A Perfect Moment

by Becca Lee

  I took a few steps away from John, looking out into the car park. I tried my hardest to take a calming breath, only to hear how ragged and uneven it was. It frustrated me even more.

  “Preston—“

  “Don’t. Just don’t, John,” I bit the words out. I didn’t want John to catch the fallout of the cluster-fuck I’d just walked into.

  Crunching gravel alerted me to John’s slow approach, no doubt thinking if he made any sudden movement I’d take my desire to beat the shit out of Ben, out on him. That would never happen. All of the fire burning in me was for Ben, and Ben alone.

  “I know, man. Shit, I get it, but you have to pull yourself together. You have five minutes to get yourself under control, and then you have to go to a meeting.” He paused and stood to the side of me. “I shouldn’t even be telling you this. If Sam knew, I’d be up on charges myself, but damn, I know it’s all a load of shit and couldn’t have you walking in there and facing the firing squad without a heads up.”

  I turned, looked at John, and nodded. I knew he was right. If Sam, our station officer, was aware of the conversation, he’d be pissed. Not that he wasn’t a nice guy, but he was a firm believer of doing everything by the book, a book I wasn’t exactly in the habit of reading. “I know. I’m glad you did. Thanks, John. I owe you one; shit, I owe you even more than that.”

  “Don’t mention it. I know you’d have my back if the situation was reversed.”

  He was right. I would fight fiercely for my brothers. Having each other’s back while out fighting fires, meant that we’d always be looking out for one another. The only way to save your own arse and the life of others was to watch out for each other, both on duty and at home.

  Apparently, Ben had no such moral code.

  No, instead, he’d decided to screw me over in yet another way.

  I nodded once more and headed inside, aware of the bitter, thick tension filling the station. The station was our second home. It had always been a place filled with laughter and pranks, but also an unconditional promise to be there for one another. As I walked past Tony and Phil who were just clocking out, they each nodded once. I knew they didn’t believe any of the shit from that one simple gesture. Immediately, my shoulders lifted a little, and I stood taller. There was no way everything I’d worked so hard for over the years would be taken from me. Not without a fight, at least.

  The chief, as we fondly called him, knowing he hated it, greeted me at his office door. His eyes told me immediately shit had just gotten real. He ushered me in with keen, wide-eyed focus, followed by a sweeping of his arm. As soon as I stepped in, I understood why. We were not alone.

  Two suits—one in a uniform that left me gulping—were sitting on straight-backed chairs at Sam’s desk. They both stood when I entered.

  “Preston Craig?” asked the shorter of the two. He had greying hair, a rounded belly and a stern mouth, and he held out his hand to give mine a firm shake. “I’m Superintendent Barry Maxwell. This here,” he indicated to the much taller man beside him, “is Detective Richards. He’s travelled in from Brisbane CBD Police Headquarters.” I looked over at Detective Richards and gave a curt nod, which was returned with a squint. “Please take a seat, Preston.”

  Sam sat next to me in the chair to my right. I hoped desperately he had my back. A stickler for rules, I knew I’d pushed Sam a few times, like the time I’d talked the guys into emptying his office of all furniture when he’d been leading a tour of the station, showing around a local MP and a reporter. I’d thought he was going to have an aneurysm, but damn if it wasn’t funny as hell. He’d practically measured his desk and cabinet’s positioning, ensuring that I placed them in the exact spot the furniture had been to begin with. Of course, anyone without balls would have used that moment as a learning example. Taken it as a time to grow up and stop riding Sam’s arse.

  Not me.

  Admittedly, a few of the things I’d done were a little outlandish, but never dangerous, and never putting anyone at risk.

  I still had no idea what the meeting was about, exactly. John had clued me in that there was a cop and a Supe of some sort waiting to see me, and the rumour spreading like bushfire all morning was that earlier today, Ben had been locked in the office with Sam, and wouldn’t be working tonight’s shift. About an hour before my shift started, the two officials had shown up and had been meeting with Sam ever since.

  Both men sat down on chairs behind Sam’s desk and began to flick through a variety of files and papers. I held myself still, desperately trying not to shift uncomfortably.

  The Superintendent cut the uneasy silence first by clearing his throat and fixing me with a hard stare. “We’ve received an allegation about your involvement in a case that Detective Richards is investigating. Detective Richards has kindly come along for an initial conversation with you before he makes a decision whether or not there’s a possibility that the allegation is true.”

  I wanted to charge up out of my seat and begin ranting at how fucking crazy this all was. Anything out of Ben’s mouth was a load of shit. Instead, I sat stock-still and asked, “What allegation, exactly?”

  Detective Richards spoke up. “There have been a series of arson attacks on businesses over the last six months. There have just been tentative links between them all, but it’s now been brought to our attention that you may have some information about this?”

  My thudding heart was set to explode. Shock and rage built deep inside me, and my stomach tied up in a knot at how ridiculous the whole damn conversation was. I bit back my desire to curse and shout, but I couldn’t quite restrain the sarcasm from my words, “Arson? Seriously? You’re asking me, a firefighter, if I’m responsible for arson attacks?

  “I asked if you had information on them. Are you aware of these attacks?”

  Of course I was. I was a firefighter, and any fire I fought, or fire I heard on the news, I paid attention to. I was aware of the reports that there was a series of random attacks on businesses, but as far as I was aware, there were no links. The businesses ranged from a bar, to a car dealership, to a local news station. I nodded. “I watch the news and have been on duty when a few of the attacks occurred, so yes, I know of the events. What I don’t understand is why you would think you need to have this conversation with me?” Ben. That bastard, Ben, was responsible. I knew this with absolute certainty.

  Sam shifted in his chair and looked at me. “We just need to get this whole mess cleared up. I have no doubt you’re innoc—“

  “What the hell?” I cut in. “You’re actually talking about me being guilty?” I aimed my question at the cop. “You think I am responsible for this?” I knew my face had turned red in rage and my hands shook. I gripped on to the arms of the chair.

  “No,” Sam interjected, “I’m not saying that. We’re not saying that. I have no doubt in my mind that this can be fixed up really easily. I talked to Maxwell and asked him to come here for this conversation, rather than hauling you off to the station.”

  “What exactly is the accusation you’re talking about?” I spoke directly to the Detective.

  “I have an eyewitness who has located you at three of the six buildings within twenty-four hours of the attacks. I would sooner be asking you this question at the station, but Sam and I go way back and he asked me to come and chat quietly with you beforehand.”

  Eyewitness? What the hell was happening? I racked my brains for the other locations of the attacks, but came up with nothing more. I certainly hadn’t been to the Toyota dealership, or the news station. I had, however, been to the bar that was attacked in the past. I thought harder and tried to recall if it was twenty-four hours beforehand but I couldn’t be sure. I couldn’t remember when the fire had been. I just knew I wasn’t on duty that night so I hadn’t been called out. “Evidence? What sort of evidence, beyond that of an eyewitness. Because obviously, if was just one eyewitness that would put him at the same location, right?”

  The Detective didn’t flinch or acknowled
ge my response to the eyewitness. “We can also access surveillance footage from two of the businesses, who had their recording fed to a central online hub.”

  “So this is all a coincidence, right? I can explain every one. And I sure to hell can have people back me up about where I was.” I paused before weighing up my next words. “It wouldn’t be Ben making these accusations against me, would it? You know he has a huge problem with me, right? My girlfriend, Ella, has just spent twenty-four hours in the hospital as a result of his handiwork. She’s going to be making a formal statement at the police station tomorrow about it.”

  The Detective’s brows lifted and the Supe sat forward as he released a breath. His deep frown had relaxed a little.

  “Damn, is she okay? What happened?” Sam asked, his voice filled with concern.

  “She has a couple of broken ribs,” my fists clenched at the thought, “and a mild concussion. I thought I’d lost her. I also have at least six witnesses of my own who can verify that what happened down in Byron was absolutely no accident.” I was becoming increasingly frustrated. I just wanted to get to the bottom of the crap storm that was brewing. I also needed to have a quiet word with Ben; one that I hoped would involve my fist connecting with his jaw. “He also spoke to Ella a few days ago at the calendar shoot, and told her a bunch of lies. Again, Ella can back me up on that. Over the last six months, I’ve had nothing longer than a five-minute conversation with Ben, mainly because we tend to work different shifts, but also because there’s something not quite right about him. Clearly, he's a lying piece of crap.”

  The Detective looked thoughtfully at me, weighing up my words. “Saturday before last there was an arson attack over at Dodson’s Mechanics on Carlisle Street. Sam, here, said you were on a week’s vacation.”

  “That’s right. I was. Today’s my first day back.”

  “What have you heard about the fire?”

  I sighed, but didn’t break eye-contact. “Just what I heard on the news the next day. They reported it as an electrical fault, though. I didn’t watch the news til later that evening when I finally got home from my sister’s wedding.” I breathed a little easier. I had been out of town.

  Sam interrupted with a pat on my back. “You see, he was at his sister’s wedding last weekend. Damn, I could have told you where he was if you’d told me that was the weekend you were focusing on.”

  The Supe, who had been quiet all of this time, spoke up, “So, Detective Richards, where do you want to go from here?”

  Leaning back in the chair, the Detective pressed the tips of his fingers together in front of him. He looked at me long and hard. “What’s your girlfriend’s name?”

  “Ella Simmonds.”

  “Okay. What I’m going to do is wait until we get her report. Tomorrow morning, did you say?” I nodded. “I’ll then have a conversation with Ben ...” he looked at his notes, “... Townsend, and see if we can get to the bottom of this. Best not talk about this to anyone here, and stay away from Ben.”

  I fisted my hands and made to speak. Sam prevented me. “That’s fine. I’ll make sure of it. Ben’s no longer working tonight’s shift, and I’ll change the schedule to make sure there’s no clashes.”

  “You can’t be serious. That son of a bitch—”

  “You’ll damn well do what you’re told, Preston,” Sam ordered. His tone was clipped.

  “Fine,” I growled. I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but the need to confront Ben was a thick urge travelling through me. Trying not to listen and act on that took a whole lot of self-control; a self-control that turned my knuckles white.

  “Okay. I just need to have a conversation with your superiors, Preston, and I’ll be in touch as soon as I have more information.” This time he stood and clasped my hand. I hoped this was a sign that he didn’t believe the bullshit about me.

  I gave his hand a firm shake, did the same with the Supe and left the office without looking back.

  The next few hours, or days, or however long this crap was going to last for was going to be hell. I just needed to get through them. And I did get through things best by throwing myself into my shift.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ella

  Jo shared my bed with me and we chatted on and off through the night. I was exhausted, but every time I moved in my sleep I would wake myself up in pain, which inevitably woke Jo up. At some point in the night, or rather early hours, we gave up, got out of bed and drank hot chocolate. I’d shared everything with Jo. Well, everything apart from the hot monkey-sex Preston and I had had. I thought that might have pushed her over the edge a little.

  When it had been clear we had done the dirty, Jo had frozen momentarily before she’d schooled her face, something I wasn’t used to from her. She usually spouted whatever popped into her brain; not this time however.

  We sat on my veranda and watched the sunrise while sipping our hot chocolate. Jo had even given me marshmallows, so I knew she was pissed at me. Sitting out on the deck, trying my damnedest not to move more than necessary, Jo finally found her voice and opinion. She’d had a lot to say about Ben—a hell of a lot—but she’d kept her opinions about Preston to herself.

  “He’s been in love with you forever, you know.”

  Apparently, there was no more pussy-footing around. I nodded. “So I’ve been told.”

  “Did you really never know? Never suspect?” Her voice was filled with disbelief and wonder.

  “Never. Your wedding, well, I was completely thrown,” I looked at her, “but you didn’t seem to be. Preston said you’ve known all this time too, and your text ...” I laughed.

  She returned my smile. “I made a promise. Hey, don’t look at me like that.” I had one of my eyebrows quirked. “I know we’ve always told each other everything, but this was different. I didn’t know how I felt about Preston’s feelings for you. To be honest, it made me want to gag. My best friend and my baby brother? Don’t even get me started on the baby part,” she teased. “But seriously, I suppose part of the reason why I made and kept the promise was I didn’t want you to be together. It would have been just freaky weird. The thought of seeing him with his tongue stuck down your throat ...” She made a gagging sound.

  “Hey.” I laughed and interrupted her, “he has a very nice tongue, I’ll have you know.”

  “No.” She put her fingers in her ears and hummed an out-of-tune la, la, la. I wanted to kick her or throw something at her. Usually I would, but I knew the jolt would hurt me more than the kick to her shin would her. She removed her fingers and smiled.

  “So, what do you think now?” I asked tentatively. I had no idea how I would react or respond if she was not okay with everything. Her random wink pre-honeymoon and her text, and the fact she didn’t want to kick the crap out of me last night I hoped were all good signs. But still I’d decided, after the crazy events of Byron that life was too short to hold back any longer. I hadn’t said as much to Preston, yet my actions of spreading my legs wide and allowing him to wreak delicious havoc on my body the previous afternoon, I assumed pretty much cleared up our non-relationship to being back on in full-swing.

  “Now?” She smiled, a bright smile that immediately brought stupid tears to my eyes. “Now, I think it’s pretty awesome. You’re both adults, and damn, if it’ll stop him from pining over your arse, that’s got to be a good thing, right? Seriously, the constant interrogation I received whenever I saw him was enough to make me want to kick him in the nuts. I’ve threatened him more than once.”

  I could just imagine their conversations and had no doubt he had come close. Jo was not renowned for her patience.

  “Plus,” she continued, her voice becoming serious, “you’ve been through so much shit with Fuckwit. It’s about time you had some happy. It’s also time you moved on. I’m sure B.O.B. would appreciate the time out.” She laughed and shuddered at the same time.

  This time I threw the cushion at her. I immediately gasped in pain, but it was worth it as the cushion h
it her square in the face.

  “Hey!”

  “Hey, yourself. You’re lucky it wasn’t something harder. You leave B.O.B. out of this.”

  She laughed. “I am happy, though. Five years is a long time to still be living in the past. Don’t get me wrong: if either of you screw this up or hurt each other, I will be kicking both your arses. I’ll have both of your backs, and I’ll never be forced to choose.” I opened my mouth speak. “No, El, I’m serious. Sometimes shit happens. I’m sure it will work out. I really hope it will work out, but I’m just putting it out there. The two of you be stupid, and I will come after the both of you. And just don’t give me sex details, okay?”

  My heart beat rapidly at her words. God, I love Jo. “Thank you. I promise I will try my hardest not to screw this up.” My words were true and filled with conviction. The last thing I wanted was to mess with any of our friendships, but I knew with absolute surety that Preston was worth the risk. “So,” I asked through a sip of my hot chocolate, “you never finished telling me about your honeymoon with that hot husband of yours. What’s it feel like being a Mrs?”

  A light blush crept over her cheeks. I grinned as red spread across her face. I could count on one hand how many times I’d seen Jo blush, and this blush now certainly piqued my curiosity. “My, my, Mrs Mason, what has you all hot and bothered?”

  With a deep groan, she put down her hot chocolate and covered her red cheeks with her hands. She peeked a look at me through a gap in her fingers. “It was ...” She trailed off.

  “Holy crap! What is it?” I struggled to read her reaction. She was embarrassed about something, but I would be damned if I knew what. It took a lot to make Jo uncomfortable. Damn, in our late teens, she regularly tried to talk me into flashing or mooning passing cars when we travelled down the highway. She’d only swayed me once while I was drunk; she, however, had done it all the bloody time. Damn, she’d done it just two weeks ago when we were on her bachelorette party.