*This story is a sequel to The Seventh Hook

 

                         

 

  

HELMETS, HOOKS AND TURNABOUT
by Peggy J. Bedingfield

 

 


    The large red tanker pulled up to the scene. The old warehouse was in full blaze. The captain jumped from the still rolling engine and paused long enough to pull out his HT and call in reinforcement’s. He jabbed the antenna back into its housing and began calling orders to his men. He watched as they ran hither and yon, following his directions for their placement around the burning structure. The fire threw an eerie cast over the surrounding area. Shadows danced and grew then shrank, only to grow once more. Their macabre shapes gave the scene a sense of surrealism. The captain blinked his eyes, trying to clear them of the glare the fire was causing. A distant wail floated to his ears. He looked up and saw another tanker truck approaching the scene. He plucked the HT from his pocket and called into it.

 

  “51, take the west side! Assist Stations 8 and 24!”


  “10-4!” replied Station 51’s captain. Battalion Chief McConnike strode up to the commanding officer and asked for a quick, but brief overview of the situation.


  “We’ve got all four sides covered. We haven’t seen anyone coming from the structure, but I have my men doing a sweep of the building that is not yet involved. So far they have reported all clear. 51, 8 and 24 are on the west and north sides. 84 and 110 are on the east and south sides. I think we can keep this dragon confined to the one building!”


  McConnike nodded his head. “Good plan! I’ll take over from here. You go join your men!”
Captain Frank Howard of Station 110 nodded his acceptance and jogged over to the big engine manned by his best friend, and second in command, James Baker.
 

  “How’s it looking, James?” he asked.


  “No problems, sir! With the hydrant backing us, we’ll have plenty of water!”


   A scream split the air. Both men turned to stare in the direction from which it had come. A man ran from the building, his hair smoking and his clothes burning. He screamed again and threw himself to the ground.  Quickly, several men converged on him and covered him with a blanket. They rolled him over and over as they beat at the flames. One of the firemen turned the hose on the men and soaked the victim, causing the flames to quickly die.


  The man struggled against the restraining firemen. He kept up a steady wail of curses and threats. Captain Howard shook his head in amazement at the man’s attempts to throw off his rescuers.


  “Brice, Bellingham! You’ve got a patient!” Howard called to the two paramedics that were just arriving. Suddenly the firemen were thrown back as the man made a final heave. He rose and ran towards the engine and the two men standing beside her. He was screaming curses. Spittle flew from his mouth as he yelled and ran.


  “What the……..” Captain Howard said as the man ran up and jumped him. He felt a fiery sting in his side, then white-hot pain. He grabbed at the man, trying to push him away. The man hung on and grappled with the captain.


  “You only thought he was dead!” the man hissed as he fought the quickly weakening fireman.
James lunged at the man forcing him away from the now unconscious captain. He tried to pin the man to the ground, but was quickly flung aside as the man bunched his knees under himself and pushed off. He ran into the surrounding darkness, taking the torn and ripped coat of Station 110’s captain.


  “Cap!” Engineer Baker called frantically. “Cap! Hang on!” Baker looked around and saw Bellingham and Brice headed towards him. “Hurry! I think that mad man stabbed the Captain!” 


   Brice knelt beside the wounded man. He quickly assessed the injuries and began taking equipment from the drug box. “Open the contact to Rampart!” he said calmly. He quickly placed the blood pressure cuff on the arm of Captain Howard. Pumping it up, then slowly releasing the pressure gave him the information he sought. He then reached over and checked respiration and pulse. He looked up at his partner, who was on the line with the hospital. Brice handed him the paper with all of the Captain’s vitals then dug in the drug box for the medication he anticipated the doctor would order.


  “Keep that oxygen going!” Brice told Baker as he began to set up for treating the patient. He listened with one ear as Bellingham spoke with Rampart. Once he heard the order for the IV to be started he immediately set about getting the canula in place.  

 

  “Okay, let’s get him loaded!” Brice called. “I’ll ride in with him!”


  “See you at Rampart,” Bellingham said as he closed the doors and gave the requisite two slaps. The ambulance pulled away. Bellingham gathered up the remaining equipment then jumped into the squad and followed them to the hospital.

 

 

~*~*~

 

    Hank walked from his office and entered the day room. He paused in the doorway to listened as the men talked about the fire and the attack on 110’s Captain. He watched as Chet flung his arms around, trying to make a point and listened to Johnny’s retort. He grinned at the men he had grown to love and respect. Hank clapped his hands then rubbed them together. The news he had to tell was not good. The men turned and watched as he entered the room.


  “ I just spoke with Chief McConnike.” He paused and looked each man in the eyes, “I’m afraid Captain Howard didn’t make it. McConnike said he passed away about an hour ago.”


  The men sat around the table in silence. Mike rose and walked to the coffeepot. He poured himself a fresh cup then proffered it to the others at the table.  Once the cups were refilled the men sat quietly absorbing the news. “Cap,” Chet began, then paused as he tried to get his thoughts together. “Why?” was all he finally said.


  “I don’t know, Chet. But I have to tell you fellows even more bad news.” He rubbed the back of his neck as the men stared at him, waiting. Hank gently swished his now cold coffee around the cup. He placed the cup in the sink then turned to face his men.

 

   “This isn’t the first time this has happened. In the past six months there have been attacks on three other stations. Some at fires, some as they pulled into their stations. Each time a man has been wounded and his coat and helmet snatched.”


  “But, I thought the person responsible for stealing coats and helmets was killed?” Chet said, voicing the other men’s thoughts.


  “So did I. And so did those at HQ,” Hank said softly.  “According to McConnike, they are treating this as a copycat case.”


  “Cap,” Mike Stoker, Station 51’s Engineer, said, “ Did the police ever find out whose name was on the last hook?”


  Captain Stanley looked at his Second in Command. He shook his head then said, “I don’t know, Stoker. If they did, we were never told.”


  “You know, Marsha could tell us,” Johnny stated, looking to his partner for confirmation.


   “The Chief said they’re investigating the incidents. If it is a copycat, they don’t want word to leak out to the press. You know what happened last time word got out about the stolen gear.”


  The men nodded in agreement. A year ago their Captain had fallen into a hole, and had seen the six missing coats and helmets hanging from hooks that had been pushed into a dirt wall. The events that followed had made the local news, then had quickly spread to the national news. The chaos that followed as reporters kept trying to get interviews had disrupted the routines of the stations involved, including Station 51.


   “How will they keep this quiet, Cap?” Roy, the senior member of the paramedic team, asked.


   “I don’t really know, Roy. But we’re to keep quiet about anything we hear or see, except to talk with the police or HQ. So, be alert at all times. Be overly aware of your surroundings.”

 

 

~*~*~

 

  Several days later the doors to Emergency flew open.  A gurney was pulled in with a man laying on it, blood dripped from a hand that was hanging over the edge.  Johnny was riding the rails performing CPR as they pushed their way into the treatment room.  Dr. Early and Dr. Morton followed the patient into the room and immediately began assessing the situation . Dr. Early grabbed the defibrillator paddles and prepared to shock the patient in hopes of jump starting the stalled heart.

 
  “Clear!” Dr. Early called, and depressed the buttons, releasing the electrical charge.


“Nothing! No change!” Dr. Morton said. “400?”

 
  Dr. Early nodded and prepared to shock the man again. “Clear!” he said and released the charge. Those in the room stood and watched, hoping against hope they were not too late. A tiny jump on the monitor then a flat line crossed the screen. Dr. Early called for sodium bicarb and injected it directly into the heart. “Let’s shock him again!”


  Dr. Morton counted off the charge then called, “Hit him!”


  “Clear!” Dr. Early called and once more released the life saving charge.


  “Sinus rhythm!” Dr. Morton sang out. 


   Johnny sighed and mopped his forehead. He slapped Dr. Morton on the back, gave him a “thumbs up”, and left the room. He saw his partner waiting at the reception desk and joined him. Roy handed him a cup of coffee and asked after the patient.


  “How’d it go?”


  “They had to shock him three or four times, but they finally got him back. Man, I hate gunshot wounds!”


  “Yeah, me, too. Especially since it could have been avoided by a little more care.”

   Johnny shook his head and sighed, “Man, if people were more careful with those things! No wonder I hate guns!”

 

  “Guns can be a useful tool, in the right hands and used in the right manner,” Roy told his tired partner.


  “It isn’t the gun that does the killing or hurting, it’s the person handling it.”


 “Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it before. Guns don’t kill, people do. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it any better.”


  “No, you don’t. Come on, we need to get back.” Roy sat his cup down and started to walk away.


  “Wait! Let’s ask Dixie if Marsha’s on duty. I want to talk to her.” Johnny looked around the waiting area. He spotted the head nurse leaving one of the treatment rooms. “Hey, Dix!” he called. Dixie turned and smiled when she saw who had called her.

 

  “Hey, Johnny. Hi, Roy. What can I do for you fellows today? Are you needing supplies?”


 “Uh, no. I, uh, well, um. Is Marsha working today?” Johnny finally managed to say.

 

  “No. She won’t be around for the next three weeks. She left for vacation yesterday. I wish I could have gone with her.”


  “Really? Where’d she go?” Johnny asked, side tracked.

 
  “Bermuda,” Dixie answered. “What did you want to talk to her about?”


  “Bermuda! Wow!….What? Oh! I just had a question to ask her, but I guess it’ll have to wait for now.”


  The tones sounded from the HT in Roy’s hand, “Squad 51, what is your status?”


  “Squad 51 available from Rampart,” Roy replied.


  “10-4, stand by for response.” The tones began to sound. After a few minutes Sam Lanier’s voice called out the stations to a warehouse fire in the industrial area.


  “Later, Dix!” Johnny called as he and Roy headed out at a jog. She heard Roy acknowledge the call as the doors closed.

  “This sounds big!” Johnny exclaimed as he jumped into the squad. “15 and Lawson, isn’t that the site of a fire just three months ago?”


  “Yeah, but a lot of the building remained standing. The company was supposed to be tearing it down.” Roy slowed the squad for the turn from the parking lot.


  “Watch it!” Johnny cried as a small red sports car raced by. Two young teenagers were laughing and waving as they passed. Johnny scowled at the swiftly moving vehicle. “That was too close!”


  Roy glanced at his partner. He nodded his head in agreement then pulled out and headed for the scene of the fire.


  Once at the scene Roy and Johnny jumped out of the squad and donned their turnout gear. Johnny was strapping on his SCBA when Captain Stanley ran over to them and said, “We’ve got two men trapped on the second floor. Part of the ceiling came down and trapped them in a back room. Marco and Chet will cover you. Get in and get out as quickly as you can!”


  “Right, Cap!” Roy acknowledged. He and Johnny hurried into the now smoking building. Marco and Chet motioned them to the stairs then followed behind them with a charged line. The two paramedics found the trapped men easily. One was coughing from smoke inhalation; the other was unconscious from a blow to the head that had knocked off his helmet.


  “Let’s get them outside! We can treat them there!” Roy ordered. Johnny nodded his agreement. Five minutes later the two injured firemen were lying on the ground beside the squad. Helmets and coats were quickly removed so treatment could be given.


  “Is Harold gonna be okay?” asked the still conscious fireman. “He took a hard blow from that beam in there when it fell!”


  Roy looked up and gave the man a quick smile, but did not reply. He wrapped the blood pressure cuff around the unconscious man’s arm and pumped it up. He frowned at the reading but quickly removed the expression before the other patient could see him.  Johnny had the bio-phone open and was talking with one of the doctors at Rampart. Roy handed him the sheet of paper with the vitals written on it then began pulling equipment and medicines from the drug box.

 

  “10-4, Rampart! IV D5W TKO both victims and transport!” Johnny turned to his partner, “Did you catch all that?”


  “Got it! Hand me that re-breather!” Roy quickly started the IV. Suddenly the man began to choke.

 

  “He’s aspirating! Help me roll him!”


  Johnny quickly knelt beside the injured fireman and helped log roll him on to his side. “He’s stopped breathing!” 


  Roy and Johnny frantically began pumping air into the man using the balloon. Roy had pulled out a tracheal tube and placed it into the man’s airway. Johnny had pulled the bio-phone back open and re-contacted Rampart hospital to update the doctor on the situation at hand.


  “10-4, 51. Do you have him patched in?”


  “Affirmative, Rampart! We are sending you a strip. This will be lead two!” Johnny flipped a switch. At the hospital the on-call doctor read the strip that came from the monitor.


  “51, keep an eye on his vitals and get him in here as fast as possible! Give me another set of vitals in three minutes.”


  “10-4, Rampart!” Johnny said.


  Roy jumped into the ambulance and helped load both men. Johnny handed him the bio-phone, then closed the doors, slapping them twice to signal the driver. As he turned around to pick up the scattered equipment, he noticed the injured fireman's helmet and coat were missing. Assuming one of the other men had picked it up, he loaded his gear and followed the ambulance.

 

 

~*~*~

 

  Johnny walked into the emergency area of Rampart General. He checked at the desk to see if Roy was waiting for him. Not seeing anyone, he went to the men’s room to wash some of the smoke and grime from his face. He paused and looked at himself in the mirror. Dark circles lined the underside of his eyes and tiredness was carved on his face. He hoped they would be able to return to quarters and bunk down for an undisturbed night’s rest. He stood up and dried his hands then strode from the restroom in search of his partner. Roy was standing at the desk with a cup of the ever-present coffee, held in his hand. Without a word he handed Johnny a cup and poured him some of the dark brew.


  “How is he?” Johnny asked.


  “He didn’t make it. The blow fractured the skull in two places and partially severed his spinal cord.”


  Roy hung his head. Johnny’s shoulders drooped. Another brother lost to the beast, but was it a human beast or the fire?


  “Come on, we need to put ourselves available. Maybe we can get some rest tonight.” Johnny set his cup beside the now empty pot and reached out to clasp his partner’s shoulder in an attempt to offer comfort.


  “I sure hope this wasn’t set by the person stealing our gear.” Roy walked away, tiredness oozing from his dejected posture.

  “Me, too, Pally. Me, too,” Johnny whispered to Roy’s departing back. “Squad 51 available. Returning to quarters.”


  “10-4.”

 

~*~*~

 

   Roy tossed and turned, unable to get to sleep. He could not get the young fireman’s death out of his mind. Frustrated, he threw the covers off and sat up. He slid his feet into his boots and pulled up the turnout pants. Leaving the suspenders dangling, he headed for the day room.


  The first thing Roy noticed was the television being on. Quietly he walked over and switched it off. He looked to see who had fallen asleep and grinned at his partner’s lanky form draped across the armrest of the old leather couch. Henry was sprawled across him, his head resting on Johnny’s chest.


  “Johnny? Johnny?” Roy whispered. He reached out and gently shook his partner’s shoulder. Johnny jumped and snorted.


  “Huh? What?” he said as he jerked awake. “What? Huh? Who?” He rubbed his eyes and looked up into the concerned eyes of his partner. “What? Why’d you wake me?” He rubbed his neck, then noticed Henry asleep on his chest. “Oh, guess I fell asleep. I couldn’t sleep so I came in here to watch the late show. Sorry if I woke you.”


  “You didn’t. I couldn’t sleep either. I thought that maybe a glass of milk might help. You want some?”


  “No, thanks. Man, my neck is stiff!” He pushed Henry off and stood up. “I think I might be able to get back to sleep. That rescue tonight still bothering you?”


  Roy nodded, “Yeah. I can’t get it out of my mind. It really gets me that someone deliberately set that fire.”


  “I know what you mean. I wonder who picked up his coat and helmet? I looked for it, but it was gone.”


  Roy jerked his head up at Johnny’s words. “You couldn’t find his coat and helmet? Did you tell Cap?”


  “No, why?” Johnny started to say then stopped as memory flooded his tired mind. “Oh man, you don’t think?”


  “Yeah. I do. First thing in the morning we need to tell Cap.”

 
  “Tell me what?” asked a tired voice from the doorway.


  “Awe, Cap. I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to wake you!” Roy said.


  “You didn’t. I couldn’t sleep. That last fire is really bugging me. What are you going to tell me?”
Hank walked over and sat in one of the chairs at the table. He motioned for the two paramedics to join him.

  Roy sat opposite of the captain and Johnny plopped down beside him. Both men leaned on the table, arms folded, heads down. Roy straightened and glanced over at his partner.


  “Tell him what you told me.”

 

  Captain Stanley looked at the younger paramedic and quirked a brow at him. Johnny quickly told him about the missing coat and helmet. 

 

  “I thought someone in the group might have grabbed it and put it in the truck, or something.” Johnny leaned back and watched his captain’s face.


  Hank studied his hands. “Okay, tomorrow I’ll contact HQ and let them know about the missing coat and helmet. I sure hope you’re right about someone picking it up and taking it back to the station, but my gut instinct is telling me otherwise.”


  “I hope so, too, Cap,” Johnny said sadly. “I think I’m gonna head back to the dorm and try to get some sleep.”


  “Good idea. Why don’t we all three do just that?” Hank said, glancing at Roy. “Roy?” Hank reached over and shook the paramedic’s shoulder.


  “Huh? What?” he said in confusion.


  “Let’s head back to bed. You fell asleep in the chair.” Captain Stanley grinned at the sleepy blond
man.

 

  “Yeah, okay, right behind you.” Roy yawned. “Right behind you, Cap.” He rose and shuffled back to the dorm area, following his partner and the captain.

  The next morning as the men were waiting around for their shift replacements to show up, Captain Stanley called head quarters and reported what Johnny had seen. He had closed the door to his office while he spoke on the telephone. The men had to wait for him to return to the day room before finding out what the situation was.

 
  Captain Stanley walked into the dayroom and met five pair of eyes watching him. He grimaced at the men then motioned for them to be seated. Hank paced the floor, gathering his thoughts, then stopped and turned to face the blackboard. Picking up the chalk, he silently wrote:


                                    Arsonist --- 5
                                    Fire Dept.— 0.


  The men read what had been written. Five minutes later the next shift arrived. The A shift crew left for two days off.

 

 

~*~*~

 

  The next several shifts that passed were busy, but quiet. Although several fire fighters had gotten hurt, no coats had turned up missing. The men had begun to relax. They were excitedly talking about the upcoming Fourth of July picnic to which Roy and Joanne had invited them.


  “Morning, morning, morning!” Johnny sang out as he entered the locker room. He shucked his shirt and pulled out his uniform. He quickly buttoned up and tucked his top into the waistband of his slacks. Not waiting for his partner, he slipped out and headed for the day room where he sat up a trap to catch the phantom. He was munching innocently on a doughnut by the time the others walked in to the room. He handed his partner a mug of coffee as he walked through the door. He also gave each man who entered the room ahead of his target a mug. When he knew Chet was next he quickly sat at the table and waited. The others watched his antics with amusement.


  “Coffee smells good!” Chet said as he strode into the room. He reached up and opened the cabinet door for a cup.


  “SPROING!”

  “Argh!” Chet cried as gold glitter cascaded down on his unsuspecting head. The men stood in stunned surprise. They watched as Chet tried to brush the sticky flakes from his face and clothes. Glitter sparkled from his mustache and hair. He swung around and glared at Johnny.


  “What?” Johnny asked, all innocence.


  “The Phantom will get you for this!” he said angrily.


  “What’s wrong, Chet? Can the Phantom dish it out, but not take it?” Mike asked, surprising everyone in the room. Chet’s jaw dropped in his surprise. Glitter floated to the floor. He shook his head slowly, then a gleam came into his eyes and he stalked towards Johnny. Before he could reach his intended victim the captain walked in.  Captain Stanley eyed the short stocky fireman. He raised his eyebrows in question. Chet turned red and headed for the locker room to try and remove as much of the glitter as possible. He sent a glare back over his shoulder as he disappeared from the room.

 

  Johnny followed his target and said, “Need some help there, Chet? I have a hand vacuum out in the Rover.”


  “Yeah, right! Your kind of help I can do without!” Chet said. Johnny was hot on his heels. The men snickered and laughed at the two’s antics.


  “Those two will be the death of me yet, or at least my sanity,” Captain Stanley said as he wiped tears from his eyes. “Whose idea was the glitter?”

 
  “Johnny’s, I think,” Roy answered as he decided his intervention between the two might be needed.


  “Well, tell those two twits roll call is in five minutes!” Hank left for his office.

   Roy followed the sound of the two still bickering men. Chet was shaking his shirt out over the trash bin. Johnny was sitting on the bench watching and making ‘useful’ comments.


  “Cap said don’t be late for roll call! Chet, you’re shedding.” Roy grinned at the dark scowl that greeted his words.


  “Man, I’ll never get this stuff out of my hair!” Chet shook his head and glitter fell to the floor in a
sparkling shower. “Just you wait, Gage!”

 

  “I’m shaking in my boots!” Johnny laughed as he rose to head out for roll call.


  The men stood in line as Hank gave out chores and duties for the day.

 
  “Chet, you’re cooking today. Try and not shed too much into the food, alright, pal?” Captain Stanley grinned. 


  Chet sighed and shrugged. Glitter fell from him. It sparkled in the sunlight that filtered through the windows of the doors. As he watched it fall, a strange look crossed his face. A gleam entered his eyes, but he ducked his head to hide his expression. A chuckle started deep in his chest, but he covered it with a soft cough.

  The day progressed busily. The engine was called out several times, but only once with the squad. Johnny and Roy were able to finish up their chores and sit around discussing the missing coats and helmets.


  “Ya know, when that guy was killed in that building collapse last year, I thought sure that was the end of it. Then, to have Tracy killed because of it,” Roy shook his head.


  “I never got to know Tracy that well. But it was a shame for her to have died in the manner that she did. I could never imagine doing something like that. Marsha said it was because of her brother. It just blows my mind to think of something happening that would cause my mind to snap.”


  The engine was heard backing into the bay. Chet walked through the door as Johnny finished speaking and looked at both paramedics with suspicion.


  “What’s up?” Chet walked over to the stove and carefully opened the cabinet doors before pulling a cup down for some coffee. Gold glitter drifted off his arm and settled on the counter.

 

  “Man! I thought I got rid of all that stuff!” He wiped the glitter from the counter into his hands and dropped it into the waste can by the back door. Marco strolled into the room and grinned at the irritated fireman. He winked at Johnny and Roy. Casually he poured himself a cup of coffee and stood, waiting. Once or twice he glanced toward the door. Johnny cocked an eyebrow at the Hispanic man, but Marco just grinned and mouthed, “Wait!”


  Captain Stanley walked into the room. “Okay, Tinkerbell, hit the shower! Here, use this scrub sponge, it should help get rid of the stuff.”


  Johnny and Roy’s eyes widened. “Tinkerbell?” Johnny mouthed at his partner. Roy shrugged his
incomprehension.


  “Shut up, Gage,” Chet said as he walked by the seated paramedic.


  Once Chet was out of earshot, Johnny and Roy looked at their Captain for enlightenment.


  Hank grinned at them as he explained, his voice filled with suppressed laughter, “Seems our friend had a run-in with a little girl who thought he was Tinkerbell in disguise!”


  “You’re kidding?” Johnny said, laughing.


  “Why did she think that?” Roy asked, eyes twinkling with merriment


  Marco answered, “Because, while we were trying to get the fire under control he kept shedding the glitter. The little girl saw him and yelled out, ‘Look, mommy, Tinkerbell is helping the firemen!’ I almost dropped the hose, I was laughing so hard, but Chet just didn’t see any humor in it.”


  “Oh, man! I wish I’d been there!” Johnny laughed and shook his head.


  “That would’ve been something to see!” Roy laughed along with his partner.


  Ten minutes later a disgruntled Chet walked into the dayroom. He went to the refrigerator to pull out the items he needed to make lunch. He spied a small bottle sitting next to the milk with a tiny sign and wand attached.


  “To: Tink. From: Peter.”


  “Smart alecks!” Chet muttered under his breath. A thought crossed his mind. He took the tiny bottle of glitter and wand and dropped them in his pocket.


  “Bwahahahah!” he laughed to himself.


  “Lunch in ten minutes!” he yelled out to the men who were playing basketball.

 

 

~*~*~

 

   Roy and Johnny stood at the sink. Johnny grabbed a plate before his partner could place it in the drain board. He did a quick swipe with the towel then placed the plate in the cabinet in front of him.


  “You know, it would be a lot more sanitary if you completely dried the plate before putting it up,” Roy said in a mildly sarcastic voice.


  “It’s dry!” Johnny said, giving his friend a disgusted look. “Chet, will you turn the TV down? It’s so loud we can’t talk without yelling.” Johnny glared at the hose jockey sitting in front of the small television screen.


  “Well, if you would stop yacking so loud we wouldn’t have to keep turning up the volume!” Chet shot back, but reached out and lowered the sound.

 

   “Hey, Roy, Johnny, come watch this story! It’s the structure fire that C- shift covered last night.” Chet sat forward in his seat, absorbed by the story.


  The bright orange flames engulfed a huge building. As the fire fighters sprayed water on the structure, steam rose, making a dark gray cloud that obscured the men. Suddenly a shout rose from directly behind the reporter. A man was seen running toward the camera, then several seconds later the camera was on the ground filming the reflections of the building as it exploded in a massive ball of fire.


  The camera switched to man seated at a desk in the newsroom. He glanced at some papers he had in his hands. “Two firemen were injured while battling the blaze. Both men were taken to Rampart Hospital where they were treated and released.” The camera switched to another angle and the newsman continued, “In other news today, a young college woman has disappeared from the campus…..” Chet turned the television set off, as the picture of a young woman appeared on screen.

 
  “Wow! That was some fire!” Chet said with a sparkle in his eyes. He started to speak again but was interrupted by the tones.
 
  “STATION 51, JUMPER AT 3221 INDUSTRIAL BLVD….3-2-2-1 INDUSTRIAL  BLVD….APPROACH NON- CODE R. TIME OUT 20:23”

  “KMG 365!” Captain Stanley acknowledged the call. He scrambled to his place in the engine as the truck began to roll from the bay.

  Within minutes the squad and engine pulled up to a major construction sight. Captain Stanley stood beside the engine looking up. He shielded his eyes against the glare of the late afternoon sun. His men stood quietly waiting for his orders.


  “Okay, men, get the ropes, roof ladder and safety harnesses. Everyone wears one. Make sure you are tied off to something solid once we get up there. Everyone ready? Let’s go!”


  The small group headed toward the building. A police officer was waiting at the elevator for the men to complete their preparations. Once they had joined him, he pushed the button that placed the machine in motion.

 

  “What have we got, Vince?” Captain Stanley asked.


  “Possible suicide. She’s the young woman kidnapped from the college a few days ago. We think Dr. Kretkey may have drugged her with one of his experiments. We busted him this afternoon and she managed to escape from us.” Vince shook his head sadly. “She’s really a very pretty girl, but right now I don’t give her a candle’s chance in a windstorm to know what she’s doing.”


  “Do you know the name of the drug he gave her?” Roy asked.


  “No. I have the name here, but I haven’t heard of it.” Vince gave the paramedic a slip of paper with a name written on it. Roy glanced at the name. Johnny read over his partner’s shoulder. They both frowned and shook their heads.


  “I’ve never heard of it. Have you?” Johnny asked.


  “No,” Roy shook his head. “I hope the doctors at Rampart have, though.”


  “I have to tell you guys,” Vince said as the elevator came to a stop, “Six other people have died from this same drug. All six were from the same college and about her age. From what I understood, they became slightly coherent just before they fell into a coma and died.”


  A solemn group stepped from the elevator and walked toward the girl they could now see standing close to the edge of the building. Hank motioned for the men to slow their pace.


  “Miss?” he called. She stood staring into the open air. Her long hair blew around her and framed a tiny heart shaped face with a golden halo. “Miss?” Captain Stanley called again.  She slowly turned to face him. Her eyes were dilated and glazed. Her motions were slow and mechanical.


  “Come on over here, Miss ?” Hank said, leaving her name a question.


  She continued to stare blankly at him, but shifted slightly away from the group of men that were slowly approaching. A strong gust of wind caused her to teeter on the edge. She stepped forward one time and then stopped.  Hank felt a rope being attached to his safety belt, but he did not remove his eyes from the young woman standing in front of him.

 

  “Come on now, you’re not going to be hurt. We just want to help you.”


  “Her name is Candice Strongbow,” Vince told the captain softly.


  Captain Stanley backed away from the drugged girl. He saw her relax as he moved away.


  “Okay, here’s the plan. Roy, you and Johnny go up one more floor. We’ve done this several times before so you know what to do.” Hank glanced back over his shoulder. “Kelly, you and Marco man my line this time. Since I’m the one who started talking to her, I think it’ll be best if I’m the one to distract her.


  “Vince, can you keep anyone else from coming up here? We don’t want to precipitate her jumping.”


  “Not a problem, Hank. Oh, and one other thing,” Vince stopped when Captain Stanley looked at him with raised brows.


  “How much more do we need to know?” Hank asked.

 

  “I don’t know if you will need this information, but it can’t hurt. She speaks several other languages besides English. So if she goes to talking and you don’t understand her, you’ll know why.”

 

   “Great!” Chet muttered, but quickly swallowed the rest of his statement at his captain’s scowl.

The handy talkie squawked. Captain Stanley pulled it from his pocket and spoke into it as Vince walked away, “Go ahead.”


  “Cap, we’re in place. We can see her hair blowing in the wind. Anytime you’re ready,” Roy said.


  “10-4, Roy. Give me a few minutes to get her attention focused on me.” Hank replaced the HT in his pocket. “Feed the line slow, men, and be ready for anything!”


  Chet and Marco nodded their understanding and braced themselves. Hank turned and slowly walked toward the girl.


  “Candice? Candy, can you hear me?” Captain Stanley kept walking slowly. He glued his eyes on the still form. “Candy, my name’s Hank Stanley. I’m with the LA County Fire Department.” He spoke softly, injecting a note of authority into his voice.

 

  Slowly the young woman turned to face the approaching man. She watched him with the wariness of a trapped animal. She stepped back from him. The wind blew stronger, making her hair fly into her face. She brushed it away impatiently, then resumed watching the man who was speaking to her. She could hear the strong tone of authority, a voice she vaguely recognized as not to be disobeyed. A strong urge to go to him swept over her, but was swiftly replaced with another bout of paranoia.


  She glanced away from him, seeing vibrant colors swirl in the open air before her. A movement brought her attention back to the man standing only a few feet away from her. She raised her hand in a warding motion and was pleased to see him freeze in place. His voice floated across the space to her, pleading for something, but in her state of paranoia she did not understand. A shadow crossed her face. She whirled to find a new threat facing her. Two more men were flying in to grab her. She snarled and lunged at the one closest to her.  He swung back into space and she fled his reach. The voice of the first man reached her again, soothing and relaxing in its cadence. She paused on the very edge of the building, listening.  Unseen by her the other men had quickly landed on the ledge and joined their comrade.


  “Now what do we do?” Johnny asked in exasperation.


  “We could try and surround her. She’s far enough away from the ledge one of us could sneak in and keep her from going over, if she tries.” Roy looked to his captain for his reaction.


  “Good idea, Roy. Johnny, you try and get over to her left. Roy can approach from her right. I’ll get in front of her and block her.”


  “Cap, why don’t you let me or Roy get in front of her?” Johnny asked, concern for his captain evident, should she decide to jump and take both of them over the edge.


  “No. She already recognizes me. She responded to me twice. I think she will again.” Hank saw the two paramedics share the look that spoke without words. Finally Roy nodded. He and Johnny stepped to their respective spots. Chet and Marco watched the exchange with trepidation. They could not hear the conversation, but when Johnny shook his head vehemently, they knew something bad was getting ready to happen.


  “What do you think they’re discussing?” Marco asked quietly.


  “I don’t know, Marco. But from the way Johnny just reacted, it ain’t good!” Chet secured his hold on the captain’s line even more. “Be ready, for whatever happens, though.”


  Marco muttered a soft prayer then grasped the line holding his commander even more firmly.

  Roy and Johnny slowly walked away from the watching woman. She adjusted her stance, trying to keep all three in view at once. A snarl of frustration escaped her as the men spread out far enough that she could only see two of them at any one time. Captain Stanley waited until she had turned to face the two paramedics before giving the signal to approach.


  As the men began to move in on her, she backed away. A movement from behind caused her to swing around and face the danger from that direction. Johnny and Roy took the chance to move in even closer before she realized where they were. With a cry she dove for the ledge.

 

  Hank jumped at the same time and managed to catch her before she went over.


  “Candy! It’s okay! You’re safe!” Hank struggled with the wild cat he now held in his arms.
She hissed and cursed in several different languages as she clawed and fought against the strong grip holding her. With a wild kick of her legs she sent both of them over the ledge and swinging into space.

 

  “Cap!” Roy and Johnny called frantically as they ran to the side of the building.


  Marco and Chet were holding to the safety line that their commander and the victim was now dangling from. Marco had the rope passed behind him and was practically sitting on it to give them extra leverage.

 

  “Argh!” came a cry from below. “Hurry! She’s biting my arm off!” Hank’s grip became tighter as he tried to free his arm. He refused to let his grip relax, but the pain in his arm was beginning to cause his hand to go numb. He gritted his teeth and held on.


  Roy and Johnny joined the other two members of their crew. They hauled on the rope and soon had the captain and the woman in view. The two were pulled to safety. Johnny grabbed the woman as she tried to run while Roy helped the captain sit beside one of the iron pillars of the building.


  “Go help Johnny. I’ll be all right for now.”


  “Let me check your arm. Johnny has plenty of help right now.”


  Hank looked past the paramedic and saw Chet and Marco struggling to hold the woman down. He shook his head in amazement.

 

  “That is one strong gal!”


  “I imagine part of her strength comes from the drug she was injected with. I just hope we can get her stable and to the hospital before it’s too late.” Roy placed a final piece of tape on the bandage. “Stay here. You’ll need to have that arm checked at the hospital.”


  Hank nodded and held his arm.

 

  Roy ran to join his partner and the other men. As he knelt beside the woman she became limp. Her head rolled to the side.


  “Whew! She’s a fighter! I’d hate to meet up with her in a dark alley!” Chet wiped his brow as he sat back to let the two paramedics do their job. Marco also released his hold and sat back. Sweat ran down his face and into the collar of his turnout coat.

 “Me either!” Marco agreed with a tired sigh. He rocked back on his heels and reached for the bio-phone. He quickly made contact with Rampart, then waited for Roy or Johnny to take over.

 

  “Rampart, this is Squad 51. Do you read?” Roy waited for confirmation then quickly gave the woman’s vitals to the doctor. He scribbled in his notebook the called for treatments then slapped the receiver into the cradle.

 

  “IV D5W, TKO. Patching her in. It will be just a moment, Rampart.”  Roy grabbed the leads and patches from the drug box. He started to hand them to his partner when Candy sat up and snarled her displeasure. Her eyes were dilated and her skin was flushed.

 

   She pushed the blond paramedic away and tackled Johnny in her haste to get away from the two men. Spotting the large construction crane, she clambered on to it and began to ascend its height.

Johnny made a mad grab for her leg, but dodged as she laughed maniacally and kicked out at him.

 

   “Well, looks like we get to do some more climbing,” Johnny said, watching Candy climb to the end of the crane. “You want to go up, or me?”

 

   “Let me. She knows my voice,” Captain Stanley had joined the two men. They stood staring at the madly waving girl whose voice drifted down to them on the wind. “I think I’ve counted seven different languages so far, and I don’t speak any of them!”

 

   “You can’t, Cap. You have an injury that will hamper you. Besides,” Roy paused, “It’s our job!”

 

   Hank gaped at the blond paramedic. He shook his head in disbelief. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were being………” a gunshot interrupted him.

  

   A bullet ricocheted from the steel girders and landed with a thump. Johnny fell backwards, landing hard on his side.

 

   “Johnny!” Cap called from his crouched position behind Roy, who was trying to shield his captain from any more bullets.

  

   “I’m fine, Cap!” Johnny called in answer.

 

   “Whew!” Roy heard his commander say. “I just knew he’d cracked that hard head of his! Come on, we’ve got to get out of the open!” Hank grabbed Roy by the arm and began to crawl towards one of the steel beams.

 

   “Johnny, were you hit?” Roy waited for his partner’s answer. He sighed with relief when Johnny answered.

 

   “Nah, I just jumped at the sound. But where did the bullet go?”

  

   “I can answer that,” Hank said. He moved his hand from the pocket of his turnout coat. A small hole was visible where the bullet had penetrated.

 

   “Cap’s been hit!” Roy cried.

 

   Another bullet sang out and bounced off another of the beams. Candy continued her tirade from the top of the crane. She waved the gun around and yelled at the men.

 

   “Where the heck did she get a gun?” Captain Stanley asked, looking over to Vince, who had taken shelter near them. “And where was it hidden?”

 

   “That’s a good question!” Vince said and ducked as another bullet smashed into the beam.

 

   “Cap, let me check you out! I don’t understand why I don’t see any blood?” Roy looked at the hole in the coat and then at his leader.

 

   “There isn’t any blood because the bullet didn’t hit me. It hit the HT in the pocket. I’m beginning to think she has it in for me!”

 

   Roy grinned, both in relief and in response to his captain’s quip.

 

   The sound of clattering brought their focus back to the situation at hand. The gun now lay at the base of the machine. Candy’s form was draped over the edge of the crane arm. Her hair blew in bright tangles around her.

 

   “She’s not moving. Let’s get up there before she comes out of it!” Roy called as he and Johnny dashed for the equipment and began to climb up its long arm.

  

   Johnny was ahead of Roy. He stopped suddenly causing Roy to bump into him. Johnny was staring up, a grin played across his face.

 

   “Listen, she’s singing.”

 

   Roy listened for a minute then nudged his partner to keep moving. “Let’s get to her before she decides to become violent again.”

 

   Johnny began his ascent again. As they drew closer to the girl, Roy was able to make out the words to the song she was singing.

 

   “Over the Rainbow?” 

 

   “Maybe she’s seeing rainbows.” Johnny slowed in his climb. “Candy! Hey, my name’s Johnny. I’m a paramedic. My partner is right behind me. All we want to do is help you down.”

  

   Candy tilted her head backwards until she could see the person speaking to her. She smiled at him then giggled. “You have a dark halo! Are you a dark angel?”

 

   “Uh, no. I’m not an angel of any kind. Can you sit up and let me get closer to you?” Johnny edged in closer.

 

   “Oh, I don’t know. I kinda like being here. I can fly, you know. Want to see me fly?” She struggled into an upright position.

 

   “No, Candy! Just sit still. I believe you!” Johnny swallowed his fear for the girl. He had seen the dilation of her eyes and the pallor of her skin. “Please, just sit there. Don’t move around. I have a belt I want to put around your waist. Will you let me do that?” He inched closer.

 

   “I have a belt! It’s much prettier than that ugly old thing!”  She giggled and tried to move away from him.

 

   “Really? Can I see it?” Johnny asked. He froze in place as she quickly moved to pull up her shirt. A black belt with silver conches came in to view.  “Wow, that is pretty. Will you trade it for this just long enough for me to get a good look at it?”

 

   “Sure,” she giggled and unfastened the belt. “Here, but I need that one or my shorts will fall off!”

 

   Johnny reached out as if to take the belt. With one swift move he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to him. Surprise kept her still long enough for him to get the belt around her and one buckle fastened.

 

   She dropped her belt and started to struggle. “Let me go! You tricked me!”

 

   “Roy, help!”

 

   Roy moved as fast as the confined space allowed. He reached around his partner and managed to snap Candy’s belt to Johnny’s before being shoved back by their struggles.

 

   “She’s snapped on to you. Can you get the other buckle fastened?”

 

   “Believe it or not, yes, I did! Man, she’s strong!”  Suddenly, a blow from the madly struggling woman knocked Johnny's helmet from his head.  It fell with a clatter to the floor below and bounced around.

 

   Candy went rigid. Her body stiffened then suddenly collapsed as she passed out once more.

 

   “Let’s get her down from here! I think it’ll be better if I rappel down.” Johnny shifted the dead weight of the woman onto his other arm. Roy attached the rope and threw the long line to the men waiting below.

 

   “Heads up!” he called as the rope sailed down.

 

   Marco and Chet quickly braced themselves. They watched as Johnny stepped over the arm of the crane and began his descent. Candy remained unconscious on the trip down. She was quickly placed into the waiting stokes and strapped in to place. Roy joined his partner and the other men.

 

   “Rampart, Squad 51, again. How do you read?” Roy wiped his brow clear of the sweat that had beaded during the struggle with the woman and his climb down.

 

   “We read you, 51. Go ahead.” Dixie’s voice answered the hail.

 

   “Rampart, we now have access to the victim. IV D5W has been re-established. Patient is now unconscious. Pupils are dilated and do not respond to light. Skin is cool and dry to the touch. Stand-by for vitals.”  Roy looked over at Johnny who was trying to get a reading on the B/P.

 

   “B/P is 80/20, pulse is 110. Respiration’s 16 and shallow.”

 

   Roy repeated the vitals to the waiting team at Rampart.

  

   “10-4, 51. Transport and keep an eye on her B/P. Give me an update in five minutes,” Dr. Brackett ordered.

 

   “10-4, Rampart! ETA 15 minutes!” Roy quickly packed the gear and followed the others to the elevator.

 

   Once back on the ground, Candy was loaded in the ambulance. Roy looked around and saw his commander starting to climb into Big Red.

 

   “Cap!” Roy called and motioned towards the ambulance. “Remember, you get a free ride this time.”

 

   Hank frowned, but did not argue. He trotted to the ambulance and climbed in to sit on the bench. He glanced at the unconscious woman and sighed.

 

   “How’s she doing, Roy?”

 

   “She’s stable for now.”

 

   Hank watched the sleeping woman. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “You know, she looks to be close to the same age as my daughters. What a waste!”

 

   “Yeah. It scares me to see someone this young get messed up with drugs, willing or not.”

 

   Candy moaned softly. Her eyelashes fluttered then slowly lifted. She stared straight ahead for a minute then seemed to realize she was not alone.

 

   “Who are you?” She rolled her head to the side and peered at Hank.

  

   “I’m Captain Hank Stanley of the LA County Fire Department. This gentleman,” he pointed to Roy, “is a paramedic.”

 

   “Oh, okay, if you say so. What happened to your arm? Did you cut it?”  She pointed to the bandage that was visible from the sleeve of his turnout coat.

 

   “Umm, it was injured while we were trying to help you.”  Hank cradled his arm against his chest.

 

   Candy frowned at him then glanced at Roy. “Did you get hurt, too?”

 

   “No. I was in a different place at the time. Where did you learn all the languages you speak?” Roy asked, changing the conversation.

 

   “Here and there. I learn languages like a duck takes to water.” Candy looked at Hank again, “Did I do that to you?”

 

   “Don’t worry about it. It isn’t serious.” Hank tried to play down the damage she had done.

 

   “I’m sorry! Normally I wouldn’t hurt a fly! That Dr. what’s-his-name injected a bunch of us with some really weird drug. Kevin and Nancy died. What happened to the others?”

 

   Roy and Hank locked eyes briefly. They had no idea what to tell her.

 

   “I’ve got to take your blood pressure again and let the doctors know you’re awake. You’ll feel your arm being squeezed, but only for a moment.”

 

   “What happened to the others?” Candy asked again, looking at the captain.

 

   Hank hung his head in indecision. To tell her that her friends had died would upset her needlessly, but he could not lie outright and tell her they were fine.  Finally, he looked her in the eyes and said, “I don’t know.”

 

   The ambulance slowed and turned into the emergency bay. The doors were flung open and the gurney was pulled from the vehicle. Roy jumped down and followed the orderlies pushing the gurney. Dixie met them at the door to the treatment room and motioned them inside.

  

   She caught the Captain of 51 and led him to another room to wait. “Dr. Morton will be here in just a minute. You, sit!” She smiled to remove any censor from her words. Hank grinned and did as he was told.

 

   A few minutes later Dr. Morton walked into the room. “So, I heard you met up with a biter!”

 

   “Yeah, well, she didn’t know what she was doing,” Hank defended her.

 

   “Hmm,” was all Morton answered as he turned the arm over to see it from all sides. “She did a good job on you. Must have strong teeth. You’re going to need a few stitches in this arm.”

 

   “It won’t keep me from work, will it?” Hank asked, worried.

 

   “I don’t think so. Just be sure and keep it dry and clean. Change the bandage in the morning, unless you get it dirty on a run. Use this cream on it. It’ll keep it from itching too bad.” Dr. Morton finished wrapping the arm and placed a piece of tape on the bandage. “If any over amount of swelling or redness occurs, get back here.”

 

   “Yes, sir!” Hank agreed as he slipped from the bed and headed for the door.

 

   Roy and Johnny were talking with Dixie as Hank joined them at the base station. “How is she? Would it be possible for me to talk to her for just a minute?” Hank looked from the two paramedics to the head nurse.

 

   “Here comes Dr. Brackett. Why don’t you ask him?” Dixie directed the captain.

   Brackett heard the last part of her comment and looked at the waiting men with a quizzical look in his eyes.

 

   “How is she?” Hank asked, before Roy or Johnny could speak.

 

   “She’s conscious and talking. She keeps asking about the fireman with the hurt arm.” Brackett smiled at Hank, his eyes twinkling. “I think she likes you.”

 

   “Uh, um,” Hank stammered. “Would it be all right to see her for just a minute?”

 

   “Sure. She’s in treatment room two. Dixie, would you escort him?” Brackett snapped open the chart he was carrying and began to scribble notes into it. “We’ll be moving her to ICU in a few minutes.”

 

   “Thanks, Doc. I won’t stay long. We do have to be getting back.” Hank hurried after the head nurse. She stopped and motioned him to enter the room. “I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”

 

   Roy and Johnny nodded.

 

   “Want some coffee while we wait?” Johnny asked. “I’ve never known Cap to take this much interest in a rescue victim before. What happened in the ambulance on the way here?”

 

   “Not a whole lot. She came to and we talked a little. She was mortified about biting Cap and kept apologizing. When she asked about the others, neither of us knew what to say.” Roy let the scene flash through his mind once again. “In the end he told her he didn’t know anything.”

 

   Hank walked from the room and motioned to the paramedics he was ready to leave.  He was quiet on the ride back to the station. Once the squad was parked he placed his turnout coat in the engine and took the broken radio to his office.

 

   “Cap?” Roy paused in the doorway.  Hank was sitting in his chair, staring into space. Roy walked in and gently tapped the desk. The captain blinked then focused on the concerned face of his senior paramedic.

 

   “Something wrong, Roy?”

 

   “No, I was concerned about you. Would you like to talk about it?”

 

   Hank looked thoughtfully at the blond man. Normally it was himself offering to listen to one of the men, but the tide was temporarily turned. Turnabout, he thought. I’m not used to being on the other side of the fence.

 

   “No, I’m fine. Thanks, Roy.”

 

   “The offer’s there if you need a listening ear.” Roy left the office and headed for the day room.

 

   “He gonna be okay?” Johnny asked. The other men looked to Roy for an answer.

 

   “I think he just wants to be alone right now.”

 

   “Let’s turn in and try to get some sleep. It may be a busy night.” Mike walked from the room, leaving behind four surprised men.

 

   “He spoke a complete sentence!” Chet marveled.

 

   The men shook their heads and headed for the dorm area. Sleep was a long time coming for two of the men.

  

 

**Station 51……MVA on 405….Pasadena Exit Ramp……MVA on 405……Pasadena Exit Ramp….Time Out 03:45**

 

   “KMG 365,” a sleepy captain replied into the microphone. The men dashed for their spots either on Big Red or in the squad. Mike had the truck rolling before Captain Stanley was completely in the truck.

 

   “Sorry!” Mike called out as he followed the squad from the bay and into morning traffic.

 

   Three hours later the men returned to the station, tired, hungry and dirty.  Hank and the others climbed wearily from the rig. The squad had not yet returned from the hospital.

 

   “I’ll fix some coffee. No sense in going back to bed now,” Marco said to the quiet group.

  

   “Sounds good, Marco. Call me when it’s ready.” Hank went to his office to begin the paperwork. Since this was to be a double shift for the men, he wanted to be ahead with his reports.

 

   The sound of the squad returning made Hank sit up and blink in surprise. He had fallen asleep in his chair.  He rubbed his eyes and headed for the day room where the smell of fresh coffee wafted on the air.

 

   “How’d it go, fellows?” he asked the two paramedics as they followed him into the room.

 

   “The woman’ll be fine. She had a few cuts and bruises, but nothing fatal. The man in the other vehicle is sleeping it off downtown. He didn’t have a scratch on him.” Johnny yawned as he finished filling the captain in on the results of the accident.  “Man, I need some sleep!”

 

   “Don’t we all!” Hank informed the yawning paramedic. “Roy? Hey, Roy! You fall asleep at the table again?”

 

   “Um, no, Cap, but I sure could if I sit here too long!” Roy rubbed his face.

   “The police will be here in about an hour to get our statements about yesterday’s rescue on the high-rise construction sight. They found out where she snatched the gun. So, let’s get as many of the chores done, and breakfast eaten before they get, here if we can.”

 

   “Sure thing, Cap.” “Yeah, good idea.” “Whose turn is it to cook?”  “Not Johnny’s is it?”  The men slowly left the dayroom and headed for the duties that had been assigned the morning before.

 

   Johnny stood alone in the room. He stretched and sighed before heading for the refrigerator to start breakfast. He stood staring into the appliance, not really seeing what was there. The sound of a throat clearing brought him out of his daze and made him jump.

 

   “You trying to air condition the room the hard way, Pal?” Hank smiled in sympathy.

 

   “Uh, sorry, Cap. I was just, uh. Breakfast’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”

 

   “Try drinking some of Tinkerbell’s coffee. That’ll wake you up.” Hank poured himself a cup of the strong black brew and left Johnny alone once more.

 

   Vince Howard, LA Police Officer, walked in to the fire station just in time to hear the klaxons sound. He stepped back as the men raced by him, heading for their places on the rig. He turned and headed out as the engine pulled in behind the squad and sped off into the morning traffic. Vince jumped into his cruiser and followed the men of Station 51 to the sight of the fire that had just been called in.

 

   Hank was out of the rig and calling orders before she rolled to a complete halt. Roy and Johnny were assisting, since no one was reported as missing.

 

   “Johnny, Roy, take a two inch and head for the north side! Marco, Chet get an inch and a half and start from the eastside!

 

   “LA, we have a warehouse fully involved at this location. Send a second alarm!”

 

   “10-4, Station 51.” The tones sounded over the handy talkie. More equipment and manpower were now on the way. A sudden explosion knocked the men to the ground. Hank stood and quickly glanced around. He did a quick head count and was satisfied that all his men were accounted for.

  

   Vince saw people start to gather to watch as the firemen did their jobs. He walked to the still forming bystanders and pushed them back to a safer distance. Two more police cruisers joined his parked vehicle. The officers immediately began trying to clear the area so the fire department could get their equipment in place.

 

   Another explosion ripped the morning air. Sudden pings and twangs could be heard as something began to ricochet around the sight.

  

   “What have they got stored in there?” Captain Stanley called as yet another set of ricochets was heard.

 

   A short balding man ran up to the captain. He was wiping sweat from his head and face. He grabbed hold of Hank and panted out, “There’s gunpowder, and other explosives in there! We just brought the stuff in last night and haven’t had time to secure them!”

 

   “Great! Was anyone inside when this thing started?”

 

   “No. I’m first in. I called in the fire! My name’s John Smyth, with a Y. I’m the manager of the place.”

 

   “Okay. You need to stand back out of the way!” Hank pulled the HT from his pocket. He had to reach down and untangle the antenna from the hole that was being torn wider each time he pulled the radio from the turnout coat’s pocket.

 

   “LA, we have high explosives at this location. Notify ATF and have them send out a representative!”

 

   “10-4, 51.”

 

   Hank pushed the man aside and ran to Chief McConnike’s car as it pulled to a halt.  He rapidly explained the situation. McConnike nodded his understanding.

 

   “Okay, Hank. I’ll take it from here!”

 

 Captain Stanley joined Mike at the engine. He scanned the area once more before joining Marco and Chet on their hose. He placed a hand on each man’s shoulder and yelled over the sound of the flames.

 

   “You two doing okay, here?”

 

   “We’re fine, Cap!” Marco replied as Chet tapped him on the shoulder to trade places.

 

   “Okay! We have explosives inside the building, so keep your ears and eyes open!”

 

   “Understood!” Chet called as he felt the familiar slap on his shoulder.

 

    Captain Stanley gave both a hard slap to let them know he had heard and understood. He then jogged over to where the two paramedics were spraying a fine line of water through a broken window.

 

   “Roy, Johnny, you need any replacement?”

 

   “Not yet, Cap!” Roy called. “We’re standing pretty firm here!”

 

   “Keep your eyes and ears open! There’s gunpowder and other explosives inside! McConnike is calling in the foam truck!”

 

   Roy waved an acknowledgement as Hank turned to join the other captains at the Fire Chief’s car.

 

   “Station 118 will be here in three minutes. I also have the Hazmat Team coming in. Let’s try and keep this monster confined to this one building!” McConnike heard the sound of approaching sirens. All the men watched as the two newest stations pulled in to the scene. McConnike quickly gave his orders over the HT.

 

   Within twenty minutes of their arrival the two Hazmat teams had the fire under control and clean up was under way. No one noticed the figure hiding behind the trees at the back of the parking lot.

 

   Roy and Johnny were called from hose duty to attend to two wounded firemen from Station 24. They had been inside the building when the last explosion had occurred. Both men had cuts and abrasions on their faces. One had a deep laceration on his forehead when his helmet was knocked from his head.

 

   “I’ll ride in with them,” Roy said as the men were loaded into the waiting ambulance. “See you at Rampart.”

 

   “Okay. I’ll be five minutes behind you.” Johnny closed the doors and gave them the two slaps that signaled the all clear. He gathered their scattered supplies and trash then jumped into the squad and headed for the hospital.

 

   The man hiding behind the tree watched the scene with blazing eyes. He searched the area until he spotted the man he wanted. He carefully noted the station number; then slipped from his hiding place and slowly jogged to a car parked two blocks from the fire scene. His next target would be out for a while, but he was prepared to wait.

 

~*~*~

 

   Mike Stoker slowly backed the engine into its spot in the bay. The squad had not yet returned from Rampart. The engine crew crawled tiredly from their perches and headed for the dayroom. Chet made it to the stove first and upended the coffeepot over his cup. A dark sludge slowly dripped from the spout.

 

   “Oh, gross! Man!  The coffee’s burnt!”

 

   “Well, Tinkerbell, why not make a fresh pot while the rest of us get cleaned up?” Captain Stanley said with a smile and a hearty chuckle.

 

   “Man, I’ll never live that down!” Chet reached for the pot and ran water into the dark sludge in the bottom. Gold glitter floated down and settled in the sink. With a sigh, he quickly swiped the dishrag around the basin and rinsed it under the running water. Once the coffee was brewing, he headed for the dorms to wait his turn in the shower. A smile played across his lips, then vanished.

 

~*~*~

 

   Johnny entered the emergency area and immediately went to the nurse’s desk looking for his partner. When he did not see him waiting, he went to the staff lounge. There he found Dixie McCall talking with Roy.

 

   “I wanted to call you at the station, but we heard you get toned out. I really hate to give bad news, but Captain Stanley really hit it off with her. She kept asking for him.”

 

   “Yeah. He’s going to take it pretty hard.” Roy looked up as Johnny entered the room. He looked at the tired posture of his partner and decided to wait until they were back at the station to break the news. It would be easier to tell it once, that have to repeat it twice, or more.

 

   “Hey, why the long face?” Johnny asked, glancing first at his partner, then at the head nurse.

 

   “Come on, let’s go home. I’ll tell you there.” Roy walked from the room, closely followed by Dixie.

 

   “Hey! What’s up? You can tell me now!”

 

   “Come on, Junior. I only want to say it once. This is more for Cap, anyway, but you need to know, too.”

 

   “It’s Candy, isn’t it?” Johnny asked, as sudden understanding clicked in his tired brain.

 

   “Yeah. It is.” Roy walked away.

 

   “Dix?” Johnny looked to his friend for an explanation.

 

   “I’m sorry, Johnny…” she could not finish. Her eyes suddenly filled with unshed tears. “Roy will explain.”

 

   “Oh, man!” Johnny ran to join his partner. He knew what the bad news would be. He climbed in the squad and looked over to his partner. “She didn’t make it, did she?”

 

   “No.” Roy said as he started the squad. The ride to the station was quiet.

 

 

   Roy backed the squad into the bay. He sat in the truck, staring ahead. His reluctance to step from the vehicle was mirrored by his partner.

  

   Captain Stanley stepped from his office and watched the two paramedics. He was puzzled by their expressions and began to worry that the previous rescue had gone sour. He propped his elbows on the windowsill and peered inside the squad.

 

   “Problem with this run, guys?”

 

   “Um, no Cap. Everything’s fine.” Roy sighed and reached for the door handle. Hank stepped back to let him out, but continued to watch the senior member of the two.

 

   “Cap, can we talk to you a minute?” Roy said, refusing to meet his superior’s questioning eyes.

 

   “Sure, come into the office. Have a seat.”

 

   Roy and Johnny followed the captain to his office. Johnny closed the door and leaned against it. Roy stood looking down, hands in his pockets. The quiet in the office became heavy. Johnny shifted once, then settled into the chair closest to the door. Roy finally settled into a chair as well.

  

   Hank kept glancing from one man to the other. The silence was beginning to make him edgy. He nervously rubbed his hands together before splaying them on the top of his desk.

 

   “Well, whatever it is you two have to say must really be bad?”

 

   “Cap…” Roy stopped, trying hard to find a way to tell his captain the bad news. Finally he turned to Johnny, who shrugged and looked away.

 

   “Just tell him. It’s the best way.”

 

   “It’s about Candy.” Roy watched Hank for his reaction. “She didn’t make it.”

 

   Hank looked at Roy in stunned silence. He shook his head in disbelief.

 

   “When? I mean, how? Why? I thought she had a good chance. I told her I would call this afternoon if we didn’t have too many calls.”  Hank bowed his head in sorrow.

 

   “Cap?” Johnny said, his voice cracking at the sudden emotion he felt.

 

   “Dixie told me just before we left from this last run. She wanted to call, but I told her I would tell you. I thought it would be better coming from me. I don’t know why, but…..”

 

   Hank nodded and waved his hand at Roy. “I appreciate it, Roy. It’s not like…” a soft tap on the door interrupted the men.

 

   Chet slowly opened the door and poked his head in, “Sorry to interrupt, Cap. The police are here to get our statements.”

 

   “Okay, Kelly. Tell them we’ll be there in a minute.”

 

   “Why don’t you sit here for a minute, Cap? Johnny and I, and the others can talk with the police first.”

 

   “Thanks, Roy. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

 

   Johnny pulled open the door. He paused and looked over his shoulder at the captain. He wanted to say something, but his voice had deserted him. Instead, he followed his partner to the day room.

 

   Hank sat at his desk and stared into space. A deep sadness engulfed his heart. While he did not really know Candy, he had taken an instant liking to her. His fatherly instincts had kicked in and he tried to convey that in his brief conversation with her the day before. Her words echoed in his memory:

 

            “I truly am sorry about the bite. I hope it doesn’t become infected!”

            “Don’t worry about it. I meant what I said in the ambulance.”

            “You know,” she paused and looked at him closely,” You remind me of my father.

            He was tall and slender with a thick mop of dark brown hair. It always curled

            when he got to sweating, or the humidity was high. You even have a slight twang,

            just more Californian.”

            Hank laughed and blushed. “I take that as a complement. Is there anyone we

            can contact; a family member; a  friend, perhaps?”

            “No. I’m alone. My people are all gone. I just moved out at the  beginning of this

            semester. But thanks for your concern!”

            “Well, would it be all right if I called to check on you tomorrow? You can’t be

            much older than my daughters!”

            “I’m twenty-one!” She laughed at his expression. “But, yes, I would like to talk

             with you again. Your wife won’t mind?”

            “No. I plan on telling her about you. Maybe you two could get together and

            become friends.”

            “It would be nice to have a woman friend again. Thank you. I don’t know why

            you’re being so kind.”

            Hank shrugged and shuffled his feet. “I have to be going now. I’ll call and talk

             with you tomorrow afternoon sometime. Okay?”

            “I look forward to it!” She smiled and waved as he walked from the room…….

 

    A knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts once more. Hank looked up and saw the face of Detective Ron Crockett, one of LA’s finest detectives on the force. He was watching the captain with narrowed eyes.

 

   “Come in. Sorry I didn’t hear you knocking. I was just…thinking.”

 

   “Not a problem, Hank. The other men explained the situation. Do you feel up to answering some questions?”

 

   “Sure. Um, would you like some coffee?” Hank rose to head out the door. He needed a cup of the strong brew to try and calm his nerves.

 

   “No, but you go ahead.” The detective followed him to the dayroom where the others were still sitting and discussing the past events.

 

   Mike looked up as Hank and Detective Crockett walked in the door. He rose and offered his chair to the police officer.

 

   Hank grabbed a cup from the cabinet and poured himself some coffee. He ladled in a spoonful of sugar then turned to face his men, as well as the detective.

 

   “Everyone give their statements?” He saw the men nodding their heads in affirmation. Hank took a sip of the coffee and made a face. He quickly poured the contents of the cup down the sink then rinsed out the cup. “I don’t know why I use sugar sometimes.” 

 

   “Okay, then I guess it’s my turn.” He sat at the table and related the incidents of the rescue as he remembered them. When he finished, Detective Crockett snapped his notebook closed.

 

   “I’ll need the handy talkie she managed to damage, as well as get some shots of your turnout coat. Ballistics will compare the bullets from the gun to a couple of others we have. We’re hoping to connect a couple of other crimes to this Dr. Kretkey.”

 

   “Sure thing, Ron. Kelly, go get the my turnout for the detective while I get the HT for him.”

 

   “Okay, Cap.” Chet trotted from the room. A few minutes later he returned with a look of puzzlement on his face. “Your turnout coat isn’t in the rig, Cap.”

 

   “What are you talking about, of course it is. Same place I always put it!” Hank headed for the engine and pulled open the door. In the seat of the rig was the new handy talkie, but his turnout coat was gone.

 

   The men and detective gathered around the open door and peered inside the truck.

 

   “Where’d it go? I left it right here after that last run!” All eyes turned to look at Chet, who threw up his hands in defense.

 

   “I didn’t take it! I don’t mess with other people’s gear!”

 

   “No. I know you wouldn’t.” Hank clapped the Irishman on the shoulder. “So, where is it, then? I know for a fact I placed it on the door hook once we got back.”

 

   Crockett stood quietly listening to the exchange between the men. He peered into the engine compartment then stooped to look at the floor. He ran his hand along the doorframe then down the inside of the door.

 

   “Hasn’t the department been having trouble with gear coming up missing? I seem to recall hearing about it down at the precinct.”

 

   “Yes, we have. Headquarters was hoping to keep it quiet until a full investigation could be completed. Do you think my missing coat could be related?”

 

   “Could be, Hank. How long did the door stay up before it was closed once you were back here?”

 

   “We left it up so the squad could be parked once Roy and John returned from the hospital.”

 

   “Anyone could have walked in and out without anyone being the wiser about it?” Detective Crockett kept his eyes glued to the floor as he followed a trail only he could see.

 

   “Yeah. I guess they could.” Hank looked around at the other members of A-shift. “Anyone hear anything suspicious earlier?”

 

   The men shook their heads. Johnny stopped and turned to face the door.

 

   “You know, when Roy was backing the squad in, I thought I saw a car pulling away from the curb just past the drive. I didn’t think anything about it at the time.”

 

   “Do you remember what color it was? Make and Model? Did you see if the driver was male or female?” Detective Crockett spit out the questions in rapid fire.

 

   “All I saw was an older car with rust all over it. It looked like an old Cadillac, or Buick? I didn’t see the driver. The license plate was covered with mud, so I couldn’t see it.”

 

   Crockett scribbled in his notebook. “Well, I’ll turn this in to the right department. If you remember anything else, call me. I have to get going. Thanks for all your cooperation!” He waved and left the building at a fast pace.         

 

   “Now what do we do?” Chet asked, looking at the captain. “If your coat is gone, does that mean you’ll be attacked next?”

 

   Hank looked at the stocky fireman as his words sank in. “I better call the chief and tell him the latest! In the meantime, everyone look for that coat. Let’s hope it wasn’t snatched!”

  

   The men scattered and began to scour the building. Lockers were opened and slammed shut; doors on both vehicles were opened and closed a dozen times. Chet pulled open the supply door and jumped back as buckets and other items fell with a clatter to the floor. The men ran to see what the noise was about, then teased Chet about the mess as they resumed their search.

 

   An hour later the group assembled in the day room. They collapsed on different parts of the furniture. The search had been thorough, but fruitless.

 

   “Well, men, seems HQ wants us to keep a lid on this, too.” Hank walked into the room and saw the men sprawled around. “We’re going to have police escort on the next several runs, or until whoever this is, is caught. McConnike will be here in a bit with a new coat and some information for us.”

 

   “Guess, maybe we should get the place cleaned up a little bit?” Marco mumbled to know one in particular. He rose from the chair and began to pick up the trash that had been scattered around. The others followed his example and soon the station was sparkling once more.

 

   Captain Stanley had gone to his office and closed the door. He sat at his desk, lost in thought. He thought about Candy, and the rescue. Then his mind flickered to the more pressing problem of the coat thief. He would grieve over the loss of a new friend at another time.

 

   The klaxons sounded, rousing the men from their somber mood. Hank dashed to the microphone and grabbed it from the hook, waiting for the call to be completed. He glanced up as a person came into view. McConnike handed him a coat as he dashed by to take his place on the engine.

 

   Roy and Johnny had paused in their mad flight when they realized that only the engine was being called out.

  

   “Afternoon, Chief!” Johnny greeted his superior. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

 

   “Sounds good. Let’s have a seat in the day room and wait for the engine to return. You boys can fill me in on the most recent happenings.”

 

   An hour later the men heard the engine being back into its spot in the bay. They listened to the after-fire chatter and waited.

 

   “Chet, you’ve still got that glitter falling from your turnout coat! Sheesh man, it’s all over the place!” Marco was still grumbling as he walked into the room where the two paramedics and the battalion chief were waiting.  Chet bumped into the Latino fireman and shoved him out of the way.

 

   “You’re blocking the door, man! Get some brake lights, why don’t ya!” Chet glared at his friend, then looked to see whom he was staring at. “Afternoon, Chief! Any coffee left in the pot?”

 

   “Yeah, it’s a fresh pot.” Johnny was grinning at Marco’s look of horror. “Marco, you okay, pal?”

 

   “What? Oh, yeah. I, um…Hey, don’t get all the coffee, man!” Marco hurried to the counter and held out a cup for Chet to fill.

 

   “Do you think he heard us talking about the glitter?” Marco whispered to Chet.

 

   “I hope not. That stuff could cause some real problems.” Chet took a sip of his coffee and made a face. “Man, Gage, how much coffee did you use to make this?”

 

   “It just so happens, Chet, I,” he splayed his hand across his chest, “didn’t make the coffee this time. My erstwhile partner here, made it.”

 

   “Oh, well, not bad coffee, Roy.” Chet smirked at the dark haired paramedic.

 

   “Captain went to his office. Said he’ll be out in just a minute. Said something about a phone call.” Mike informed the assembled group.

 

   Chet sauntered to the table and pulled out a chair. He straddled it so he could see the battalion chief. “Well, Chief. I guess these two filled you in on our adventures.”

 

   “Kelly, isn’t it?” McConnike asked, then continued, “Yes, they did. This is pretty serious business. As soon as Hank gets here I’ll tell all of you what steps we are taking to keep you fellows safe out there.”

 

   Once the captain had joined his men, McConnike explained what measures Headquarters was taking to protect the men from any further attacks.

 

   “Unfortunately, we’re in a bind since your coat was stolen, Hank. I’m not sure what’s going to happen now. Most of the missing gear has only been taken from men that have been seriously injured, or killed.

   “LA Police will have a man follow as much, and as often as possible each time this station gets called out. Unfortunately, that’s all we can do.”

 

   “Chief, wasn’t the man killed in the building collapse last year the one originally stealing the gear?” Mike Stoker asked.

 

   “So we thought. This new rash of thefts has pretty much caught us by surprise. We’ve had two men physically attacked when the coats and helmets disappeared.

   “We don’t want anyone else attacked, or hurt. Since Hank’s coat was taken, and he’s still on duty; we feel he’s next up.

 

   “Hank, you’re to remain in sight of someone at all times. If at all possible, stay close to the engine. If you have to go alone, be sure and tell as many as possible where you are going and why.”

 

   Hank nodded his understanding.

 

   “We’ll also be watching the other shifts. No one is safe from this person. In answer to your question Stoker, no, we don’t think that person was the one doing the actual planning. He may have been the one taking them, but we now suspect someone else was the instigator. The man we left buried may have been a pawn in a larger playing field.”

 

   “Why do you say that?” Marco asked.

 

   “We’ve been in contact with other stations in and around the state. They’ve also had a major rash of injuries and missing gear. Last year the thefts slowed after the young man was killed, but they never completely stopped.”

 

   “So they’re all connected? Who, or why, would someone go to all the trouble?” Johnny threw into the conversation.

 

   “That is the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Investigators are hoping that by stealing Hank’s coat, the thief will have made a major blunder and we’ll be able to catch him, or them. Until then, keep your eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary.”

 

   It was a subdued group of men that went to bed that night. The engine was called out twice on a trash fire.  The squad had a quiet night, and by morning both paramedics were up early.

 

   “I’ll start coffee. It’s your turn to fix breakfast.” Johnny yawned halfway through his statement.

 

   Roy grinned. It also worried him that he had fully understood what his partner had said.

 

   By seven o’clock the next shift had arrived and A-shift was able to leave for four days of rest.

 

   “See ya Monday, Pally!” Johnny called as he started his Rover and pulled from the parking lot.

 

    Roy waved and headed for home.

 

 

Part 2