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Beatrice

I glanced around at the firehouse. It felt good to be back at work. Everyone welcomed me, and then we all started talking at once and burst into laughter.

“You could have knocked me over when I got back from vacation and heard what was happening. Was she always crazy?” Allen asked.

“I always said she acted crazy,” Larry said.

“Do you remember the guy she dated a few years ago? He told me he was going to break up with her, and then he was missing. What was his name?” Allen asked.

“Paul, his parents came here hunting for him,” the captain said, “I wish I had done something back then. They found his body a few weeks later. Why wasn’t his being missing causing more commotion? Do you think she killed him?”

“She must have. His body was found at the bottom of the cliff,” Daniel said.

“I’m calling the police and bringing up the fact that he and Katherine were dating,” Larry said.

“It’s great to be back with you all. Can we stop talking about Katherine, and you can tell me what’s been going on here while I was gone?” I said.

We have a new fire inspector. He’s from Northern California, Chico, I think he said. He has a family with five kids. So you don’t have to worry about him being jealous of you,” Larry said.

I hoped this kind of talk didn’t keep going on. It still scared me when I thought about how close I was to dying. I felt safe being here with these guys. I’m sure it would take Raven being home for me to feel safe all the time. Mandy sat beside me, and Mike was sprawled out on the floor. There was no way I would leave them home. It’s been almost a month since Raven left to find the missing Seals. I missed him so much.

The bells went off and we jumped up and took off. Mandy didn’t leave my side. She jumped into the truck with me while Mike stayed at the firehouse.

It was an apartment fire. The top floor was on fire. I knew there were at least three apartments on fire. We also needed to ensure that everyone was accounted for and safe.

We were busy putting the fire out when Mandy dashed past me. I sucked in my breath when I saw her run into one of the burning apartment. I knew she must have heard the cry for help.

I turned and saw my brother shaking his head. I ran as fast as I could when I heard her barking. Mandy’s bark led me to her and two little kids. I didn’t hesitate; I grabbed a blanket, threw it over the kids, and ran with them.

My brother and the captain took the kids and got to work on them. They were so small. Where were their parents? I glanced around, and Mandy stood by, as if she belonged here with us. We didn’t get the fire out until way past sundown, and still no parent showed up to check on their kids.

The captain lectured me about running into a burning building. And he congratulated me and Mandy on saving those kids. We were back at the firehouse when the captain informed us that those kids were from missing children cases in Utah. “The police believe that it was the kidnappers who set the fire. Thank God Mandy was with us. She is our hero.”

“Do they know who the kidnappers were?”

“They believe one was a family member who thought they could hold them for ransom. They found him dead thirty minutes ago.”

“What did he die from?” I asked.

“A bullet to the back of his head. And it wasn’t today, the police said he must have been shot three or more days ago. His body was dumped today, in the park,” the captain said.

“So the killer didn’t leave him in the apartment to burn. Isn’t that strange? He could have left him in the apartment. God, that sounds horrible,” I shook my head, so much death.

I looked at the captain. “I think we need to have guards on those children. What if that guy goes to the hospital? I’m calling River,” I said, picking up my phone.

I explained what had happened, and River said he would have someone at the hospital in ten minutes. “They’ll have guards within ten minutes.”

I glanced at everyone. Their faces were tense, marked with the grime of smoke and sweat, but behind the exhaustion was a quiet pride. We’d saved lives today. Mandy had saved lives today.

I sat down heavily on the bench by my locker. My hands were shaking. Not from fear exactly—more from adrenaline that hadn’t yet found a place to land. Raven would have known how to talk me down, would have taken my hand and said something steady, something that made the chaos feel manageable. But he wasn’t here. And I had to be strong on my own.

Again.

“You okay?” my brother asked as he handed me a bottle of water.

I nodded and gave him a half-smile. “Yeah. I’m good. Just... thinking.”

“About Mandy? Are you still scared she ran into that burning building? Like I was when you ran into it behind her.” His face were tense, marked with the grime of smoke and sweat, but behind the exhaustion was a quiet pride. We’d saved lives today. Mandy had saved lives today.

“It's about Mandy. About those babies. About how close we came to not hearing them.” I reached down and scratched behind Mandy’s ears. She leaned into my touch like she knew I needed it more than she did.

I couldn’t shake the thought of that apartment. The smoke, the flames licking at the ceiling, the cries we wouldn’t have heard if it weren’t for her. And those kids—how long had they been missing? What had they gone through before we showed up?

And the man who died. A bullet to the heart. Dumped in the park like trash. Someone had taken justice into their own hands... or perhaps it was part of something bigger and darker. I’m sure he had to be part of the kidnapping. I wasn’t sure what scared me more—the fire, the kidnapping, or the fact that someone was out there knowing those two little kids could recognize him.

I stood up, wiping my hands on my pants. “I’m going to the hospital,” I said out loud. “I want to see the kids for myself.”

My brother nodded. “We’ll keep things locked down here. Be careful.”

“I always am,” I lied, then kissed Mandy’s head. “You coming, girl?”

She leapt to her feet like she’d been waiting for the invitation. Mike whined from his spot near the wall, but he stayed. He knew the drill. He was way too hyper for the hospital.

The drive to the hospital felt longer than it should have. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half-expecting someone to tail me. Paranoia or instinct—I wasn’t sure anymore.

When I arrived at the hospital, I presented my ID and was promptly directed to the children’s room. Mandy walked by my side. Tag and Gage were already stationed outside, just like River promised. I explained to them what happened.

The room was quiet and dimly lit. A nurse looked up from her chart and smiled softly. “They’re sleeping, poor babies they are stable. A little dehydrated, but they’ll be okay.”

I stood at the window, looking in at those two tiny bodies. I didn’t even know their names. But I already felt this fierce, protective tug in my chest. No one was going to hurt them again. Not on my watch. Mandy lay down next to the bed, guarding the children.

Maybe I wasn’t as strong as Raven. Perhaps I didn’t have his training or his ability to remain calm under pressure. But I had this fire in me now. A need to protect. A need to fight back.

If whoever took those kids and whoever killed their captors are still out there, they’ll come looking again.

And when they do... I’ll be ready. I talked to Tag and Gage, and I expressed my concern about how scared I was that a man was going to try to end these little ones' lives.

Tag took my hand. “You get some rest for the next time you're called out on an emergency. If anyone shows up here, they won’t get anywhere near those kids. We’ll make sure of that.”

“I’ll rest in the kids' room. I want to be here in case they get scared.”