Page 10 of Too Much Heat

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“Where’s Swanson?” Joe asked from his cot in the ER. His back stung like hell even though he laid on his side. Every single cell in his body ached.

Gabe pushed back his helmet. They’d come right from the fire. His face was blackened, like the rest of them. The stink of the fire obscured the hospital scents of antiseptic. “She’s right next door.”

“How is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“Pull back the curtain.”

Gabe frowned. “Not until the doctor sees you.”

Joe made motions to get up.

“Hold on. Trent’s with her.”

“I said pull it back.”

Gage sighed. Joe could see the worry on his face.

Once the curtain swung back, he saw Lara had a big gauze bandage wrapped around her head. Her eyes were closed. “Hey, Swanson. How you doing?”

She didn’t respond.

“You okay, Lara?” The name was foreign on his tongue. He rarely called her that.

Finally, she said, “Got a killer of a headache. It hurts to talk.”

“Did you see the doc?”

“Yep.” She waited. “How areyoudoing?”

“The meds calmed my back but it still stings and I got a shitload of bruises.”

“The husband?” she asked huskily.

“Didn’t make it.”

A doctor entered on her side. “You’re going to be admitted, ma’am.”

“That can’t happen.”

The doc stared her down. “I told you, Firefighter Swanson, that you have to stay overnight. You have a severe concussion.”

She glanced nervously at her group. “My home situation prevents that.”

Trent said, “How come?”

“That’s personal. As it is, I’ll be late so I need to call someone.”

“Where’s your phone?”

She shook her head. “Shit. Back at the firehouse.” Only the cap could take his cell on a call.

Joe said, “Give her mine.”

When Connors handed her the phone, she said, “Bobby, would you step over to Joe’s cubicle and close the curtain?”

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