch Fire Department.” The radio crackles loudly. “Please respond to 113 Court Avenue for multiple reports of a fully engulfed structure fire.”

Stepping into my boots and sliding my bunker gear up and my suspenders over my arms, I grab my jacket and helmet, jumping in the truck less than thirty seconds later.

With adrenaline rushing through my veins, I queue up the mic.

“At least I finished the dishes,” Gino says with a grimace. “Sounds like we’re gonna be out for hours.”

He isn’t wrong.

With a call in downtown Birch Harbor, we’ll be concerned not only with the fire in the building itself, but in the neighboring ones as well. Mind racing as the engine navigates the streets between the fire department and the fire, I prepare for the chaos we are about to step into.

“Ryder,” Captain Hutchins orders through his mic. “You get the hose hooked up to the hydrant. Harmon, you get the other end and the two of you lay the first line for the engine.”

Ignoring the rest of what he orders, I watch Ryder bail out of the truck on his side as Gino slows to a stop at the closest hydrant to the scene. Once Ryder is out, with the door still open, Gino pulls away again, and I get ready for my part.

The fire lights up the night sky as we fully stop and everyone gets out.

“Time to get to work,” Cap shouts.

We work, alright. For hours, we fight the blaze destroying the historical building. Three stories, a full basement, and an attic, all engulfed by the time we arrive. When the fire starts to spread to the other building, we push harder.

Soot, dirt, and sweat all mix together, sliding down my neck and into my uniform before we are done.

And when the sun finally rises behind the buildings, we’ve managed to save everything but the building we got the call on.

“Come on, men,” Cap orders once we wrap up the gear and put it back in the truck. “Let’s go. Lieutenants, make sure the paperwork is done before the end of next shift.”

“I need a shower. And maybe a drink.” Ryder climbs in next to me in the back seat of the engine. “But at least we’re finally at the end of shift.”

“No way.” I shake my head and pull my phone out from under the bench seat. “We’ve still got an hour and change.”

“Just enough time to clean and get everything set for B shift to come back.” Gino agrees with Ryder. “My kind of call. Even if I didn’t get to sleep. Did you see the reporters there last night? I bet my mom has the article printed out, demanding I get your signatures again.”

All four of us are laughing as we cruise back into the bay after refilling the gas tank on the engine and getting the water tanks filled with water.

“I don’t know why she always does that.” I wait until we are out of the truck with our gear back in position before saying anything. “I mean, it’s not like we’re famous or anything.”

“We’re famous to her.” Gino shrugs nonchalantly. “She thinks we’re heroes, and there’s no changing her mind once she makes it up. So I stopped trying, and since she feeds us, I give her what she wants.”

While the lieutenants and the captain go into the house to do the mountain of paperwork that will be needed after the fire, I get to work cleaning the rig with the rest of the crew.

One thing we have to do at the end of every shift is make sure that it is ready and waiting for the next crew, so that if the alarm goes off the minute changeover happens, they’ll be ready to go.

“Aren’t you glad you’re not a cop anymore?” Ryder slaps me on the shoulder as we walk out after our relief shows up.

I pause for a second and really think about his question. “Yeah,” I tell him. “Actually, I am.”

And I go home, only thinking about the vanishing blond Cinderella once as I realize I need to forget about her and move on.

“Yo,” I call out when I open the front door to my apartment. “You home?”

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