Page 52 of Burning For You

Ash redirected, his arms burning as he forced the hose to comply. Water hammered into the gap just as sparks threatened to carry.

Sweat poured down his back despite the cold, soaking through his gear. His shoulders screamed. His grip slipped, then tightened again.

He shifted his stance, braced his legs, letting them take more of the weight.

There would be no break. Not yet.

This fire wasn’t random. This fire was hungry. It was pissed.

It was ready to get started.

And as Ash fought it inch by inch, one thought cut through the smoke and exhaustion with terrifying clarity.

This wasn’t just another car fire.

Someone was escalating.

Two hours later, he sat on the curb, his body all but sagging with relief over what they’d been able to do.

The house was destroyed, the structure barely holding on, but they’d saved the houses close by with minimal damage.

He lifted the shield from his eyes, popped the respirator off and sucked in the scorched, smoke-filled air. He just needed to feel the coolness more than anything.

“That was rough,” Bruce said, all but collapsing next to him. His buddy had been one to run into the fire with the captain.

“Yeah. You had a firsthand look inside. It was overtaken, wasn’t it?”

“Completely. The siding caught fast, then the old wood under it was nothing more than kindling. If we had been five minutes later, there would have been no survivors. The couple didn’t even know there was a fire.”

Ash shook his head. “Wasn’t that the point?”

“This is getting out of hand,” Bruce said. “We’ve got to catch him. I’m not buying it’s not connected. That second one on Halloween, sure, but not this.”

“That’s my thought.” He turned his head when Alan flopped next to him. “Nothing like getting called out of bed for this one.”

“You’re not alone. Wonder how many made it in.”

“On a Saturday night, hard to say,” Alan said.

On the weekends, if someone had been drinking, they wouldn’t come in. It’d be too dangerous. One slip, one little mistake cost too many lives.

He looked around and noticed at least six more from his station, guys that came in when called.

Not everyone had the luxury if they had kids at home and were alone.

Thankfully, the volunteers came in and lent a hand also.

“Got your butt up though,” he said, his boot nudging Alan’s. “We know you’re tucked in nice and snug with your wife on a Saturday. You’ve got no life.”

“Trick-or-treating has been the most action I’ve seen in a while. Thoughts on this guy?”

“Probably the same as you.”

“Yeah. This bites,” Alan said. “Getting a little more aggressive now.”

“We’ll catch him. He’s bound to mess up soon.”

“Or not,” Alan said. “You just never know what goes through someone’s head.”