Page 54 of Head Room

Some people you couldn’t bully with friendliness into revealing a thing...

“Kam Droemi.”

...and some you could.

I took her hand, nearly dragging it from her side into a shake.That motion seemed to break her resistance, though she still didn’t succumb to my charm.

“Is Ned Irvin around?”

I felt her tension ease through our connected hands.

Had she been afraid I was here for her?But why would she think that?And what about it could scare her?

“No.Should be back soon.”

“Great.I’ll stick around.”

“You here about that cabin fire?”

“Trying to get things straight,” I said without truly answering.“I understand Ned Irvin was the lead.”

“Yeah.Just because he was closer.”

Remembering a phrase from Penny aboutfussing over which one, I tried a leap, while keeping it as casual as I could with, “I guess there was dispute about who would be lead.”

“Ned can get touchy about stuff like that.He’s out here at the substation and doesn’t realize guys like Miles get a lot more experience and expertise faster, even though he’s been around longer.Should have been Miles’ lead.He’s the one everybody looks up to.”

Ah.One mystery solved.

Her antagonism was over Miles Stevens.I’d talked to him at the fire station and she might have thought I was here to see him again.My asking for Ned Irvin eased some of an apprehension likely borne of possessiveness.

“Sounds like you know him well.”

I infused as much admiration into the words as I could.Some admiration for him, but not too much, to avoid sparking jealousy, which it didn’t take a genius to work out was in play here.More admiration for her, for her perception.

“I was the first person he met when he moved to Sherman.He came into the station to look for a job.He didn’t know it was all volunteer except me.I felt bad for him, so I’ve helped with computer things for his job — he did get a job.”

Defending him against criticism I’d never voiced.I wondered if others had, though.

“He’s also working on his own now,” she added, “building up his own business.”

“A job, a side gig, and volunteering.That’s impressive.”

“Yes.That’s what—”

“Hey,” came a neutral male voice from the bright sunlight of the open bay.

Kam and I walked forward.

One man, with the beginnings of gray at his temples, became visible as he stepped out of the glare.

“Ned, this woman’s looking for you,” Kam said.

I introduced myself, including being with KWMT-TV.

He was unsurprised.I detected the fell hand of Shelton.My turn not to be surprised.

“Where’s Miles?”Kam asked him.