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“You do that,” I call after her.
I try to sound unconcerned, but a flutter of anxiety stirs in my gut. Sure, I think the fire station is a better investment than the library, but I know enough about small-town politics to know that favors and connections sometimes count for more than logic and practicality.
Mikey, my vice chief, takes a few cautious steps in my direction, holding out a clipboard and a pen.
“What the crap was that?” I grab the pen and sign on a line he points to. “Who the hell does she even think she is?”
“Blaze Wilder, head librarian,” he replies. Mikey’s really good at his job but his sense of humor runs a little too dry at times.
“Yeah, I got that.”
“She’s Mayor Rankin’s sister.”
I groan as the words sink in. “Are you telling me she really is the mayor’s sister?”
Mikey nods slowly, taking back the pen and the clipboard. “Yup.”
“Is she married?” Mikey looks positively amused at my question. “Because of the different names,” I add impatiently.
“Step-siblings.” Mikey outright grins now. “But they grew up together. They’re basically brother and sister. She’s not married. Not even seeing anyone as far as I know.”
“Just curious why they had different names,” I mutter. Blaze Wilder’s relationship status is none of my concern.
I blow out a breath. My morning had started bright and full of optimism. It’s technically my day off. I just dropped by the station to sign a couple of things, and now I’m supposed to head over to see about a house to rent. After that, I thought I’d go on a hike and see some of the views this town is famous for.
I’ve talked to a handful of town council people about the Addison, but not the mayor. They’d implied we were a shoo-in for it. None of them so much as mentioned the library.
“So why’s she complaining to me?” I ask rhetorically. “Sounds like she’s already got an in with the town council, and they’re the ones who’ll decide who gets the building.”
Mikey spreads his hands out in a don’t-blame-me gesture. “You’ve got a small town that’s been economically depressed since the last mill shut down twenty-five years ago. There’s only so much tax money to go around, and some folks feel like it’s a waste to keep sinking money into a library when we can use the ones in North Falls.”
Against my will, I feel a little twinge of empathy for the aggravating librarian. I’ve heard that argument about fire stations as well. People don’t seem to realize that a local presence, even a small one, is usually better than a centralized one far away, no matter how big or well-funded.
“Blaze has done a good job keeping it going, all things considered,” Mikey adds. “Runs a lot of good programs at the library. Helped my uncle get a job after he was laid off last year.”
I wonder whose side Mikey is really on as I follow his gaze to the door she flounced through. “Blaze, huh? You know her?”
“Went to high school with her,” he tells. “She was a couple of years behind me. Kind of geeky back then, but she sure did blossom.” The admiring way he smiles at the door annoys me. “And you gotta admit, the gal knows her way around a pencil skirt.”
I look at my very macho lieutenant. “How do you even know what a ‘pencil skirt’ is?”
Mikey laughs. “Four sisters, man. I know more about women’s clothing than any straight man should.”
“What did I just sign for, anyway?” I ask, changing the subject because dwelling on Blaze Wilder’s skirt isn’t helping matters.
“Fire retardant coating. Usually, I just file the copy, but I can leave it on your desk if you want to look it over before I place the order.”
I wave a hand. Mikey knows what he’s doing. “Nah, it’s fine.” I should just leave it alone, but I’m still new to Welkins Ridge and Mikey’s my best informant. I lower my voice a little. “So, what do you think, all things considered? Do we still have a shot at the building?”
Mikey lets out a long, low whistle and tilts his head to one side. “Dunno, chief. Ordinarily, I’d say it’s all ours, but Blaze? Once she sinks her teeth into something, she doesn’t let go.” He gives me a cheerful smile. “I’d say you have competition.”
3
BLAZE
Well, that was a disaster on all fronts.
Anger and humiliation war with each other as I step back out into the sunlit street. I lost my temper with a total stranger, then when I calmed down and actually tried to come up with a useful idea, I think I offended him.
