Page 89 of The Firefighter's Fate

“Ember, Connor has decided not to see you.”

I nod. Once. Twice.

I understand what he means.

I take a step back.

“Oh. I get it.”

“Your only chance of seeing him is if your house were on fire,” Eric says.

I nod again.

And take another step back toward the door.

“Yep. I get it, Eric. Sorry for intruding.”

“I’m sorry, Ember.”

I nod one last time.

“I know.”

I had no chance.

I head outside.

And I wait next to the fire station’s doors.

Despite Eric’s insistence, I still want to see Connor, so I keep waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

The early afternoon turns into early evening.

And yet there is no sign of him. Nothing. Nada.

Not even a glimpse of the man for the rest of the day. His pickup truck doesn’t pass by.

Wow, he really doesn’t want to see me...

Yeah, I’ve fucked up.

Big time.

And I don’t know what I can do to fix things.

45

EMBER

I feel like I’m being followed.

The ominous feeling began when I left the motel in the taxi, and it continued even as we drove up to the front gates of the Penmayne mansion.

It’s just that feeling, you know... that feeling of being watched by someone behind you...