Page 91 of Anchor Point

I stalked down the hall, halfway nervous but curious as to why she’d demanded to see me.

The community room in the rehab center was set up with gaming tables. Little old people all sat in circles, cards in hand, and stacks of chips in the center of each table.

“Well, would you looky here.” Mrs. O’Malley’s voice rang out loud. “See, Eunice? I told you he’d show. Y’all, this is Captain Mac Collins, firefighter extraordinaire, rescuer of little old ladies with broken hips. And Mr. December in the annual calendar.”

I managed to hide my cringe at the mention of that damn calendar and made my way to her, taking the wrinkled hand she offered.

“Sit,” she ordered me. “Deal him in, Gerald,” she ordered the elderly black man next to her.

“I can’t stay, Mrs. O’Malley?—”

“I told you, it’s Francis. And yes you can.” She gave my hand a tug. Resigned, I took the seat next to her, willing to play along if only to make her happy for a moment.

“I really can’t,” I said. “We have the council hearing today.”

Francis slapped a hand over the cards Gerald dealt and directed her gaze across the table. I glanced over to see the elderly woman from the night of the fire eyeballing Francis. A whole conversation happened in their stare down.

Francis broke first and pulled her cards to her, picking them up, fanning them out, and rearranging them. “That’s why you’re here, Macmillan Collins.”

She shifted a card from one side of the hand to the other. “You see, Eunice here says that lily-livered bastard is trying to make your woman a… what was it you said?” she asked her friend.

Across the table, Eunice, the woman who helped Olivia, scowled. “That sorry excuse for a mayor is trying to make your woman a scapegoat.”

I perked up at this. Suddenly finding all the time in the world available.

Eunice continued, “I heard what she said the other night. And I’m downright mad. We have funding available to buy equipment for the department. But when I’ve inquired about donating, he’s shut me down. But it was obvious the other night that it’s time he’s removed from office.”

Francis nodded beside me.

“What’s the hearing for?” one of the card players asked.

I didn’t want to answer because the truth was. It was my actions that caused the hearing. And for the past two days, Olivia had been under an incredible amount of stress because I had refused to return to the fire.

I’d relinquished command of the scene and stayed with my girls. It should’ve been grounds for termination.

I knew she was conflicted over it, needing us to be together, while at the same time, I’d outed our relationship and put both our jobs in jeopardy. And likely it would be hers.

But I had a plan.

“It’s a personnel hearing,” I admitted reluctantly.

“What time is it?” Eunice asked.

“Three o’clock today.”

She looked at me across her glasses. “Isn’t that their regular council meeting time?”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Because this asshat was making a big deal about taking down the fire chief.

“In a called public meeting?” Mrs. Francis frowned at me, then at her friend.

This was doing me no good, sitting here witness to an old-folks’ poker game and surreptitious glances. I had a plan to carry out, action that needed to be taken. Plus, I wanted to be there for Olivia before, during, and after the hearing. I didn’t know what the mayor had on his agenda, but I could guess. And none of the scenarios were good.

“Mrs. O’Malley, I need to get going. Was there something you needed me for?” I didn’t want to be rude to my elders, but I itched to leave, already headed to my next stop in my head.

“No, dear. You have enough on your plate.” She patted my hand.

I rose and, on a whim, kissed her forehead. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

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