Page 17 of The Firefighter's Fate

“What?”

I smile and shrug.

“That’s the job he wants me to do for him.”

“Go and meet his son? That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“You’re not getting fired?”

“Nope.”

“But... a puff piece about his son? What the hell...”

“Yep. You should be jealous, Penelope,” I say.

“Why would I be?”

“Well, I’ve interviewed violent ideological revolutionaries in some of the most inhospitable places on the planet... some rich, odd firefighter in a small American town is going to be the easiest paycheck in the world.”

And now it sinks it.

And she begins to understand.

Penelope laughs.

“I can’t believe this,” she says. “It’s absurd. Poor you, having to deal with this.”

“I think Waylen is certifiably mad,” I remark. “But what choice do I have?”

“None,” Penelope replies. “You have no choice in the matter. He’s the dictator. His word is law. You gotta please him if you want to continue being a journalist.”

I sigh.

“Exactly.”

“Be careful,” she says, now adopting a far more serious tone. “Mr. Penmayne and his family are dangerous.”

I scoff.

“You’re just saying that, boss.”

“No, it’s the truth. They’re a scarier family than you’ve heard about, Ember.”

“Come on, this is definitely going to be easy, Penelope. It’s just some fancy, ass-kissing words about some boring son.”

“You don’t know that,” my editor warns. “You don’t know the Penmaynes. You’ve got to be careful about entangling yourself with them and their schemes. You’ve really got to be careful with everything involved with them. They have some very real enemies. They are a truly terrifying family, and I’m going to be worried for you.”

I scoff again, pretending to my boss that everything is okay and that I am certainly not in over my head.

But, deep down, I know she’s right.

I should be scared.

I should be terrified.

7

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