Page 13 of Burning Justice (Chasing Fire: Alaska #6)

Seven

Maria sat on the side of the bed, lacing up her boots. She’d had about half an hour of sleep between their operation last night, wondering about her father, and looking at the computer.

She’d loaded the files from Robert Howards’s computer onto her laptop as soon as they got back to the base, but knowing he was Raine’s grandfather put a different spin on it. She’d never undertaken a mission where the target was someone she knew—or their relative.

Her dad wasn’t a target—as much as some at the CIA wanted to believe otherwise. He was a victim.

“Ready?” Kane stood in the doorway.

“Did the smokejumpers leave already? I heard the plane take off.” She finished lacing her other boot.

“That was them. Hammer is covering for Logan since he’s still in the hospital, but the doctor cleared Orion, so he’s good to go. Orion is back on the team as of today.”

She stood. “I sent Jamie an email, but unless she wants to distract herself from what’s happening, she might not look at it. What’s the latest with Logan?”

“Still undergoing tests.” Kane backed up from the doorway, and she came out, her pack over her shoulder. “Ridge, my cousin in Last Chance County, said Bryce is on his way up here. He’s Logan’s twin.”

He didn’t often talk about his cousin—unless they were alone. “Ridge works on the same vehicle as Bryce at the fire department, right?”

Kane nodded, looking a little pleased. Because she’d remembered?

“It’s not that hard to keep from forgetting details. It’s not a spy thing.”

Kane smiled, about to say something. But that was the gateway to things getting personal, which was the last thing either of them needed.

“We’re late.” Maria waved for him to go ahead. “Let’s go.”

Raine walked out of her room and hurried past them, looking like she’d had about as much sleep as Maria.

Kane and Maria followed her through the living area of the women’s cabin, out onto the porch.

The runway lay east to west, at a slight angle, in front of them. Mess hall and hangars on the far side. Office to the right. RV parking to the left.

She dug the note from her pocket and handed it over as they crossed the grass to the office.

Kane unfolded it and read, “‘I’m sorry. I’m going to fix everything.’”

“It’s his handwriting.” She had the book from that cabin yesterday. “I know it is.”

She wasn’t going to look at the compassion—the pity—on Kane’s face.

She didn’t want to see it. Not when everyone who learned what had happened to her felt that way.

Until they decided they agreed with the assessment that her dad had somehow planned the attack that’d killed her mother and left Maria orphaned, for all intents and purposes.

“Between that note and the computer files I had to wade through…”

“You didn’t get much sleep.”

But she didn’t want to talk about that. “Why didn’t you take Logan’s place on the smokejumper team? I know you can do it.”

He glanced over. “I love skydiving.”

“So why not sign up for it? Saxon would still be on the hotshot team with me. And besides, I don’t actually need babysitters.” He’d buy that, right? She didn’t like the idea that she’d held him back.

That he’d chosen to give up what he loved because of her.

“You should’ve gone for it.”

“Because you’d have gone for it too?”

He had offered to teach her in the offseason so that she could have easily passed smokejumper training.

Maria said, “Just because one of us does something, doesn’t mean the other has to do it too.”

“I’m not protecting you if I’m miles away, fighting a different part of the fire.”

Maria didn’t even know why she was pushing this right now. But she couldn’t let it go. Things weren’t better, not for all the trying they’d done. All the months of searching. Fighting militia guys. Looking all over the area for her dad. Nothing had changed.

Maybe she needed it to.

“I’m picking a fight with you.” Because he wouldn’t leave, no matter what. She knew it, but that didn’t mean she should actively push him away.

“Ask the question.” He turned at the door to face her, stopping her from going inside.

Closing her in, like he did. Forcing her to make a decision. To stick with him—because she had to admit that was what she wanted.

“I want to tell you the answer.”

Maria wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it. Especially not when he looked at her with those green eyes and that brooding stare.

“Ask me.”

Maria swallowed. “Why aren’t you a smokejumper?” He should be one. He would be amazing at it.

“Because you’re afraid of heights.”

She gasped. “You weren’t supposed to know.”

He tugged her around so her back was to the wall and stepped close to her. “You think I didn’t notice? I notice everything, Maria.”

She bit her lip.

This morning had taken a turn. It was out of control.

Was she dreaming? This was awfully close to some dreams she’d had. Where he closed that gap between them, his body pressed up against hers, and he kissed her.

Like he’d always wanted to.

Like he wanted nothing else.

“If you’re scared, I want to know.” His face lowered, far too close.

She could smell the mint on his breath.

“I’m not afraid.”

The corner of his mouth curled up. Oh boy. They were in dangerous territory.

She should’ve told him that she had no idea what she was doing. Between the CIA and the hunt for her father, she hadn’t had much time for dating. Except that one inkling of a…Yeah, that had been a disaster.

Someone cleared their throat.

Maria looked around Kane’s shoulder. “Mack!” Her voice was far too loud. “Good morning.”

Kane chuckled, but he didn’t step back. She squeezed out from between the building and his body and pulled the door open like this was completely normal.

Mack’s cheeks flared pink. “For some more than others.”

She was going to kill Kane. “I think we’re late for the briefing.” She took the stairs, jogging up like she normally did.

Mack raced her, and they stepped out into the upstairs hall, laughing. Flushed, which was good because no one would think it was about Kane.

Rio stood in the far corner, talking to Mitch and Tucker.

Why was the FBI at their morning briefing?

The rest of the hotshots were here, Grizz and Saxon talking.

They were only missing Hammer, who’d gone out with the smokejumpers.

Raine was over by the window, looking out at something or someone outside.

“All right, everyone.” Tucker clicked his remote, and the screen lit with a map of the area.

“There’s a big storm coming in tonight with the potential for lightning.

So we’re expecting fire activity to increase over the next few days.

As such, Rio is here to update you all on the ongoing investigation.

That way you’ll know the Feds are taking care of their business, and you can all take care of yours. Namely, fighting fire.”

Kane handed Maria a mug of black coffee and settled into the seat beside her.

“As you may know”—Rio shot them a pointed look—“we made a number of arrests last night. But no dice on the canister or the man we ID’d as the guy who first escaped with it. Or your father, Sanchez. Sorry.”

She nodded.

Rio continued. “We’re questioning Robert Howards, but he seems to have few direct ties to these people. At least, not ones we can present to a judge.”

Maria glanced at Raine.

Kane said, “How’s that possible, considering who he had at his house?”

Raine glanced over. “It was a birthday party.”

In the light of day, it didn’t look like she was so inclined to trust them. Someone had killed Raine’s father. Maria could certainly understand not wanting to drag anyone else into it.

If her dad had been killed instead of just being missing? Maria wasn’t sure she wanted to think about how far she would go to get justice. Question was, who would be the target of Raine’s vengeance?

“We also brought in Elias Redding last night for questioning. Though apparently, he had only arrived by helicopter a short time before. We have no idea where he was coming from.”

“How does he know Robert Howards?” Maria figured they had to be connected. Why else would Elias have shown up to the party?

“They’re business associates.” Rio glanced around. “Unless anyone here has information they’d like to share with the FBI about the nature of their relationship?”

Raine glanced at Maria. Maria said nothing. Even Mack seemed to know something was up, but he’d probably heard the guys talking last night after they got back. Still, the kid kept his mouth shut.

“That’s what I thought,” Rio said. “I’ve got to get back to Anchorage after I check in with Crew and Tristan.”

Raine stiffened in her chair.

What was that reaction about?

Mitch said, “Crew is gassing up the bus. He’s going to drive these guys to the fire. Not sure about Tristan.”

“Got it.” Rio headed for the door.

“We all good?” Tucker asked. “No one itching to go solo, save the world?”

Alone was just asking for trouble.

No one said anything, but only because whatever they did, it would happen as a team.

“Great. Have a safe day.”

Nine hours later—not that Kane was counting—they loaded back onto the bus. All of them were covered in sweat and completely exhausted. Kane should’ve been hungry, but they’d had MREs for lunch, and those things had enough calories to keep an elephant going for three days.

Mack slumped into a seat, lying down with his knees on the end of the seat and his feet in the aisle. “Someone wake me when we get back to the base.”

Saxon kicked the kid’s foot. “Sure, but you won’t like how I do it.”

Mack groaned.

Grizz sat up front with Mitch. Raine tucked into the row right behind them.

Maria climbed on the bus last, her hair damp at the hairline and whisps plastered to her face. Tired, but the good kind that meant you’d done a long day of good work. The kind that saved lives, even if it only felt like digging a trench.

For a second he thought she wasn’t going to sit near him, but she came over and took the seat behind his.

Kane turned and put his back to the wall, his legs on the seat.