Page 11 of Forged By Fire (Danger in Destiny #9)

Chapter Eleven

W hen Clint said he could get the security lights installed for her, he wasn’t kidding. It would’ve taken her so much longer to get one of them put up than it did for him to install both. Not only that, but he’d done it all without complaint or hesitation.

When he’d suggested following her back to the house and staying with her for the rest of the day, she wasn’t sure she liked the idea. Truthfully, it was the thought of being at the house alone that had led to her agreement.

She’d had the opportunity to speak with him numerous times in the past, but it was always related to an emergency where they’d both been called to respond.

They were an efficient team. Truth be told, when she saw him at a scene she was working on, it usually brightened her day a little—a fact she’d never allowed herself to analyze too closely.

Now that they were in the same house—in the same room—and working together to install the window alarms, she had the opportunity to watch him work. He handled himself with confidence, but included her in everything. He probably knew that helping would make her feel more in control of her situation.

In some respects, their training wasn’t all that different. They’d both been taught how to de-escalate a situation and keep the victim focused and calm.

Except she refused to think of herself as a victim because that meant the guy who was trying to shake her up was winning.

He wasn’t going to win.

“All right, I’m ready for the last one.”

Leslie opened the final package of mini alarms and dropped the pieces into the palm of his hand. By now, they knew exactly how to put them on the windows, and it took less than a minute before the last window was armed.

She observed their work, her hands perched on her hips, and nodded with satisfaction.

It wouldn’t keep anyone from breaking into her house again, but it would keep it from being a surprise.

They’d tested each alarm to make sure they worked, and there was no missing the warning sound.

It’d wake her up from a dead sleep without question.

Between that and barricading the doors when she was home for the night, she hoped and prayed he wouldn’t be getting back into her house again.

“Thank you. I feel a lot better about staying here tonight.” She gathered up the trash and stuffed it back into the plastic bag the alarms had come in. When she looked up, she caught Clint watching her.

He tried to conceal the look of concern on his face, but he wasn’t quick enough. He must’ve realized it because he explained himself.

“I really wish you could stay with someone else until we get these cases wrapped up. Are you sure you can’t call your sister? Or do you have another friend or family member who could stay here with you?”

“Please trust me when I say that staying at my sister’s isn’t an option.

We don’t get along well enough to live in the same house.

Not to mention, if I’ve got someone coming after me, I don’t want to paint a target on my sister or my nieces.

” She’d never forgive herself if something happened to them.

“As for friends? Again, I can’t ask them to come here and put themselves at risk.

Now, if someone had a big dog I could borrow for a few days…

” She chuckled. “I’m picturing a giant Great Dane lounging on my couch.

I think I’d have to get another one, or there wouldn’t be enough room for me. ”

Clint laughed. “I can’t picture you with a Great Dane.”

“Please don’t tell me you think I’m a little dog kind of person.”

“No.” He ran a hand over his bearded chin.

“I was thinking more like a Doberman or a Rottweiler. One of those tough breeds that can handle anything, people know not to mess with them, but when it comes to friends or family, they’re sweet and loyal.

It would be a good fit for you, since you’re tough, too. ”

“Wow, you put a lot of thought into that.” His compliment made her cheeks warm. She ducked her chin. “I appreciate that. I’m not sure how strong I am, though.”

“Everyone hits rough patches when they aren’t sure whether they can handle what’s ahead. But you? You got back up, kept going, and still worried about others in the process. If that’s not tough, I don’t know what is.”

His gaze held hers for several moments until his phone rang, the sound echoing through the living room and effectively interrupting their conversation.

Leslie crossed her arms in front of her and moved to perch on the edge of the couch as he answered.

“This is Baker.” He listened to whoever was on the other end of the line for several moments before speaking again. “I appreciate that, Chief Menendez. I’ll be by shortly. Bye.”

She figured he was talking to someone else at the police station. She hadn’t expected it to be her own chief. “Is everything okay with Danny?”

“What? Oh, Chief Menendez was looking into several things for me, mostly with regards to possible missing equipment that the shooter may have stolen. He said he could get everything emailed over, but I’d like to talk to him in person. Get his take on whatever he found out.”

Leslie jumped to her feet. “I’d like to go with you.” Anything was better than sitting around the house by herself, waiting for something to happen.

“I was going to suggest the same. Let’s put those security alarm stickers on the doors and head out. We can grab something for dinner afterward. Should we take something back to the hospital for Danny and Becca?”

That Clint had thought about them warmed her heart. “No, we’ve got a schedule set up. Someone else will take dinner to them tonight. I’ve been assigned tomorrow night.”

“It’s a good thing when people are there for each other like that. It’s similar at the precinct. Everyone looks out for each other. Tia’s usually in charge of the meal train and the prayer chain. We never turn down a reason to celebrate.”

“Neither do we. We’re like a family.” Something that Leslie, with very little family of her own, certainly appreciated. Sometimes she felt closer to the people she worked with than she did her own sister.

That feeling stuck with her as they pulled up to the fire station.

Sure, she always looked forward to her days off when she could relax, get some good sleep, and catch up on things.

But she never dreaded going back to work.

She loved being a firefighter and helping others when they were experiencing some of their worst moments.

She got out of Clint’s patrol car and led the way into the station. It took a few minutes to make their way to the chief’s office as she was stopped and greeted by multiple co-workers. Some of them she didn’t always see because they were on different shifts.

“We’re praying for Danny.”

“Let us know if you need anything.”

Leslie smiled and thanked everyone for their kindness.

They didn’t need to knock on Chief Menendez’s door. Instead, he waved them in and motioned for them to close the door. They exchanged pleasantries as she and Clint took seats.

The chief didn’t waste any time once they were settled.

He picked up a blue folder and handed it to Clint.

“I went through and compiled a list of every call we’ve been on in the last year where someone was hurt or killed.

I also included those that led to an investigation by the PD.

I imagine you’ll have more details on those cases. ”

“This is great. Thank you.” Clint opened the folder.

Leslie counted at least a dozen papers tucked in there.

She tried to think through the different calls they’d had over the last year.

Thankfully, the instances where they couldn’t help someone in time, or where someone was already injured or worse when they got there, were few.

Still, it was smart to take a second look at them.

She hoped Clint would let her look through them.

Maybe something would jog a memory that could be helpful .

Clint nodded. “This is very thorough. I appreciate the assistance. Did you find anything about the equipment?”

Chief Menendez’s expression tightened. “I reached out to each of the stations in town and had them go through their equipment and list anything that was missing. There’s nearly an entire set of personal protective equipment missing from station four, including a self-contained breathing apparatus.”

Leslie gasped. “How did that happen?” Each firefighter was required to keep track of, clean, and store away their own gear. If any of them misplaced their equipment… well, she wasn’t sure how bad it would be because, as long as she’d been working for the department, it hadn’t happened.

“That’s not all.” Chief Menendez folded his hands together and rested them on the top of his desk. “We may have discovered a potential suspect: a firefighter who was deemed unfit for duty at the same station.”