Page 16 of Ink and Ashes
“Not a reporter,” I mutter. “But yes, I suppose I am she.”
Hayden picks up a stress ball, kicking his feet up on the table. “You know, we’ve been instructed not to speak to you.”
I sit up straighter. “I do know that. But you both strike me as the type who likes to do the opposite of what they’re told to.”
They share a look before Ethan laughs. “Damn, you’ve got us figured out already, don’t you?”
“I’m good at reading people.” I shrug. “Comes with the job.”
Hayden swipes a hand over his jaw and says, “Alright. What can we do for you, Miss Rhodes?”
“Call me Holland.”
Just then, a group of three other firefighters walks through the open garage doors. They all eye me with suspicion but continue into the station without so much as a hello.
I glance back at Hayden and Ethan, the question clear on my face.
“Shift change,” Hayden says simply. “As volunteers, we only work half shifts unless there are actual fires to be fought.”
“I’ll make this quick then.” I lean forward. “I’m just curious if you have any theories about what might be causing these fires.”
Hayden begins tossing the ball up into the air and catching it. “Ah, you’re one of those, aren’t you? Always trying to find a deeper reason for why things happen.” He shakes his head. “I think these fires are being caused by the same thing every fire in Ember Grove is caused by—lightning. Next question.”
I nod, turning to Ethan. “What do you think?”
He licks his lips before saying, “In the three years I’ve been volunteering here, I’ve never fought a fire in our jurisdiction that wasn’t caused by lightning.”
“Have you considered the possibility that maybe these onesaren’t all caused by lightning, though?”
“No,” Hayden says. “Because they aren’t.”
“Humour me.”
He rolls his eyes but agrees. “What else would they be caused by?”
I clear my throat, preparing myself for the response I know I’ll receive when I say, “Arson.”
He freezes just as the ball lands in his hands again. Taking his feet off the table, his expression turns serious as he shifts his gaze to me. Ethan does the same, his jaw falling slack.
Neither of them say anything for a moment, as if they’re trying to decipher whether I’m joking or not. One thing these guys will soon come to learn about me, though, is that I don’t joke. Not about my work.
“Your Lieutenant gave me that same look.”
“Well, yeah,” Ethan huffs. “If you think someone is intentionally setting these fires, you really don’t know anything about this town.”
I hum. It’s clear to me that in order to get these guys to believe my theory, I’m going to need some real, hard proof. I’m sure it isn’t easy hearing that someone may be setting fire to the town they’ve always loved.
“I think that’s all I need from you.” I stand from my chair, knocking my knuckles on the table as I add, “Thanks for humouring me, boys.”
Hayden’s look remains slightly skeptical, but Ethan’s grin is wicked as he responds, “You know you want me, Rhodes.”
“In your dreams, kid,” I toss back as I make my way deeper into the firehouse in search of more firefighters willing to speak with me.
I head up the stairs toward the kitchen. When I enter, there’s only one man sitting at the table, reading a newspaper. I recognize him as one of the few who just arrived.
I know I’m not likely to get much out of anyone else, but it doesn’t hurt to try. I knock lightly on the entrance frame.
“Yeah,” he says, not pulling the newspaper from whereit covers his face. When I don’t respond right away, he shifts it down, his brows furrowed. “Who are you?”
