Page 25 of Burn for Me
No sooner had he finished labelling the sample bag he was busy with than the phone started ringing again.Well, I guess it’s important then.Snorting to himself at his own lame joke, he made his way over to the phone.
“James.”
“Saddle up, James. They’re calling all hands on-deck. You’re going to need your gear,” he heard Kyle say.
“On my way.” Knowing there’d be time for questions later, he ran to his locker to grab the firefighting gear he stored there but so seldom needed anymore. Although he was no longer on active duty, he was a volunteer firefighter now. It wasn’t unusual to get called on to help out when the summer fires burned all over the Cape Peninsula, and even further than that, when there weren’t enough full-time firemen.
Sliding down the pole, he took in the group of men gathering just outside. Chief Mattison was clearly waiting for the last of his men to assemble before he spoke.
“All right, settle down.” The chatter quietened down as everyone turned their attention to the station commander. He continued, “As you are aware, the fire that started at Silver Mine Reserve is steadily spreading. Despite our best efforts, the wind and weather have been making things very difficult. Unfortunately, the prevailing winds have been picking up steadily all day. They’re calling all local hands in, as well as having put out a call for assistance from the Eastern Cape and Orange Free State provinces. So, suit up ladies and gents, we’re going in.”
Kyle came over to where Gray stood. “You got everything you need, bud?”
“Yeah. Gear’s packed, tanks full. I’m sorted. You headed out on the truck, or do you want to ride with me?”
“I’m down for riding with you.”
“Then let’s ride.”
As they stepped outside into the beautiful, bright summer’s day, one of the probates ran up to them. “Sir, Mr James, there’s a telephone call for you.”
“Is it urgent?”
“There’s what sounds like a man on the line saying he has a lead for you regarding the Kloofnek fires, sir.”
Nodding his thanks, Gray turned to Kyle. “Sorry, Ace, I better get this. You want to head on out on the truck rather than wait for me? I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Sure, no problem. I’ll see you out there.”
“Yeah. Be safe.” Gray went into the front office to answer the phone. “Hello?”
“Is this Grayson James?” a tinny, distorted voice asked.
“Yes, this is Grayson James. Who am I speaking to?”
“Excellent,” the voice replied before the line went dead.
What the hell?Gray went looking for the probate who’d called him. Finding him helping load extra gear and supplies into one of the rescues vehicles, he stopped to ask, “Did the caller happen to give you their name?”
“No, sir. They just said they needed to talk to you urgently.”
“Did they ask for me by name?”
“Yes, sir. They asked to speak to Mr Grayson James.”
“And they gave you no information? Just asked for me?”
“No, sir. They just asked to speak to you because they had information about the Kloofnek fires. That’s all they said.”
“Okay, thanks. Appreciate it.”
“No problem, sir.”
Once again heading for his truck, he hit the fob to unlock as the klaxon began to blare. It looked like today was going to be one of those crazy-ass days where everything happened at once. Knowing their station was now running on skeleton staff, Gray was going to have to get his hands dirty anyway. Once again heading for the front office, he went to see where this fire was.
* * *
No,no, no. That simply would not do! This would ruin all their plans. They needed him to be in the right place at the right time. How else were they supposed to get rid of their problem once and for all? Staring at the assembled group of men and women from their safe spot out of sight, they mumbled to themselves as they tried to come up with a plan of action. If they were to get rid of him once and for all, they would want him to be where they needed him to be. Nothing could be allowed to change the plan.
