CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Danny
“How was dinner at Chief’s?”Cam gives me a shit-eating grin as I enter Bradford Station.
“Does everybody know what happened?” I groan loudly.
“Yes, everyone knows what happened,” he laughs. “You’re the Rookie so you’re obviously the person we’re discussing. Not to mention, we all got an eyeful last week. You just didn’t see or hear us because you were so engrossed.”
“Shit…”
They all have to keep reminding me what happened on Cinco De Mayo, and they’re taking great pleasure in it. There hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t heard a comment or a whistle when I walk into a room.
“It went good,” I admit.
“Details?” He prompts.
“Not gonna happen.” I make a motion with my fingers to zip my lips. “There are a few things I’d rather keep to myself.”
“Not what you thought when Hayden was trying to take your shirt off,” he sing-songs.
Before I can answer, the buzzer goes off.
Engine one, ambulance three. Respond to a wreck on 101. Coal truck vs. motorcycle.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go…” Chief says as he runs out of his office, making for his SUV.
Turnout gear is being thrown on and we’re all jumping into the engine. It always amazes me how quickly we can get out of the station and bay.
In the blink of an eye, we’re on our way.
* * *
My stomach clenchesas I imagine the scene we’re going to roll up on. Motorcycle vs. anything is never good and coal trucks are heavy. Especially if they’re carrying anything. If it’s a motorcycle, more than likely the riders are from a local club not too far away from here. The Red Creek Renegades don’t bother us much, sometimes though, we’ve all got to come together for some reason or another.
There’s no telling what we’re going to find when we get there. I have to do my best to be prepared. My body sways with the motion as we make a sharp turn.
“If there isn’t much for us to do,” Cam instructs, “just stay out of the paramedics’ way. This is liable to be a rough scene for everyone involved. We don’t yet know if it’s Red Creek but, if it is, they’ll be there. They aren’t bad but, if they’ve lost a member, it could be volatile.”
“I can make myself scarce if that’s what needs to happen,” I assure him.
“None of us know if this is the case, but this will be one of the first times you’ve dealt with them so I want to make sure you’re prepared.”
“I’m good.”
The engine slows down as we crest a hill. Our sirens mingle with others in the background. When we come to a stop, I hop down, risking a glance over at where the motorcycle lays under the front end of the truck. It must have been on fire at first, given the foam coating the area, but it looks as if it’s already been put out. “What happened?” I whisper to Maverick, the Sheriff’s deputy standing near me.
“Coal truck driver was on the phone and he’d had a few late last night. They haven’t done the blood draw yet, but I assume he’s still drunk if the smell coming off him was any indication. They were slowed to turn left and he ran over them. It was on fire when we got here, luckily we had some extinguishers in our cars and it took care of it.”
“Shit…”
“Yeah, fuckin’ waste, and now that dude’s gotta deal with them.” He nods, indicating something coming toward us.
Over the sound of the sirens, the roar of bikes is loud and distinctive. A roar and grumble shaking the ground we’re standing on.
“Son of a bitch,” the deputy sighs. “Was hoping we’d have a bit of time before we had to deal with them.”
“Don’t you normally make notification?”