Flash Point - Savannah Kade Page 0,11
her. The women on the other shifts here had long hair. Well, two of them did. She was just the first woman on A-shift, and that made her nervous. Why didn’t A have women before? Was something wrong with it? She didn’t need that.
But Jo didn’t want to cut her hair. For some reason, that was the hill she would die on … maybe with long wet hair. Shiny, long, wet hair that she treated with expensive hair masques. She had a damn trust fund and wore a poly-blend uniform that gave her mother heart palpitations. Jo wanted her hair!
She was who she was and she wasn't going to change that for the job.
So she pulled out her—also very expensive—hairdryer and turned it to the highest heat and the highest air. It wasn't good for her hair, but she could buy some expensive treatment to repair the damage later. She just had to get it dry enough now to head back out.
A short while later, she had it French braided flush against her head. She was in uniform once again, not having quite been sure what the situation would call for.
As she stepped into the chief's office, she noticed Sebastian Kane stood up from where he was eating a bowl of chili at the table and came into the office, too. Only after she sat down did she realize he'd carried a second bowl. He held it out for her, a square of cornbread sitting on top.
“Eat,” he said, “I think we're going back out.”
She took the bowl politely though she wasn't quite keen on the heavy handedness of his instruction. Jo held her tongue and reminded herself, it probably didn't mean anything. Most of it didn't.
When Taggert nodded at them, she dug in. And Sebastian spooned more chili from his already half empty bowl again.
“We're going out.” Taggert told them, though it was clear he wasn’t sending the whole shift. “You two and Kelly and Phillips.”
Phillips, ugh. Jo thought. He was such an ass. She wondered if the expression had crossed her face, because Taggert immediately told them, “Huston, you're with Kelly. Kane, you're with Phillips.”
Though he’d been mid-bite, Sebastian somehow managed to press his lips together. For a moment, Jo felt the satisfaction of knowing that she wasn't the only one who didn't like the asshole.
“We have two more kids out.”
Holy crap, Jo thought but couldn’t say as her mouth was full. The chili was damn good, and she wished she could slow down enough to enjoy it.
“The fire’s been knocked down, basically out before I left. But Leo—,” the chief paused, “—Leo Evans, the park ranger—” he made a motion with his finger as though that helped fill in what she needed to know, “—he interviewed the family of the first two missing boys.”
“But they’re safe?” Sebastian asked, his spoon making a noise as it hit the empty bottom of his bowl. Jo needed to catch up.
“Yes, but it turns out it wasn't just the one set of brothers. It was two sets.” Taggert tipped his head as if to say, what are you going to do? “Each said that they were staying over at the other's house. The Winter boys were trying not to get their friends in trouble.”
By leaving them out in the cold with a raging forest fire? Jo thought, but then again, she'd never quite understood how kids managed to reason their way through things.
“Leo’s in charge. He's got a few of his own people. We’re filling in. There will be a pair from the Beatrice department as well. I think only ten total, all trained.”
That’s why she was here. Why Kane was here. Why he wasn’t out in the main room calling them all together. It was dark and cold and a storm front was coming in. Only the best were getting sent.
She hated that there were kids out there, but Jo relished the chance to prove that she was actually the best. Even if she wasn’t the one to pull the kid out of a dangerous position, she could prove she was a worthy part of the team.
“So the four of you will head out. Hernandez will follow with the ambulance.”
Jo didn't like the sound of that. They could have just as easily taken the truck. Hell, it would handle the roads up there better. If chief was sending the ambulance, then he was afraid they were going to need it.
Chapter Eight
Leo banged his fist on the steering wheel. It was