Page 80 of Horn in My Side
“Have you heard anything about the fire on Maple Avenue?”
“That’s why I’m already up and ready to head out.Station’s all abuzz.Hands-on-deck kind of situation, you know?”
She felt the blood drain from her face.“It’s that bad?”
“Yup.With these things, P.D.has to come in to direct traffic, crowd control, you know, for general public safety.Listen, I have to—”
“Wait, don’t hang up.You have to take me there.”
“There?To the fire?”
“Yes.”
“You know I can’t do that,” he protested.“I could lose my job, plus it’s not safe for you.Why would you want to go anyway?”
“Kap ...”She took a deep breath.“Mal’s down there as a volunteer fireman.He’s not picking up his phone.Couldn’t you just say you were giving me a ride?I don’t need you to get me into the site.I just need to be there.”
“I ...”He hesitated.“All right, fine.I’m already in the car.”
“Great!Come pick me up at Brew-tique.”
“See you in five.”
After a quick thank you to Minerva, Jasmine dashed outside to wait for Kap.It was the longest five minutes of her life as horrible thoughts and visions of what could happen—or was happening—to Mal filled her head.Her anxiety somewhat eased when she saw the familiar cruiser approaching.She didn’t bother waiting for him to invite her inside.
“Thanks.”She clicked on her seatbelt.“I appreciate this.I owe you one.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he moaned.“Are you sure you want to come?Maybe I should drop you off at home.Have you thought that maybe Mal’s just sitting on his couch, twiddling his thumbs?”
“He would have answered my call or texted me by now.”It wasn’t like Mal to just ignore a missed call from her, even if he was working.“Please, Kap, we’re wasting time.”
The tree giant put the car into gear.“Jasmine, you’re a wreck.Is there a reason why you’re so worried about him?”
“No.I mean, he’s my boss ...”
His eyes flicked over to her, then steered back to the road ahead.“Lie.You literally just turned red as a tomato.”
“Okay, fine.”She blew out a breath.“We’re dating, okay?”
“Good for you,” he said without missing a beat.“I was wondering when that was going to happen.”
“What?”She stared at him, slack-jawed.“What do you mean?”
“Jasmine, I’m a cop.Observation and deduction skills, remember?”He tapped at his temple.“But also, you guys have been eye-fucking each other this entire time.And he definitely wanted to deck me when I showed up at your place for dinner.”
“Deck you?”
“Yeah, he was jealous.”
“You’re crazy.I’d only known him three days at that point.”
“I’m a guy.Trust me.”His expression quickly changed from lighthearted to stormy.“We’re here.”
As Jasmine turned her attention outside, her heart leapt into her throat at the scene before them.It was pure chaos, to put it mildly.Half a dozen fire trucks took up the corner of the street where an apartment complex stood, thick, fat curls of smoke rising to the heavens as fire clawed at the blackened windows and walls.Even from inside the car, her nose burned with the sharp stench of burning wood.
“Oh Mother Goddess.”An invisible fist wrapped around her chest and squeezed.“Mal ...”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Kap said, sounding confident.He parked the car in the closest open spot.“Stay in here, Jasmine.”
