Page 41

CHAPTER FORTY

The sun’s up and I’m sitting on the curb outside the flower shop below Avery’s place when former Chief Pendergrass shows up and stops in front of me.

I’m so shocked to see my former boss, I can’t make sense of it at first. I chuckle, “What the hell, Chief. You look damned good.”

Frowning, he gives my sad state a once over, then clucks his tongue. “You look like hell, son. I heard about you giving the mayor a case of the shits.”

His grin is boldly satisfied. “Hate that sum-bitch. Wish I could have seen his face. I laughed for an hour when I heard what you did.”

“He nearly keeled over and impaled himself on his plastic golf club, but we weren’t so lucky.”

The man chuckles appreciatively.

“How are you?” I ask, still surprised to see him out and about like this.

“Doing better,” he chirps as he clunks his cane on the ground. “A little slow, but I’m still kicking. Expecting to get rid of this annoying thing soon. How about we sit on that bench?”

He motions to a city-owned bench under a palm tree across the street. “If I come down there to that curb you’ll have to get a crane to get me up.”

I follow him across the street, impressed by his fast recovery.

He eyes my choice of clothing. “Out for a run, huh?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“But you’re sitting on the curb outside your girl’s apartment?”

I shake my head and laugh dryly. “Grapevine didn’t let that gossip grow moss, did it?”

Looking at me like I’m a complete fool, he asks, “Why are you down here and she’s up there?”

“Long story.”

“So, you quit before the mayor and his cronies got ahold of the intel on you and Ms. Ellis, huh?”

“I wasn’t going to allow her to be dragged through the mud. I hope the fact that I left means they will leave her alone.”

He taps the toe of his shoe with the cane as he watches cars roll by. “I think that was a smart move. But… Do you want your job back?”

“I’m not letting her go. As you know the fraternization policy prohibits us from dating. ”

“What if Ellis found a new job?”

“I’d never ask her to do that. Not after she relocated here.”

“Does she like the work?”

Using my forearm, I knock the sweat off my brow, I peer up at the apartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of her in one of the windows. “You know she’s brilliant. She loves the science.”

“That’s what I gathered. But does she love going into a raging fire to battle the beast like some of us do?”

That makes me think. “We’ve never talked about it.”

“So, maybe she’d consider another job, one that keeps her in the field, but not in the thick of the heat.”

I turn my head and look at his wise, old, smiling eyes. “What are you thinking?”

“I’ve got some ideas. But you’ve got to figure out if you like your life outside the department or inside better.”

I lean back on the bench. “It feels good not to be worried about all that political bullshit. Plus, I think the mayor would be happy if he never saw my face again. He’s never liked me. I called him out on his budget antics one too many times.”

He chuckles. “I had a feeling you’d say that. So, sounds like you’re happier out.”

“I’m happy with Avery in my life.”

He twists his mouth up for a minute. “So, again, why aren’t you up there instead of down here?”

“Her brother moved in last night.”

He laughs. “Never a dull moment in your life, boy.”

Shaking my head, I sigh tiredly. “I used to say I never wanted to be bored, but now I’m not so sure about that. A little predictability might be nice.”

“Well, I should get moving. I’m walking for my therapy.” He starts to rock and push off the bench, then stops. “That her brother?” He tips his head.

Gunnar, shirtless, wearing a pair of gray athletic shorts and running shoes, turns on the sidewalk and takes off at a jog.

“That’s him.”

“Tough looking guy.”

“He’s got a hell of a right hook.”

That makes the chief swivel his head toward me. “You look pretty good for a guy who’s been fighting him.”

“That was years ago, in the academy.”

Frowning, the chief taps his fingers on his cane. “He a firefighter too?”

“Once upon a time.”

“Well, at least the two of you have that in common.”

“That, we do. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever turned an enemy to a friend?”

The man gives me a knowing smile. “I did. But it was my wife. I think you’re fighting a different fire.”