Sheer cacophony jerked Grady out of a deep sleep. His radio squawked, his beeper chirped like an anxious baby bird and the siren over the fire station’s front doors blared out over the village. Operating on auto-pilot from long years’ habit, he jumped out of bed and scrambled into his clothes. Next stop would be the station’s back door. Inside, he’d grab his turnouts and then start the main truck while he waited for the first of his crew to arrive.
Sandy and Sully jogged in together. For an instant, Grady wondered if they were a couple, but so far he hadn’t heard even a whisper of gossip to that effect. Still, small towns tended to be close-mouthed and protective of their own to outsiders, even while hot tidbits spread fast among the regulars.
“Jamie’s still asleep,” Grady said to Sandy.
