Fireproof by Eric Wilson

Author:Eric Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

There was no magic involved. Captain Caleb Holt’s life didn’t turn overnight into a landscape of wondrous bliss. In fact, the next day Catherine’s tone was more spiteful than ever.

“So, what’d you and your dad talk about?”

“You and me,” Caleb replied.

“Oh, great,” she snapped. “Now you’re dragging others into our problems, huh? You made him drive all the way from Savannah just so you could poison him against me? What stories did you feed him this time?”

“Catherine, I—”

“Forget it. I don’t even wanna know.”

“Actually, I—”

“You’re gonna be late. I don’t want to cause you any trouble at work.” She swiveled from the kitchen back toward the master bedroom—or her bedroom, as Caleb had come to think of it.

“I’ll call you,” he said.

“My phone’ll probably be turned off. If it is, don’t worry about me.”

Caleb’s thoughts raced back to Day One in the notebook, the one that had implored him to say nothing if he had nothing kind to say. At least this time it was easier, and he clung to that small victory.

IN THE MEETING room at the Albany Fire Department, Station One, Capt. Caleb Holt joined the rest of his crew as they waited for the previous shift to head home. Five men stood with duffel bags in hand, weary from last night’s multiple false alarms at a warehouse on the edge of town.

“I think someone was messing with us,” Captain Harris told Caleb.

“At two in the morning? That’s not very funny. Don’t they ever stop to think what would happen if there was a real emergency?”

“There’s some people out there who just like watching us run around, chasing our tails.”

All part of the job, I guess.” Captain Harris ran a finger down his clipboard. “We also had two calls yesterday, but there wasn’t much to them. We used some CO2, so it might be a little low.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Caleb said.

“Already done. I e-mailed in a request to fill it up. And the truck’s running fine, so you should be good to go.” Harris relinquished the clipboard and shook Caleb’s hand, effectively passing the baton.

“Thanks, Ken. You guys have a good day. We got it from here.”

The two shifts acknowledged each other in passing. Once on their own, A-Shift gathered around their captain.

“All right,” Caleb said. “Why don’t you guys load your gear on the truck while Lieutenant Simmons whips us up some breakfast?”

“How ’bout some waffles and bacon?”Wayne suggested.

“No, man. I need me an omelet,” Terrell said.

“Terrell, didn’t we have omelets last time?”

“I’ll take either,” the rookie said. “I’m not complaining.”

“That’s the right attitude. You all hear what Eric said?”

In unison: “Yes, Captain.”

As the men shuffled out, Wayne cornered Simmons. “Listen, if you do make omelets, you think you could stuff mine with a waffle?”

“A what? Does this look like a restaurant to you?”

“I’m just sayin’—”

“Get outta here.”

A tone sounded, followed by a voice through the speaker. “Oh-eight-hundred hours, Albany Fire Department clear.”

Caleb and his crew had a long twenty-four hours ahead.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER,

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