Page 74 of Anchor Point

Issuing the challenge like that had been effective, and more than one person took her up on it.

When I asked her about it, she said, “They’ll never respect me if I don’t prove that I can and will do their job. I’ll at least give it my all.”

One week, then two, went by with no suitable solution. My guys had proven trustworthy, and even when Olivia was present at the station, they’d been true to their word to not say anything. Rosie went to homecoming with one of the little pricks she’d met after the art debacle. He’d withstood my glare fairly well. And Olivia and I had immensely enjoyed our alone time.

Olivia presented her budget with professional passion, and several fire staff had gone to the mat to show their support for her. The city manager, though he’d blustered a little, had capitulated and given her everything she’d asked for. But I imagine it would’ve been hard to say no when she was asking for equipment upgrades to meet safety standards, especially when the ones making the decisions had to look the guys they were putting at risk in the eye. Hard to say no when it became so personal.

Overall, things were going well.

Until one day they weren’t.

Tones rang out for a structure fire, not our station, but we were running backup. Since the arsonist had been laying low, we’d not had many structure fires. With only one engine in each station, we usually had a second station moving for backup, either with zone coverage or pulling in to assist once the first unit arrived on scene.

As I jumped in the pickup to follow the engine, my cell phone rang. It was odd that Olivia would be calling me, knowing I was responding to a call. So, though it wasn’t the best time, I accepted.

“Mac.” Olivia’s voice was as panicked as I’d ever heard it.

I slipped the phone between my shoulder and chin, then flipped the lights with one hand and drove with the other. “Talk to me, babe.”

“The address of the call, that’s where Rosie is supposed to be.”

The world stopped. Time stood still.

My heartbeat flooded my brain, and all I could do was focus on following the flashing red lights in front of me.

“I can’t get her on the phone, and I can’t find her location.” Olivia’s voice shook with emotion. She sounded as close to losing it as I’d ever heard her.

“Keep trying. I’ll call you back. And Liv—” I paused and took a shaky breath. “I’ll find her.”

I slipped the phone into the cupholder and passed the engine, hauling ass. I was first on the scene, even beating the first unit. I jumped from the truck and headed around the back of the residence, reporting back to my crew. The adrenaline rush hit me, and though I tried, I couldn’t keep the panic from my voice.

“No visible flames, no visible smoke.”

No Rosie.

Hell, there was no one even at the house.

“What’s up, Captain?” Thoren jogged up to me, Nate in tow, both wearing serious expressions.

“Rosie’s supposed to be at this house.” The words were hard to say out loud.

“Doesn’t look like anyone is home.” Nate eyed the house, whose alarm was blasting. “Could be a false alarm.”

He was right, of course. Why didn’t I think of that? “Contact 911 and see if they’ve made contact with the alarm company and homeowner.”

“Ten-four.”

A half hour later, we rolled back up to the station. False alarm due to faulty wiring on the system.

But no Rosie.

I paced the grounds outside the station, trying not to vomit, waiting to hear back from the half dozen officers I’d called in to look for her.

Technically, it was too soon for a BOLO. But I’d just asked that they keep an eye out while on patrol.

My phone rang, and I answered it before the first ring ended.

“She’s home,” Olivia stated flatly. I sank to the curb outside the station, so relieved I almost missed Olivia say, “You better tell her you love her before I kill her.”

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