Page 71 of Chasing Fireflies

“You ready?” I ask my wife.

“Yeah,” she answers, sliding her flats on and standing.

“Got a busy day at the library?” I ask as we head down the stairs. Bear follows us.

“Yeah, we have a lot of books to put up from the book fair we had. A library from the city donated a ton of almost brand new books.”

“That’s good,” I tell her as I grab the keys to Old Blue.

“Yep.” She leans down and kisses Bear’s head, and I pat his back before we head out the door.

*

After I drop Sara off, I walk into the office and grab a cup of the finest coffee in town as Anne comes walking in from the back.

“Good morning,” she says, but her usual chipper tone is not there.

“Morning, everything okay?”

“Ahh, Drew isn’t feeling well today. I think he’s getting a bug. You might have to take over for a bit. I’m sending him home,” she says, taking off her reading glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Anything I can do to help? Want me to give him a lift?”

“Nah, I don’t need you getting sick, too. I’ll drive him. I told him to stay in bed. Old man never listens to me.”

“I hear you yapping,” the chief says as he walks over to us. He coughs and wipes his brow.

“You okay, chief?”

“Been better, son. I’m going to let Anne take me home. You keep an eye on things for me.”

“Will do.” I nod, taking a sip of my coffee. I look over when Ben walks in.

“Morning,” he says with a rough voice. His hair is extra wild today, and he looks like he tied one too many on last night. He walks over to the coffeepot.

“What’s with you?” I ask.

“I stayed up too late last night with some of my buddies from high school. I can’t hang anymore.”

I laugh.

“You shouldn’t be staying up late knowing you have work in the morning,” Anne says.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ben agrees. “Chief, you okay?” he asks as he pours sugar into his cup.

“I’m heading home. Cash is in charge. Go check on the Kingsleys in a bit. Their neighbors called. Said they heard some yelling.”

“We’ll head on over there. Feel better,” I say as they walk out. The chief waves his hand as Anne pushes him out the door.

“You’re going to get in the hot shower right when we get home,” she says before the door shuts.

“You ready to ride?” I ask Ben.

“I reckon.”

*

As we make our way over to the Kingsley’s house, I see smoke rising in the sky.

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