Chapter 24

Chet sat silently with his arms crossed over his chest. It was rare for him to be sitting in the captain's office as an innocent man, but this was one of those events. He truly had nothing to say.

Hank looked back and forth between his two men, his anger growing. "Marco, I know you heard the command to evacuate. Can you explain why Chet entered the building alone?"

"I messed up, Cap," the Latino man commented, his head held low.

Hank leaned forward. "So, I witnessed. Do you need to go back to basics, Lopez? What is a direct assault, huh?"

Marco felt his neck growing warm. "Put the wet stuff on the red stuff," he muttered.

"And when I gave the order for two in and two out, what are the two out supposed to do?"

Marco felt like he was being interrogated by the FBI. All he could think about was the need to apologize to Beverly, but he also knew he couldn't afford a reprimand or, even worse, a suspension.

"To be ready to relieve or retrieve the two who are in."

"Then explain to me why Kelly went into that burning building alone," Hand demanded, leaning forward and staring at his senior lineman as he awaited an answer.

"I messed up, Cap. I'm sorry."

Hank looked over at Chet who looked like he would rather be getting a root canal than sitting in the captain's office. "Kelly, you're dismissed."

"Yessir," the Irishman commented as he exited the tiny room. He blew out a deep breath as he headed for the latrine to clean up before dinner.

Back inside the office, Hank continued to stare at his lineman. "Is it something personal or is something going on between you and Chet. You seemed fine this morning."

Marco relaxed a little, allowing the weight of the situation to press down on his shoulders. "It's personal… and I was fine this morning," he commented. After a long silence, he looked up at the man he so respected. He felt his eyes burning, knowing that his inattention to detail could've cost them their medic team, their brothers. "Lexi left while Beverly and I were gone on our honeymoon. No one has heard from her in three days now. She isn't where she said she was going. That means she's back out on the streets, Cap. I was on the phone with Beverly when the tones dropped. I didn't know until I called her a few hours ago." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I guess I'll be suspended, right?"

"I'll call in a replacement for you for the rest of the shift… not because you're being suspended, but because your head isn't in the game for personal reasons. Take the rest of the shift off, Marco. And… and I am sorry. I know this isn't what you expected."

"No sir, it isn't… hell, Cap… I guess I should've expected it," he mumbled rubbing his burning eyes. "She's been acting really odd lately. I guess we've just got to move on with our lives… without her."

"Go take care of yourself and your family. I'll stand down the engine until your replacement arrives." Hank stood up, glad when Marco followed his lead. "And never give up, Lopez. As long as there's breath, there's hope."

"With Lexi, we don't even know if there's breath," Marco mumbled, staring at the floor. He inhaled deeply, looking back up at his superior officer. "Thank you, Cap. I really appreciate you… more than you'll ever know."

Hank offered a soft nod, remembering the second chance his men had given him. They could've gotten him fired, or suspended at the least, when he was going through his own personal hell. But they hadn't. He would never place the citizens of LA County in danger, and he would not hesitate to suspend or even terminate one of his men, if necessary… but this time, it just wasn't necessary. Not in his eyes. He had the best team in LA County, and as long as he could keep it together, he was going to.

"Um… I'd like to go apologize to the guys before I leave… if you think that's okay."

"I think that'd be a good idea."

"I, um, I need to talk to Beverly, then I'll join you all in the dayroom before I go home."

Marco headed straight to the latrine to wash his face. He leaned over the sink splashing the cool water on his face and soothing his irritated eyes. He used a paper towel to pat himself dry. He needed a tall glass of water to cool his parched throat, but a call to Beverly was first on his agenda.

He walked into the dorm room, leaning against the desk as he dialed the number.

"Hello?"

"Beverly… I'm so sorry for what I said earlier. I tried to call you back, but we got a run and I just now got back. Please forgive me, Bev."

She sniffled, searching for her voice. "Yea, I realized too late what you actually meant. I've been trying to call you back, but no one answered. I figured you were on a run. I love you, Marco. And I forgive you."

Marco closed his eyes, grateful for her forgiveness. It was the balm to his wounded soul. "Um, there's something else. I made a mistake on our run, and, um, Cap didn't write me up, but he's calling in a sub for me for the rest of the shift. I'm going to apologize to the guys and then I'll be home."

"Ohmygod! Is everyone alright?"

"Yes… but it could've been bad." Marco hung his head, his voice lowering. "He could've put something in my personnel file, but he didn't. I owe him."

"Ahem," she cleared her voice, fighting back the tears. "I called the police earlier. I asked about filing a missing person's report, but… It's just like I thought. The officer took the report, but because of her history … they probably won't put much effort into looking for her. She's an adult who left on her own."

Marco used his free hand to rub his aching temple, remembering that when Lexi first left, as a child, she wasn't given much publicity because she was a poor girl with Mexican ancestry. Now, it was because she was a prostitute… either way, her life just wasn't as valuable in the eyes of the public, or so it seemed. He tried to tamp down his anger at Lexi and his disappointment in humanity. "Thank you for trying, Bev. I'll be home in a little while. I love you."

"Love you too, Marco."

E!

The mood in the dayroom was heavy. Mike was heating up his spaghetti while Johnny sliced up the garlic bread and placed it in the oven. Chet and Roy were reviewing the events from the fire and both were wondering what had happened to their senior lineman. When Hank walked in, all eyes turned to him.

"Fellas, he's talking to his wife right now. He does have something to say to you all as soon as he finishes talking to her."

"Is he okay?" Chet asked.

Hank saw the same question being silently asked on the faces of the rest of his crew. "It's his story to tell."

The men knew that their supervisor was not going to divulge anything else related to Marco.

They had just resumed their tasks and conversations when a very contrite looking Marco walked into the room. "Fellas, I need to talk to you for a minute."

The group gathered around the kitchen table while Marco remained standing.

"Ahem… I owe you all an apology. I, uh, I got some upsetting news before our last run and… I was shaken up… but I could've cost you your lives… and I'm truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me and… and I promise that when I come back… I'll have my head back on straight."

"When you come back?" Johnny asked, his expressive eyes wide.

"Captain Stanley, um… suggested that I take the rest of the shift off. He's calling in a replacement. I need to, um, handle a few things before next shift."

"Is it your sister?" Mike questioned. His lack of use of Lexi's name was not missed by the men of the station, especially not Marco.

Marco nodded his head, his embarrassment coloring his face. He dropped his eyes to the floor. "She left while Beverly and I were on our honeymoon. We all thought she was staying with Bri at Samford Bennett's house, but I found out just before that last run that… Bri hasn't seen her in a couple of weeks. That means she's back out there," he said, his voice fading to a whisper.

"But… Ricardo's in jail so… who's she working for?" Chet asked.

Marco waxed his mustache in contemplation. "We don't know. She may not have a pimp." He hated the sound of that, but his friends already knew the truth. There was no reason to hide it.

Roy was the next person to speak up. "Have you contacted the police?"

"She's an adult who left on her own. She hasn't committed any crime. She has a history of prostitution… Yes, a missing person's report has been filed but there's really nothing the cops can do."

"Bullshit!" Johnny spat out. He was the only other person in the room who truly understood what Marco wasn't saying to the rest of the homogenous group.

"Gage," Marco began, holding up his hand. "I've run this through my brain a thousand times. She's a grown woman who chose to move out of her mother's house."

"But she left her child behind," Mike added, his anger and frustration evident in the low rumble of his voice.

"I know, Mike, but she made previous arrangements for Beverly and me to raise Antonio in her absence."

"So… she's been planning this for a while, huh?"

Marco saw the flash of anger in their engineer's eyes. He knew how much the man loved Antonio… and had once loved Lexi. The fact that his sister had deserted both her son and the best man who had ever loved her made Marco even more angry. "Probably… Anyway, I'm going to go now," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "Again, I'm very sorry for my behavior… I promise not to ever let it happen again."

The men all wished him well, assuring him that there were no hard feelings and offering any help they could to find Lexi. After Marco left, the men sat silently, until Hank lifted his nose a little.

"Is something burning?" the astute fire captain asked.

"Argh!" Johnny grumbled, jumping into action, donning an oven mitt. When he opened the oven door, smoke billowed out. He quickly removed the burnt bread, tossing it out the side door onto the concrete driveway. He left the kitchen door open to allow the smoke to escape.

Chet, who normally would've relentlessly hounded the paramedic, remained silent. He looked around at the other men who all looked as if they'd lost their best friend. When one brother was hurting, they all hurt.

E!

Less than a block away, Lexi lay curled up on a park bench, hidden by the low hanging branches of a large tree. She had been hiding out as close to Station 51 as possible – somehow it made her feel safe. She was about to close her eyes when she saw a single vehicle pulling out from the parking lot. When the sedan passed by her, she recognized it immediately. She drew her thin body even tighter around her middle, sobbing into her sweater sleeve. Questions flooded her worried brain. Why was Marco leaving before his shift was over? Was their mother okay? Antonio?

"Oh, God," she whispered, hoarsely. "I don't care what happens to me, but please… please keep my family safe. I deserve whatever you do to me… they don't…" Her breath caught in her throat. "Pl-please… help… them," she whispered into the lonely night.

She tugged on her purse, keeping it as close to her body as possible. It felt lighter since she had mailed all of her letters to those who meant the most to her. Maybe, one day they would understand her reasons for leaving them. If not, at least she would have protected them.

E!

The following morning, while Marco's sub was brushing his teeth, Chet scurried into the kitchen to talk with the rest of the A-shift.

"Okay, fellas, Marco says he and Beverly are going over to Mama Lopez's house to tell her about Lexi being missing. They'll be there around 8:30 am. Anybody wanting to help should be there around 9:00 am. Who's in?"

A chorus of agreements responded except for one notably silent engineer.

"I just can't, Chet. I'm sorry," Mike commented. "But," Mike began, cupping his long fingers around a warm cup of coffee. "Why don't I take Antonio to the park? I'm sure the kid needs a break and I'd be helping out in some way."

"Great idea, Stoker," Chet said with a smile breaking out beneath his mustache. "Okay, so we're all in agreement. Once B- shift gets here, we'll go home, shower, and meet up at Mama Lopez's house around 9:00 am."

"You got it," Gage said, tipping his cup of coffee as if in a pledge.

E!

Marco held Beverly's hand as they walked up the steps of his childhood home.

"Meeko!" shouted Antonio as they entered.

"Good morning, Ant!" Marco said, lifting him into his arms.

"Marco, Beverly, so good to see you," Maria said, her face seeming to show a few more wrinkles. She knitted her eyebrows together, then her eyes filled with tears. She could see on their faces that this was more than just a friendly visit. "Antonio, why don't you go upstairs and play with your Mr. Potato Head while the grown-ups talk, okay?"

The child's shoulders slumped as he began trudging towards the stairs. "Okay," he mumbled.

As soon as he was out of hearing range, Maria plopped into her favorite chair. "You have news."

Marco swallowed hard, knowing the information was going to cause his mother further pain. He also knew that he had to get the dreaded deed done. "She hasn't been staying with Bri, Mama."

Maria clasped her hands beneath her chin and closed her eyes. She said a whispered prayer in Spanish. When she finished, she wiped her eyes with the hem of her apron. "I knew it… It was just so easy to believe she was there… that's why I didn't call her… Somehow… I just knew… I guess a mother always knows."

After several minutes of discussing the situation, especially how to tell Antonio, Beverly stood up.

"I think I'll put on a pot of coffee. The guys from the station will be here soon."

Maria watched her daughter-in-law walk into the kitchen. "Your friends are going to help look for her again?"

"Not sure how many," Marco said, assuming Mike might opt out, "but Chet will be here soon. I think John may come too."

As if on cue, they heard a vehicle Marco recognized, pull into the driveway. Marco couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

"Well… speak of the devil and he will appear," he grinned, looking through the screen door at his work partner getting out of his VW van. What surprised him more was that their captain got out of the passenger's side.

Marco walked to the door to welcome them in just as Johnny's Rover pulled up to the curb. He and Roy got out. Marco's heart nearly burst. These were the two men his previous day's mistake had endangered most, yet they were here to offer their assistance. There was no sign of Mike.

"Fellas… I can't thank you enough," he said, fighting to keep his emotions down.

Hank, carrying a couple of pastry boxes, nodded his head at his senior lineman. "We're here for you, Lopez. Never doubt the support of your brothers."

"Never have," Marco said, blinking his eyes a little more rapidly than usual.

Hank saw Marco looking up the street and knew exactly what he was thinking. He set the pastry boxes down, kissed Mama Lopez on the cheek and offered his support to her, then returned to his lineman.

"He's coming… he wants to take your nephew to the park today… get him out of the house for a while."

Marco nodded. "I honestly wasn't expecting him to come at all."

"He care's… he's just been burned one time too many, you know?"

"Yes… I know all too well."

Beverly, having heard the additional voices, came through the kitchen door. "I've just put a pot of coffee on." She saw the pastry boxes. "Let me get some napkins and saucers for those and I'll bring the coffee out as soon as it's ready."

"She's a dream come true, Marco," Maria said, once again drying her eyes with her fingertips.

"That she is, Mama… that she is."

By the time Beverly returned with the promised coffee, there was a soft knock at the door and Mike stepped inside.

"Hello."

"Michael," Maria said, her face beaming. She had been told that he was going to take Antonio to the park for which she was very grateful. The young boy had already known more heartache than a child his age should be expected to endure.

Mike offered her a big hug and a whispered exchange between them. "Is Antonio upstairs?"

"He's in his room playing. Why don't I fix a tray of milk and coffee, and you pick out a few donuts to take up?" Beverly suggested.

Mike chose a chocolate and two glazed donuts while the tray was being prepared. Then he skillfully carried it up the stairs without spilling a drop.

"Knock, knock," he said, standing outside Antonio's bedroom.

The child opened the door with a huge grin on his face. "Mr. Mike!" He shouted, hugging the man's pant leg.

"Whoa, kiddo! Don't make me spill the goodies," Mike laughed as he entered the room. "I've got a surprise here from your Aunt Beverly."

He set the tray down and watched as the eager child reached for the chocolate covered donut. "I don't get to have donuts for breakfast. My grandma makes me eat eggs," he said through a chocolate mustache.

Mike couldn't help but laugh. "Well, let's enjoy it while we can, alright? Then I'm going to take you to the park."

"Really?" The little boy pumped his free hand in the air. "Yippee!"

Downstairs, the group was discussing their options, none of which sounded promising, when there was another knock at the door. The men all watched as Beverly approached their unknown guest.

"Lieutenant Crockett? Come in."

All eyes stared at the detective, none of them smiling. They were all frustrated by the lack of response from the LAPD.

"Donut?" Chet offered.

"Funny, Kelly," the ebony officer commented, flatly. "But, yea, I'll take one."

"Sorry, I really wasn't thinking about the whole 'cops and donut shops' thing when I asked," Chet replied, sheepishly.

"I just read over the report filed yesterday," the officer commented to Marco.

"Any updates," the senior lineman asked? He was still angry but knew that they needed the help of law enforcement and he didn't want to be rude to a guest.

"Kind of," the Lieutenant responded, accepting a cup of coffee from Beverly. "Thank you, ma'am."

He sipped the hot liquid to wash down the bite of donut he had swallowed then cleared his throat.

"Um, I wanted to let you know that I was told that a woman, matching Lexi's description, was waiting for Gomez when he was released this morning." He looked around the room at the shocked faces and dropped chins. "Uh-oh, you all didn't know he was being released?"

"Hell, no!" Marco said, through gritted teeth. He stood up, his hands on his hips. "Why weren't we notified? Lemme guess, poor Mexicans don't matter, right?"

"Marco!" Maria shouted.

Upstairs, Mike heard the raised voices and decided he needed to help Antonio make an escape. He grabbed the youngster's jacket and opened the door. "We're just gonna head to the park now," he shouted down the stairs. He reached for Antonio's hand, confident that the adults had understood what he meant and would change their demeanor until the duo had exited the house.

"Have fun with Mr. Mike," Maria said, her voice trembling.

Others joined in with their well-wishes as Mike quickly exited the house with Antonio in tow. As soon as they were in Mike's pick-up, voices once again were raised.

"Lopez, I of all people know what you're thinking, but it isn't true," Crockett commented, having come of age during the civil rights movement as a young man with dark skin.

Johnny arched an eyebrow. "Sure seems like it from where I sit," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If you think it was her, and there's a missing person's report out for her, then why can't you go get her?" Maria asked, not fully comprehending the situation.

"Ms. Lopez," the Lieutenant began, "Lexi is a grown woman who left on her own. No foul play was involved and-,"

"There's gonna be foul play if you don't get off your ass and do somethin'!" Chet nearly shouted.

"Tell us where he lives and WE'LL go get her," Roy commented.

"Yea, always got to send in the firemen to do the job the cops won't do," Chet mumbled.

"Enough, Kelly," Hank spoke up, tired of watching his crew disintegrate.

"As I was saying, Ms. Lopez," Lieutenant Crockett repeated, eyeballing the more outspoken men in the room. "She's an adult who left on her own which means no foul play and she hasn't committed a crime."

Roy's eyes opened wide. "What would happen if she did commit a crime?"

Johnny looked at his partner knowing what the other man was thinking.

"She hasn't, Roy, and I'm not going to make one up just so I can go haul her in. This isn't the Old West."

"Please just answer my question. If she committed a crime, say stole something, would she be picked up?"

The lieutenant didn't know where the conversation was going, but he answered Roy's question. "Well, if there was a warrant out for her arrest and I thought I knew where she was, then I'd go pick her up. But Roy… there is no warrant."

"There will be," Roy said, standing up. "Where do I go to sign a warrant for her arrest?"

"You can't just make shi, um, ahem, stuff up," Crockett said in a frustrated tone, glad he had remembered that ladies were present before he allowed the expletive to escape his lips.

"Do it, Roy," Johnny said, his crooked grin making an appearance.

Roy's blue eyes scanned the faces of the Lopez family, concerned about how his information was going to affect them. "Marco, Mama Lopez," Roy began his explanation with an apology. "I never wanted you to find out about this, but several weeks ago, uh," he stammered. "It was at the Halloween party at our house… um, Lexi stole Joanne's pearl earrings she inherited from her grandmother."

"Oh, mi Dios," Maria cried, weeping into her apron. She leaned into Beverly as the younger woman wrapped her arm around her.

"What?" Marco questioned in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

Roy nodded in affirmation, his somber voice continuing his explanation. "Yes, we're sure. When we called her out on it, she returned them to Mike. Joanne has then back now, but… she still stole them. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you."

"So, you all knew, and no one bothered to tell me?" Marco looked around at the other men in the room. "I know my sister's past…" He didn't finish the sentence. "I never thought she'd steal… not from my friends anyway. God almighty, I'm sorry, Roy."

Lieutenant Crockett licked the powdered sugar off his fingertips then smiled broadly. "I like how you think, Roy. Let's go down to the station and have you sign a warrant for her arrest for theft. Then I'll personally head out to Gomez' place and see if she's there. If she is, then I'll arrest her. God knows, she'll be safer in jail than with him. Maybe that'll buy us some time." He looked over at Roy who was now standing, ready to execute his plan. "I'm certain the value of those earrings was around $300 or more… you know, that would make the crime a felony," he said, knowing Roy would understand his remark.

"You bet," Roy said, nudging his partner to stand up. They needed to get to the police station as quickly as possible. "Maybe you need a couple of medics to go with you, in case someone needs medical attention."

"My van has about as much room as an ambulance," Chet offered.

Crockett looked around the room, realizing that he was no longer perceived as uncaring, but had quickly become an ally. "Okay, let's get the warrant signed, then John and Roy, you can ride with me and Hank and Chet can take Chet's van. The fewer vehicles that show up, the better."

"Where does he live?"

Crockett was about to divulge the address, then thought better of it. He needed to maintain control of the situation to prevent it from spiraling even more out of control. "In an isolated area… you'll just have to follow me. Chet, there's a small ridge along his long driveway. You'll need to park your van there and wait for us to signal you to come in – if your ambulance service is needed." He looked at the two paramedics." John, Roy, you'll ride with me but stay in the car until I signal for you. With any luck, I'll just bring her out in handcuffs."

"What about me?" Marco questioned, not wanting to be left out.

"You three," Crockett said, waving his hand at the three Lopez's. "You just stay here until we call you. We'll let you know something as soon as we can."

Maria lowered herself to a kneeling position. "Go with God," she said, then began praying in her native tongue. It was something she had done since Lexi had run away as a distraught teenager. Her prayers had been answered once, but would God be willing to answer them again?