Page 31 of Book and Ladder
We drop everything. In under two minutes we’re in our turnouts and seated in the truck.
Our sirens split the morning air. Cars veer to the curb. We blow through red lights.
My only thoughts:the books!AndDaisy!We have to get there before something happens to her. She’d sooner smother the flames with her bare hands than let one spark touch her shelves.
We pull up in front of Moss and Maple. I hop out of the engine. Greyson is saying something about going in with Dustin, but my mind isn’t focused on anything but Daisy.
A few customers are out on the lawn. Neighbors stand on porches or in the street. I track that much as I size up the situation.
No visible smoke.
I’m pulling on my SCBA and heading toward the building.
They can hose behind me. I have to get Daisy out of there.
This place.
The books.
Daisy.
“Patrick!” Greyson shouts into his lapel mic.
I stop. Turning to look at my crew, all in various levels of preparation.
“Get back to the engine. Now!” Greyson yells.
Greyson never yells. He’s stern enough when he’s using his naturally commanding indoor voice.
“Sorry! Daisy’s in there!” I yell into my mic.
“Patrick!” I run forward.
There’s no smoke.
I test the handle. Not hot.
Wrenching it open, I fly through the door and stop dead in the middle of the front room where Daisy is placing a book into a bag and thanking Jillian for stopping in as if it’s any other day.
My eyes narrow.
Jillian brushes past me, an amused grin on her face.
“Monitoring called. Alarm cancelled,” Greyson’s voice comes through more calmly.
The combined chuckles of my crew ring through my lapel mic.
“Can I help you?” Daisy asks with an amused grin on her face.
I rip off my mask, my cheeks hot from more than just the hood.
“I’m …” I stare at her. “Your alarm sounded. We’re here to follow up on the alarm.”
“It was a false alarm,” Daisy says.
She’s not hiding her amusement. Not even a little.
Her gaze narrows. “You thought the shop was on fire?”
