Page 16 of Sparking Sara

While grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, I check my email messages. There’s one from headquarters reassigning me from Engine 77, where I was to report for my next shift, to Engine 319. 319 is Bass’s company. I immediately dial his number.

“What’s up, Denver?”

“Is everything okay with you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I just got an assignment to 319.”

“Oh, sweet. I was hoping you would.”

“So it’s your shift?”

“It is. I asked J.D. to request you. Auggie sprained his shoulder on a run yesterday and will be on desk duty for about four weeks.”

“Four weeks?”

He laughs. “Think you can put up with me that long?”

“Hell yes.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you Thursday.”

A bunch of pagers go off all at once behind me, and a table of young doctors get up and race out of the cafeteria.

“What was that?” Bass asks.

“I’m at the hospital with the girl from the accident.”

“So you went? Is she okay?”

“She’s still unconscious. And she’s got no one.” I throw away my trash and then pace around the side of the cafeteria. “I mean she’s got a cousin, but she can’t really be here. And she has a boyfriend, but he hasn’t shown up yet and nobody knows his full name.”

“You haven’t been there since last night, have you?”

“Of course not. I went home and got some sleep.”

“Be careful, Denver.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

“Try not to get too caught up in things. She’s not your responsibility. You did your job. Now let the doctors do theirs.”

“Did you not hear me say she has nobody?”

“It’s still not your job.”

I see a familiar face walking through the atrium. “I have to go, Bass. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hang up before he can say another word. Then I catch up with Joelle before she gets on the elevator.

“Hey, I’m glad you could make it,” I say.

“Yeah, me too. But I could only get away for about an hour. Any luck finding Oliver?”

I shake my head. “The police said she didn’t have a phone with her.”

“That’s odd. Doesn’t everyone always have their phone on them?”

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