Page 34 of Fire Bear

Mateo tried to speak, coughed, then winced in pain. The machines beeped in mild alarm but soon settled once again. He blinked, taking in the hospital room with a hazy gaze. Clearing his throat, he managed a hoarse whisper.

“Thank you,” he said, directing a weary smile at Ash. “For finding me.”

“Any time, kid,” he said, grinning. “Mateo, do you remember anything about the kidnappers? Did they say who might have hired them?”

Mateo’s brow creased. He shook his head a little. “No. They kept talking about a bigger plan. They said they got paid to... burn.” His voice wavered. “I’m sorry,” he continued. “They made me unlock everything—security codes, cameras. I couldn’t stop them.”

“It’s not your fault,” Eliana said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I’m just grateful you’re alive.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

TWO MONTHS LATER

Ash arrivedat the Fire Station, stepping out of his truck into the crisp autumn air. The leaves in the parking lot had begun to turn shades of orange and red, and a thin veil of morning mist clung to the edges of Fate Mountain. With the cooler season settling over the region, the sense of threat was gone. He inhaled the chill, grateful for the quiet that autumn brought.

The garage door of the station stood open, revealing the red engines parked inside. Ash headed in, stepping across the concrete floor. The overhead lights cast bright patches in the otherwise dim interior. A couple of his fellow firefighters were there already.

Kyle was checking fluid levels on the brush truck, while Erin was sweeping up a corner of the bay. They both looked up as Ash approached, and Kyle gave a casual salute.

“Mornin’, Chief,” Kyle said, voice echoing slightly in the tall space.

Ash smiled. “Good morning.”

Erin noddedand leaned on the broom handle. “The cooler weather should make drills easier. None of us enjoyed hauling hoses in that searing summer heat.”

Ash recalled how intense the station workload had been back in the thick of summer. Arsonists on the loose, fires threatening Eliana’s orchard, every day more chaotic than the last.

Now he felt a sense of relief that they could focus on typical duties instead of crisis after crisis. He made his way through the bay and into the rec room, a smaller space lined with worn couches and a round table.

A few more firefighters, including Jake and a younger recruit named Bryant, were there. They sat sipping coffee from chipped station mugs, the aroma filling the air. The old television in the corner was tuned to a local news channel. Ash took one of the spare seats, exchanging brief greetings with the others. Jake offered him a half-smile.

“Must be nice to have some calm after all the fires this summer,” Jake said, swirling his coffee.

“Things have definitely settled,” Ash said.

Jake raised his mug in a mock toast. “Here’s to quiet times on Fate Mountain.”

Ash leaned back, sipping his coffee. Autumn often brought fewer fires. He enjoyed the slower pace, using the days to hone training skills rather than rushing from one crisis to another.

A short time later, the team assembled in the yard behind the station for morning drills. They practiced ladder raises and ranthrough search-and-rescue scenarios. The clang of metal rungs and the hiss of water lines echoed in the crisp air. Ash oversaw the exercises, offering tips and ensuring everything stayed efficient.

The sun rose higher, lighting the trees around them in bright swaths of orange and yellow. He took a moment to appreciate how the mountain wore its autumn colors.

After lunch, one of the station’s administrative officers approached Ash, telling him there was a call from Detective Parker. He headed to the small office near the front of the station, where a phone waited on the desk, and he picked it up. “Chief Bright here.”

Detective Parker’s voice greeted him. “Hi, Chief, I wanted to fill you in on the latest developments in the arsonist case.”

“Yes,” Ash said.

There was a pause, then Parker continued. “The criminals who attacked Eliana’s orchard went to trial this morning. The evidence we provided was strong. They have been convicted of arson, kidnapping, and various other offenses. Sentencing came down fast. They’re looking at long prison terms.”

Relief washed through Ash’s chest. The orchard saboteurs were finally getting real punishment for what they had done. He clenched the phone a bit tighter, recalling how close they came to burning down Eliana’s entire livelihood.

“That is good news,” he said softly. “But we still don’t know why they did it.”

“They pleaded innocent until the end,” Parker replied, his tone measured. “Law enforcement did what we could. Even afterquestioning and digital forensics, we don’t know who hired them. It’s possible the men we put away don’t even know where the money came from. My gut tells me there are organized crime or corporate-backed interests behind these attacks. Either way, these hired hoodlums are off the street.”

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