Page 61 of Fame and Obsession
Joe said, “Get your bag, Pike.” On scenes they used last names.
Pike grabbed the medic bag and they jogged over to the scene. A man lay in the road and a woman attempted CPR. He dropped down next to her. “I’m a trained medic, ma’am. Please move away.”
As the traffic whizzed by, the firefighters stayed close in case Pike needed something. He performed CPR. At one point, he called out, “Deluca, get me the defibrillator.”
Pike shocked the victim. Did more compressions. He took out a resuscitation mask which created a seal over the victim’s mouth so firefighters didn’t have direct contact during the treatment. After twenty minutes, he sat back on his legs. His face was flushed and sweat covered his brow. But the grim expression on his face told Joe all he needed to know.
The victim was dead.
* * *
When they got back to the firehouse, Lara felt sick to her stomach. They climbed off the rig and hung up their turnout gear. Joe ordered, “Everybody inside at the table.”
They dragged themselves through the door. Lara wondered if the incident would remind Joe of Jimmy’s death. He told her he still had nightmares about what happened three years ago and she witnessed one.
Inside, everybody took a seat, including Will.
Joe zeroed in on her and Trent. “Bobby and Lara, is this your first death at the scene?”
Bobby was pale and nodded.
Lara cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“It’s hard to lose someone. But the important thing is to deal with your grief and put it behind you so you’re ready for your next call.”
“How do we put it behind us?” Lara asked.
“We’re going to clean the house. The kitchen’s been scoured by the forensic team, but the rest of the place could use sprucing up.”
Will leaned forward. “Many of you know I was a Secret Service agent.”
“Yeah.” Bobby studied him. “Why’d you leave?”
“I didn’t jump in front of a bullet in time. So I quit. But I know something about losing people, both personally and professionally. And Joe’s right. You gotta deal with the emotions first then stuff them.” He gave a crooked smile and quipped, “But we never had to clean house.”
“You gonna help?” Gabe joked.
“Nope. I gotta keep watch. But get going. You’ll feel better after some physical activity.”
Lara was buoyed by Will’s remark, though essentially he reiterated what Joe told them. Still, Will’s experience was reassuring.
Before they stood, Joe leaned in. “And we’ll order out for lunch. My treat.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Great idea.”
“Someplace expensive,” Lara put in with a wink. Then she pushed back her chair and went to work.
* * *
When Lara and Joe got back to her house, he stayed outside and talked to Will who was watching the perimeter. Lara dropped her bag near the staircase and hoped Sammy was in an okay mood. She could use a break.
The living room was empty.
She called out, “Sammy, where are you?”
“Out here.” The strong voice came from Craig. She remembered a time when Sammy had a booming baritone.
