Free With a Vengeance by Annette Dashofy Page A

however, wasn’t so easily appeased. “Bud doesn’t want to pay anyone overtime to get the job done.”
    “He’s only open until noon on Saturday. It would be a rush job.” Zoe nudged her partner with an elbow. “Aren’t you the one who always asks, ‘Do you want it done fast, or do you want it done right?’”
    He grumbled something she couldn’t quite hear.
    Zoe didn’t bother asking him to repeat it. She knew full well Earl’s mood had nothing to do with the ambulance. It wasn’t really Medic Two he wanted back.
    He extended an arm toward the fill-in ambulance. “Command could have sent us one of their regular units. This one is basically out of commission. They only use it as a last resort.”
    “We put in a request for a backup, and this is what they sent,” Zoe said. “No one gave us a selection to choose from.”
    He spit out a string of profanities.
    “You need to chill,” Zoe said, trying to keep her voice soothing.
    “Don’t tell me to chill.” Earl, usually the epitome of calm and reason, kicked a chunk of broken concrete, sending it skittering across the sidewalk.
    She crossed her arms and waited for him to regain his composure.
    After a few moments, he shook his head. “A guy shouldn’t go to work trying to help people and have to worry about those same people taking potshots at him.”
    “Pete and his boys will catch the guy.”
    Earl met her gaze. “They damned well better.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he retreated into the office.
    Alone in front of the open bay, Zoe eyed the fill-in ambulance. Even when Medic Two returned to service, nothing would be the same again.
    Crunching tires made her turn to see a blue Subaru Outback pulling up to the curb. Earl’s wife stepped out from behind the steering wheel.
    Zoe strode over to her. “Hey, Olivia. What are you doing here?”
    She held up a cell phone. “Earl walked off without this. I’m taking Lilly to cheerleading practice, so I thought I’d bring it to him.”
    Zoe leaned over to wave at the young girl strapped into the backseat before holding out a hand. “I can give it to him. He’s a little crabby right now.”
    Olivia held onto the phone and rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. He’s been on edge since last night. Didn’t sleep hardly at all. I had hoped he might be in a better mood after the two of you got back from seeing Curtis, but no such luck.” She turned the phone over in her hand. “Still, I think I’d rather give it to him myself. You know?”
    “Yeah.” Zoe didn’t need the blanks filled in. Just in case . She aimed a thumb at the office door. “He’s inside. I’ll stay with Lilly.”
    Olivia smiled. “Thanks.”
    Zoe took a seat behind the Outback’s steering wheel and turned to smile at the small cheerleader. “How’re you doing, Lill?”
    “Okay.” The girl’s eyes sparkled. “Daddy says you might come stay with us.”
    “Afraid not, kiddo.”
    Lilly jutted out her lower lip. “But I hoped you’d bring your cats. I want a kitten.”
    Zoe laughed. Once again, Jade and Merlin were the welcomed guests. She was simply the human that came with the package. “I heard you want a pony too.”
    “Well, yeah.” Lilly dragged out the word to make it sound more like duh. “But Daddy won’t let me.” She perked up. “Maybe I can come to your farm and ride one of yours?”
    Her farm ? The Kroll farm never had been hers, but it used to feel like it. Not that she was going to explain her homeless status to a seven-year-old. “I’ll talk to your dad.”
    “Great.” Lilly beamed as though it were a done deal.
    They chatted about Lilly’s two older brothers and about the family dog—Lilly made no bones about preferring the dog to the brothers—until Olivia returned.
    “Thanks for keeping Lilly company,” she said, reclaiming her seat from Zoe.
    “No problem.”
    Olivia turned the key, reached to close the door, and paused. She looked up at Zoe, her eyes moist and worried. “Take