Hell, I just did.
“Cole.” Theo’s voice cuts through the memory. “You still with us?”
I blink. Both of them are watching me with varying degrees of concern.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re thinking about your dad.” Theo knows me too well. We all do. Grew up together in this town, got into trouble together, pulled each other out of worse trouble. “The fire brought it back.”
“Everything brings it back.” I slam my locker shut. “Doesn’t mean I can’t do my job.”
“No one’s saying you can’t.” Marco’s tone gentles slightly. It’s the closest he gets to sympathy. “But maybe someone else should handle follow-up with the Morgans.”
“There’s nothing to keep clean because nothing is happening.” I grab my jacket. “Rachel’s a victim, not a suspect. And I’m going home before I say something I’ll regret.”
I’m halfway to the door when Theo calls out. “Hey, Cole?”
I stop but don’t turn around.
“For what it’s worth? I don’t think she did it either.” He pauses. “But Marco’s right about one thing. She was scared. Really scared. And not just of the fire.”
That makes me turn around. “What do you mean?”
Theo shrugs. “I don’t know. Just a feeling. Like she’s running from something bigger than a burning building.”
Marco closes his notebook. “I’ll keep digging. Interview the neighbors, check her background, see if anything pops.”
“You do that.” I push through the door into the cool night air. “But you’re wasting your time. Rachel Morgan’s not a criminal. She’s just unlucky.”
Outside, the station lot is quiet. My truck sits under a flickering streetlight, and I lean against it for a moment, letting the adrenaline finally drain away.
My phone buzzes, a text from Jake.
Thanks for making sure Rachel and Tommy were fine tonight. Owe you one.
I type back quickly.No, you don’t. That’s what friends are for.
His response comes fast.Still, they’re everything to me. You kept them safe.
I stare at that message for a long time. They’re everything to me.
Yeah. I’m starting to understand that feeling.
My phone buzzes again, but it’s not Jake this time, an unknown number.
This is Rachel. Got your number from Jake. Thank you for tonight. Tommy won’t stop talking about the “cool firefighter” who saved him. Pretty sure you’re his new hero.
I shouldn’t smile at that. Shouldn’t feel this warm thing spreading through my chest like I just drank something strong.
I type back.Just doing my job. How are you both holding up?
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Honestly? I’ve had better days. But we’re alive, so there’s that.
There’s humor in that message, but I can hear the edge underneath it, the brittleness of someone trying to hold it together with duct tape and determination.
You’re doing fine. Better than fine. You kept your kid safe. That’s what matters.
