by Kathryn Shay
“Sometimes,” Ernst answered. “You a church goer, kid?”
They talked among themselves and a minute out Rafe said, “Churches are susceptible to arson. Many denominations unlock their doors during the day, leaving them easy prey for arsonists.”
They arrived at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Main Street to see flames shooting through the three peaks rising to the early morning sky.
Rafe looked around. “No Incident Command. There’s a gas explosion downtown and the fire chief said this might happen. Get the tools out.”
“Don’t we have to wait for water?” Lane asked.
“We will. The others are coming asap.”
Sirens sounded and the engine company, bearing the water, screeched to a halt. The truck, with ladders, was right behind. The guys strode to Rafe.
He said, “No BC on site. Any captains on your squads?”
“Only a lieutenant.”
“Us too.”
“Then I’m in charge. Engine 6 set up an exterior attack on the second floor.”
They made the hydrant and dragged the hose line into the building. Rafe said, “Truck 1, stand by while we scope it out.” They headed inside. Looked around. Into the radio, he said, “Most of the flames are coming from the choir loft. Engine 6, you go up first. Truck 1, stand by.”
The engine company dragged in a hose, and headed up the steps, laid hose there. Amidst the noise of water slapping on fire, dark smoke started to billow down to them. Rafe handed Bronson the camera. “Search the sanctuary, looking under each pew with this.”
“Yes, sir,” Bronson said. It was laborious, back- breaking work.
“Done up here,” he heard the engine lieutenant say into the radio. The fire was doused.
“Truck 1, wait to see if we need a ladder. There are windows on the east wall. Brick and Lane, we’re going up now.”
The loft stairs were tight and close in with no light now. Halfway up he heard Brick say, “It’s hotter than hell in here, Cap.”
Firefighters’ protective gear had some drawbacks. It was cumbersome, so it slowed them down and made movement harder. Which increased heat fatigue. It was also fucking uncomfortable.
“Yeah. Heat rises. You okay?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sounds like you’re having trouble breathing.”
“The heat’s gettin’ to me.”
“Do your best, people.” It was an order and an encouragement.
At the top of the stairs, Rafe took the camera to scan the area. “Shit, the only windows up here are tall and narrow. We couldn’t get anybody through them if we needed to.”
He crossed to the organ and swept the lens over it, beneath it. “There are two bodies wedged between the organ and the floor. Brick, come to get this one, a woman. There’s debris you have to remove.”
“Lorelei go to the other side while I help Brick.” After a few seconds, they heard from her, “I can’t get him free.”
As Brick cleared the way to the victim, Rafe went around to Lane. “Move back.”
On his knees, Rafe shined his flashlight. “The person’s coat is stuck. I can’t get under there. Lane, you’re small enough to fit. Got a knife?”
“Yes sir.” She dropped to her knees, then her stomach and inched her way inside. Soon, she inched out. “We can pull out the man, now, Cap.” He struggled with the weight.
When they got the victim freed, Rafe evaluated his size. “Help me get him over my shoulder. I don’t think we can make it down those steps by holding his arms and legs.”
Rafe hefted his man up and staggered forward. Lane steadied him. He struggled to stay upright while descending the steps. Behind him, he heard, Lane say, “Doin’ good, Brick?”
“Yep. Got mine out from under the debris.” He heard grunts from his friend. “Lane, you takin’ up the rear?”
“Yes, sir.”
They reached the floor and he said, “Bronson, update.”
“About done.”
“We’ll head out.” He hauled himself and his victim toward the exit.
They’d almost reached it when Lorelei shrieked, “Oh, oh, Cap, Brick went down.”
“Went down to his knees?”
“No, he collapsed forward.”
Rafe tripped his mayday alarm. A high-pitched screeching rent the air. In seconds, Bronson and Ernst relieved Rafe of the man he carried, and Murray scooped up the victim who’d gone forward with Brick. “Truck 1, go out first.”
His heart beating fast, he said, “I’ll get Brick under the arms. Ruggero take his legs.”
It seemed to take forever before they dragged Brick outside. Not only was he heavy but they were experiencing muscle saturation.
The truck guys rushed forward. They relieved Bronson of his victim, but Rafe laid Brick down, yanked off his air pack, then Rafe’s own and looked up when he heard an ambulance screeched to a halt. A second one came in behind. Rafe was loosening Brick’s coat when the paramedics came over with two gurneys. They placed the woman on one, then waited and Ruggero and Rafe lifted Brick to the other.
When he was flat out on the stretcher, Ernst, their own paramedic, bent over Brick. “Breath sounds are thready. They…oh, my God, he crashed!” Ernst vaulted onto the gurney and straddled Brick. He linked his hands and pushed on Brick’s chest, counting, pushing again. Rafe yelled, “Get the paddles ready inside to ambo.”
But before they moved, Ernst pronounced, “Got a pulse again. We need to get him to the hospital right away.”
Rafe helped get the stretcher into the ambulance, and Ernst jumped into the back with him. Rafe did, too. He wasn’t leaving his men to take the critical trek to Memorial Hospital alone.
o0o
After the first session and a break, Olive called for group work, this time, preassigned. Kate moved her desk to the others to participate in the activities. She wished Mattison was among them but their tent nametags read, Lou Fallon, Jasmine Lowden, Mark Angeles.
They focused their gazes to her.
“What?”
“You’re the refresher,” Fallon said. “You should lead the group.”
“Nope, it would be better if one of you did for the experience.”
“Why are you here anyway?” Lowden asked. Her tone bordered on hostile. So, there would be friction from others.
“I was a firefighter for five years. Then I left town and had a family, but my husband died, so I came to Hidden Cove to get back into firefighting. I didn’t join a fire department in those years for personal reasons.”
“See.” Angeles poked Lowden in the arm. “I told you there was a good reason.”
“You gonna screw the weekly grade curves?” Fallon again.
“The academy doesn’t grade on a curve. I checked that out before I started.”
Mattison, in the next group over, turned to them. “I didn’t know that.” Apparently, he’d eavesdropped.
“You must be happy, Mattison, we all know you want to be valedictorian.” Angeles again.
Lowden rolled her eyes at the byplay. Then she said, “All right, I’ll be the leader.”
Once they got into content, everybody worked together, causing Kate to breathe a sigh of relief. When the task ended, and they were moving chairs back into their original place, Mitch Malvaso came into the room. This time, even though they were involved in straightening up, the recruits stood at attention. He told them to sit, then said something to Olive. Her eyes widened with alarm when she pointed out Kate.
Mitch reached her. “I’m taking you with me, Cassidy.”
Maintaining her composure was hard but she strode out of the room with him. Once in the hall, she touched his arm. “Is it Rafe? He’s on days this week.”
“No, it’s Mark Sykes.”
“Brick?”
“Yeah, he collapsed during a fire. Rafe and the others are being treated for smoke inhalation, and muscle fatigue, but word is they’re fine. The jury’s still out on Brick.”
Kate tried to stay calm
, but she kept thinking about the things Brick had taught her, how he kept her on her toes but in a kind way. He was only in his mid-forties.
Silently, they walked outside to Mitch’s jeep and climbed in. They got on the road, with the light circling on top. Mitch reached over and took her hand. “I know you were close to Brick. What’s more, Rafe adores him. I thought you’d want to be there.”
“I do. Thanks for thinking of me.”
“We’ll both have to be strong for the crew and the rest of the smoke eaters who’ll hear and come to the hospital when they can.”
“It’s that serious?”
“Brick coded, Kate. Ernst got him back.”
“Oh my God.” She wanted to weep, but Mitch was right. They had to be strong. “No offense to you, but are the troops up to date on their physicals?”
“Since I read them the riot act, they better be, or I swear, heads will roll.”
She squeezed his fingers. “Decisions shouldn’t be made in the heat of the crisis, Mitch.”
“You’re right.” He was silent for a bit. “And I know for sure that their SCBA had been sent out for checking and are up to par.”
Toxins and carbons could filter in with defective valves. There was so much to worry about in firefighting.
The hospital was close to the fire academy because it also served surrounding towns, so they arrived in ten minutes. They parked, hurried out and inside to emergency.
At the reception desk, Mitch declared, “I’m Chief Malvaso. I’m here about my firefighters.”
“I recognize you, Chief.” The receptionist’s eyes were filled with concern. “They’re all in cubicles in the treatment area. Except for Firefighter Sykes. He’s up in cardio.”
“Cardio?”
“Yeah, he had a heart attack.”
Kate gasped, Mitch grabbed her arm and they strode to the treatment area. “You check on Rafe. I’ll see to the squad. Then I’m gonna get some news on Brick.”
She asked a nurse and found Rafe in his curtained off cubicle. He rested in bed, eerily still, dressed in a gown, oxygen covering his nose and mouth. Eyes closed, his head was thrown back on the pillow. Even from here, she could read the rigidity in his body. He was worried.
As she crossed the room, Kate could smell the acrid odor of fire from his clothes and skin and saw now his face was still blackened from the fire he fought. She touched his arm and his eyes flew open. Then he took off the mask. “Kate, what are you doing here? Did Brick die?”
“No more news on him, yet. Mitch brought me with him and he went up to see about Brick.”
He grabbed her hand. “He had a heart attack.”
“I heard.”
“The others?”
“Mitch was going to check on them first.”
He half jack-knifed up. “I’m ready to get dressed and go.”
“No!” She pushed him down.
“Kate, you can’t keep me here.”
Men! “Yes, I can. As your son’s mother, I’m not going to let you do something to jeopardize your health.”
“I’m okay, Katie.” His voice softened, probably sensing the fear of loss in her.
“Then, we’ll wait till you’re released by a doctor.”
He relaxed. “You told me you wouldn’t use Tommy to get me to do what you want.”
“I won’t dignify that with an answer. Besides, Mitch ordered me to corral you.”
He grunted.
“Tell me about Brick. Did he exhibit any signs of heart failure before today?” They both knew heart failure was the leading cause of firefighter deaths. Close to fifty-percent
“I never saw any.” A pause. “He complained of the heat in the fire. He was breathing hard. Which puts more stress on the heart.”
“Let’s wait and see.”
“Should I have sent him out?”
“Have you ever sent a twenty-year veteran out of a fire because he was hot? Breathing hard?”
“No.”
“Then stop second-guessing yourself.” She picked up the mask. “Now put this on and I’ll wait quietly with you.”
He reached for her hand again. “Tell me stories about Tommy’s first five years.”
“I can do that.” She conjured up her favorite memories and began reciting them. “When he was born…”
Fifteen minutes later, a young doctor in green scrubs pushed back the curtains. “Hello, Captain. Your arterial blood draw showed oxygen levels at eight-five. That was an hour ago.” He put a clothespin like device—an oximeter—on Rafe’s finger. “Let me read this.” He waited. “Up to 95. You’re good to go. I already saw the others, and they’re being released, too.”
As soon as the curtain was shoved in place, Rafe threw back the covers. Kate went to the chair and retrieved his clothes, put them on the bed. “I’ll leave so you can get dressed.”
“No, don’t.” He started to shrug out of the gown. “I want you with me.”
“All right.” Despite the gravity of the situation, she took pleasure the sight of his bare back, his tight butt and his long, powerful legs before he covered them.
He held out his hand again. “Let’s go to the cardiac care unit.”
His crew was waiting in the hall. They startled some, probably at the site of Rafe holding her hand. He let it drop and they all headed upstairs.
o0o
“Double by-pass surgery. Two arteries are completely clogged. One partly.” Mitch’s voice was gruff as he addressed Brick’s crew.
Rafe had extensive EMS training, exceeding the required courses. He knew what this meant.
The others, who’d gathered with Rafe, expressed their concern. Rafe didn’t know how to console them so he was glad the department psychologist showed up. Jack stood next to Mitch. “I’m here for moral support.”
Mitch scanned them all. “He coded again, so they rushed him into the OR.”
Kate moved in closer to Rafe so their bodies touched.
“How long will this take?” Rafe wanted to know.
“Don’t know.” Again, Mitch’s voice was strained. “The day group’s on, so you’re all officially off duty.”
“Should I go back to the academy?” Kate asked.
“No!” This from Rafe. “Please, Mitch, I want her here.”
Jack stepped forward. “Mitch told me to call Olive. Kate’s freed up, too.” To her he said, “We all know you and Brick were close.”
“Where’s Brick’s family?” Beth asked.
“His wife’s visiting a friend about two hours away. The kids are in school now. She should be here soon, probably with them.”
When Mitch left, and the group dispersed, Jack stayed with Rafe and Kate. “This isn’t all on your shoulders, Rafe. I plan to come to the firehouse a couple of times to meet with your crew, let them get out their worry. Make some health suggestions, too. We forget this could happen to any of us.” He squeezed Kate’s arm and turned to leave. “And I’m here for you, too.”
“I know, Jack, thanks.”
Rafe pivoted around to face her. He put his hands on her arms. “I’m sorry, Kate. I’ve been selfish. I…forgot you two were that close.”
“You don’t have to think about me when you’re so upset.”
“You must be crazy with worry, too.”
“I am.” She reached up and swiped his face. “You’ve got soot here.”
He mimicked her actions and came back with a dirty hand. “Shit.”
He took a quick trip to the bathroom, and then they moved to a small table. She sat across from him, and Rafe watched her. Her blue eyes were grayish now, how they got when she was upset. “I still feel selfish not remembering your relationship with Brick.”
“Rafe, you’ve been through hell. The fire was brutal. And worry obliterates everything else.”
“I remember one of the times you got hurt. You fell down the stairs in a fire and were knocked out. I was frantic when I heard.”
She gave a sad smile. “I remember how you came ho
me every day to cheer me up.”
They’d made love, nooners, they called them. “I remember, too.”
His crew approached them. They were dragging and sad. “Cap?” Beth asked. They were looking for guidance.
“Let me introduce you to Kate Cassidy.” He went around and named Ernst, Lane, Murray, Ruggero and Beth herself. They greeted her, cordially, if not warmly.
Rafe said, “Anyone who wants to go home can.”
Beth snorted. “As if. Can we stay or will we be intruding?”
“No, stay, Beth, you should be here. I’m sure Carol will want to see you.”
Beth put a hand on Rafe’s shoulder. “We’ll be around.”
When she left, Kate stared after the group. “Beth seems nice.”
“She is. And she’s a hell of a firefighter.” He arched a brow. “Almost as good as you were.”
“I hope I get back to that. Tomorrow are confidence walks.”
Even Rafe groaned at them.
There was commotion near the door. Both looked over. Brick’s wife had arrived.
Carol searched the waiting room, probably for Rafe. He stood. “I’ve got to go over.”
“Go ahead.”
“You, too.”
“No, your group should see her before I do. Besides, she’ll be shocked to see me. Delay that till she gets her bearings.”
He didn’t like it, but Carol needed him, so he strode to the entrance. Rafe hugged her. “I’m so sorry about this, Carol.”
“Mitch said Mark’s in surgery? He had a heart attack?”
“Yeah.” He explained how it went down. “Did he have any warning signs at home?”
“No, none.”
“Not at work, either. Want to sit and wait with us?”
“I’ll talk to the group first. They must be frantic.” Carol was a thoughtful woman who worried about others before herself.
When he motioned his crew over, there were hugs and encouragement. Rafe was proud of his people.
Mitch was last to greet her. He put his hand on her arm. “Carol.”
She swallowed hard. A firefighter’s wife learned to accept the risks they took, and when something did happen, not to think the worst. Firefighters got hurt! “Mitch.”