Page 43 of Smoke Season

True didn’t have time to react before Kim was in the doorway, brow furrowed, the scowl on her face punctuating her deep dislike of Fallows. “What’s going on here? Astor said something was wrong.”With one arm, she barred Astor entry back into the office. “No, hon, you stay back.”

Fallows finally slunk around True, patting Astor on the head as he slipped through the door. Kim pulled her back to give him a wide berth.

“Keep your panties on, ladies. I was just leaving.”

Ten minutes later, the griddle still smoldering, the remaining pancake mix now concrete in the bowl, the image of Fallows looming over Astor still played across True’s brain.

“I’m okay,” Astor promised for the third time. “Pinkie swear.” Her proud chin tilt was back, an encouraging sign. “I’m tough, like you.”

“I know you are.” True looked her goddaughter in the eye. “But, Astor, you shouldn’t always have to be.” And neither should she, fear and guilt for having left Astor alone for even a second, susceptible to being cornered by Fallows, notwithstanding.

Astor considered this. “Well, I know how to turn off the smoke alarm, but this time I decided it was maybe juuust too high for me to reach,” she added slyly, with a trace of ego.

True laughed shakily, despite herself. “You clever girl, you.”

As soon as enough of the fear and adrenaline had drained from her body for righteous anger to set in, she called Mel from the smoky Eddy deck.

“I still think the rapid-tag idea is too risky,” Mel said immediately upon picking up.

True didn’t waste time arguing with her. “Fallows was here,” she told her. “He threatened Astor.”

Mel’s tone shifted in an instant, the effect reminding True of a false bottom suddenly falling out of a floor. “What?Did he hurt her? Is she all right?”

“She’s all right, but Mel?” True waited until she had her full attention. “This is bigger than just getting paid for the delivery now. It’s evenbigger than helping Annie. We have to protectboththe girls. And to do that, it’s time to go on the offensive.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that we stop reacting to every move Fallows makes, and start making a few ourselves.”

Silence stretched on the other end of the line for what felt like a full ten seconds before Mel said in a rush, “I left a rapid tag under the napkin dispensers by the cash register. It was supposed to be just in case.”

But True was already on the hunt, tilting dispensers until she felt the hard cardstock of the tag beneath her fingers. “I got this, Mel. I’ll get the ammo box, and I’ll get Fallows off our backs.”

And away from anyone with the last name of Bishop.

CHAPTER 21

Mel disconnected the call with shaky fingers, True’s words ringing in her ears.Go on the offensive.With True, that could mean anything, and Mel’s nerves were already shot: Fallows’s relentlessness at the Eddy last night had put her out of sync with Sam again just when she’d been rediscovering the groove of their partnership, punctuating her disloyalty in a way that made her loathe what she needed to do all the more. And now, outside the station window at Carbon Rural, a seemingly endless line of trucks bore down the highway into Carbon. Reinforcements in the form of privatized hand crews.

Local traffic had given way, and despite the uncomfortable cocktail of heat, smoke, and humidity, people in N95 masks or handkerchiefs watched the progression of the out-of-town crews from the sidewalk. Cutting through the sound of the engines, car horns honked in support.

Bring in the cavalry,Mel thought ruefully. She always had to work to not resent crews like this for their abundant overpay and bonuses she could only dream of. It wasn’t like she could apply to join them as they hopped from state to state, playing the hero; she was away from Astor and Annie enough as it was. Besides, Carbon Rural couldn’t exactly afford to turn down the help.

“Best for all just to try to get along,” Hernandez told the Carbon crew over a hasty breakfast, confirming that the wildland experts with the USFS and Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery had officially taken over command. Hand-crew teams from Dust Busters, Firestorm,and Flashback Fire had reported for duty, along with the first hotshot crew, arriving from as far as Flagstaff. “But Carbon Rural has been invaluable,” Hernandez said. “With the help of the Outlaw and Eagle Valley crews, we’ve contained what we can close to town.”

“Which means it’s time to take the fight to the river corridor,” Mel interjected.

White didn’t miss the chance to shoot Hernandez a look, and Mel bit her lip. True was rubbing off on her. “Sir,” she added weakly.

Hernandez sighed. “Your sense of urgency is valid, Bishop.” He looked around the table. “And I doubt you’re the only one sick of playing defense.”

“Up against the ropes, more like,” Deklan mumbled.

Hernandez actually chuckled as he checked his watch and rose from his chair, probably already due at another interagency meeting or press release. “You’ll be happy to hear, then, that I’ve been ordered to send a team down the river road today,” he said.

Mel sat up straighter. “The full length of the road?” If she could get downriver, maybe True wouldn’t have to mess with the rapid tag after all.

“At least the section that runs parallel to the south bank of the Outlaw, opposite the fire. Maybe even on the north bank when the road crosses Wonderland Bridge. That a problem?”

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