“If you have a better plan, let’s hear it,” Jordan said to me. “Because out of all the crappy solutions, this one is the least crappy.”
I wanted to keep arguing, but they were right. We needed someone to help, and Clara was the only person we knew.
It’s better than handing the baby over to Social Services, I thought bitterly. No matter what happened, I didn’t want to send Baby Anthony to an overloaded system. I knew better than anyone that that was a bad way to grow up.
He deserved better than that, even if it meant hanging out with us for a little while.
“We’ll need more supplies,” I grumbled. “I’ll look at the budget and see what I can do.”
I opened the door a crack, paused to make sure the coast was clear, and then slipped out into the hallway. We had been lucky to keep the baby a secret over the weekend. If this was an older fire station, rather than one that had been built new six years ago, we wouldn’t have the soundproof sleeping quarters. We were lucky.
I must have used up all my luck, because I ran into Billy in the kitchen. He sneered at me while stirring creamer into a mug of coffee.
“Hanging at the firehouse all weekend. You must have a boring life,Chief.”
He wasn’t exactly insolent, but he always said the wordchieflike it was a curse. Technically, I wasn’t a Battalion Chief—I had the rank of Captain. But everyone called me Chief because it just sort of fit.
“I’m doing my taxes,” I said dryly.
“You do your own taxes? With your salary?” He scoffed. “I’m surprised you don’t pay someone.”
I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to engage with him. “Something you need, Manning?”
He shrugged. “Just wanted to know if you’re planning on retiring any time soon.”
“There are plenty of other stations with upward mobility,” I replied. “You should transfer to one of them.”
“I like it here in Riverville. I’m close to my ex-wife and kids. They’re in Fresno.”
“Then transfer to one of the Fresno stations.”
“Riverville is quieter. I can relax, watch the game without having to respond to a lot of calls.”
“Most of the guys here treat the job as a responsibility, not an annoyance,” I said dryly. “If you worked on your attitude, maybe you’d get promoted.”
I started to leave, but Billy moved to block my way. “You’re cocky now. You won’t be when I catch you slipping up. Then your cushy job will bemine,along with the rest of the station.”
“Get out of my way,” I growled, “before I permanently rearrange the teeth in your mouth.”
Billy gave me a shit-eating grin and stepped aside. I felt his sneer all the way to the administrative office.
This job only looked cushy to outsiders. Being a leader meant always having the weight of responsibility on your shoulders. Following orders was easy, but giving them? It was so much harder. If I made the wrong decision, people died. That kind of stress wore a man down over time.
Not to mention all the other responsibilities I had on a daily basis. Keeping an inventory on our supplies. Assigning fire code inspection duties to the guys.
Taking in a helpless baby.
Now there was a responsibility Billy Manning would never understand. If he were in my place, I knew exactly what he would do: turn the baby over without a second thought. He wouldn’t care what happened to little Anthony, so long as it didn’t get in the way of his own selfish priorities.
Billy was no leader. I knew that in my gut. I would sacrifice everything I had before I would let him take over as Captain.
Baby Anthony was definitely a liability, though. He was the ammunition Billy had been waiting for, the reason to get me fired and take my job. Keeping the baby safe was the right decision, but it was not without its dangers.
We need to protect him, I thought emphatically.Until my sister lets us know they have the manpower to take him in.
I spent an hour with my station budget, moving money around so we could afford extra supplies and take care of the baby. We didn’t have much wiggle room, but if need be, I would pay for everything out of my own pocket. If it came to that.
Second-shift ended promptly at 9:00 PM. Billy left without saying goodbye—like he usually did—but the other guys on his team all popped into the office to let me know they were leaving.