his mother was diagnosed. All the women, the self-centered emotions, and not being there for his only son were his crimes.
"You're wrong, Luke."
Luke held up his hand for his father to stop talking. “I really don't have time for this shit today."
His father sighed again and shook his head. “I know you're busy, which is also why I'm here. You jumped to some conclusions at your aunt's party that I want to straighten out."
"You mean you and the foxy detective?” Luke turned away. As soon as the words left his mouth, an enormous feeling of jealousy filled his gut.
"That's Detective Pellino. She's one of my best detectives. Some people I work with overheard your little outburst of accusations at the party. Needless to say, it caused some uncomfortable situations at the department, especially between Detective Pellino and myself. Now, I hear you're avoiding her and not giving assistance with the case."
"So you're telling me that there is nothing going on between you and Pellino? That you haven't made a move on her using your authoritative position?"
"I could be her father."
"Like that would stop any man from tapping a piece like Pellino."
His father took a deep breath. The look of anger on his face indicated he didn't like Luke's tone or line of questioning. Luke didn't give a shit. He wanted answers, wanted to be sure there was nothing romantic going on with Pellino and his dad. Speaking about her in a sexist way was more for his safety, and to keep his feelings hidden from his dad.
Pellino got under his skin, irritated him, and turned him on. Until now, he'd been turned off and lacking enthusiasm in everything, except tracking down Stewart Howard. Justice just didn't seem to be served anymore. There was more injustice and lack of law enforcement than ever in the world.
"There is nothing going on between us, and I want you to cooperate with Pellino and Montoff."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah. Everyone liked seeing you at the family party, especially Aunt Jane."
"Well, don't get used to it. I'm swamped, so if you don't mind.” Luke started to head out of the kitchen.
His dad followed. “I'm sure I'll see you even more now that you're working in the area."
"I guess."
His father gave him a small smile, then exited the house.
Luke closed the door and ran a hand through his hair. He wished things didn't have to be this way. He wished his father had helped him through the death of his mother, and had been there for him more often. Luke wished for a lot of things.
He couldn't help but head to the computer and look up any updated information on Stewart Howard. He thought about his firefighting friends who were killed, murdered by the serial arsonist, and he sighed.
He'd find him and hold him responsible one way or another.
* * * *
An hour later, Luke entered the firehouse to speak with Brian Pellino, Don O'Rourke, and two other firefighters from the company who were the first to respond to the fire he was investigating. He had read the reports they handed in to the chief, but he still had questions.
Luke got a grand welcoming the second he entered the firehouse. Handshake after handshake, slaps on the shoulders, and invitations to join the firefighters for some drinks at a local bar. It was enough to make his head spin. A half hour later, he finally sat in the chief's office.
* * * *
Outside the office, both Don and Brian stood talking about Luke.
"You think this is about the arson fire at that apartment complex three days ago?” Don said.
"Probably. You know how this works.” Brian crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Yeah, they fucking always want to blame shit on the good guys."
"We did our job. They got nothing on us."
"We teamed up that day, remember?"
"Yeah. We were the first ones in. Who is this guy, anyway?"
"Luke Fontella. He was one of us until—” Brian paused.
He hated to bring up dead firefighters’ names, considering Don lost his brother Ted to a fire and the person responsible hadn't
"You're wrong, Luke."
Luke held up his hand for his father to stop talking. “I really don't have time for this shit today."
His father sighed again and shook his head. “I know you're busy, which is also why I'm here. You jumped to some conclusions at your aunt's party that I want to straighten out."
"You mean you and the foxy detective?” Luke turned away. As soon as the words left his mouth, an enormous feeling of jealousy filled his gut.
"That's Detective Pellino. She's one of my best detectives. Some people I work with overheard your little outburst of accusations at the party. Needless to say, it caused some uncomfortable situations at the department, especially between Detective Pellino and myself. Now, I hear you're avoiding her and not giving assistance with the case."
"So you're telling me that there is nothing going on between you and Pellino? That you haven't made a move on her using your authoritative position?"
"I could be her father."
"Like that would stop any man from tapping a piece like Pellino."
His father took a deep breath. The look of anger on his face indicated he didn't like Luke's tone or line of questioning. Luke didn't give a shit. He wanted answers, wanted to be sure there was nothing romantic going on with Pellino and his dad. Speaking about her in a sexist way was more for his safety, and to keep his feelings hidden from his dad.
Pellino got under his skin, irritated him, and turned him on. Until now, he'd been turned off and lacking enthusiasm in everything, except tracking down Stewart Howard. Justice just didn't seem to be served anymore. There was more injustice and lack of law enforcement than ever in the world.
"There is nothing going on between us, and I want you to cooperate with Pellino and Montoff."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah. Everyone liked seeing you at the family party, especially Aunt Jane."
"Well, don't get used to it. I'm swamped, so if you don't mind.” Luke started to head out of the kitchen.
His dad followed. “I'm sure I'll see you even more now that you're working in the area."
"I guess."
His father gave him a small smile, then exited the house.
Luke closed the door and ran a hand through his hair. He wished things didn't have to be this way. He wished his father had helped him through the death of his mother, and had been there for him more often. Luke wished for a lot of things.
He couldn't help but head to the computer and look up any updated information on Stewart Howard. He thought about his firefighting friends who were killed, murdered by the serial arsonist, and he sighed.
He'd find him and hold him responsible one way or another.
* * * *
An hour later, Luke entered the firehouse to speak with Brian Pellino, Don O'Rourke, and two other firefighters from the company who were the first to respond to the fire he was investigating. He had read the reports they handed in to the chief, but he still had questions.
Luke got a grand welcoming the second he entered the firehouse. Handshake after handshake, slaps on the shoulders, and invitations to join the firefighters for some drinks at a local bar. It was enough to make his head spin. A half hour later, he finally sat in the chief's office.
* * * *
Outside the office, both Don and Brian stood talking about Luke.
"You think this is about the arson fire at that apartment complex three days ago?” Don said.
"Probably. You know how this works.” Brian crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Yeah, they fucking always want to blame shit on the good guys."
"We did our job. They got nothing on us."
"We teamed up that day, remember?"
"Yeah. We were the first ones in. Who is this guy, anyway?"
"Luke Fontella. He was one of us until—” Brian paused.
He hated to bring up dead firefighters’ names, considering Don lost his brother Ted to a fire and the person responsible hadn't
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