“End of October,” I grunted.
“Gives you about three months to study. Little less,” he commented, sitting down on his own cot.
“Can you believe it’s almost a hundred dollars to register? And if I pay by card, they charge me an additional three percent fee,” I scoffed.
“That’s the Fire Department for ya’. Nickel and dime where they can. Well, that’s most businesses and organizations for you, to be honest.”
I peered up at a frowning Carter, whose mind had obviously drifted off to someplace else.
“You ever think about taking the exam?” I questioned. Carter had been with the department for as long as I had.
He grunted. “With all the recent shit I’ve been in? They’d probably laugh my request off the captain’s desk.”
“They wouldn’t. You had some trouble, but you dealt with it.”
“They won’t see it that way. Not so soon, anyway. Its okay, man. Maybe in a few years when I’ve racked up all the commendations you have, I’ll apply.” He was teasing, but I could see the the want behind his eyes.
“Just make sure you save up to be able to pay for this registration process,” I joked.
He chuckled. “I’ll do that.” It was funny because Carter was the wealthiest man in the fire station… hell, the entiredepartment. He was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. And he walked away from it all to do what he loved. He and I had that as one of our bonds. We both turned down lucrative futures to put out fires.
“Hey, is Don around?”
“Yeah, last I saw him, he was cleaning his gear.”
“Good.” I nodded and finished up my registration before closing my laptop.
“I’m going to catch some sleep,” Carter said, laying down. He was on the twenty-four-hour shift, so he was just coming up on his sixteenth hour at the station. The previous night had been a busy one.
I stored my laptop in my storage space, right next to my bunk before heading downstairs to seek out Don. I checked in the area where we kept our equipment, but he wasn’t there. I headed right for the kitchen, knowing that nine times out of ten that’s where he’d be.
“Heard you're registering for the exam,” Don stated as soon as he saw me. He peered at me over the brim of what I was sure was his fourth cup of coffee. He, too, was working a twenty-four shift.
“Word travels fast.”
“Nah, I just knew it was coming up and figured you’re the most qualified. Plus, I saw Cap pull you in his office the other week.”
I grinned. Don liked to play down how savvy he was, but the man had street smarts and book knowledge.
“Yeah, I just registered.”
“Good. We need a lieutenant around here. Whip these damn rookies into shape.”
“And to keep an eye on the more seasoned guys.”
He grunted at that.
“Hey, anyway, I got a favor to ask.”
“Shoot.”
“You still have your friend down at the police department?”
“I have a lot of friends at the department.”
“The one who runs IDs and can get you all types of information?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Why?”
