Page 60 of Fighting Fire

Lana went into the bathroom and lit a few candles. She stripped down to nothing and got beneath the spray with a soft sigh.

She wished Sean was here, but he’d had as many errands to do as she did before they had to go to work tomorrow. After the lack of sleep last night, the grueling test, the workout, and her father’s pointed questions, she wanted to curl up in Sean’s arms and simply be at peace.

But peace eluded her as she toweled off and quickly dried her hair. She climbed into bed and tossed around a bit before she finally gave up.

Getting dressed into a sweat suit and grabbing her pressed uniform, she slipped out of her house.

As the night deepened, she parked her car in front of Sean’s apartment building and got out. At his door, she knocked. He opened it looking cranky and sleep tousled. The moment he saw her, he smiled.

Reaching out, he pulled her inside and Lana felt a peacefulness slide over her as the door closed at her back.

CHAPTER12

Lana sat outside of Station 75, debating the wisdom of her actions.

She held the picture in her hand. A really good likeness of the mysterious firefighter. The only way to find out who he was, was to ask. The helmet he wore had the number 75 on it. He had to be part of this station and if he was, then her hunch meant nothing.

She opened the car door and got out. Entering the interior of the station, she stopped the first man she came into contact with.

“Hi, I’m Lana Dempsey from the eighty-second and I’m trying to find out if this guy works at your station. Do you know who he is?”

The man looked down at the picture for a few minutes. “Nope, I don’t know this guy. Maybe he transferred out or is on a different shift. He could also be new.”

“Maybe,” Lana said.

“Why do you need to find him?”

“I’m investigating some arsons and want to question him.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you.”

“Thanks anyway.”

Lana hit five more stations, but no one knew the mysterious firefighter.

When Lana walked into work, she was faced with Bryant standing next to the entrance to her captain’s office. This couldn’t be good.

“Dempsey!” he called as soon as he saw her and with a sinking sensation, she walked toward him.

“Your captain wants to speak with you.”

Lana walked into his office and closed the door. Bryant stood outside; she could see him through the glass.

“What are you trying to do, Dempsey? Show me you don’t know how to follow orders?”

“No, sir.”

“Then what is it?”

“What exactly is it that Bryant is saying?”

“That you’re showing a picture around and butting into his investigation.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m going to have to put a reprimand into your jacket.”

“I understand, sir.”