Page 61 of Controlled Burn
Keith
“What crawled up Robert’s ass and died?” Ford asked.
That was the third time today I walked into a space, and Robert had turned and left. I knew he didn’t want to argue up here in front of everyone, but if he didn’t want people asking questions, he was going about this all wrong.
Not that I expected him to be all buddy-buddy with me. He was still pissed, and it looked like he would be for a while.
I’d tried to break the ice first thing by asking him if he’d smoothed things over with Del after I left, but he told me his relationship with Del was none of my fucking business, which hadn’t boded well for the rest of the shift.
“Who knows? He’s just in a mood, I guess.” I didn’t care who knew about me and Caleb. Hell, I couldn’t wait to tell people what a lucky son of a bitch I was, but I didn’t want to make things worse for Robert because the whole station was talking about it. Becca was the only one I’d told, and she’d promised to keep it to herself.
The good thing was that as long as he and Del were good and he was still going on that trip with her, he’d be off work for the next two shifts. I figured I would tell them then, and that would give it time to die down a bit before he was back.
The PA system crackled to life, calling us to a traffic accident and saving me from any more questions. We all rushed to the bay, pulled on our bunker gear, and piled into the truck. We always sat in the same places. Ford drove, the chief rode shotgun, and the rest of us had places we sat in the back. Robert’s seat was always right next to mine, but today, he let out a huff and sat on the other side of the truck as far from me as possible. The stormy look on his face was enough to keep anyone from questioning him, but they all shot puzzled glances my way.
“Damn, Brooks, what’d you do? You didn’t put the moves on his new lady friend, did you?” Ronda asked.
“Of course not,” I insisted, offended they would even suggest such a thing.
“Del is too smart to hook up with the likes of him,” Robert grumbled. “Too bad my son doesn’t have as much sense as she does.” He glared over at me, and I sighed. So much for waiting.
“Your son is damn smart, and you know it. Don’t make this about him.” He could say whatever he wanted about me, but I wouldn’t sit by and let him make comments about Caleb. I didn’t care how pissed he was.
Ford looked over his shoulder at me. “Really, Keith? Caleb?”
“Drive the truck, Simpson.” Samuel shot a concerned look at me and Robert before turning a glare Ford’s way. “The last thing we need is to get into an accident because you’re more interested in gossip than traffic. Now, everybody, get your head in the game.”
“Yes, Chief.” Ford repositioned his hands on the wheel and straightened his posture to show he was paying attention.
A few minutes later, we pulled up at the accident with the ambulance right behind us. A car had run a red light and gotten T-boned on the passenger side by a pickup. The car was smashed all to hell, but it looked like everyone was out and moving around.
As soon as we came to a stop, we hopped out and got to work managing the scene, rerouting traffic, and making sure everyone was safely off the road until the local police arrived. They weren’t far behind us, and they quickly took command of the scene. The driver of the car went by ambulance to the hospital to be checked out, and we hung around and helped with traffic until the tow trucks arrived to move the damaged car from the roadway, and then we were free to leave.
When we got back to the station, I decided to make a quick run to the store for groceries. I usually went on my own time the night before a shift, but I’d taken Caleb for ice cream instead.
“I need to make a grocery run. Anybody have any preferences for food tonight?”
“How about Shepard’s pie? You know that’s my favorite, and you almost never make it.” Becca scoffed. “Some big brother you are.”
“I’m the best big brother, and you know it.”
“Whatever,” she said like she was still a petulant teenager.
“Whatever,” I mimicked back. “But fine, brat, I’ll go get the stuff for Shepard’s pie.”
The rare times I did go shopping when I was on shift, Robert always went with me, but this time I didn’t even bother to ask. “Hey, probie, why don’t you ride with me?”
I figured he was the one who was least likely to ask me questions or spread gossip since he was new and wanted to stay on my good side.
“Sure,” he said, hopping up from his chair, obviously happy to be invited.
We got in my car and headed for the closest store. Neither of us said much at first, but finally, he cleared his throat and said, “So, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, go for it.”
“I heard what Robert said in the truck. So, is it true? Is Caleb your boy?”
I glanced over at him, trying to decide what to say. Caleb and I were going to need to have a talk about who knew what. I’d never kept my involvement in the lifestyle a secret, but it wasn’t my place to tell anyone his business.