Built Of Flames: Chapter One
World Of Hurt
Isabella
Isabella Martinez followed her mentor further into the flames. Roberto Garin was as steady a man as she’d ever met. Trustworthy. Smart. One of the bravest people she knew. She’d always wished he was her father. Or that her father was more like Roberto.
But she’d stopped believing in wishes when her mom had died.
Isabella yanked her mind back on task. Being a firefighter required full concentration at all times. Especially when in the bowels of a building. While she loved being an active duty firefighter, she couldn’t wait to finish her final course and be on the investigating side. Solving the puzzles. Today’s blaze would be an intriguing one.
This warehouse fire was in an older part of town. The buildings were crammed close together with tiny family homes directly behind the row. Plenty of opportunity for disaster.
With Roberto in front, they climbed the stairs leading to what she assumed were offices in the back of the building. Their job was to clear the rooms, ensure no one was in the building.
Smoke swirled throughout the warehouse. With so many smaller fires burning in different areas, it had to be an arson job. The owner? A rival? Or something more personal. At least the stairs weren’t flaming and when they hit the corridor, it was smoky, but with no fire in sight.
Her brother Christo’s team was working on the roof to create safe holes to vent the smoke and fire. She sent good vibes his way, as she did every time he was on duty. As family members, they normally worked opposite shifts, but Christo was subbing for Mac who was at a family wedding.
One bonus of living in Kelsor was that the town only had one fire-station, so she always knew Christo’s status. Of course, the flip side of that small-town life was that she had to work under her father, who didn’t want her anywhere near the station.
Once she aced this final exam, she’d be a full-fledged arson investigator, and she could go anywhere. Take one of the offers sitting in her inbox.
Her heart thought of Mitch Robinson, another firefighter, and her brother’s friend. Isabella had been crushing on Mitch since they were kids. That crush had only grown as she’d watched him become the best kind of man, a lot like her mentor.
Roberto motioned for Isabella to take the rooms on the left while he worked on the right.
Her first room was a tiny office. A peek under the desk and in the closet showed no one, so she moved on. After each room, they waited for the other before moving on. So much about being a firefighter was teamwork and trust. If they didn’t have those, the fire won every time.
A bang sounded above them and Isabella glanced up, but the ceiling above their head remained intact. They moved forward and opened the last doors in the hallway. When she opened the door, she spotted the hole in the ceiling and immediately called Roberto.
The hole wasn’t jagged. It was a neat square, big enough for a man to crawl through. Why had someone gone into the ceiling? There was no evidence of renovations anywhere. The office was like the others, with basic furniture and a small closet. She cleared it and called Roberto again.
The desk was beneath the hole and Isabella figured someone had used it to climb up. Was the person still up there? She’d have to clear that before she could move on.
Roberto hadn’t shown, so Isabella turned to check on him first. Was his radio out? Hers? Her mentor was leaning on the room’s desk when she entered, facing away from her. This room had a similar hole in the ceiling.
“Roberto. You okay?”
No answer, but he started to turn toward her. Isabella hurried forward when the action was slow and clunky. His eyes were round and full of pain. The laugh lines that crinkled from his eyes were slack and his eyes were glazed.
“Calling Team Leader. Martinez 3 with a medical emergency. Repeat medical emergency. We need assistance.”
Isabella slipped under Roberto’s arm and kept talking to him. He blinked, but she wasn’t sure he saw her. She had to get him into the fresh air before their tanks ran out.
No one answered her call for help, but she kept trying. The radios never went out. Ever.
Forcing herself to remember her training, Isabella kept talking, kept her voice calm. She alternated between talking to Roberto and calling for help while she kept her radio link open.
Roberto wasn’t a small man, and while Isabella was average-sized, she wasn’t sure she could get him out without help. “We’re going to walk this way, Roberto. Stay with me, my friend. We’re going to keep moving.”
As she maneuvered the man to the doorway, an explosion ripped from the hole in the ceiling. She pushed Roberto into the hallway as the furniture and debris from the ceiling slammed into her.
Pain lanced through her shoulder and her ribs, sending her to the ground and making it more difficult to catch a breath. When she could move, she crawled away from the debris and looked back to see the room in flames. The one across the hall was still intact, but she knew it could blow at any second.
Thankfully, Roberto hadn’t fallen. He was leaning into the wall at a drunken angle.
Isabella shoved to her feet and found him blinking at her with a little more clarity.
“Hey Roberto. We’re going to head out. Come on, the stairs are this way. Lean on me, it’s not far.” Except it was. It was another five doorways before they got to the stairs.
Roberto made a grunting noise, but his feet shuffled forward a bit. She kept up the running commentary and calls for help. Nothing from either her team or the man she propped up.
They were three doors from the stairs when the second room blew behind them. The fire reacted as if she’d caused a backdraft, and the heat was instantaneous.
Dragging in breaths was painful, but her voice seemed to keep Roberto moving, so she kept talking, kept moving.
How were they going to get down the stairs? She mentally flipped through her training techniques, but most of them required her to be uninjured. They’d just do the best they could.
At the top, she angled Roberto to the side with the bannister and put his hand on it. “One step at a time, Roberto. We’re almost there.”
The smoke was thicker here, but they didn’t have a choice. They needed to move through.
“This is Martinez 3. East end stair. We need help.” Her words were barely audible as she grimaced through the pain. She hoped someone would hear her anyway.
They thumped down the stairs, one painful step at a time. Isabella’s head wobbled, and she knew she wasn’t far from passing out. But she had to get Roberto to safety.
“Only a few more steps. Keep going.” At this point, her words were the only thing keeping each of them moving.
A light flashed through the smoke.
Fire or help?
Roberto’s body tightened and he let out a groan that had her screaming even as he toppled them both to the ground.
Isabella
Isabella pressed send on her report on the borrowed tablet. The fire had been an odd one and it had taken her longer than usual to write up the report. She’d added in her speculations about the jammers and the explosives set in the ceilings. Normally, she didn’t speculate a lot, but the courses she’d been taking had given her a wider perspective and she didn’t want to err by not giving enough information.
Opening a window could create a backdraft that would draw the fire into a room. These had felt the opposite, as it the window had opened in front of them and drawn the fire their way. But no one else had been on the floor.
Had there been devices in the other rooms breaking windows at the same time to create the effect? She wanted to get Roberto’s take once he was out of surgery.
Panic arose again at the thought. Her friend had to be okay.
The door swung open and a doctor entered her hospital room. She spoke before the woman could. “Would you be able to check on the status of Roberto Garin? I’ve only been told he’s in surgery. Do you think you could find out more?”
The woman smiled. “You firefighters are all the same. We’ve got someone checking. They’ll bring us news as soon as they hear it. He’s in excellent hands. Our trauma and surgical teams are top-notch.”
The doctor put up several x-rays on the light box. “You’ve got three breaks in your wrist. As long as it heals well, you shouldn’t require surgery. We’ll wrap it in a cast in a moment.”
Her hand moved to the other pictures. “Your shoulder has been wrenched out of place and then shoved back in. Probably hurts like hell, but there are no breaks here. The tendons and ligaments are a mess, and you’ll need to wear a sling for several weeks to stabilize the area.”
She pointed out the other x-ray. “No broken ribs either, but that’s not going to stop them from hurting, as there’s plenty of bruising.”
The doctor dragged over a small cart filled with supplies and picked up Isabella’s arm where it had been sitting in an ice bath. “Let’s get this wrapped. That will lessen the pain some as well. Your injuries are on one side of the body, making recovery slightly easier. We’ll keep you for a few days to lessen the movement and allow you access to pain meds.”
“No. I can’t stay.”
The doctor frowned at her. “That’s not advisable.”
Isabella shrugged. Since her mom’s death, hospitals weren’t her favorite place. Visiting others was tough enough. Sleeping there would be impossible. The memories would crush her.
The doctor finally shrugged. “Your call, but you’ll have to sign out yourself.”
Isabella nodded. “I will. Thank you. I’m not trying to be a pest, but I can’t stay.”
The woman looked steadily into her eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. What color for the top layer of your cast?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
The doctor picked up red and finished up while listing care instructions. Finally, the doctor fitted her with a sling and showed her how to wrap it. “Don’t untie it unless you have someone to help you out. You can slip it over your head at night if you prefer.”
“Thank you.” Isabella slipped off the gurney carefully. Even the soft thud of her feet on the floor sent shockwaves through her body. She closed her eyes to breathe through it.
“I wish you would agree to an overnight stay. You’re going to be in a lot of pain, and the less movement, the better.”
Isabella shook her head as a nurse walked into the room with a smile. “I’ve got information on your friend.”
The smile meant good news. Right?
“Mr. Garin is currently in recovery. The doctor placed some stents into his arteries. The surgery went well, and Mr. Garin’s prognosis is excellent.”
Relief had Isabella’s knees weakening, and she grabbed onto the gurney for support. Roberto would be okay. “Can I see him?”
The nurse exchanged a look with the doctor and then grinned. “I think we can sneak you into the recovery area without a fuss. But only for a minute.”
Isabella knew the station would call the hospital for updates, but she wanted to reassure them when she got back that she’d seen everyone’s favorite crewman and that he was going to be fine.
She followed the nurse through the emergency waiting room, surprised not to see anyone from the station there. Usually someone off duty came to check on each person in the hospital. If five firefighters had been hurt, five off-duties came to check.
With her injuries being minor compared to Roberto, she shouldn’t be surprised, but it still hurt. As chief, her dad was at the station and her brother was on duty, but she was still surprised to see no one checking on her.
Putting that aside and focusing on one foot in front of the other without whimpering, Isabella followed the nurse through the staff door and down a few hallways.
At the door to recovery, the nurse pointed to the bed on the left of the room. “He’ll be groggy, but he’s coming out of it. I’ll talk to the staff, but you’ve likely got a single minute.”
“Thanks.” Isabella blinked back tears as she approached the bedside.
“Roberto?” Her voice was whisper-soft, but her friend’s eyes blinked open anyway.
“My hero.” His sloppy grin made her smile.
“You’ve always been mine. How you feeling?”
“Alive. Thanks to you. You saved me, Bella.”
“You know I’d do anything for you.” He’d been her father’s friend from the firehouse and had watched Isabella and Christo grow up. He’d been to family birthday parties and graduations. Her mom’s funeral. Roberto was the kind of man she wished her father could be. He was a person she tried to emulate in every single way.
“You’re okay?” His voice growled, probably from the smoke and the surgery.
Roberto’s eyes were blinking slowly, and he was drifting off to sleep. Isabella leaned down to kiss his cheek. “I’m okay. Sleep well, Roberto. I’ll see you soon.”
Isabella stood for a moment, blinking back her tears. The best person she knew was going to recover. It was a good day.
She wanted to get to the root of this arson, find out who had done it and why. Then she wanted them locked up forever for hurting this man.
Not even Roberto knew she was taking the arson courses. She’d tell him the next time he woke and swear him to secrecy until she decided on her next steps. Their town couldn’t afford its own investigator. Moving away from Kelsor was a huge step, and she wanted to be sure she was ready.
The nurse took her back through the corridors to the emergency department and then left her there. Isabella realized her wallet and cell phone were both back at the station, but she got the lady at the information desk to call a ride service for her. Thanks to her preference for online shopping, she knew her credit card number.
The ride wasn’t long, but Isabella was worn out by the time they reached the station. All she really wanted was to collapse and sleep for a day or two. At least her apartment was a short drive.
When she arrived at the station, the larger engine sat in the open bay, but the other probably remained on the warehouse scene. Investigating. That’s where she wanted to be, what she wanted to be doing. Her body would prevent that today, but she was almost there. Next week, she’d be done, and she hoped to remain at the top of her class after this final exam. What would her father think about that? Would he finally be proud of her?
She also wondered how Mitch would react. Would her brother’s best friend finally notice her as something more than Christo’s little sister? She was pretty sure she’d seen interest and attraction in his eyes. Was the no-fraternization rule the problem, or was she imagining things?
Isabella shoved the thoughts to the side. First, she had to deal with today. Pain and fatigue dragged her steps and for once she was thankful her designated locker room was on the first floor. The former storage closet didn’t boast a shower, but she didn’t have the energy for that at the moment.
As she neared the station doors, Kent Speers shoved past her, bumping her injured arm on his way in for a shift. Pain shot up through her, and she bit her lip to keep in the gasp.
Of course, there was no apology from Kent and she heard a few snickers from a couple of her squad mates who were cleaning the equipment. Most of them ignored her as she entered. Paul made eye contact, then nodded and turned back to the hoses. Negative vibes filled the room. They were worried about Roberto, too. She’d fill them in once she spoke to the chief.
No one spoke as she moved to the locker room and grabbed her purse. She didn’t have the energy to change into her regular clothes, so she grabbed her keys, then slung the bag over her good shoulder.
With a deep breath, she moved to the hallway. Maybe she’d just update Mary at the desk and then head out. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.
“Martinez.”
The chief bellowed at her from his office. Keeping her sigh internal, she straightened her spine and moved to his office door.
“What the hell happened up there today? My best man is in the hospital because you didn’t call for help. What were you thinking?”
What?
The Chief plowed on. “The scene’s still too hot for anyone to get close without bringing down the floor, but there’s evidence of two backdrafts. What the hell did you do? Why didn’t you let anyone know Roberto needed help?”
She needed the deep breath to keep her voice steady, but it hurt almost as much as her father’s assumption that she’d caused the mess. “I did call. Multiple times. The radios didn’t work.”
“Bullshit.” The chief barked the word. “We already had someone check them. The radios are in perfect condition.”
How was that possible? They’d cut off even before the fire. Had there been jammers? Why?
“I knew hiring a woman was a mistake. You couldn’t handle it yourself, but you didn’t call for help. You’re supposed to be a team member, not a liability.”
That stabbed deep and Isabella gritted her teeth. Letting tears clog her voice or her eyes would only prove his point that women were weak. The realization that no matter what she did, she’d never be good enough for her father was devastating.
The shuffle of feet behind her told her the men had edged closer. The Chief’s office was clear glass so they could all see how angry their boss was. This was why no one had even talked to her. They all believed she’d screwed up and had caused Roberto’s injuries.
A calmness settled in her gut. It was time. She straightened again and faced the Chief with clear eyes. “The investigation will prove you’re wrong on every count about what you assume happened today.”
Fury flashed in his eyes, but she had a fair share of her own and she kept talking. “If you want the truth, read the report I filed from the hospital and talk to Roberto. I’ve worked my ass off to ensure I’m an effective part of this team, of this so-called family.”
As she spoke, she turned to find the entire squad watching. Christo and Mitch stood on the stairs, and she wondered how much they’d heard. Neither one of them rushed to defend her or even ask her a question.
She turned back to the Chief. “Looks like you all believe I was at fault. With no one checking on me or asking a single question. Some team. Family is supposed to have your back, not stab you in it. I’m done. Effective immediately, I resign.”
With that, she turned her back on her father and made her way through the silent bay. At least a dozen firefighters were there, but not one man spoke to her.
Not even her brother or Mitch.
And that told her everything she needed to know.
Mitch
Mitch Robinson had never been so surprised in his life. He respected Juan Martinez more than he respected almost anyone. When Mitch had showed up at the fire station when he was barely a teenager, the Chief had taken him under his wing.
Mitch’s mom had worked long, hard hours at low-paying jobs, and Mitch had been looking for work. He’d been drawn to the fire hall and the people inside.
Chief Martinez had found him odd jobs to do and had shown him how to take care of equipment, how to be strong when life sucked, and how to be a good man. Mitch had worked his ass off to become a firefighter, all because of the chief.
When the chief’s daughter had first shown up at the station years ago, Mitch had tried hard to ignore her and the spark that made her special. Izzy had grown from a quiet little kid who worshipped her dad and the firefighters to a strong, sexy woman who held her own on the job.
Until a few minutes ago, he would have still labeled her as quiet. But she’d been firm and strong as she’d called out the chief on his actions.
Was the chief wrong? Mitch had been on the other side of the warehouse and hadn’t had a look at the scene. He’d only heard from the firefighters who’d spotted Roberto falling onto Isabella at the bottom of the stairs.
Word was that Izzy hadn’t called for help; that she’d tried to play hero instead of calling on her team. Hell, he and Christo had checked the radios in their gear, and they’d worked just fine.
But Isabella didn’t lie. She said they hadn’t worked for her and Roberto. She’d also said the chief was wrong about the backdrafts, too.
They didn’t have access to her report until after the chief signed off on it, but they could talk to Roberto. Find out what had really happened.
Then they’d talk her out of quitting. She hadn’t signed any paperwork yet, so it wasn’t too late. Mitch didn’t believe the chief would hold her to it. Although he might.
Juan was a hard-ass, especially with his daughter. Mitch hadn’t been on the wrong side of the chief very often, but in those times, the man had always asked questions, listened to the answers, and been fair.
If Isabella was telling the truth, he hadn’t done any of those things for her.
The utter devastation on her face made Mitch believe she was telling the truth. Why had Chief been so quick to blame her? The man was a total rule-follower and never jumped to conclusions.
The chief glared at the squad and then barked, “Back to work.” His office door slammed and had almost everyone scrambling to get busy.
Mitch noticed a few smirks on the faces around the room. The chief wasn’t alone in wishing the squad was all male. Jerks.
Mitch looked at Christo. They’d been friends for years, even shared a duplex. Christo was three years older than Mitch and a full five years older than his sister.
Christo was working hard to keep a neutral look on his face, and Mitch couldn’t blame him. Bad enough to have been witness to the confrontation. Worse to be a family member, likely pulled by both sides initially.
Now he had to be confused as hell.
Mitch kept his voice low. “We’re done in twenty. Want to check in with Izzy first or chat with Roberto?”
Christo sighed. “Hospital first. We’ll get the story and then talk to her. I don’t think she’ll want to see us right now.”
Probably true.
Neither spoke much on the ride to the hospital.
Once there, they waved at Jerry, an off-duty firefighter. Chief Martinez had instituted a policy decades ago that encouraged off-duty crewman to take turns being at the hospital when another was injured. That way, not only would the man have a friendly face when he was allowed visitors, but the family would have an extra person to run errands and offer support.
Had he not done that for his own daughter? Had no one checked on Isabella?
Anger and guilt ate at Mitch’s insides. He knew that Juan and Izzy didn’t have the best relationship. Juan didn’t like the idea of a woman on his crew, but Isabella had always wanted it and she’d proven herself more than capable in the time she’d worked with them.
Hell, if it hadn’t been for the strict policy against internal dating, he’d have asked her out long ago. She was smart, quick-witted, and gorgeous.
He’d hoped she’d pursue a different career, but she’d wanted the fire and he understood that pull. So, he’d kept his attraction hidden and under control.
Today, when she’d broken eye contact with the chief, she’d scanned the room with eyes full of hurt and betrayal. They needed to apologize. They’d figure out a way to make it right once they got home.
They had to wait for the doctors to finish their rounds, then for the nurses to do their thing, and then for Roberto to wake up. Finally he stirred.
Mitch and Christo stood beside the bed and waited for the man’s eyes to focus on them.
His smile broadened, but he looked past them. “Where’s my hero? I was too out of it last time to find out how badly Bella was injured.”
Shit. They didn’t even know the answer to that. More guilt gnawed at Mitch. She’d worn a cast on her left arm and a sling. Her face had been pale and wan.
He could kick his own ass for not following her out. She must have felt abandoned. He’d figure out how to make it up to her afterward. They all would. “What happened in there, Roberto?”
The man’s eyes darkened. “I entered an office at the end of the hallway and found a hole cut in the ceiling. Called to my Bella, but the radio didn’t work. Then my heart shriveled up to the size of a pea and I couldn’t move, could barely take a breath.”
The monitor beeped more quickly, and Roberto closed his eyes and swallowed. Mitch grabbed the man’s hand and wondered if he should call the nurse.
“I’m good. Just need a second. Bella levered herself under my shoulder and got me moving. I can see it like a movie reel. I couldn’t make myself do much of anything. My body wouldn’t follow my instructions, but it followed hers. She kept talking, kept calling for help on the radio, kept me moving.”
Mitch exchanged a look with Christo. “No one responded to her calls? Or yours?”
Roberto shook his head. “Nope. We were at the door when something blew behind us. Probably from the hole. Sounded like a small bomb, not a natural part of the fire. Bella shoved me into the hallway so I was propped up against the wall and used that tiny body to shield me.”
Mitch’s heart sank as Roberto’s eyes filled with tears. They’d treated Izzy horribly, and every word this man said made it worse.
“I couldn’t turn my head to see it all, but I think the desk and the door took her down. She scrambled back up and that scrawny girl got me moving again. She dragged my big ol’ ass along the hallway, calling for help and keeping her cool. Even while maneuvering those stairs. Then I blacked out and woke up here with docs telling me I’m lucky to be alive and that they’ve stuck some stents in my heart.”
His eyes shone with pride and emotion, but Roberto’s voice was shaky. Mitch lifted a cup of water and handed him the straw.
“I’d be dead if not for that girl. The flames were gaining on us. There had to be another ignition source in the rafters. Didn’t act like a regular fire. Nothing I’ve seen before. If it hadn’t been for Bella, I’d have fried up right there. Girl deserves a medal for this.”
Christo swore under his breath and moved to the window.
Roberto’s eyelids were drooping again, leaving Mitch glad he didn’t have to explain what had really happened. Not while the man was in this condition. Roberto was going to be pissed.
With a shared glance of dismay, he and Christo headed to the truck and turned to their house.
“I took my old man’s word for it. I’m as bad as he is. Thinking she screwed up because she’s a woman, she’s small, and she’s only a couple of years in. I still look at her as my kid sister.”
“We all screwed up. The Chief most of all.” Mitch sighed and tried to figure out how they were going to fix this. What were they going to say to her? With the age gap between the siblings, they weren’t super close to each other. Isabella had always been the tagalong. Mitch was probably as close to her as her brother. And they’d both let her down.
Christo pulled into the driveway, and they sat for a minute. “I guess we’ll start with an apology and go from there.”
Mitch slammed his fist on the dash. “None of us even asked her how she was. We don’t know how badly she was hurt. We’re such assholes.”
Christo managed a small smile. “I think we’ll lead with that. She’ll enjoy knowing we realize we’re assholes.”
She would.
They took the outside stairs to her apartment above the garage and knocked. No answer.
Christo knocked again. Harder. Even if she was sleeping, they needed to see her. Check on her.
“Isabella! It’s us. We’ve come to grovel. Let us in.”
Still no answer.
“We’re not leaving, Izzy. Come on. Let us in.”
Nothing.
“What if she has a concussion? Roberto said the debris crashed into her.”
Christo sighed and used his key to turn the lock. “Isabella. We’re coming in. We need to talk with you.”
It only took about three steps for Mitch to realize something was wrong. Very wrong.
Some pictures and decorative things that Izzy had scattered around the space were gone. Mitch hurried to the bedroom but didn’t find Isabella napping as he’d hoped. Instead, he found her closet open and mostly emptied. Dresser drawers had been emptied as well. Pillow and comforter gone.
Swearing, Christo came in behind him. “All of her stuff is gone from the bathroom, too.”
“She did all this one-handed. Packed up and hauled it down to her car.” Unless she was still there.
Together, they raced down the interior stairs, but the garage sat empty. A bag lay on the floor, with its contents scattered on the floor. A couple of jackets, a cracked picture frame, a pair of shoes, and her cell phone. Had she realized she’d dropped it? Would she come back for it?
Back upstairs, they found a note on the kitchen counter.
Christo. It’s time for me to make a change, so I’m moving out and leaving town to take on a new job. Goodbye. Love Isabella.
Christo thumped into a chair and buried his face in his hands.
Mitch stood frozen while all the possibilities raced through his head. They didn’t even know if she was supposed to be driving. How would they know she was safe?
Izzy had to be hurt on so many levels. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.
How were they going to find her?
And how were they going to fix it?
