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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Simmi
It’s started to rain, which is a good thing for the firies but not so much for us. I know the property we’re heading to, and water after a blaze is not good for any team trying to reach the injured.
Jay pulls up to the gate and I sprint for the car. The back door swings open and I stumble, not expecting to see the pretty face in the back seat.
“Buckle up.”
Jay speeds off and I’m thrown back into my seat.
“Hi, I’m Rochelle.” The pretty blonde with candy striped highlights holds out her hand.
I force a smile as I shake it. “Simmi.”
“This is Thomas, my husband.”
“Hi Thomas.” I clip in my seat belt.
“Great to meet you, Simone.”
“I hope you don’t mind us coming along. Jay reckons we could be of some help.” She smiles.
I smile back unwittingly. The woman has a very welcoming vibe. We’ve not said more than a handful of words to each other, but I feel like I could tell her anything.
“Not at all. You’re a doctor, right?”
“Yup. Though I’m not licensed to practice in your beautiful country.” Rochelle shakes her head.
“I doubt it matters in this case. We’re so far from most things out here and the property isn’t easy to get to without a chopper to fly the patients out or an experienced ambo driver to drive them out. It’d be great to have your skill and knowledge.” I shift in my seat so I can see Jay’s side profile from where I’m sitting behind Thomas.
“Rhett says it looks bad.” My gaze shifts toward Jay’s head.
I can feel the woman trying to get a read on me, and while I can tell there’s not a malicious bone in her body, I don’t like the sensation of her gaze on me.
I force myself to keep my eyes glued to the back of Jay. His hair is wrapped in a tight man bun and a dark line treks the length of his neck. He’s obviously worked up.
“Yeah, seems like the fucker’s upped his game.”
The vehemence in his voice scares me a little.
“The Fire Inspector not got any closer to catching the fool?” His question is obvious. More of an afterthought.
“That’s why I asked Thomas along.” He aims a thumb toward the guy sitting in the front passenger seat.
“Oh, you specialize in arson then?” I lean forward.
“No, but I know of a woman in Interpol who’s great at these things. With the inspector’s permission,” he glances toward Jay as though he’s trying to reiterate a point, “I’ll send images and information. You never know what comes out of the wash.”
After half an hour of speeding along narrow tarred roads and down dusty tracks, we pull up to the station. The sky is one large bruise across the horizon and black soot covers everything and everyone. A shudder runs the length of my spine at the memories of the December fires.
I jump out, grabbing my emergency bag followed by Jay, Rochelle, and Thomas, who heads straight for Rhett and Bruce. Cindy and Mark are already here. Rochelle, Jay, and I waste no time.
“The ambo’s left with two of our worst cases, but we have five more on oxygen and one…” Cindy swallows hard as she tries to maintain her composure.
I pull her into me and squeeze tight.
“I don’t think she’ll make it. She was doused with the bulk of the fuel…” Cindy breaks down.
