“All right.” Roman set the file down, pulled out his cell and added the opening to his calendar.
“Do you know Gil at all?” Bud leaned back in his chair.
“No.”
“Huh.”
“What does that mean?” Roman slipped his phone away.
“Just wondering how you got on the mayor’s radar, is all. People will be asking, especially given we already had a perfectly qualified person to take over the job.”
“Captain Bettencourt.” A Technicolor image exploded in his brain, nearly overshadowed by the snarky, unimpressed smile she’d aimed at him. He couldn’t blame her. Heck, he’d been her just a few weeks ago, when he hadn’t gotten a job he’d dedicated the last couple of years to earning.
“You’d best be warned,” Bud continued. “A lot of people aren’t going to be happy Frankie’s been passed over. Especially Frankie. She has a dedicated fan club. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to think of anyone who didn’t think the world of that woman. Myself included.”
“I don’t see how people can be upset with me.” That didn’t stop the knots of unease tangling in his gut. He’d expected some resistance from those on the job. It hadn’t occurred to him he might have to take on an entire town. “A posting went up online, I applied, was interviewed via video chat and got the job.” No one had been more surprised than him. Until today, apparently. “They can’t blame me for the town not promoting from inside.”
“They can when it’s the first time it’s been done.” Bud’s eyes dimmed a bit, letting Roman know he was wrong on that count. The space between the chief’s brows furrowed as he frowned. “Chicago, Boston. Orlando. Those are large engine companies. You work anywhere else? Anywhere...smaller?”
“No.”
“Ever lived in a small town before?”
“No.” This was definitely feeling like an interrogation. “Should I have mentioned that on my application?”
“I doubt it would have made a difference. Look.” Bud motioned to the chair Captain Bettencourt had occupied a short while ago. “This isn’t going to be what you’re used to. We have one engine, a utility vehicle and Nautilus.”
Roman frowned. “Nautilus?”
“The truck specifically for water rescue, which, given we’re a coastal town and get a lot of divers, we need. Most of the time, we go out in Dwayne, the SUV.”
“Dwayne?” For the life of him, Roman couldn’t understand the reference.
“Ah, sorry.” Bud laughed. “Frankie’s an action movie fan, and those characters always handle anything that’s thrown at them. The SUV is our go-to vehicle for what we know are medical or repeat calls and we always have it as backup for the engine. It’s stocked as well as any ambulance—it’s just not set up to transport patients. Private service handles that through dispatch, which is located in Durante, about two hours east.”
“I was looking over your volunteer list. They’re all certified EMTs, right?”
“Yes. That’s a state requirement.”
Roman didn’t miss the odd flicker that cut across the chief’s face. “What?”
“If you’re thinking Butterfly Harbor falls into any particular mold, you’re wrong. Our volunteers are dedicated, but they’re also, well, let’s just say they cut across many demographics. But Frankie can help you navigate those waters.”
“All right.” Roman wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that.
“Look, I’m going to be honest.” Chief Granger pinned him with a look. “You’re more than qualified for this job. Guess what? So is Frankie. Top of every one of her classes, and she’s twice as dedicated as any officer I’ve ever worked with. On paper, there’s little to no difference between you, and what difference there is, bias aside, she’s more qualified. Because she knows this town. She knows its people. Better yet, the town knows her.”
“With all due respect, Chief.” The slow-burn temper Roman prided himself on didn’t even ignite. “Obviously someone thought I was more qualified, or at the very least, they wanted a change. I’m here to do a job, and I’ll do it. My way. One engine or four, people all want the same thing—to be safe and to be helped. That’s what the job is. That’s the job I’ll do.”
Chief Granger let out a harsh laugh. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You got a place to stay?”
“I stopped at that hotel on the cliffs, but they’re booked up for long-term guests. I hadn’t thought beyond that.”