Off Chance

2

I throw the last of my dirty clothes into my duffel bag and zip it up. This last call officially threw me into overtime, having received it just as the end of my three-day shift had expired. Now it’s time to go home and relax for the next four days.

Best of all, if I skirt out of here quickly, I can avoid the Chief’s wrath altogether. He’s been holed up in his office since we pulled back in and has apparently forgotten that he was going to chew me out just a few hours ago.

“You headed out?”

Swinging around, I see Tim standing in the doorway to our sleeping quarters. He’s leaning against the doorframe, his beefy arms folded across his chest.

“Yup. How about you?”

“Yeah. Headed over to Sam’s school to pick him up. You know... surprise him.”

I smile. Tim takes every opportunity he can to spend time with Sam. It’s hard being a fireman because you work such odd hours. Ever since Tim got divorced, he takes every available opportunity to spend it with his son. Luckily, Tim’s ex is pretty cool and works with him outside of their normal custody arrangement.

“That sounds great. Give the little monster a hug from me.”

Tim gives me a grin that flashes sparkly white against his dark skin. “Sure will.”

Turning my back, I lift up my duffel and sling it over my shoulder. When I turn around, Tim is still standing there, staring at me.

“Listen,” he says, glancing briefly at the ground and then back up at me again, “I’m sorry I said that shit to you earlier. I just don’t want you to do something stupid that gets you suspended or fired.”

Walking up to Tim, I punch him lightly in the shoulder. It’s like hitting concrete. “No worries, man. I get it.”

“We’re cool, then?”

“We’re cool. Are you up for watching the game tomorrow at my place?” Tim and I are die-hard Jets fans.

“Yup. I’ll bring the beer.”

“And you’re bringing Sam, right? I got this killer new Xbox game to show him.”

Rolling his eyes at me, Tim just turns around and walks out. “He’s coming, too. We’ll see you around game time.”

Peeking my head around the door and looking down the hall, I see the Chief’s office door is still closed so I make a break for it. Just as I’m stepping out onto the sidewalk, I hear, “Caldwell... wait up.”

Turning around, I see my teammate, Jim Skellig, trotting toward me. I hope he makes this quick because every second delayed is one that the Chief could be calling for me.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Pete told me you were looking for a roommate.”

“Yeah... I’m considering it.”

Fact is, I’ve always had a roommate while living in the city. It was nice to share expenses and it kept the loneliness down to a minimum. My last roommate had been with me for the past three years while he attended NYU-Poly, but graduated this past spring and moved on.

“Cool. I have a friend who has a friend that’s going to be moving to the area next month and is looking to share some space. Want me to have him contact you?”

“Sure. Just give him my email if you don’t mind.”

“Got it.”

“All right, man... I’m out of here. Catch you in a few days.”

Jim gives me a casual wave and walks back into the station. I turn down Sheffield Avenue and head south. It’s the beginning of September and it’s finally starting to cool off. I swear I smelled a hint of fall in the air when I woke up this morning.

Luckily, I live close to the firehouse and it’s only about a twenty-minute walk for me. I only drive if the weather is really crappy and today I’m enjoying the crisp weather.

As I walk toward my apartment building, my mind drifts back to the woman I pulled out of the house. I can’t stop thinking about the fact she was chained to a bed. I mean... what kind of monster does that to someone? And I can’t stop thinking that what if she was chained to the bed and the fire was started to kill her? Could she have been a target for murder? It seems unlikely since most of the fire was in the other unit, but that could have been done intentionally to cover motive.

Thank God that dog was barking. He deserves a good chunk of the credit for getting her out safely.

Shit... I really hope the pup is okay.

Now that is weighing heavily on my mind.

Stopping abruptly on the sidewalk, I get a curse from someone behind me that about plows into my backside. I ignore the person and glance at my watch.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I cross the street and head toward the parking deck that has my car.

Yes, I know... I like to save things. I can’t stomach the thought of that poor dog out on the streets by himself. He could get hit by a car, starve to death, or hell, someone could shoot the damn beast. My mind runs rampant with all the terrible things that could happen to the dog and my step quickens to reach my car.

Saving the dog, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that I’m curious about his owner. The dog clearly belonged to the woman I pulled from the house, because he was protecting her and barking for help.

Running off to rescue some stranger’s dog certainly has nothing to do with the fact that I can’t seem to get the image of those gray eyes out of my mind. Nor does it have anything to do with the fact that, based on the hideous circumstances I found her in, some part of my hero-alarm bell is starting to ring.

If my parents, my sister, my cousins, or even Tim, knew I was off to go hunt for this dog and possibly learn more about this woman, they would all be shaking their head with pity in their eyes.

They would all be thinking, There goes Flynn... off to save another soul.

Just as I pull out of the parking deck, my phone rings. I don’t bother to look at the caller ID, just answer, “Caldwell.”

“Hey man... it’s Buzz.”

“What’s up, Copper? Shoot your dick off yet?”

Buzz Matheson is a good friend of mine. He was in my cousin, Nix’s class in high school and we’ve all remained in touch throughout the years. He’s currently working in the Narcotics division for the NYPD.

“Luckily, it’s still attached. Burn yours off in a fire yet?”

Chuckling, I tell him, “Nah... all my parts are in working order.”

“Listen... I just pulled a case that you’re involved in and we need to talk.”

“The fire this afternoon?”

“Yeah. I understand you pulled a woman out that was chained to a bed.”

Visions of her lying there unconscious swim through my head, causing my stomach to turn. It appears that maybe she was into some deep trouble, just as I’d suspected.

“Yeah. I found her there with a metal cuff around her ankle. She was naked and my best guess is she was drugged.”

Buzz curses into the phone. “I’m going to need a formal interview from you. I’m on my way to the hospital now to talk to Miss Page. I’ve been told she’s trying to check herself out against doctor’s advice and I need to catch her before she disappears. Think you can meet me over there and I can get your statement after?”

Miss Page? So that’s one more part of the mystery unveiled.

“Sure. I’ll head that way now. But why do you have this case? Shouldn’t it be with someone that investigates kidnapping or arson or something?”

“It is but I’m coming on to assist. I’ve been tracking Miss Page’s boyfriend, who is a mid-level drug dealer, and she could be my best lead in busting him. If I can get him, then he can flip the larger ring.”

So, the drugged and chained Miss Page has a boyfriend? I wonder if he’ll be at the hospital to take care of her? Probably not as I imagine he’s lying low if he knows he’s on the cops’ radars.

“I’ll head that way now and meet you over there.”

“Sounds great,” is all I hear before Buzz disconnects.

Unfortunately, the search for the shaggy beast is going to have to wait a bit more. A different kind of duty calls.

As I walk down the hall to Miss Page’s room, I can hear angry voices that get louder as I approach. Buzz had texted me her room number with a cryptic “could use your help” message after it.

I turn the corner and see her room ahead. The door is open and Buzz is standing just inside, talking to someone else that I can’t see. But I can sure as hell hear her, and I can only assume it’s Miss Page.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what your hospital policy is. I’m leaving and you can’t make me stay. And you... I’m not talking to you either. Just leave me the hell alone.”

Stepping into the room behind Buzz, I immediately take in the scene. The woman I pulled out of the fire is standing on the other side of her bed, wearing a hospital dressing gown. Her skin is pale and her stringy, dark hair comes down to barely brush the tops of her shoulders. She looks tired and wan, but those gray eyes are spitting fire right now.

It’s clear that she’s been through an ordeal, and I get the immediate impression she hasn’t been allowed to bathe, or even possibly eat, in days. But none of that can hide the fact that she has a delicate beauty about her. Her cheekbones are high, her nose is slender and straight, and her lips are generously full. Even her exhaustion can’t cover that up, and I find my interest in her exponentially grow now that I’ve gotten a good look at her.

There’s a nurse standing on the other side of the bed and she looks just as pissed as the lovely Miss Page. Poor Buzz is standing there with his hands in his pockets and his face turned to the ceiling in a look of total frustration.

I knock softly on the doorframe to announce my presence. “What’s going on?”

The room erupts all at once and I hear:

“Who the fuck are you?” from Miss Page.

“She can’t just walk out of the hospital... we have protocols to follow,” from the pissed-off nurse.

“She’s refusing to give me a formal statement,” from Buzz..

This situation is about one second away from all hell breaking loose, so I step forward and put on my best Caldwell charm.

“Miss Page? My name is Flynn Caldwell. I’m the fireman that pulled you out of the house. Pulled your dog out, too. Remember?”

She nods her head slightly but I can tell she doesn’t really recognize me.

I continue, “I came here to talk about your dog... that is your dog, right?”

She doesn’t answer me but starts to chew on her bottom lip in a sure sign of worry. Turning to the nurse and Buzz, I say, “How about you give me a few minutes alone with her, okay?”

The look I give Buzz is one he recognizes... she needs to be calmed down and this is apparently the most calm he’s seen her since he’s arrived so he’s willing to let me have a try.

The nurse and Buzz leave the room, shutting the door behind them.

“Mind if I sit down?” I ask, but I don’t wait for an answer. I move over to the only chair in the room and take a seat.

“Where’s Capone?”

I point to the bed. “How about you take a seat before you fall over and I’ll tell you everything I know. That’s one brave dog you have there. So what’s your first name?”

She looks like she’s going to balk for a second but then she sits on the edge and turns her body to me. I can tell she’s still a bit woozy from whatever drugs were in her system and the fight seems to have gone out of her. “It’s Rowan. Do you have him? Is he okay?”

“I don’t but I was on my way to go look for him when I got a call from Detective Matheson that he needed to interview me since I’m the one that found you. So I had to come here first.”

“Oh God... I can’t believe he’s out there on his own. I have to go and find him.”

She bolts up from the bed and starts for the door. Jumping up from my chair, I gently grab her shoulders and stop her. She’s so tiny—I feel like I can snap the bones in her shoulders with just a firm grip.

“Wait just a minute. I’ll help you find him, I swear, but you literally cannot waltz out of here in that hospital gown. We need to get you some clothes first, and then we can go.”

I can see her calm just a bit.

“You’ll help me? Why?” She sounds utterly perplexed that I would even offer her help but before I can respond, she says, “Never mind. I don’t need your help. I can find him myself.”

She pushes out of my grip with surprising strength and throws the door open. The nurse and Buzz are standing there.

Looking first at Buzz, she says, “You can just leave... I’m not talking to you.” She then turns to the nurse. “Get me a pair of surgical scrubs or something I can wear. I’m leaving.”

The nurse huffs and turns away. “I have paperwork I have to do to let you out of here and a doctor has to sign off. I’ll find something for you to wear but I have to get the paperwork ready.”

“Fine,” Rowan snaps, “just hurry.”

She walks back to the bed and slumps down on it. I can tell she’s exhausted and if the dryness of her lips is any indication, I’m thinking she’s dehydrated. I pour her a cup of water from the pitcher beside her bed and hand it to her. “Drink this... you need liquids.”

She takes the cup and sips at it, staring stonily at her feet.

Buzz has followed us back into the room. “Miss Page... I don’t understand why you won’t talk to me. I just want to know who did this to you so we can bring him or her to justice.”

Very smooth the way Buzz said “him” or “her”, especially when I know he already believes it to be a “him”. But he wants to make her at ease to talk about her boyfriend I’m sure.

She doesn’t respond but takes another sip of the water. Buzz apparently takes that as a sign he should continue talking.

“Miss Page... Rowan... I know the house you were in was being rented by your boyfriend.” Buzz pulls out his notepad and makes a big deal of flipping through the pages to consult his notes. But I know this is for show... he knows damn well what her boyfriend’s name is.

“Yeah... got it right here.” He points to the pad. “Like I said, the house you were found in was rented by Mr. Teddy Jones. He goes by “Juice” I believe. That’s your boyfriend, right?”

She still doesn’t respond but dutifully takes another sip of water. I notice her cheeks get slightly red at the mention of her boyfriend’s name.

Buzz goes in for the kill. “Did he chain you to that bed, Rowan? Drug you? Did he rape you? Was he trying to kill you... and that’s why he set the fire?”

Rowan’s head jerks up at those last words and there is fear in her eyes. I think she’s getting ready to spill the beans but the only thing she says is, “He’s not my boyfriend, hasn’t been for a while.”

“Then did he kidnap you? You have to open up to me so we can get you justice.”

I think that’s a pretty good line, and I’m pretty sure Buzz has said the one thing that will get her to open up.

Wrong!

Rowan’s eyes narrow and she actually sneers, her upper lip curling slightly on the right side. “Justice? You’re kidding me, right? When has a cop ever worried about someone like me? You’re not fooling me. I smell narcotics all over you. You only want me to help you bust Juice so you can get some fucking meritorious commendation or something. Tell me I’m wrong!”

I have to clamp down hard on my tongue so I don’t start laughing. This girl is no dummy. In fact, I’d say she’s smart as hell and she neatly put Buzz in his place.

Glancing at Buzz, I can tell he’s admitting defeat for today now that she’s made him. He pulls his card out of his pocket and hands it to her. “If you change your mind, call me. I can offer you protection against him in exchange for your cooperation.”

Turning toward the door, Buzz motions me. “Come on, Flynn. Might as well get your statement now.”

I follow him to the door and say in a low voice, “Let’s reschedule, man. I’m going to help her find her dog, and maybe she’ll open up to me.”

Buzz raises his eyebrows at me but doesn’t say anything. He just nods and heads down the hall.

Turning, I step back into the room and shut the door. Rowan looks up at me in surprise, the cup of water tilted halfway to her mouth.

“Now, let’s spring you out of here and go find that dog of yours.”