The last item Axe pulled out was my handheld hatchet.
“Now what the hell do you suppose Viper can do with this? A toy ax. The damn thing isn’t even sharp. Isn’t that funny?”
They knew I was watching, Firestarter more nervous than Axe was. I didn’t bother saying a word or picking another fight.
Axe finally tossed the hatchet into the bag, snorting as he pinned his eyes on me. Three full seconds passed before he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
I was silent in my approach, grabbing the tool and without second guessing myself, I tossed the hatchet, the blade moving right past his head and lodging in the wall only a couple of inches away.
Both Axe and Firestarter were stunned, Axe’s body stiffening.
At the same time, my attention was drawn to the doorway where the captain stood with Steel directly behind him.
And he was none too happy.
“Locke. Beckett. My office. Now.”
Steel glared at both of us, walking away before either of us moved.
There was nothing to say as we headed to the captain’s office.
“Close the damn door behind you.” The captain wasn’t in the mood to mince words. He stood at the window, his arms folded, his back heaving.
I closed the door and Axe and I stood as far apart as the room would allow.
The captain continued breathing and little else, but with every passing second, the sound grew louder and louder. And louder.
“What we do is dangerous. Highly dangerous. But do you know how many smokejumpers’ lives were lost last year? Zero. Not one life lost and that was due to extensive training and teamwork. What happened with William was an accident. Not because of his lack of training, his lack of expertise or teamwork.Or because he’d had an argument with a teammate. None of those things were the reason. Blame Mother Nature.”
Axe was clearly uncomfortable, moving from foot to foot.
The captain finally turned. “This team is like family. We always have been, which is another reason Will’s death affected all of us. Every person. And I daresay that includes Viper, although it shouldn’t since he didn’t have the pleasure of meeting such an incredible man and Zullie. And why? Because you chose to put him in the middle of something Viper had nothing to do with. Not one damn thing. In doing so, you’ve put him and the rest of the team on edge, an edge we can’t afford.”
Neither one of us said anything.
“Am I making myself clear?” he barked.
“Yes, sir,” we both managed at the same time.
The captain was still clearly frustrated. “I don’t know how in the hell you found out about Viper’s record, Axe. The only two people, other than Viper and Stoker Hansen from the forestry service, who were supposed to know were Landen Weaver and yours truly. Yet one day after he walked through those doors, you threw his past into his face. I want to know how.”
Axe looked away until the captain beat on the surface of his desk. “Your office door was unlocked and his file was on the desk.”
You bet I was furious. When I started to say something, the glare the captain gave me kept me in my tracks and quiet.
“You looked,” Captain Daughtry repeated. “Well, then.” He took several deep breaths, turning his attention to me. “I don’t know what happened on the ridge this morning and I don’t give a shit. I know the outcome when my face was almost split into twopieces by a hatchet. So. We have a situation here. One I do not like. Beckett, you’re suspended for two days without pay. And I don’t want to see your sorry ass around here. Go home. Talk with Kenzie and my guess is that she’ll set you straight.”
“Captain,” he grumbled.
“Nope. Not a word. Not one. And you,” he continued, snapping his head toward me. “You’re going to teach a class on your experience with jumping. You shaved ten seconds off with a direct controlled landing. Ten seconds could mean the difference in thousands of acres. But… I want it step by step with no hotdogging. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” I gritted my teeth, livid from the interaction.
“After that, the two of you are going to become bosom buddies. You will train together. You will jump together. You will fight fires together. Do I make myself clear?”
“For how long?” Axe snarled.
“For as long as I say. Now get out of here.”
