Fortunately, she knew how to keep it inside when it came to authority, unless the Chief was concerned.
Her teammates came out of the locker room behind her. Aiden was in front, and his face turned an interesting shade of green upon seeing Soto. Their former captain hadn’t shown his face in the firehouse.
“Tio?” warbled the questioning voice of Luna, breaking their impasse. She seemed surprised to see her uncle here, though Erin was fairly certain Luna saw him once a week for dinner after they’d patched things up.
Her uncle’s lined face tried to smile, looking anywhere but at Aiden. “Hello. I’m here for the press conference.”
“Press conference?” Erin asked.
“Yes,” Soto said, “the press conference for the long-awaited new initiatives of the Cleveland Fire Department.”
“I believe it’s ‘Cuyahoga Combined Fire Department’ now,” a clipped voice declared. A towering, bald, African-American man strode in, wearing the double bars of Captain and two crosses. “Isn’t that correct, Chief?”
Baker ignored the man’s surly demeanor. “Welcome home, Captain Williams.”
“It’s almost nine. Will we be starting on time? I understand our service area is covered for the festivities,” the new captain continued briskly, never addressing Soto or his new team.
“You have coverage by Firehouse 19 until 1400. Everything is ready outside,” Baker said.
“Good. Fall into two lines on either side of the stage.” Captain Williams strode to the barn doors to hit the garage door button. The doors revealed a stage and podium surrounded by the rest of the chiefs, the press, and the PR reps waiting in their driveway.
The A-shift split in half with the officers on one side and the rest of the team on the other. They stood at attention, mostly facing the podium and trying to block out the distractions from the press.
Chief Baker was the first to take the podium. “I’m Fire Chief Noah Baker, and I would like to welcome you to Firehouse 15. You may not be aware that this was the site of my rookie year. I was lucky to train under the tutelage of our recently retired Captain Matteo Soto. Therefore, it is only fitting that here is where we usher in the new era.”
Erin watched the entire proceeding with growing suspicion. They had been used. The Chief wasn’t solely concerned about earning their trust. They were his ideal prototype firehouse, especially since they contained three of the five female firefighters in the entire department. He was committed enough that he’d dragged Soto into this dog and pony show, regardless of the mess his retirement had created.
So much for believing in them and earning their trust.
“Almost four years ago, the suburban fire departments joined with the Cleveland FD, making us the largest fire department in Ohio. This was not without sacrifice, as we began an uphill battle. Twenty firehouses were closed, our paramedic system was in tatters, and a single dispatch center served a county of two million people. Our firefighters, carrying outdated equipment, risked their lives fighting fires understaffed and demoralized,” he continued firmly with the fervor of a preacher.
The newspaper reporters were eating out of his hand, so it was obviously working.
“I swear to you all, that ends today. Three years ago, you gave me your faith, and today, I deliver. We have received over 300 million dollars in combined federal, state, and local funding to upgrade and update our department. The first step in our turnaround is welcoming home one of our own, Captain Jacen Williams, who left us four years ago to serve our country as a troubleshooter in FEMA.”
Their new captain waved briefly, and Baker continued. “Twenty years ago, he stood by my side at Ground Zero, and today, he returns with a wellspring of unmatched experience and an undying love for our city.”
Captain Williams took the microphone, his face inscrutable. “Thank you, Chief Baker. I am honored to have been selected for this important role. I was born and raised in Cleveland; I grew up in the Dawg Pound at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, I cheered for the Indians at the Jake, and I’ve suffered with you since 1999. I cried when the Cavs retired the Cape of Sadness with their championship win. I am one of you, and it means the world to me to be home. I’m back, and I look forward to the future… and another winning Browns season!”
Erin highly doubted this dour man cried over a basketball championship. However, considering the pride with which people in Cleveland wore the brown and orange of their football team, it was possible.
Baker stepped up next to Williams, setting one hand on his shoulder. “In the light of everything, it is a misnomer to call ourselves the Cleveland Fire Department. With the blessings of all the mayors of each city and village, today we are reborn the ‘Cuyahoga Combined Fire Department.’ In the next twelve months, we’re re-opening ten of the closed firehouses and building five more specifically tailored to different neighborhoods. Our other fifty stations will be receiving updates and upgraded equipment throughout the year. We also open two new dispatch centers today and will upgrade our current one this year.
“Not only that, we intend to double the size of our recruiting class. It will take time, but the future of CCFD will reflect our diverse community, just as Firehouse 15 embodies our future. For anyone listening, I don’t care about your gender identity, your sexual orientation, your religion, your race. I only care if you are dedicated enough to serve our community. If that is you, then I promise you have a place here in the CCFD.
“Finally, I want to announce the birth of Rescue Alpha. This team will consist of our advanced trauma and life support trained firefighter-paramedics and will respond to the most serious illnesses in the city. Partnered with MetroGen and our new six-month paramedic training course, we are going to revolutionize emergency care in our county. I will turn it over to Hannah Fitzpatrick who will outline the next five-year plan for CCFD.”
A woman in her mid-fifties and an expensive suit dress climbed the stairs and began speaking about diversity, welcoming women and minorities, and expanding different social programs. She spoke glowingly about building bridges in communities and their partnerships with the police, city, and hospital systems.
While the speeches continued about the new initiatives, Erin flushed with shame. She’d allowed her hormones to take control. They made her overlook everything she already knew about the Chief. He never did anything for one reason. Baker was ruthless, cutthroat, and willing to use them to get ahead. If he was attracted to her, it was an impulse to ignore and suppress.
It was no comfort Williams didn’t seem any happier than she was. He gave no more than a passing acknowledgment to Soto, practically recoiled from the Chief, and waited for the conclusion of the press conference with visible impatience.
Ten more minutes passed, and Fitzpatrick finally finished answering questions. She thanked everyone and reminded them they were doing a CCFD-MetroGen event in the Pediatric Clinic. After her descent, she departed in a black town-car with four young women following her on foot the four blocks to MetroGen. The battalion and section chiefs similarly departed.
The team marched back in to line up in the barn. Soto stood with them at the front of the line, next to Luna. Aiden lined up between Vanessa and Kevin, avoiding the head of the line and Captain Soto.
Williams began a slow march past them, thoroughly inspecting each of their uniforms. “I am your new captain. The first thing you need to learn about me is that I believe the department is a family, and discipline is essential for survival. Even in this moment, when we don’t have calls, we should be preparing for the next emergency. We can never let our guard down, or it costs lives. Discipline and protocol keep the family alive.”
