Page 5 of Flashback

“Calls that I’ve heard tend to go to voicemail or are cut short.”

“I can’t help that they always call while I’m busy.”

“Which is exactly why you should come with me. You can have some quality time with meandyour parents.”

“My job is riding on this. I have to stay.”

“There’s nothing I can say that will convince you to leave?”

“You know me better than that.” Allie tried on a smirk. She didn’t need Belle worrying about her.

Belle chuckled as she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I do. But first, I think I have enough time to cook you a real breakfast instead of one of those gross protein bars you’re so fond of.”

As much as she wanted to hit the trail, she wouldn’t begrudge one last meal with her BFF.

They lingered over their pancakes and bacon—Belle always did have a knack for pancakes—but eventually Allie helped her friend unhook the lines to the camper and pack her little Subaru.

Belle headed toward Allie’s tent. “We should get you packed up and ready to go.”

More delays. “That’s okay. You should hit the road. I know Matthew is texting you.”

Belle’s sheepish grin said she’d guessed right. “Yeah, but you helped me. I can?—”

“It’s a little tent. It won’t take long. You should get back to your husband.” Allie steered Belle toward the car.

“All right. But promise me you will get everything ready. And you’ll come visit me on your way to Benson.”

“Of course.”

Allie pushed away the disappointment of the ruined trip and put on as cheerful a face as she could muster to wave goodbye when Belle pulled out. True to her word, she took her own tent down and packed all her belongings in her SUV.

Finally, she clipped the lead on Scout’s harness, ready to track the two boys on the Green Hiking Loop. They were probably back by now, but Scout could still follow their trail.

“Come on, Scout. Let’s go for a hike.”

She took two steps before a fire truck pulled into the campground, lights flashing.

A loud voice from a speaker called out. “This is Jude County Hotshots. Please evacuate the campground as quickly and safely as possible.”

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. But any former addict knew life didn’t always go the way it should.

Any cop knew a situation could go sideways fast?—especially in SWAT situations.

For hotshot firefighter Dakota Masterson, a guy who had been both those things—and still was—the fight to prove himself didn’t look much like battling wildland flames.

Right now it looked like riding around in the truck with two other crewmates, including Houston James, who was asking a whole lot of personal questions.

It must be the youth pastor in him. That drive to get to know people.

Dakota liked the guy. He really did. He appreciated that they shared a faith and all, but he was asking about Dakota’s past.

And that just wasn’t gonna fly.

He was anewman. That’s what Preach always said in their morning Bible studies this last year. So, no need to drag out all his dirty laundry in front of this new team. Commander Miles Dafoe knew the gist of it, but no one else did. Which was how it should be.

They didn’t have to know about him getting kicked off the SWAT team, the stint in rehab, or any of it. This was his fresh start. No more depending on his big brother Will Masterson, former federal agent, and his perfect reputation to help Dakota move up in the world. He would do that with hard work and by the sweat of his brow. Literally. And the sign-on bonus would help him pay Will back every cent he’d spent on the Ridgeman Center.

For now, Dakota would keep a tight lid on his ugly past. Although, if anyone understood, it might be these guys. Between Hammer and his big “trouble” tattoo and Kane and his somewhat melancholy personality, they probably all had ghosts of the past they wrestled with. But they barely knew each other. It was one thing to have his former boss, Gage Deluca, checking in with him, asking about his addiction. If these guys knew, he’d probably lose what little connection he’d already forged with them.

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