He crossed his arms. “I’ll be damned. You look…different.”
She grinned. “I got rid of the braces. And, well, I’m covered in cement dust.”
“Yeah, there’s that.”
“You look about three feet taller.”
He grinned and kicked at the floor. “Yeah, I was a little runt for a while there. You were a couple years younger than me but about a foot taller. All the girls were.”
One of the firefighters came over with a blanket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Thanks.” She glanced over at the hole in the floor and asked, “Where’s Gabe?”
“Good question…” Dante wandered over to the hole with the ladder sticking out of it. “Hey, Noah. Is Gabe alive, or did he die of starvation? He probably hasn’t eaten for at least three hours.”
“He’s fine. We’re just having a little chat,” Noah called up.
The captain huffed. “Stop cramming cash in your pockets and get up here.”
Seconds later, the ladder vibrated with heavy footsteps, and Gabe emerged. Dante grabbed his hand and helped haul him up and out.
Firefighters who apparently knew him were slapping him on the back, and clouds of dust rose from his jacket. He grinned and greeted them, then walked right over to Misty.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I guess all my coworkers have deserted the place, but at least they’re okay. If they’re all okay, then I’m all right.”
“They’re just a little poorer,” the captain said. “The criminals didn’t want to leave with nothing for their trouble, so they made the employees empty their purses and pockets. Plus, the manager had to give them the cash from the drawers without slipping a dye pack in.”
“Oh no.” Misty excused herself and ran down the stairs as fast as she could in high heels, straight to where she’d left her purse in the back room. All the cubbies were empty—and so was her purse. “Oh, shi…shoot.”
“What’s wrong?” Gabe must have followed close on her heels.
“They emptied my wallet too. That had my CharlieCard in it.” Her shoulders slumped. “Damn. Now I’ll have to walk home.”
“We’ll take you home in the truck,” Dante said. Apparently, he had followed Gabe. “That is, if you don’t live far from here. We’ve got room for one more, but if we get another call, you’ll have to wait until we’ve handled it.”
More firefighters filed down the stairs, carrying the equipment they’d brought in.
“No need to drive her home,” Gabe said. “I was going to take her out for a drink after this anyway.” Gabe gazed at her with some kind of intense expression on his face.
“Yes,” she said. “But thank you, Dante, for the offer.”
Dante clapped his brother on the back. “Okay, Bro. You win. Just don’t forget to call your station. We went on duty a couple hours ago, and since you’re on the same rotation, your captain must be wondering where the hell you are.”
“Actually, I switched with someone. He needed tomorrow off. But thanks for worrying about me, Mom.”
“Yeah, yeah. I was just trying to save your job. Next time, I’ll let you get fired.”
Gabe chuckled. “Nah. You’re right. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Misty had always enjoyed the insults and banter the Fierro boys heaped on each other. Gabe had been the quietest, but it looked as if he could dish it out when he wanted to.
The captain joined them. “So, another Fierro. Gabe, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
They shook hands, and the older man smiled pleasantly.
“You and the young lady will have to give statements to the police. They’re waiting outside.”
“Oh joy,” Gabe muttered.
