Page 88 of Rescued Duty

Acid rose in Naya’s throat, and she swallowed to push it down. But it didn’t ease the burn.

It was time to go to the police with this information. Finally put an end to this mayhem.

“I can’t write this piece anymore.” Naya stood up. She had the pieces she needed to fulfill her quest for the truth. “I have friends who care about me. For their safety and my own, I’m done.”

Tucker leaned back in his chair. “Just like that, you’re going to hand over the promotion?”

“It’s not worth it.” What would the promotion win her if she got injured and couldn’t even do her job anymore? “I’ll send you the documents I have. I’m going to write a human-interest piece instead. Show people what one of the rescue squad members, Zack Stephens, is doing to help kids in foster care. If Drew doesn’t like it, then so be it.”

At least she’d still give it a shot. It might not be the piece their boss had asked her to write, but she could still submit something to showcase her work for the promotion.

“May the best writer win.” Tucker stood up and tugged on his suit jacket.

Naya walked back to her office and shut the door.

She needed to call the police, then fill Zack in on her findings. If Sylvia was involved in the schemes, it might not matter that Naya had forfeited the story.

The knowledge Naya possessed was enough to kill for.

TWENTY-SEVEN

“Zack?” Naya’s expectant voice came over the line, and Zack’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m so glad you called.”

He’d missed her call earlier because he’d just gotten home from meeting with Powells again and had stopped for a quick lunch on the way back.

Her profession was something he could get used to hearing. If she let him, he’d strive to be there for her and provide for her. Although, now was not the time to think futuristically. There were other pressing matters to focus on.

“I just talked with Tucker and found out something that puts a whole new spin on this story.”

His stomach hardened as he pictured Naya talking with Tucker. Zack rolled his shoulders and stood up from his couch. There was nothing between the two anymore. Naya had made that clear.

“Looks like we both have shocking revelations to share.” Zack paced the length of the room but never took his eyes off the box. “Can you swing by my house? There’s something I need to show you.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Great. And Naya?”

“Yeah?”

“Watch your back.”

Zack’s childhood had been uprooted like a baby tree caught in the winds of a storm, and he didn’t know if he wanted to go back and relive those days. The weight of what could be under the latch of that box sat on Zack’s shoulders like a heavy yoke. Did he really want to open it and be transported back to another time and place? On one hand, he ran the risk of remembering too much if the contents held pictures and other keepsakes. The last thing he wanted was a resurgence of jealousy over what other kids had enjoyed with their families that had been taken from Zack too soon.

The next several minutes dragged while Zack waited for Naya to arrive. Thoughts of her being run off the road or tailed plagued him, and although he wanted to do everything he could to protect her, it wasn’t possible. Only the Lord could guard her constantly.

A door slammed shut, and Zack raced onto the front porch before she’d made it halfway up the sidewalk.

Her brow was lined with creases despite her head being held high. Even her hair was done in a half updo, and her pink blouse added vibrancy to her professional attire. But Zack saw past the put-together demeanor. Something was bothering her as much as what he’d discovered had stirred him.

Zack wrapped her in a hug. “Any trouble getting over here?” He leaned back, staring at her face.

“All good for now.” She offered a half-hearted smile. Naya followed him into the living room. “What’s that?” She pointed to the box on the coffee table.

“Powells called me earlier. Said he had a box of my dad’s stuff he’d been given for safekeeping. And after hearing a report of the incident at Ethos and Will’s death from another firefighter,he wanted to rid himself of anything that could be traced back to my dad.” According to Powells, he’d never opened the box to examine the contents, but Zack’s dad had told him it had pertinent information that needed to be kept safe. Now it was Zack’s choice to do with it what he wanted.

Naya sat on the sofa. “Have you opened it?”

“I’m afraid of what might be in there.”

---