Page 54 of Flash Freeze

Cutting the team loose early, Athena closed the door to her office, her eyes falling on the redwood plaque Flash had brought back from her wildfire-fighting trip to California. Keep calm and carry on, it read. She checked her phone. No messages.

Even though she knew Flash would be swamped with calls all day, she shot off a text.

How are you holding up?

A knock tapped lightly at her door. Wondering who it could be, she called, “Come in.” Travis Ice filled her doorway, bundled in the same fleece-lined coat he’d worn that morning.

“Did you want a ride home, or did you decide to stay here tonight?”

Athena was about to say she’d stay when her cell phone buzzed with a notification. Flash had responded. Athena held up a finger.

Not good. You?

That didn’t sound like Flash. She always claimed to be fine, peachy, on top of the world. Athena texted back, My power’s out.

Stay at my place. The building generator’s running. Everything works.

The invitation felt like a warm hug. She glanced back at Ice, who waited patiently for her answer. “Can you drive me across town? Lieutenant Cash’s building has lights and heat.”

A smile spread between his trim beard and mustache. “No problem. Point the way.”

Athena texted back. Thanks. Call when you can, and we’ll talk it out.

Paulson had given up and was watching the Olympics on the big screen. “Goodnight, John. Let me know if you need me to bring you anything.”

“My boy’s coming in about half an hour,” he said. “We decided it was easier for me to bunk here until it thaws. Howard went home, though. I’ll be safe as a bug in a rug.”

“I trust you,” Athena said.

“Where are we in hockey?” Travis asked, his eyes following the action on the screen.

“Haven’t lost any games yet, so here’s hoping.” Paulson held up crossed fingers.

Athena used the key Flash had given her, entering the loft to familiar, homey smells. It was warm, and the light switch responded. She half expected Snuffles to race over, Flash’s strong arms to pull her close, some teasing words on her lips. The image made her smile.

But something was wrong, and she wished Flash would call and talk to her about it. Had she or one of her friends been injured, or was she just exhausted, overwhelmed with calls?

Athena laid her coat on the back of the couch and walked to the window, looking out at the frozen street. Though the snow had quit falling, it covered every car, bench, tree, and shrub. Asphalt peeked through in ruts left behind by tires. A cardinal perched on a utility pole, its red feathers bright against the white. Across the way, murals covered old brick. A bundled-up patron exited a craft coffee house. There was a bicycle shop with a sign reading “We make repairs,” another old warehouse-turned-apartment building, a Vietnamese place, and a neighborhood bar, its rooftop patio blanketed in snow. Farther down the street rose the steeple of an old church and the rolled-down tin door of an auto repair shop, closed for weather. Crape myrtles, eastern redbuds, and Texas lilacs lined the two-lane street, with a large, old magnolia dominating a vacant lot.

Even her neighborhood has character, Athena thought. She left the drapes open as she turned toward the refrigerator. Leftover baked ziti from the other night, fresh fruit, lettuce and tomato, and some frozen, ready-to-heat-and-eat meals filled the shelves, along with a vast array of dipping sauces and condiments. And, of course, ice-cold beer. Flash had shown her the fully stocked pantry with cans, boxes, and paper products, but she figured eating things that would go bad if left too long made the most sense. She pulled out the pasta container and stuck it in the microwave.

Flash’s ringtone startled Athena, and she answered quickly, taking the phone to sit and focus on the conversation. They might not have long.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she answered. “What’s wrong?”

“Just, people are stupid,” Flash blurted out in irritation.

“Isn’t that the truth!” Athena laughed in agreement, but intuition told her there was more to it.

“Yeah, well,” Flash huffed, her voice clipped. “I’m one of ‘em.”

So, that’s it. Flash is upset with herself about something.

“You’re not stupid, Flash. What happened?”

“I made a wrong call,” she lamented.

Athena wanted to hold her tight and kiss away her doubts.