Aftershocks by Nancy Warren

ought to hear it too, Patrick.”
    “I didn’t know the mayor was here. Hello, Patrick.”
    “Hi, Bud. Don’t mind me. If you’ve got something to say, go ahead and say it.”
    The mechanic glanced back and forth between the fire chief and the mayor, finally addressing his remarks to the chief. “Dan, I’m sorry to add to your troubles today, but I’ve got to get some more maintenance help. Our trucks have been used to full capacity in the pastweeks. They need more frequent maintenance, and one of the guys said there was a small leak in the spare fire hose. I need another part-timer at least.”
    Dan nodded, his gaze fixed on the mechanic. One of the reasons Patrick respected his replacement as fire chief was the way Egan listened to his people. Bud knew his way around a fire engine better than anyone, and if he said he needed more help, then he did.
    The familiar burn of anger intensified in Patrick’s belly. Damn it, it was his job to make sure the fire crews had the resources they needed, right down to enough guys to check the brakes regularly.
    “Let me see what I can do, Bud,” Dan said. “In the meantime, I appreciate knowing you’re doing your best.”
    “Yes, sir. I do my very best. I love those engines. And I like to see them running smooth and polished to a shine.”
    Patrick knew they had more to worry about than shiny fire trucks. They had a murderous arsonist to catch, and it was his job as mayor to find the funding to ensure they stopped the killer.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    P ATRICK ARRIVED at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a few minutes to spare. He pulled out his cell phone and returned one of the messages he hadn’t had time for this morning.
    “Archie Weld,” the deep voice answered. Archie had spent twenty years in radio before taking the job as media liaison for city hall.
    “Archie, Patrick O’Shea.”
    “Patrick, as I’m sure you know, everybody wants a statement, they want an interview, they want pictures, footage, a reenactment of the mayor’s incarceration in his own elevator.”
    Patrick chuckled. “I hear you. Look, Archie, can you tell them all I’ll cooperate fully, but not today. I’m sure even our media friends can appreciate I’ve got a lot to do today. If you want to put together some kind of release giving the details of what happened and that no one in city hall was hurt, go ahead and put some quotes in from me. If you e-mail it to Briana, she’ll make sure I read it and get it back to you this afternoon.”
    “I think the TV and papers want—”
    “Pictures. They’ll get them, but not until tomorrow.Look, I’ve got something going on and I want to do a live appearance on the six o’clock news tomorrow night. Can you set it up?”
    “Sure.”
    “I appreciate it.”
    “Uh, Patrick, it’s going to be easier to get the station to agree with this if they know what it’s about.”
    “I’ve got an important message for the people of this city, but I don’t want to say more until tomorrow. I’ll fill you in later, but sell the TV guys on the concept, will you? You’ll think of something.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    “Once I finish the on-air broadcast, I’ll take a full media conference. Everyone can have pictures, sound bites, full interviews, whatever they need. I think I can promise the show will be…interesting. Probably dramatic.”
    “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
    “Thanks. So do I.”
    “If you want me to prepare you some speaking notes—”
    “Nope. I’m going to wing it.”
    “Okay, it’s your funeral.”
    Actually, he was hoping to prevent a few funerals. There had been too many in Courage Bay.
     
    B RIANA WAS THE FIRST to arrive at the council chambers located on the main floor of city hall. Since this was an in-camera meeting, there were no spectators in the visitors’ seating area.
    It was quiet yet, the only sound a soft plunk as Briana dropped an agenda package in front of each person’s place. The package included the