Chapter 1: The Fire Truck Was “Blocking the Street”
“GET THAT FIRE TRUCK OUT OF HERE! YOU’RE BLOCKING MY STREET!”
The scream came through a red-and-yellow megaphone so close to Captain Marcus Reed’s face that the distorted sound rattled inside his helmet.
He took one step backward.
A woman in her early sixties stood directly in front of the engine, gripping the megaphone with both hands. Her mustard-yellow blouse strained across her broad frame beneath a dark teal vest. Her short, badly teased purple-black hair seemed to move independently in the breeze.
Behind her, the fire truck’s emergency lights flashed against the houses.
Behind that, smoke drifted from a home at the end of the block.
Marcus stared at her.
“Ma’am,” he said, keeping his voice calm, “there’s a house fire. We’re here to save people.”
“I DON’T CARE!”
She thrust the megaphone toward him again.
“My name is Gloria Whitaker, and this neighborhood has rules!”
Marcus glanced toward the burning house.
His crew was already inside.
A hose line ran across the pavement. Another firefighter was carrying equipment toward the front door. A neighbor stood across the street with both hands pressed over her mouth.
Gloria pointed at the engine.
“You cannot park emergency vehicles wherever you please!”
“This is an active fire scene.”
“I know exactly what this is.”
Her chin rose.
“I enforce this neighborhood.”
Marcus paused.
“Do you work for the fire department?”
“No.”
“The city?”
“No.”
“The police?”
“Of course not.”
“Then who gave you authority to order a fire truck to move?”
Gloria smiled.
It was not an embarrassed smile.
It was the smile of someone who believed the question had somehow proved her point.
“I gave myself authority.”
For the first time, Marcus had absolutely nothing to say.
Then Gloria lifted the megaphone again.
And behind him, one of the firefighters shouted from the burning house.
“Captain! We found someone inside!”
Marcus turned instantly.
Gloria lowered the megaphone.
For one brief second, her expression changed.
Then she looked at the fire truck again.
And stepped closer.
