Page 1 of Controlled Burn

Chapter 1

Keith

“What kind of beans are you using?”

Robert and I both turned to gape at the new kid.

“Where did you say you were from, probie?” I asked. This was my first shift with the kid. When the chief had introduced him to us, I could tell from the accent he wasn’t from these parts, but since I wanted to get the chili started first thing, I hadn’t had a chance to talk to him yet.

He cleared his throat and ducked his head. “Umm, New Jersey originally.”

“Ah, gotcha. Well, we don’t put beans in our chili around here. You start putting beans and vegetables in it, and that’s a soup, not a chili.”

“I hope you like things spicy, probie,” Robert added. “Keith here might skip the beans like a true Texan, but he watches too much Food Network. I swear the man adds freaking Calabrian chiles to every damn thing he cooks.”

“I didn’t hear you complaining when you went back for seconds last time I cooked.” I threw the towel I’d been using to wipe my hands at him. He caught it easily and threw it back.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t delicious. I was simply warning the probie here since he’s from up north, and he might not be used to spice.”

“I like spice.”

I had to keep from laughing at the hesitant way he said that.

“If it’s too spicy, there’s sandwich meat in the fridge,” Ford said as he walked into the kitchen. “Are you making regular cornbread or Mexican cornbread?”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you guys want to cook today? Cause I’m happy to hand this off to you if you want to take over?”

“I was just asking.” He put his hands up in a sign of surrender. “Besides, there’s no way you’d let anyone else take over.”

“I can help if you need someone,” the new guy said.

Ford grinned at the new guy. “Not happening, probie. He likes to feed us. He’s like an old mother hen around here. Always worrying if we’ve had enough to eat or if we’re well hydrated.”

“Someone has to do it,” I grumbled.

Robert chuckled and shook his head. “You need to get yourself a boy of your own to worry about. We can all take care of ourselves.”

I shot a look at Robert, but before I could respond, Ford interrupted.

“Speak for yourself, old man. I like having Keith around”—he held up a hand and started counting things off—“cooking for me. Telling me when to sleep. Asking me how much water I’ve had to drink. Reminding me to clean up after myself. It’s just like having my mom here at the station with me. All we need is for him to learn to bake cookies, and we’d be set.”

“Yeah, well, you and your cookies can fuck right off,” I tossed back.

Ford laughed and turned to the new guy. “Come on, probie, we got work to do.”

Robert waited until the door closed behind them and then turned to me, shaking his head. “New fucking Jersey. How does a kid from New Jersey end up in Vesper, Texas?”

“I have no idea, but the chief seemed really happy he’s here.” It was still odd to think of Samuel Sheridan as our chief. For as long as I’d been at this station, my dad had been the chief. He’d just recently retired, and I was excited for him. He’d sure earned it. But it was weird not to have him around.

“He did seem excited,” Robert agreed. “I wonder if there’s a connection of some kind. I think I remember him saying he has family from up north.”

I tossed in the peppers I’d just chopped up and gave the chili a stir. “That would make sense. People don’t typically move here without some reason. Vesper is kind of out, off the beaten path.”

“That’s the truth. While I’m thinking about it, do you have plans for this weekend?”

“Nah, not really. Why? What’s up?”

Robert and I had been friends since I was the station’s probie. He was seven years older than me and had been a firefighter for a few years before I started. My dad had assigned him to show me around, and we’d hit it off right away. I’d been there for him when he and Debbie divorced, and he’d been there for me when Jonathan and I split.

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