Page 7 of Playing With Fire
The heat that curled low in her stomach whenever their eyes locked across the room. The way her pulse quickened, not just with anger, but with something else—something she couldn’t name and didn’t want to examine too closely. It was infuriating. She had no business feeling anything for Evelyn Ford except contempt.
“Captain, we’re almost there,” Hallie Hunter’s voice cut through her thoughts, jolting her back to the present.
Cass nodded, shaking her head as though she could dislodge the thoughts tangled up inside it. Focus, she told herself. There was a fire to fight, a family to save. This was what mattered, not some infuriating consultant with a sharp tongue and a perfectly pressed suit.
She pushed Evelyn out of her mind. Or tried to, anyway. But as the house came into view, its roof already engulfed in flames, Cass couldn’t help the nagging thought that the fire raging inside her was just as dangerous.
4
EVELYN
The fire station hummed with energy as firefighters bustled around, prepping for the day’s routine drill. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the faint whiff of smoke and the metallic tang of equipment, creating a familiar backdrop for the team. Laughter echoed off the walls as firefighters exchanged playful banter, their camaraderie evident in the way they moved together like a well-oiled machine. Both Captains Harris and Hunter’s teams ran the drills today, competing for the best times. Evelyn had watched the interactions between Cass and Hallie over the last few days. Captain Hallie Hunter seemed to be a calming influence on the fiery captain Harris, settling her when tensions ran high and emotions flared. Perhaps she ought to be spending her attention there instead of Harris; it would be a much easier fight. But then she did so enjoy the challenge.
Evelyn stepped through the double doors, clipboard in hand, her presence commanding immediate attention. The clamor faded momentarily as she surveyed the scene with a critical eye. The light streaming through the high windows illuminated the dust motes swirling in the air, but her focus was on theequipment scattered around the bay. Old hoses lay coiled in a corner, a couple ladders showed signs of wear, and the fire engines looked like they had seen better days.
She noted each deficiency, her brow furrowing deeper with every observation. In her mind, a plan began to form: more budget cuts would allow her to advocate for new gear and better safety measures for the department, streamlining their operations to meet modern standards. Efficiency, she reminded herself, was key to their survival.
As she moved to the edge of the drill area, Evelyn felt the palpable sense of pride and teamwork among the firefighters. They communicated effortlessly, their movements synchronized as they checked equipment and briefed one another on their roles for the drill. She couldn’t deny the camaraderie on display—the way they rallied together, their faces alight with purpose and determination.
But even as she acknowledged their spirit, her focus remained unwaveringly on the deficiencies she perceived. The outdated equipment loomed larger in her mind, overshadowing the warmth of their interactions. She scribbled notes furiously, capturing every detail, every potential point of improvement, and the nagging feeling that some of the traditions held dear were standing in the way of progress.
Evelyn watched as Cass Harris barked orders, her voice rising above the noise, commanding respect from her team. There was a fire in Cass that Evelyn found both admirable and infuriating. How could a department this proud and capable be content with equipment that had clearly seen better days? She had researched a lot of the most up to date firefighting equipment and they had none of it here. She would have to confront Cass about it—and soon.
As the drill began, Evelyn stood back, arms crossed, keenly observing the execution from the women. The routine unfoldedwith precision, but all she could see were the gaps, the places where they could improve. She felt the weight of her mission pressing down on her, ready to advocate for the changes she believed were necessary to secure the department’s future.
With every passing moment, her resolve hardened, but she couldn’t shake the sense that the real challenge wasn’t just the equipment; it was going to be navigating the complex dynamics within this fiercely loyal team.
After the drill concluded, Evelyn gathered the team in the main meeting room, her clipboard at the ready, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The walls, adorned with plaques and photos of past achievements, seemed to close in as the team settled into their seats, their expressions shifting from camaraderie to seriousness. Cass entered last, her presence commanding, but a flicker of tension danced in the air between her and Evelyn.
Evelyn cleared her throat, casting a steady gaze around the room before settling on Cass. “Thank you all for your hard work today,” she began, her voice calm yet firm. “I wanted to take a moment to go over a few critical observations from the drill.” Her eyes flicked over the team, but eventually rested on Cass, whose arms were crossed defensively, her expression guarded yet intent.
“While I commend your dedication, it’s clear that some of the equipment is outdated,” Evelyn continued, letting the words hang in the air. “If you want to operate efficiently and safely, we need to consider reallocating funds for new tools.”
Cass’s expression immediately tightened and her blue eyes narrowed at “outdated” and “reallocate.” She sat up straighter and her jaw clenched, the tension evident in the set of hershoulders. Her dark ponytail was messy from her helmet. “Evelyn, I hear what you’re saying, but this equipment has served us for years. It’s not shiny or new, but it’s reliable and we know how to handle it.” Her voice was steady, but there was an edge there, a warning. “We’ve made do with what we have, and we’ve done it successfully. Just because it’s not top of the line doesn’t mean it’s ineffective.”
Evelyn’s gaze sharpened, and she shook her head, unfazed. “But you’re not seeing the bigger picture, Cass,” she replied, her voice growing firmer. “The field is changing rapidly. We can’t fall behind while other departments are modernizing their equipment and practices. Adaptation is essential if we want to stay at the forefront of fire safety and rescue. Budget cuts to certain areas would allow us to prioritize new resources for the future.”
Cass’s expression darkened, her patience wearing thin. She leaned forward, her tone sharpening with each word. “You think you can just waltz in here and tell us what we need without really understanding our team? This isn’t just about gear or a budget line, Evelyn. It’s about who we are and what we stand for. These tools aren’t just equipment to us—they’re trusted, battle-tested, and every firefighter here knows them like the back of their hand. You can’t just come in and start dismantling that trust.”
Evelyn’s brows knit together as she took a step closer, meeting Cass’s challenge head-on. “I understand the history and traditions here, but clinging to old tools and old ways just because they’re comfortable isn’t an option. I’m here to make sure we’re prioritizing safety and effectiveness over sentimentality. You may see it as dismantling trust, but I see it as building resilience, ensuring that every single person on this team has the best chance to come out of a fire alive.”
Cass’s eyes narrowed, and she rose from her seat, now fully facing Evelyn, their proximity shrinking as the air betweenthem thickened with tension. Her voice dropped, low but fierce. “Don’t talk to me about resilience. You don’t get resilience by handing over shiny new tools every time there’s a budget cut somewhere else. You get it by investing in the people who use those tools day in and day out, who’ve put in hours learning to trust their equipment and each other. This team isn’t a line item. We’re not numbers on a spreadsheet.”
Evelyn felt her pulse quicken as Cass moved closer, her words striking a nerve that she hadn’t expected. She straightened, matching Cass’s defiance, refusing to back down. “I’m not here to turn you into numbers. I’m here to make sure that your team can keep up with the demands of the job and handle the next crisis without hesitation. Cutting costs now means we can save lives tomorrow, Cass. We can’t afford to treat this like it’s a question of loyalty or tradition. This is about efficiency and strategy.”
Cass’s hands clenched at her sides, her voice simmering with frustration. “Efficiency and strategy? Evelyn, firefighting isn’t a business plan. You can’t put a price on the trust my crew has built with the tools they use every day. And you can’t quantify the spirit of this department on a spreadsheet. You may think you know what’s best for us, but you’re underestimating what makes this team strong.”
Evelyn’s jaw tightened as she took another step forward, her voice just above a whisper but charged with intensity. “I’m not underestimating anything, Cass. I’m trying to prepare your department for the future. Do you know how many firehouses have gone under because they refused to adapt? I have seen it. It starts with a reluctance to change, and it ends with lives lost that could have been saved if only they had been willing to move forward.”
The room seemed to shrink around them as they stood toe-to-toe, each holding their ground with unwavering conviction.Cass’s voice was barely a breath, but the intensity was unmistakable. “You talk about lives, but you don’t understand what it takes to walk into a burning building and trust that everything you’re holding on to won’t fail you. You don’t know what it’s like to bet your life on a piece of equipment that isn’t just new and unfamiliar but hasn’t been field-tested with your team beside you.”
Evelyn’s eyes flashed, and she stepped in even closer, nearly brushing against Cass’s chest as her own voice dropped to match the ferocity of the moment. “And you don’t know what it’s like to see preventable tragedies because people were too proud to make the necessary changes. Tradition doesn’t save lives, Cass. It’s time to look beyond comfort and think about survival, not just for the next fire but for the next decade.”
They were so close now that Evelyn could see the fire in Cass’s brilliant blue eyes, a wild determination mixed with something deeper, a spark that went beyond their professional clash. She was sure Cass could feel her own heartbeat racing in her chest. Neither moved, neither spoke, each holding the tension in the space between them, a crackling friction that seemed to blur the line between fury and something else.
Finally, Cass’s voice dropped to a growl, her gaze unwavering. “This team is my family, Evelyn. I won’t stand by while you reduce them to some numbers on a line graph.”
Evelyn’s response came just as low, her voice tight. “I’m not here to destroy your family, Cass. I’m here to make sure they stay alive.”