Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
With a curse, I speed by the car that has now pulled over and head into town, trying not to think about why the fuck a ball of some emotion I’m not ready to recognize is sitting heavy in my gut. When I arrive at the complex, the fire trucks are already set up in the lot, along with an ambulance and two other cruisers.
I notice right away they’re focused on the building Bridgett’s unit is in, but I don’t see any flames coming from the structure, which connects three separate townhomes. There’s only a plume of black smoke rising above the building, where they are aiming the water. I park at the curb and get out, doing a scan of the lot for Bridgett’s car, but I don’t find it in her designated parking space.
With it being after four in the evening on a Tuesday, its absence brings me some relief because it’s likely she’s not home right now and instead at work.
“Have you guys cleared Unit B?” I ask as I walk past the fire chief and the other officers gathered on the sidewalk.
“The building has been cleared,” David, who’s been the fire chief in town for the last year, shouts at my back. I still head for her doorway to check for myself. I knock and wait, then pound again. When I get no response, I head to the group of men gathered out front.
“You know someone who lives here?” David asks, and I jerk up my chin.
“My best friend’s sister has been staying at his place.” I look over at the ambulance and notice they have an older woman on a stretcher. “What happened?”
“Kitchen fire. The woman who lives in Unit A had a pan on the stove, and it caught on fire when she forgot about it and went to bed. She phoned in the fire when she noticed smoke filling her place. We were able to put it out, but…but there’s currently a hole in the wall that gives a nice view into the unit next door, along with damage to the roof between the two homes.” He glances at the building. “The building and units A through D will be uninhabitable for at least a couple of weeks. If you have your friend’s number, you should let them know.”
“Fuck.” I jerk my cell out of my pocket and step away from the group as I dial Aiden. When he doesn’t answer, I hang up and tap my cell against my thigh. I should have gotten Bridgett’s number from her the first time I saw her. And I definitely should have gotten it when she shocked the shit out of me and showed up at my job with cookies.
Cookies that were so good I would have sworn she bought them if she hadn’t been so adorable when talking about the kind of fucking chocolate chips she used.
Knowing I can’t do anything right now but wait for her to show up, I get to work gathering the information I’ll need to give to the families displaced by the fire.
At ten to six, when I watch Bridgett pull into the complex’s parking lot, I get out of my car. With the lot now empty of all emergency personnel, she’ll have no idea what took place today until she sees the yellow tape on her brother’s front door. As she exits her car, I walk up behind her and try not to acknowledge how beautiful she looks with her hair up in a bun, and her fancy-ass clothes and shoes on.
“Bridgett,” I call out. She spins around as a squeak of surprise escapes her lips currently painted a pretty burgundy color.
“Oh, you scared me.” Her eyes move over my uniform. “What are you doing here? Are Aiden and May okay?”
“They’re both fine—or I think they are. I haven’t been able to get in touch with your brother all evening.”
“I think he’s been in meetings all day.” She shakes her head as she pulls her handbag up over her shoulder. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, and no.” I rub my hand down my jaw rough with a thick layer of stubble. “There was a fire in the unit next to yours today.”
“What?” she whispers, spinning around to look at the large structure. “Is everyone all right?”
“The woman who lives there went to the hospital for smoke inhalation but was released shortly after. No one else was home.” She turns to face me. “That said, the building is uninhabitable and will be until the inspector can make it out, and the damage can be repaired.”
“So I can’t stay here?”
I shake my head, and my gut twists as her chin wobbles. “I got clearance from the chief to take you in to get your stuff.”
“Okay.” She drags in a deep breath. “Okay, sure, that would be great.”