There was something mesmerizing about the flames silhouetted against the night sky. Norm and Bill stood watching it, transfixed; even though there was a very real possibility Mike and Steve's remains would be discovered amongst the ashes when the fire was doused. Three teams of fire fighters continued to pour water on the structure, but at the moment, the fire was unvanquished.
Norm walked over to the Fire Captain on the scene, identifying him by his white helmet. "How much longer before we can get in there?"
"In there? I don't think there will be much "in" left when we finally get the fire put out. Whoever started this knew what they were doing. They dumped a ton of gasoline on the porches. Got it going fast and hot in a hurry. The buildings didn't stand a chance. My biggest concern right now is getting it beat down enough so I can get brush teams out on the hill. If this gets away from us, it will be days not hours before this is over.
"Could anybody have survived in there?" Norm knew his question was ridiculous as soon as he asked it.
"I won't lie to you, if your Lieutenant and Inspector were in the house, well, I'm very, very sorry. I hope you have dental records for them, there's not gonna be much left. As if to confirm his statement, the roof collapsed in on the house, sending flames higher into the night sky.
Norm hung his head and walked back over to where Dan was standing.
"What did he say?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
"No, I guess not. We just have to hope they weren't in there."
"You believe that?"
"Did you believe that Mike and Steve could get you out of the mess you were in last week?"
"Not really, but they came through for me."
"That's what I'm talking about, don't ever count Mike and Steve out. They're kinda like Batman and Robin. Once the bat signal goes up, look out. Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility."
Norm laughed out loud for the first time in what seemed like days. Bill joined in briefly before asking, "What's so funny?"
Norm was unable to stop his laughter. Wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, he responded. "Don't you dare repeat this, but I was just picturing the two of them in tights!"
Bill's laughter started again in earnest.
00000
Three dirt-covered specters separated from the tree line. The scene before them was a hellish battle of man and water versus fire, and it looked like fire was winning. Mike spotted Norm and Bill, who for some unknow reason, were sharing a private laugh.
Mike looked back towards Steve, who'd also seen his coworker. "I'm glad they figured it out and got here, but they don't seem too broken up by our potential demise."
"I see what you mean," Steve said with a snort as he rested against a tree.
"Should we do something about it?" Mike asked with a wicked grin.
"Oh, please let me."
"Be my guest. We'll watch the show from back here." He and Marshal Talbot started to snicker.
Steve hushed the others and sidled up to the unsuspecting Sargent.
"Hey, Norm! What's up."
Norm turned around at the sound of his name. At first, he was unsure of what he was seeing, as if his eyes were playing tricks on him in the firelight.
"Steve!" He finally bellowed out and rushed over, gathering the younger man in a bone crushing hug. Bill was right behind him.
"Stop, STOP. Hey, back off." Steve yelled at Norm.
"What, man? I'm just so happy to see you! We thought you guys were literally toast." Norm released Steve, finally noticing how dirty and disheveled he was. He also made note of Steve right arm which was tucked into the front of his shirt.
"What happen to you and where's Mike?"
"Long, long, long story. I'll let those guys tell it." Steve waved back to Larry and Mike with his left hand. He looked around for someplace to sit down, finally settling on the back bumper of the nearest fire engine.
Mike and Talbot walked up to Norm and Bill.
"Boss! And I'm guessing this is Marshal Talbot, DoJ. Damn its good to see you." Norm said, shaking each man's hand enthusiastically. "Where the hell have you been?" He looked them up and down at them and added, "And what have you three been up to? Steve looks like death warmed over and you two look like you've been crawling through fox holes. We gotta call Dan, he is back at Bryant Street losing his mind." He continued to speak with out taking a breath until Mike stopped him with a raised palm.
"Hold up a second, we'll tell you everything, Norm," Mike said as he looked around for Steve, spying him sitting on the bumper of a nearby truck with his eyes closed. "First things first, any medics on the scene?"
"They got a couple of ambulances staged down the road and the coroner's over there." Norm pointed to an elderly gentleman, with white hair and mustache standing with a Sheriff's deputy.
"I heard that," Steve opened his eyes and turned towards Norm. "I may look bad, but as far as I know, I'm not dead yet!"
"What's up with him?"
"He dislocated his shoulder trying to dig us out after our suspects buried us alive in the LTD."
"What!?"
"Another time. Is the coroner a doctor?"
"In a manner of speaking..."
Mike turned from Norm and Bill and walked towards the Doctor and the Deputy. "Deputy Reynolds, it's good to finally meet you."
"Lt. Stone?"
"Mike..."
"Mike, it's good to see you alive, though I gotta tell you, ya don't look like a big time San Francisco Homicide detective right this minute. You look like five miles of bad road. Are you ok.?"
"Just dirty and tired, I'll explain it all in the report."
"Good. Just so you know, your men over there were worried sick about you."
"I know, thanks for saying so."
Reynolds turned to his companion. "This here is Doc Martin. I believe you've spoke to him on the phone."
Mike extended his hand. "Nice to meet you in person, sir. Your insight into this place and family helped us a lot. I realize you are a Vet, but could you take a look at my partner, Steve. He's pretty banged up. Along with all the cuts and bruises, he dislocated his shoulder and I had to reduce it myself."
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Sure, I can take a peek, but he'll have to go to the ER afterwards. Mark, jumped on the radio and call one of the ambulances up here." He looked at Mike and then over to Marshal Talbot. "I don't know what happened to you fellas, but I think all three of you could stand to be check out."
They walked over to where Steve was sitting. Martin crouched down so he was eye level with Steve, "Mike tells me you've had an eventful evening."
"You could say that. And you are?"
"I'm Doctor Martin."
Steve recognized the name from his conversation with Mike, "Old Doc Martin, but you're a Veterinarian!"
The doctor laughed out loud. "So, you've heard of me?! Let me tell you something, son, 2 legs, 4 legs, doesn't make any difference. Almost all the mechanics are the same. I just want to check you over before the ambulance gets up here."
Steve began to object, but the Doctor gave him a no nonsense look that rivaled Mike at his most stern. "My patients don't usually ague with me, son. Kick and bite sometimes, but never argue. Young man, you, your partner there and that other fella are all headed over to Good Samaritan in San Jose to get checked out."
Steve closed his eyes and gave a one shoulder shrug.
"That's better." Now let me take a look at you. He pulled a Leatherman tool off his belt and opened it up to the blade, cutting through the shoulder of Steve's shirt and peeling it down. Steve flinched when he prodded the joint. It was tender, but nothing compared to what it felt like earlier in the evening.
The doctor looked up at Mike. "You did a bang-up job reducing this joint, Mike. I couldn't have done it better myself. Where'd you learn that?"
"WWII. It also really came in handy when I was coaching basketball."
"I'll bet it did. It'll still need to be x-rayed to make sure there are no bone fragments, and it will be plenty tender for a week or so, but if you keep it in a sling for a bit, you'll be right as rain in no time."
Steve finally smiled and mouthed "thanks" to Mike.
"What about the rest of him, Doc." Mike asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"Once they clean him up, he'll probably needs some fluids, a couple of stitches, and some antibiotics, but I think he'll live. Just what were you three up to tonight?"
"Doc, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Thanks for all your help."
"You're very welcome." The doctor stood up and shook Mike's hand, before walking back to the deputy.
Steve looked up at Mike with bleary, exhausted eyes. "Did you ask Norm about our suspects?"
"Don't worry about that, you just sit here and take it easy. I'll go talk to Norm.
Mike walked back over to Norm and Bill. "The doc says he's gonna be fine. Norm, where are we at with our suspects?"
"We got an APB out on the whole crew, including you three."
"What about Airports, docks? You know they're going to try and get out of the country."
"Dan's on it. Once we get you guys taken care of, we will call him for an update."
Mike nodded in agreement as the ambulance pulled up the long drive.
Author's note: A special thanks toSylvia Elaine for reminding me that youth basketball coaching was on Mike's résumé. Back in the good old days, before helicopter parents and pervasive litigation, he would more than like have had to reduce a shoulder dislocation or two in that capacity.
On a similar note, the procedure described in chapter 29 is real. My husband tells me it's the method they reduced on my shoulder in the ER a few years ago. I was too whacked-out on doctor-administered Ketamine to really care, although it hurt like hell until the shoulder dropped back into the joint. Steve would have never been able to crawl out of the LTD without Mike's intervention.