Man's Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5) - Roxanne St. Claire Page 0,96

this man were never brief or casual. “Yes, sir.”

“I saw you signed them out.” His ebony eyes slid over Declan’s face. “What brought that on?”

“If you don’t know that I’ve been hanging out with Evie Hewitt and spending time at her house, then you would be the last person in Bitter Bark to have heard the news.”

He laughed and pointed a meaty finger. “Just checkin’ to see if you’d be real with me, Mahoney.”

“Always, Chief.”

His smile faded a little as he rubbed a hand over his shiny dome. “What’d you find out?”

“Nothing,” he said. “Case is closed, as it should be after an investigation that thorough.”

Owen leaned back, crossing his arms. “I’m sorry I never met your dad, Declan.”

“So am I. You’d have liked each other.”

“I certainly like his sons,” he said. “If they tell me anything about the man, my guess is he was wise, kind, and a skilled firefighter.”

Declan nodded his thanks. “He was all that and more.”

Chief leaned forward and tapped the box. “I’ve heard he wasn’t one to make mistakes on the job.”

The comment reached down and twisted Declan’s gut. Forget the lighter fluid. Not knowing what had caused his dad to make a decision that cost him his life was what really unsettled him. He’d get over it—he had to—but it was like a low-grade hum of discomfort now.

“But as we all know, it only takes one mistake,” Declan replied. “And you can never know what’s going to happen in a fire.”

Chief nodded, as if he knew Declan needed to make the statement.

“You know what might help you?”

He didn’t know he needed help, but leveled his gaze at his boss. “Six more personnel reports on your desk by tomorrow?”

Chief gave a hearty laugh. “Well, other than that, of course. You should talk to some of the men who were there.”

“I have, the ones that are still around. Dad’s partner on that fire is also gone, as you know.”

“But there are others. Have you reviewed the list to see who’s still in town, or who you could call?”

No, and he didn’t want to. He’d made a promise. “I haven’t.”

“I can get a list for you.”

“That’s all right, Chief, I—”

“It could help you.”

Again, he honestly didn’t need help. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. You’re doubting your father, and that is never fine. I say that as a man with three kids.”

Actually, he was doubting the investigators—including the eccentric one—but maybe Chief was right. Maybe part of his need to look further into this case was so Joe Mahoney’s halo could be restored.

“I’ll get you a complete list.” Chief said it the way he said anything that left no room for negotiating.

Declan fought a sigh. He wasn’t going to go off and interview guys who’d worked here twenty years ago. If they knew anything, it would have been included in the reports. Unless…someone was hiding something, like Kirby Lewis had suggested.

Damn it. “Okay, thanks.”

“Now, let’s talk about something else.” Chief locked his hands behind his bald head, his huge biceps bulging. “My knees.”

“Oh yeah. I know they’ve been killing you.” He eyed the other man, knowing there was more to this part of the conversation than him moaning about his knees. “Are you going to get the surgery? I can cover for you if—”

“Oh, I know you can. But I don’t want you to cover for me, Dec.”

“Oh, okay.” He’d give that role to one of the other two captains?

“I want you to take over my job.”

Declan stared at him for a moment. “For…good?”

“For as long as you want it.”

“You’re quitting?”

“They call it retirement, son, and it’s a fine-sounding word.” He held up a hand to stave off arguments. “I know I’m only fifty, but Lizzie wants to live at the beach, and the retirement package is good, and the kids are getting older, so…” He leaned forward. “You’re the only man in this department I’d consider, and if you mention that to the two other captains, well…” He shrugged. “You won’t have to, because they’ll know when it’s announced.”

Declan fell back in his chair. “Whoa. I didn’t think it would be quite this soon.”

“Neither did I, to be honest. And I might have hung in there ten more years if I didn’t know such a good chief was waiting in the wings.”

“That’s…wow. Thank you. I’m honored. I’m ready.” He added a laugh as an unexpected zing shot through him.

“It’s a big change, you know. Way less action, and I think you’d miss the action. I mean, for