Sunset Flames_Baytown Boys

by Maryann Jordan

  The gathering erupted in more cheers as Zac sat, stunned at the mayor’s way of announcing the decision. Smiling, he stood and waved as more well-wishers clapped him on the back.

  Jumping up, Madelyn hugged him tightly before he dipped his head and planted a kiss on her lips, bringing more cheers from their friends.

  “I’m so happy for you,” she said, her eyes shining. “What a day for both of us!”

  “Leave it to Corwin to make your announcement part of his speech, stealing your thunder,” Brogan grumbled as others rolled their eyes.

  “Whatever,” Zac replied with a laugh. “I’m just glad I got the position.”

  “What will they do about the Fire Chief?” Tori asked.

  “They’ll now be able to officially advertise for the position and review applications.”

  “So, you’ll still do both jobs until they decide?” Jillian asked, her brow crinkled with concern.

  “Pretty much the same as what I’m doing now, but I’ve told Corwin and the town manager, Silas, that they need to make a decision by the time the grant money comes in for my position, which is in about three weeks. After that, they’ll be without a Fire Chief.”

  After another hour, he turned reluctantly toward Madelyn and said, “I hate to do this, but I’ve got to go finish the cleanup of the station. You want to hang here?”

  She thought for a moment before saying, “You know, I think I’ll head home. This is great and I love hanging out with everyone, but now that I know I have a new job, I’d like to get some work done this evening before I meet the realtor tomorrow.”

  Thinking about a realtor, he said with a grin, “Can I come over later? I’ve got a surprise to share with you.”

  Lifting her eyebrow, she said, “I love what you share with me.”

  Barking out a laugh, he kissed her again, and said, “I’ll come to your place when the cleanup is finished.”

  It took Madelyn a while to walk to her car and get out of town as the large crowds dispersed. The fundraising party was going to continue tomorrow night and end with fireworks seen from the town beach. Anxious to get home so she had some time to prepare for her meeting with Charles on Monday, she was glad to finally pull into the drive of her father’s home.

  Sitting in the car for a moment in the dark, she peered at the house, just visible in the moonlight. She had left a few lights on and was suddenly hit with a memory of coming home with her parents one night from the county fair. She had always loved the little house, her mother’s flowers planted along the walk and the porch swing creaking in the breeze. Giving her head a little shake, she climbed out of the car and walked toward the front door.

  A piece of paper was stuck to the door, partially hidden behind the screen. Curious, she pulled it down as she unlocked the door and walked inside. Tossing her keys to the small table she had left in the near empty house, she kicked off her boots before opening the folded paper.

  Keep your mouth shut. I know who you’re dating. If not, the next fire will be your house, not the shed.

  Gasping, she dropped the paper onto the floor as she dug in her purse for her phone.

  27

  Driving up to Madelyn’s father’s house, rage firing through his blood, Zac’s mood was similar to when he arrived when the shed was on fire. He had his phone on vibrate in his pocket and did not hear her call, so when Grant swung by the station to tell him about the 9-1-1 call she had made, fear gripped his heart.

  Seeing several police and sheriff vehicles outside the house, he squealed to a stop, his tires kicking up gravel behind his truck. Jumping out, he raced to the door, slamming it open as he entered, seeing her sitting on the sofa. The almost bare room was filled with people.

  Her pale face looked up, but she had barely stood before he advanced, his arms clasping her to his chest. Looking over her head toward the dining room where Colt and Mitch stood talking, he caught Mitch’s eyes. Both men walked over, showing him the note which had been bagged for evidence.

  “Why would they threaten me now?” Madelyn asked, leaning her head back to peer at the others in the room. “If I could identify them, wouldn’t I have already done so?”

  “I don’t know,” Mitch said, “but I’ve got the feeling that they laid low for a bit, wondering if you were going to identify them. Plus, you and Zac have now gone public with your relationship, so that might have brought out some fears. Now the desire to start another fire is growing, but with that desire, comes fear that they might be caught.”

  Rubbing her brow, she shook her head. “I’m so tired of having to leave this house.” A nervous snort erupted, as she added, “I couldn’t wait to get out of it and now that I’m being forced to, it pisses me off.”

  Colt said, “This escalates things, which means this person is getting desperate. I know it doesn’t feel like a good thing, but desperate people make mistakes.”

  Looking down at her, Zac said, “Babe, go get your stuff. I’ve got you.”

  She nodded. “I can’t believe I have to hide out in the Fire Station again.” Quickly amending, she said, “Not that I don’t want to be with you, but…” Sighing, she left the room and walked up the stairs.”

  “You got this?” Mitch asked.

  “Got everyone on it now. I made a call as I was driving here. By the time we get there, at least the basics will be covered.”

  Mitch nodded as he walked over and placed a hand on Zac’s shoulder. “We didn’t even get a chance to congratulate you properly.”

  Hanging his head, he said, “She just found out that she got hired at the Eastern Shore Mental Health Group today also. I wanted to celebrate, not have to worry about some nut-job burning down the county or threatening my girlfriend.”

  “I’ll have the officer on night patrol go by your place on a rotation,” Mitch promised.

  Colt jumped in, “And I’ll have a sheriff car patrol by this place, even if she’s not staying here.”

  Ginny walked in the room, clearing her throat, gaining their attention. With a head jerk, she indicated that Madelyn was walking back down the stairs.

  As she entered the room, with her suitcases and a laptop bag slung over her shoulder, she said, “I’m ready.”

  He hated the defeat in her voice and vowed to make her feel safe.

  Ten minutes later, they drove down a residential street in Baytown. He glanced to the side, but it appeared she did not notice where they were heading. He reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a little squeeze. He drove around two SUVs parked on the street and on to a short, concrete drive.

  Madelyn’s gaze drifted to the scene in front of her, seeing a small house, nestled behind a large tree in the front yard. Brogan and Aiden were coming out of the house, their faces matched in grimness.

  “Stay here, sweetheart,” Zac said before climbing out of the driver’s side.

  She watched as the three men stood on the front walk for a few minutes talking, angry air swirling around them. Katelyn and Belle walked out of the house and, with glances at the male trio, hurried over to the car. Opening her door, she barely had time to step out when Belle engulfed her in a hug, quickly followed by Katelyn.

  “You poor thing,” Belle gushed. “If you need anything, you call.”

  “Whose house is this?” she asked, just as Zac stalked over to her. She watched as both women offered him a smile before they, and Aiden and Brogan, moved to their vehicles. Her brow lined with concern as she turned back to him. “Zac?”

  “Come on, let’s get you inside,” he said, ushering her up the front steps.

  He led her into the open living room, furnished with only the old sofa, end table, and lamp from his firehouse apartment. A brick fireplace centered on one wall and the rest of the room was painted a pale bluish-grey. His flat-screen TV rested on a stand on the floor.

  She turned to see a small, empty dining room on the other side of the hall. Lifting her eyes to his face, she caught the sheepish grin.

  “Look, none of
this is going the way I wanted it to,” he confessed, tossing his hands out to the side.

  “I don’t understand,” she said, but was interrupted before she had a chance to say anything else.

  He slid his hands down her arms and took her cold fingers in his own. Leading her to the sofa, he sat, pulling her down next to him. “Okay, here’s the deal. I’ve been thinking for a while that I wanted to get a place. Somehow the idea of continuing to live in the fire station apartment began feeling more like a place to crash and not any real home. So, I already had the idea of finding a place to rent on my mind, before I met you. Then, after we got together, the apartment seemed rather…dorm-like. Not the place I wanted to bring you to.”

  “But this? This is yours? Since when?” she asked, her voice filled with surprise.

  “I actually signed the rental papers the other day and was going to get my stuff moved in and buy a few more things before I brought you here.” Pulling her closer, he said, “I had the guys help move some things yesterday, but then when I got the call from Mitch, I knew I had to get you out of your dad’s house immediately. So, I asked Brogan to grab the rest of my stuff and get it here. He got Aiden to help and Katelyn to go get some food.”

  Blinking, she said, “They dropped everything they were doing at the town fundraising festival to take care of this?”

  A slow smile crept over his face as his hands cupped her cheeks. “Baby, you still don’t get it, do you? This…this is what Baytown does. These are what our friends will do. And I know that when one of them needs us, we’ll step in as well.”

  Kissing her lightly, he watched as concern moved through her eyes.

  “Zac, this is wonderful for you, but please tell me you didn’t do this just for me?”

  “I didn’t…not just for you. I did it for me, as well.”

  She bit her lip in uncertainty and dropped her eyes. “I know I need to stay here for protection right now, but I can’t move in with you. Not permanently. We’re too new. This is too fast. If I hadn’t been threatened, I’d still be at my dad’s place until it sold—”

  “This is not me rushing you,” he assured. “You’re right…for now, you need to be here where you are more protected. There are neighbors on either side and right behind us, instead of out by yourself at your dad’s isolated house. But, I promise, as glad as I am to have you here, I’m not rushing this relationship. I want it. I want you. But I want you to be comfortable with us as well. Okay?”

  Seeing her lips curl into a slight smile, he kissed her lightly once more before saying, “Let me show you around and then I’ll bring your things in.”

  Standing, he walked her down the hall to the kitchen. She viewed the large room filled with white cabinets and pale, yellow walls. He opened the refrigerator and she peered in, stunned at the food the girls had provided.

  His bar stools had been placed at the breakfast bar, giving them a place to eat since there was no dining room furniture.

  She peeked into the half bathroom and then into the laundry room.

  “The backyard is through that door,” he explained, pointing to the door at the back of the room. “There’s a patio and small, fenced-in yard.”

  He walked back down the hall, his fingers linked with hers. Ascending the stairs, he said, “I think you’ll really like this.”

  As they entered the upstairs bedroom, she gasped at the space. “Oh, my,” she breathed. The room only held his bed, nightstand, and dresser, but it was so large, it could easily hold more. The ceiling was slightly sloped on the ends, but most of the room had full, high ceilings. She allowed him to pull her toward the bathroom, where she discovered a large, airy room, complete with a deep tub, separate shower, long counter with double sinks and a separate small room for the toilet.

  “This is amazing,” she said, her focus on the bathtub and the long soak to come.

  “I can tell you need that tub more than anything. Come on, first things first.” Walking back downstairs, he said, “Why don’t you find something the girls brought over that just needs to be nuked to eat and I’ll get your things from the car.”

  As he walked outside, she rummaged through the refrigerator and found that Katelyn had brought over some of the Guinness stew that the pub had been serving for the festival. Placing it in the microwave to heat, she observed as Zac easily carried her cases into the house, setting them on the floor. He stood, heaving a sigh as he walked over to her.

  Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Too heavy?”

  Chuckling, he replied, “No, smartass.” Sobering, he said, “I had this all planned out in my mind how it was going to go. I wanted to get this place fixed up a little…buy some furniture…hang curtains.” Seeing her lifted eyebrow, he corrected, “Okay, maybe not hang curtains since I have no clue what that would entail.”

  He caressed her cheek, adding, “But, I really did want to make it a bit more like a home. Then I planned on taking you to dinner, somewhere nice, before bringing you here to show you my new place. I thought it was too soon to have you move in with me, but I still hoped you would like it enough to want to spend time here. You know…someplace new and fresh. Not your dad’s house. Not the fire station.”

  She smiled, her gaze holding his as she leaned her cheek into the palm of his hand. “A real home for you…something you haven’t had since your mother died. Someplace we can start fresh in, making new memories that aren’t tied into the past.”

  “Exactly!” Not surprised that Madelyn understood him completely, Zac leaned in for a kiss. Just as he was about to take it deeper, the timer sounded on the microwave.

  Grinning, she said, “Dinner’s ready.”

  Sneaking in another kiss, he said, “To be continued?”

  “Absolutely,” she grinned in return.

  They drove by the ramshackle house, long empty with the roof partially caving in.

  “Perfect.” Their eyes stared at the drooping wooden porch. The window panes were broken in a few places. The abandoned house, eerie against the darkening sky, was just what they had been looking for. A slow smile broke over their face as they pulled into the woods nearby.

  28

  Madelyn’s eyes blinked open, the darkness outside indicating it was still nighttime. She and Zac had held each other close after her long soak in his tub. Falling asleep in his arms, she had been jarred awake when his phone went off.

  He had dressed quickly before bending over to place a kiss on her forehead. “Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

  Sitting up in bed, she realized he had been gone for hours and sighed, hoping he, and the other rescue team, were okay. I wonder if the arsonist struck again. After going to the bathroom, she crawled back into his bed, pulling the covers up. As she drifted back to sleep, the image of the two figures running away from her shed fire and the rear lights on their vehicle ran through her mind.

  Zac, in full equipment, stepped into the now smoldering building, checking for live embers with two more from his crew. Anger flowed through his veins at the reckless destruction. From all outward appearances, this had to be the arsonist’s work. Carefully stepping over the charred wood, he made his way toward the back.

  Calling into the radio attached to his Bunker Coat, he cleared the room that had formerly been the kitchen. A strange sensation filled him at the realization that even though this house had been abandoned for years, it had at one time been someone’s home. He stared at where the sink still stood amongst the charred cabinets and thought of a woman looking out the window at her kids playing in the back yard. His head was weighed down with the helmet over the Nomex hood, but it did not stop him from giving it a shake to dislodge the images in his mind.

  His boots trod over the floor as he headed toward a back room, seeing Roger near the front. Stopping suddenly, his eyes landed on a lump underneath some of the wood. Oh, fucking hell, no!

  Two hours later, the medical examiner had taken the body to the morgue after giving his immediate im
pressions. “It appears smoke inhalation would have killed him first, before the burning wood fell on him.”

  Colt, Mitch, Hannah, Roger, Greg, Zac, and other law enforcement stood outside along with the volunteers still hovering in shock. Colt turned to the gathering and said, “For all the volunteers here, you knew the deal when you signed up for duty. What you see stays confidential. Don’t talk about this to the press, if you are asked. Keep everything you say through official channels. At this time, we have no identification and aren’t going to make assumptions. I know this finding is upsetting…it is to all of us. But, you must maintain your professionalism. Everyone understand?”

  With nods from all, the Fire Chiefs and Rescue Captains sent the volunteers home. Zac walked over to a visibly shaken Tad. “You okay?”

  “No one’s ever gotten hurt before,” he said.

  Nodding, Zac said, “This house was abandoned, so there’s a good chance the person who died inside was homeless, just looking for a sheltered place to sleep.” Tad had no response, so Zac continued. “You apply for the Chief’s job, you gotta be able to handle things like this. It’s not all just putting out the fires and working the traffic accidents, you know.”

  Tad rubbed his hand over his face, fatigue showing. “I know. I got this. Honest, I do. I’ve just never seen a burned body before…at least not in real life.”

  “Go on home. Get some rest. The mental health group will have some counselors come see us tomorrow. Be at the station by lunchtime.”

  Watching Tad walk away, he moved back over to the law enforcers and chiefs still present. “This ratchets up the game,” he said.

  Colt said, “State Police are already on their way and I just got a call from the FBI. They’ll be investigating as well.”