Fallout
Chapter 14
The Journal of John Nolan
I just returned from the Evers' Christmas party, but I'm too wired to sleep. It's been a hell of a day, and I barely made it to the festivities. Grey had me cruising around trying to spot porch bandits. So I had my eyes open for unguarded packages. I was concentrating so hard on those that I almost missed the wisps of smoke coming from under a front door. Once I noticed those, I could also see some seeping around aging windows. The mailbox said, Mary Greene.
Bailey pounded it into my head that she's the one who's supposed to run toward fires, not me. So I called for the LAFD right away. But according to the dispatcher, a whole battalion was fighting an inferno in the Fashion District. The nearest engine was at least five minutes out, maybe more. I watched the house, getting increasingly nervous until I saw a flash of flame through the window. I went to feel the door to see if it was hot and heard a weak voice inside calling for help. I strained for the sound of approaching sirens, but there was nothing. As the calls faded, I realized that whoever was inside was out of time. I rechecked the door. It was warm but not scorching. Still, I knew from Bailey that I could cause a flashover by opening it. That could kill the person inside and possibly myself as well. I grabbed a gas mask from the trunk of my shop. It had no oxygen supply but could block some fumes and smoke. It would also help me see.
I circled the house, looking for a safer way in, and found an old doggy door around back. Mary must have had a large dog at some time because I was pretty sure I could get through. There was no smoke coming around the closure, and it felt cool. Saying a prayer, I crawled into the kitchen. Down the hall, I could see a Christmas tree almost engulfed in flame with the rug and some of the furniture around it catching. The woman in a chair looked at best semi-conscious. The blaze blocked her path to the front door. I grabbed a heavy cover from the couch and used it to knock the tree to the floor and smother the flames enough to get to Mary.
As I threw her over my shoulder, it could have been adrenalin, but she seemed to weigh almost nothing. When I got her outside, I could finally hear the rising tones of approaching sirens. It was about damn time! The medics brought Mary around and told me she'd probably be all right. So I got back on the street.
I was just getting off-shift when Bailey charged into the division. She hadn't been on the engine that came to Mary Greene's home. But apparently, she heard what happened. I guess the grapevine is as swift for firefighters as for cops. She grabbed me by the shirt, demanding to know what I was thinking.
I'm not sure what I mumbled, something about not letting an old lady burn to death. At first, I thought Bailey was crying because she was furious. Then I realized she was just scared for me. Under normal circumstances, that would have melted my heart, but she's still the girlfriend who lied to me about being married. I assured her that I was fine and went home – by myself.
Going to a party was the last thing I was in the mood to do, but I'd promised Harper I'd meet her there. She was in a bad enough state without having to be there alone. So was I. So I took a second shower to try to get all the smoke out of my hair, got into some decent clothes, and drove to Jane Evers's home.
To say that the party was interesting would be a play on the Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." It started out pretty much as I expected. Some of Jane Evers' upper 2% friends were there, trying their best not to notice that not everyone could afford to shop on Rodeo Drive – or in Paris. That was all right. I'm not interested in looking rich, just feeling competent. I managed to do that.
An hour into the party, one of the servers scraped the edge of a doorway with a cart of canapes and knocked loose some of the casing from the door frame. That left a sharp spike of wood sticking up. I had the appropriate adhesive in my truck to get the casing back together before anyone caught a piece of Christmas couture on it.
Then the real adventure started. Donovan called Harper, demanding to know where Lila was. Apparently, she snuck out while Donovan was finishing up some emergency work for a client. Of course, Nyla had no idea where her daughter was. We were about to put out a BOLO and go searching for her when a car service pulled up and delivered Lila to the Evers' front door. It turned out that Lila got a look at Harper's invitation before Nyla and Donovan had the blow-up that put them at all-out war. She also managed to get into her father's phone and order the ride. If that little girl ever decides to turn to crime, she'll give the LAPD a run for its money.
But Lila meant well. She just wanted a chance to talk to her mother before Christmas. As soon as she turned up at the party, Nyla called Donovan to come to get their daughter. But Nyla and Lila had some time together until he arrived. I think they both enjoyed it. And I believe Lila also enjoyed the food Jane Evers' caterer provided. The dessert bar was pretty amazing. I don't know if much will change now between Nyla and Donovan. But at least they both got an in-your-face demonstration of the effect their battles are having on Lila. That should be worth something. I hope so.
Harper and family didn't cause the only human drama of the night. Bradford brought Ashley. Of course, Lucy wasn't crazy about that idea. However, as usual, she acted as if it didn't matter – at least in front of Tim. But it was Kojo that sparked the conflict. From what I could make out, Ashley's not that fond of the dog. I'm not surprised. Lucy was the one who initially adopted Kojo. But Jackson had a problem with the dog intervening at inopportune times when he brought a guy home. So, I don't know how she did it, but Lucy talked Tim into taking the pup. That came out at the party, and Ashley suggested that perhaps Lucy could take Kojo back. Lucy's simmering resentment of Ashley almost came to a full boil, but I managed to get her outside for a while to cool off. She claimed that Tim should break up with any woman who didn't like the dog. But I don't think the dog's the problem. Since Rachel, and maybe even before, Lucy gets upset when Tim shows an interest in any other woman. It makes no sense. She was afraid that being with me would wreck her career. She sure as hell can't date her commanding officer. She knows it too. She just doesn't like it.
So anyway, by the time I got home tonight, I felt more like a referee than a party-goer. But there was one good thing about the party. Two, really. The first one was that it looked like Angela and Wesley were getting a chance to relax together and have a little fun. Jane Evers had a whole nursery set up for little Jackson, complete with a sitter for the evening. Those two needed and deserved the break. And the second one was that I had no chance to think about my situation with Bailey. I also desperately needed the break. Too bad it didn't last. But who knows what crisis will come up tomorrow?