Page 39 of Heat Advisory

Another ping of text came through from my sister.

Hazel:

LOL. Don’t worry, I hadn’t planned on using anyone Auntie recommended.

Me:

Good. I can’t wait to see your new place!

Hazel:

Thanks. I just needed to finally make the move. Take the big risk.

Hazel:

I’m really happy I did.

There it was. That was the sign I needed.

Take the chance.

I knew she was talking about her house, but I was taking it as a sign to let this thing with Jay play out and trust that if it was meant to be, then it would be.

14

“The more important the meeting, the more likely you are to spill something all over yourself.”

—It’s science

Jay

“Rainer! Get in here!” my battalion chief, Stetson, called out from his office shortly after I came into work Monday.

As I hit the threshold of his door, I noticed Stetson, Trent, and Chief Thompson sitting at the square table, and they had a Zoom call pulled up on the big TV on the wall.

“Leavenworth said I should get both of you on this call since you’re both applying for the open inspector position,” Stetson said, waving his arm for me to have a seat.

Stetson’s and Thompson’s attitudes were neutral, but Trent was clearly unhappy that I was also invited, which was ridiculous since we both knew the other had applied for the position.

“Thank you all for joining,” Leavenworth said to begin the meeting. “First, congratulations are in order for one of our colleagues.”

My heart started racing because I had a feeling he was talking about me, and I knew that would bring up more questions for Stetson and Trent since I hadn’t had a chance to tell them.

“My wife and I were out to eat Saturday and happened to witness Lieutenant Rainer propose to his girlfriend, and she said yes,” Leavenworth announced, followed by clapping and cheers of congratulations from everyone on the call.

Everyone except Trent, who mumbled, “Congratulations,” though there was no sincerity to it.

Stetson also had a curious look on his face but slapped me on the shoulder and still gave me a genuine congratulations.

“Happy to see him settling down,” Leavenworth said. “And she only seemed mildly scared at the prospect of marrying him.”

A round of laughs ensued, but my only thought was, If only he knew.

“Alright. Now to the real reason we’re all here,” Leavenworth spoke again, a more serious and direct tone. “We had another arson in the past week. This one killed a couple who were camping nearby.”

A round of curses could be heard both in the room I was in and from other people on the call.

“Are there any signs of escalation with the arsonist?” Chief Bleaker asked.