by Olivia Rush
“Who the fuck is that?” said the second man in his low voice.
On his face I spotted a long scar that started from his jaw and curved upward, stopping just at his scalp.
“I’m someone who wants to know why you’re loitering behind a potential crime scene,” I said.
“Screw you!” said the first man, a scrawny guy with pointed features.
“Let’s just get the hell out of here,” said the second man.
“Good fuckin’ call,” said the third.
With that, the three men turned on their heels and fled down the alley. I instinctively prepared to chase after them, but realized quickly that, should I even catch the men, there wouldn’t be a thing I could do. They were speaking suspiciously as hell, but it’s not like they’d openly confessed to torching the place.
I watched the three figures disappear down the alley. I shook my head and wished there was something more I could do. But I was a fireman, not a cop. That didn’t mean I wasn’t sketched out about this whole thing. There was something sketchy going on, and I was going to get to the bottom of it.
8
CHLOE
“OK!” I called out, getting the attention of all the kids.
It was the day of the field trip to the fire station, and the kids all wore expressions of childish excitement on their faces. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t also how I felt inside—I was more than a little looking forward to seeing Ethan again.
“Are you guys excited for the field trip today?”
The classroom was abuzz with multiple exclamations of, “Yes!, Woo hoo!, Heck yeah!, I sure am!!” Those were just a few of the responses I could make out but I loved seeing the smiles on their faces and hearing the excitement in their tone.
“Now, you all are big kids, and you should know the drill by this point,” I said, my hands behind my back as I paced back and forth slowly in front of the class, doing my best serious teacher voice. “The firemen down at station 128 were all nice enough to let us stop by and check out the place. So, you’re going to thank them by being on your very, very best behavior. That means no running around or anything like that. Got it?”
The kids all said “got it” at the same time. I gave them a nod and a smile.
“Now,” I said. “We’re all going to walk to the station together. I want you all to buddy-up with the person next to you. Sound good?”
“Yes, Miss Parker,” said all of the students in unison.
A small smile formed on my lips—I was pretty proud of how well behaved they were. I would like to think I had something to do with that. I had always prided myself on getting through to children and teaching them how to be respectful by giving them respect in return.
“Now, let’s go!”
The kids turned to one another and partnered up, making a pair of single-file lines with their buddies as they left the classroom. I gave a last-minute head count as they filed out. I glanced down and saw that my foot was bobbing up and down with nervous energy. I was just as excited as the kids to get to the station.
The day couldn’t have been more beautiful. The sky was a brilliant blue with a few wisps of cream-colored clouds here and there. The weather was mild, and a little breeze picked up every now and then as the kids and I made our way to the station. It was one of those days you only get a handful of a year in New York—where the weather was perfect, the city was lively without being overbearing, and everything just seemed to line up.
When we turned the corner onto the block where the station was and I spotted the pair of great, arching doors at the front of the building, it took all the restraint I had not to burst into a full sprint.
Get a hold of yourself, I thought. You’re acting like a lovestruck little kid.
It was true—Ethan had made an impression on me that I couldn’t ignore. But that didn’t mean I needed to get all giddy and doe-eyed at just the thought of him. I squared my shoulders and forced a flat, professional expression on my face as we approached the station.
Soon, the kids and I were in front of the twin steel doors. I took one more deep breath and gave them a quick rap, my heart rate picking up as I did.
Moments later the doors opened, revealing the man I’d been thinking about all day—Ethan Stokes. He was dressed in dark work pants, a pair of heavy black boots, and another one of his skintight T-shirts that set my mouth to watering instantly. A big, friendly smile broke out across his handsome features as soon as he laid eyes on the kids.
“Morning, guys!” he said, making his deep voice a little brighter and more cheerful than usual.
His eyes locked onto mine for a moment, and he flashed me a knowing look for the briefest of instants before he turned his attention back to the kids. I swallowed hard, returning his gaze.
“Guys and gals, this is Mr. Ethan Stokes,” I said. “He’s one of the very nice firemen here at station 128, and he’s going to be showing you all around today. So, what do we say to someone who’s going to be doing something that’s nice for us?”
“Thank you, Mr. Stokes,” all the kids said at once.
“You’re all more than welcome. And please, just call me Ethan. I gotta say, I’m really excited about showing you all around my job. You ready to get started?”
The kids let out a cheer, and Ethan gestured for them to come in.
I entered in last, and Ethan held the door for me.
“Good to see you,” he said, his eyes narrowed in sensual playfulness.
“Right back at you, big guy.”
He winked, sending a thrill through my body. Just the sight of him and the sound of his voice was enough to get me all hot and bothered.
The class let out quiet sounds of awe as we stepped into the main hall of the station, and I was right there with them. I’d only come in through the garage before, so the entrance was new to me. The long hall was lined with photos of firemen throughout the last century, starting with black and white pictures of men with big mustaches that looked like they were from the nineteenth century, all the way up to more modern shots of Ethan and the current crew. In the middle of the back wall was a massive mural of the station’s logo.
“Now,” said Ethan, his voice projecting through the expansive space. “A little history lesson first. Station 128 was established in 1875, and back then Williamsburg wasn’t the hip trendy area it is now—far from it. It was mostly low-income housing and warehouses.”
The kids all looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the mini-museum.
“And back then, fires were a common part of living in a big city like New York. Fire codes weren’t the same, and, well, things were just a lot less safe.”
I was a little surprised at just how much of a natural Ethan was with this. The kids watched him in rapt attention as he spoke, and he didn’t seem to have a trace of the insecurity that other men I’d known had around children. A little smile formed on my lips as I imagined Ethan in a different life, teaching English or some such in front of a classroom. I pictured him dressed in slacks and a polo, maybe even a pair of smart-looking glasses to complete the look.
A hand shot up from the throng of kids.
“Yeah?” asked Ethan
“Are you the fireman from the internet?” asked Jenny, a blonde girl. “The one who saved that girl from the burning building?”
Ethan made a half-grin, seemingly a little humbled by the question. “That was me,” he said.
Eager chatting sounded out from the kids.
“You’re so brave,” said another girl in a dreamy voice.
But Ethan, being humble, brushed it aside. “Just part of the job,” he said.
His low-key way about the subject was somehow even more attractive.
“But being a fireman isn’t all about leaping from burning buildings,” he said. “Most of the time is spent here with the rest of the crew, staying prepared and ready for anything that might happen. We’re not like regular office workers who get to go home at the end of the day—we liv
e here for days at a time, always ready to spring into action. Doesn’t matter if it’s noon or four in the morning. If the city needs us, we go.”
The kids formed up around Ethan, hanging onto his every word. Another kid, Micah, the little troublemaker, raised his hand.
“How often do you have to jump from burning buildings like that?” he asked.
Light laughter sounded out from the kids.
“Only happens when I’ve been watching too many superhero movies.”
More chuckles from the kids. He was joking around, but I could tell that in their eyes he was a superhero. Hell, after seeing him in action, it was hard not to look at him in that way. After all, he certainly had the body for it.
Ethan led the kids through the dorms, where the rest of the staff was hanging out. They said their hellos, the kids all eager to meet more real-life firemen. After the dorms, Ethan took them through the prep rooms and showed them all of the gear, the boys beside themselves with excitement at the sight of all of the equipment.
“OK,” said Ethan, clapping his hands together. “Who’s ready to see the trucks?”
The class broke into lively cries of “me, me, me.”
“Before we do, though,” said Ethan, “I think there are a couple more members of the crew that you all haven’t met yet. But just a little warning—one of them likes to lick.”
The kids were a little confused at this. But all became clear when Ethan made a brief call on the intercom. Moments later, one of the doors to the supply room opened, and in came the crew’s Dalmatian. The chief followed in behind him.
The kids eagerly greeted the dog, giving him all the pets he could possibly want.
“Gotta stop coming in with the dog,” said the chief with a smile. “He gets all the attention.”
“That’s Mitch,” said Ethan. “He keeps the place safe while we’re all on jobs.”
After letting the kids have their fun with Mitch, Ethan led them to the station garage, where two shiny red fire trucks sat parked. The kids went crazy right away, running around and trying to get a better look.
“Calm down, students,” I said. “Inside voices. Don’t wander off.”
“Let me handle this one,” said the chief, coming over to Ethan and me. “Couldn’t hurt to work on my public speaking skills.”
With a booming voice, the chief got the kids’ attention. He had them form up with military efficiency, then introduced himself as Chief Swift, and began telling them all about life as a fireman. The kids sat enthralled as he showed them around the trucks—especially when he extended the ladders up to the second floor. While the kids were busy, Ethan arrived at my side.
“It really is good to see you again,” he said.
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“You’re really something with those kids,” he said. “I can tell they really like you.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “I’ve had ’em for the whole year and you’re already showing me up.”
“Kids are easy,” he said. “And they don’t hide anything, so you know right away if you’re boring them to death.”
“It’s true,” I said. “They’re not shy about letting you know if they’re not a fan of you. But you just seem like a natural.”
He shrugged with the same casual, effortlessness that he showed toward everything else he was good at—and he was good at a lot.
The chief finished up his speech, and I could tell that the kids were getting a little restless. I checked my phone and was a little shocked to see that we’d already been here a few hours. Ethan really had a way of making the time fly by.
“All right, boys and girls,” I said as I walked in front of the seated kids. “Why don’t you all come with Ethan and the chief so we can have some lunch?”
The kids sprang out of their seats, ready for some grub. I’d had some meals brought by that morning, and they were waiting for us in the refrigerators in the kitchen area. I got the kids to form up in their usual twin single-file lines as we went up the stairs toward the cafeteria. Ethan was at my side, and I wanted to say something to him, to let him know just how great the other night had been. But my words felt muddled in my head.
The room was on the second floor, overlooking the garage, the two partially extended ladders from the trucks at eye level.
Once we all got seated, Ethan helped me pass out the lunches. However, while doing a roll call I noticed that we were short one kid—Micah.
“Any of you guys seen Micah?” I asked. “Maybe someone saw him go to the bathroom or something?”
The kids looked at one another, shaking their heads. A tinge of worry ran through me.
“Seriously, guys,” I said. “Does anyone know where Micah is?”
My eyes searched frantically around the cafeteria, as though I might find him sitting in one of the corners or under a table. But he wasn’t anywhere to be found.
“Shit,” I hissed under my breath.
Then I turned my attention back to the kids.
“All of you guys stay put and eat your lunches. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Why don’t you stay here with them?” said Ethan. “The guys and I know this place up and down—we’ll know just where to look.”
Just then, a voice behind us made it clear that we wouldn’t need to look far.
“Hey, Miss Parker!” called out a familiar voice. “Look at what I did!”
Ethan and I turned on our heels and were greeted by the sight of Micah. He’d somehow gotten down to the garage and had climbed up to the top of one of the truck ladders.
“Micha!” I shot out, my eyes going wide with fear.
The kids clamored among themselves. Ethan ran to the railing near the ladder.
“I got all the way to the top of the ladder!” he said, a big proud smile on his face.
“OK,” I said, walking slowly toward the railing, my palms in front of me. “You need to get down right now. This isn’t funny at all.”
I looked down from the railing, a sick feeling spreading out from my stomach as I realized that we were likely around two dozen feet up from the garage floor. If Micah were to fall… I didn’t even want to think about it.
“Micah, buddy,” said Ethan. “You’re up really high, little dude.”
“I know,” said Micah, still proud. “It’s awesome!”
“Only us firemen can get up on the ladder,” Ethan said. “It’s not safe unless you’ve done all the training.”
“That’s what I’m doing now!” said Micah. “I’m showing you what I can do!”
I felt lightheaded. The kids jumped up from their seats and ran to the railing.
“OK,” I said. “Fun is fun, Micah, but you need to get down right now.”
A disappointed look appeared on his face.
“OK, fine,” he said.
Relief washed over me. I had been worried that talking him down would be a difficult process.
“Just get down the ladder nice and slow,” said Ethan.
Micah carefully put his hand on the first ladder rung down. But then he glanced below him. A little shriek shot out of his mouth as he saw just how high up he was. From where I stood, I could see his grip become unsteady on the ladder.
“Miss Parker?” he said, fear creeping into his previously confident voice. “I…can’t really hold on.”
Then, one of his hands slipped off of the rung. His right foot followed, and soon he was hanging by nothing but one hand, his legs dangling below him. Gasps sounded out from the kids, and my heart began to thud in my chest.
“Miss Parker!” he shouted. “I’m gonna…I’m gonna slip!”
“Oh my god, oh my god,” said, covering my mouth.
Instinctively, I turned to Ethan. He was watching the scene unfold with that same steely expression I’d seen on his face when he’d gone into action at the flaming building.
“Ethan,” I said. “Can you go down there and catch him or something?”
“No,” said Ethan, his eyes fixed on Micah. “It’d take too long to get down there, and he doesn’t look like he’s got a very good grip on that rung.”
“Then what can we do?” I asked, my tone even more frantic.
“You can stay put. I’ve got this.”
Before I could say another word, Ethan dashed around the railing until he was near the extended ladder of the other truck.
“Micah, buddy,” he said, “I’m gonna come get you, but I’m gonna need you to hold on for just another few seconds, OK?”
“OK” said Micah, still dangling by one hand. “Miss Parker, I’m scared.”
“It’s OK, baby,” I said, trying my best to calm him down, despite the manic thudding of my heart. “Ethan’s got you.”
Truth be told, I had no idea what Ethan had in mind. I turned my eyes to him and saw that he appeared to be sizing up the distance between the railing and the ladder on the other truck.
“Ethan!” I shouted. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to jump!”
“Let me concentrate,” he said, taking a few steps back.
The kids, a mixture of excitement and fear on their little faces, looked back and forth between Ethan and Micah.
Then, with a running start, Ethan jumped. In a long arc, he leaped over the railing and toward the ladder. I couldn’t breathe, I was so nervous.
But he reached the ladder and grabbed onto it, the white form supporting his massive weight. The kids let out a gasp as he made the jump, followed by a cheer.
“Miss Parker!” shouted out Micah. “Ethan!”
My hands covered my mouth as I saw his fingers lose their grip one by one. Then, his last finger gripped and Micah began to fall.
Time seemed to freeze. All I could hear was the beating of my heart. All I could see was the expression of pure panic on Micah’s face as he realized that he was falling.
But his fall only lasted for the briefest of moments. Before he could drop, Ethan reached across the span between the two ladders and grabbed onto Micah’s wrist. A tight expression of concentration formed on Ethan’s face for a second as he supported the boy’s weight. But then he had him, and with a slow swing, Ethan brought him over to the other ladder.