The fire station smelled faintly of coffee and engine oil, the way it always did.
Daniel liked that smell. It meant everything was in working order.
The garage doors were open to the afternoon sun, and the mountains rose blue and distant beyond the town. A couple of firefighters were checking hoses beside Engine Two while someone inside the kitchen argued with the coffee machine.
Normal day.
Routine again.
Exactly how Daniel preferred it.
He was halfway through reviewing equipment logs when Mikey Alvarez leaned against the office doorway.
“Cheer up, Chief.”
Daniel didn’t look up. “I’m perfectly cheerful.”
“You’ve been glaring at that clipboard for ten minutes.”
“I’m reading it.”
“Sure you are.”
Daniel finally glanced at him.
Mikey stood there with the kind of grin that usually meant trouble.
“What?”
“At least the new neighbor with the code violations is cute.”
Daniel paused.
Very slowly, he set the clipboard down.
“And how exactly,” he asked calmly, “would you know anything about my neighbor?”
Mikey straightened, clearly delighted.
“Information network.”
“You mean gossip.”
“I mean community awareness.”
Daniel folded his arms.
“Try again.”
Mikey held up his hands. “Heather at the grocery store mentioned it when I went in for more coffee beans.”
Of course she had.
Pine Hollow’s entire information system ran through two places: the grocery store and the bar.
“She came in this morning,” Mikey continued. “Signed up for the rewards card thing. Heather said she’s new in town.”
Daniel said nothing.
Which, unfortunately, encouraged Mikey.
“Name’s Mira,” he went on. “Moved here from Austin. Apparently she’s some kind of photographer.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
“Finish.”
Mikey shrugged casually.
“She’s living alone. Just her and that little dog.”
That matched what Daniel had seen.
“But,” Mikey added thoughtfully, “Heather said she seemed… jumpy.”
“Jumpy.”
“Like someone who checks the door twice before going to sleep.”
Daniel leaned back slightly in his chair.
“Did Heather also diagnose her with a full psychological profile while ringing up cereal?”
“Hey, I’m just relaying information.”
Mikey studied him for a moment.
Then his grin returned.
“You look like you want to punch something.”
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
Daniel rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I don’t know this woman.”
“Yet.”
“And none of this concerns us.”
Mikey tilted his head.
“You sure about that?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead he stood and walked toward the equipment bay where a punching bag hung near the training mats. Fifteen minutes later he was still there, working through combinations with controlled precision.
The bag swung and creaked with every strike.
Normally, that helped.
Normally, the rhythm of it cleared his mind.
Today it didn’t.
Because every time he slowed down, his memory drifted back to a quiet driveway, copper-colored hair moving in the wind, and a pair of pale blue eyes studying him like she could already see through the version of himself he showed the world.
Mikey leaned against the wall nearby, arms folded.
“You’re brooding.”
“I’m exercising.”
“About the mysterious photographer next door.”
Daniel dropped his hands.
“You’re exhausting.”
“Admit it.”
“There’s nothing to admit.”
Mikey sighed dramatically.
“You know what you need?”
Daniel already knew the answer.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Daniel grabbed a towel.
“I’m going home.”
Mikey pointed toward the window, where the late afternoon sun was already sliding down the ridge.
“You’re going home to that quiet house where you will sit alone and absolutely not think about your mysterious neighbor.”
Daniel opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
Mikey nodded, satisfied.
“Exactly.”
Daniel exhaled slowly.
“What do you want, Mikey.”
“One drink.”
“No.”
“The bar is two blocks away.”
“No.”
“You’ve been snapping at everyone all afternoon.”
“That’s not true.”
“You snapped at the coffee machine.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Fine,” he said at last.
Mikey’s grin widened.
“But one drink.”
“Deal.”
Daniel grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair.
It wasn’t until they were already walking toward the door that a thought crossed his mind.
One he didn’t say out loud.
Because if Mikey heard it, he would never let it go.
For reasons Daniel couldn’t quite explain, the idea of going out into town tonight carried a strange edge of anticipation.
And he had a growing suspicion that he already knew why.