Page 40 of Tasting Fire
“Actually, Maggie isn’t in charge of the SWAT team. Captain Styles made the decision.” The whole thing still needled him a little, but he was trying to get past it for the good of the team. “Emmy’s great at what she does. Has a lot more experience than anyone here. She’s big on training the rest of us.”
“I thought all the medics had already attended a training class.”
“With the types of situations the SWAT team is called out on, there’s no such thing as too much prep work.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t think a place as small as Steele Ridge needs something like that. Just another thing those Steele boys have been meddling in.”
And thank God for it. This area of Carolina had benefited from his cousins’ money and ambition. But once Mrs. Southerland’s mind was made up on something, she hung on to it, so Cash changed the subject. “How is school going this spring? I guess the seniors are all getting ready to be done.”
Mrs. Southerland shook her head. “It’s a constant struggle. No telling what would happen to those kids if I wasn’t watching out for them.”
“Good thing they have you then.” And it was good for her. Her husband had died the fall after Cash’s class graduated. To make things worse, by the following summer her livelihood as a college talent and scholarship scout had fallen apart. It made him feel better that she’d quickly landed a job as the high school college counselor.
“For those even going to college, most of them are choosing to attend community college first.” She slid him a look he’d seen many times since high school—one tinged with disappointment. “You could’ve done that, you know. It wasn’t at all what I wanted for you, but it would’ve been better than nothing—”
“College isn’t for everyone,” he said easily.
“You had the opportunity right in your hand,” she said. “Until her. Have you been seeing her again?”
“Emmy was the reason I had a chance at college in the first place.”
She was theonlyreason NC State had signed Cash their senior year. Then he’d made an ass of himself in front of the whole town and decided he wasn’t college material.
It had taken Mrs. Southerland, who had worked so hard to get him a full ride, a long time to forgive him.
“Of course I’m seeing her—I’m working with her on the tac team.”
“I heard you two were together at the Triple B. It appeared to be social. Some might even say a date.” Mrs. Southerland took a casual sip of her tea, but she didn’t pull off an air of total innocence.
Cash turned fully toward her. She meant the world to him, but he didn’t enjoy playing games with anyone. “If something’s on your mind, just say it.”
“She’s not good enough for you. Never was.”
He wanted to laugh. Emmy was a doctor, for God’s sake. Good enough wasn’t the problem.
“And I worry that she’ll hurt you again.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“But she’s still hurting people, Cash. Word is she recently killed a child.”
