Bayview Heights Trilogy (94 page)

Rachel backed off and sat down when they
hugged.

Gabe smiled broadly. “It was great seeing
Megan at the camp.”

The Hidden Cove firefighters and police
officers had begun a summer camp for the children of slain members
three years ago, Hale’s Haven, and the organization grew bigger
every year. Rachel had volunteered for a week this year but not the
one Gabe had worked at. Intentionally.

“Yeah, she’s busy with our toddler, her job
and my teenagers,” Mitch told him. “I’m glad she could get away to
work at the camp.”

“I hear Sabina’s been a great help.”

Mitch had bought his mother’s house when he
and his cop wife married and now grandma took care of their
three-year-old, Sabby.

“She has.” He patted Gabe on the shoulder.
“Gotta run. I wanted to touch base. You did as good as you could
today.”

“Thanks, ‘cuz.”

When Chief Malvaso left, Rachel stood again
and crossed the short distance to Gabe. “Hey, Cap.”

Up close, those dark chocolate eyes focused
on her intently, sparking with remnants of anger in them. His brown
hair was a little longer than he usually wore it. And damn it, his
woodsy after shave filled her head.

“Hey, Wellington.”

She noticed he never used the
princess
nickname and always called her Wellington. That
was common among firefighters, especially when they were in a
burning building with another group who might have a Rachel or Tony
inside the structure. But Gabe
never
used her given
name.

“I, um, wanted to ask what housework I’m
assigned today because I’m taking two extra days of furlough
besides our four days off. I’m leaving at noon. Not a good time, I
guess, to do that.”

“It’s fine. This shit with the reporter is
making me crazy but I refuse to deny my squad the time they need
off for doctor’s appointments or the like.”

It wasn’t a doctor’s appointment, but she’d
be damned if she let her group know where she was going. “Thanks.
I’ll do my chores now if you tell me what they are.”

“Felicia made up the list today. It’s already
posted.”

“Oh, okay.” She hesitated, not wanted to
leave him yet. That had happened a lot lately. “I’m sorry you had
to be the bearer of bad news.”

Sighing, he shook his head. “I can’t believe
society is so down on us after all those accolades in 2001. Hell,
some states are even trying to take away our collective bargaining
rights.”

“People always go back to their old ways when
a crisis is over.”

He gave her a little smile that jumpstarted
her heart. “You’re pretty young to be that cynical,
Wellington.”

“I’m older than my years. In any case, you
did a good job, like your cousin said.”

“Thanks.” She was shocked when he reached out
and touched her arm. Oh, he showed affection to other group
members, but rarely to her. “Is everything okay? With the time off
you need? You’re not sick, are you?”

“Nope, it’s a family thing.”

Cocking his head, he studied her, his intense
gaze making her nerves jitter. She tried not to fidget. “You been
working here eighteen months and we still don’t know much about
your family.”

“That’s okay, you don’t want to. You’re lucky
to be part of the Malvaso clan.” She gave him a weak smile. “I’ll
head out.”

He nodded. “Take care, then.”

Rachel left thinking about the Malvaso family
gatherings and the fun escapades they had together that were legend
in the department. But comparing her family to them wasn’t the
worst part of being around Gabe Malvaso.

Her main concern was that she had the hots
for her captain and her feelings were totally unprofessional, not
to mention more than stupid for a woman in today’s fire
department.

o0o

The abandoned building on Jay Street was
already filled with smoke when Rescue 7 pulled up to the site. As
soon as the truck stopped, Gabe hopped off and headed to Incident
Command. Cal Erikson was already directing the action from a
computer on the hood of his jeep. The machine contained the
blueprints of the building filed with the city.

“What’s the status?” Gabe asked the
chief.

“The structure’s abandoned. But you know what
that means.”

“Homeless people inside.”

“Engine 17 and 23 are laying hose. Truck 5 is
getting ladders up and broaching the front access. As soon as
they’re in place, take your group around back.” When Gabe started
to walk away, Cal stopped him. “Be careful, these old
buildings--”

“Hello, Chief.”

Glancing to the other side of Cal, Gabe saw a
tall brunette with skeins of black hair, her cheeks flushed with
excitement, had come up to them.

Cal stiffened. “Ms. Allen, chasing fires
now?” His voice was cold and sarcastic.

“I am.” Her violent eyes flashed at the
battalion chief. “Since you keep emailing me about how brave and
worthy your guys are, I thought I’d come to a few calls and see for
myself.”

“Emails, and calls, you never answer.”

Gabe said, “Chief, my guys need to talk about
back entry.”

Subtly, Erikson gave Allen his back
effectively closing her out. Gabe’s group needed no such thing but
Cal would be glad to be rid of Lois Lane.

In five minutes, Gabe’s group was inside the
building. The interior of the former department store consisted of
large open spaces, which might make finding trapped victims easier.
The fire was rolling but the smoke wasn’t yet thick enough to blind
them, as often happened. “Keep your gear tight and SCBA secure,”
Gabe said through the radio attached to his face mask. “It’ll be
bitchin’ hot in here but don’t loosen up.”

Though their turnout gear was heavy, they
needed the fireproof protection of helmet, bulky coats, pants and
bunker boots. Air tanks, of course, were vital.

They went slow, all six of them. When they’d
gone about twenty yards into the room, Gabe spotted a stairway
leading to the second floor. “White, take Sands up with you. See if
Truck 5 needs some help on search and rescue. O’Malley and Ramirez
go left on this floor. Wellington, you’re with me.”

They separated and Gabe said a brief prayer
that his group would be safe. He led the way through another
corridor and reached an open doorway. The basement. “Stay here,
Wellington, while I test the steps.”

As soon as Gabe went down a step, he realized
it was spongy. But when he took a few more, he realized the
staircase was too unsteady to hold up. They’d need ropes and backup
to check the basement.

A loud boom rocked the building, then a
second one. The entire structure shook and the steps shifted
beneath him. Gabe realized they were going to cave before he could
get back up. When he turned to signal Wellington, he bumped right
into her.

In seconds, the staircase collapsed and they
fell with it.