“Knock, knock.” Marge stood in the door. “Your nine o’clock.”
Jack stood to leave.
Marge slipped away from the door and another woman stepped in. Tall, slender, and blonde. Impeccably dressed, navy blue suit, a profile that looked strangely familiar. She extended a hand. “Hi Joe, I’m Erika.”
Joe shook her hand. “This is Jack Chastain, one of my staff. Chief of Resource Management.”
She slowly turned. “Nice title, Jack.”
“Jack, this is Erika Jones, regional office.”
She looked different. Hair shorter. “I know who she is.”
Joe glanced between them. “You do? How do you know each other?”
“Past lives.”
Erika cocked her head. “Yes, we were on a team that . . .”
He cut her off. “Montana.”
“I see,” Joe said. He gestured Jones toward a seat.
“What a coincidence,” Jack said. “We were just talking about your boyfriend’s little brother. Did you know he has a brother?”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about. I don’t have a boyfriend. No clue what you mean by a boyfriend’s brother.”
“I need to get back to my office.” Jack moved to the door.
“Jack, I need you to stay. There’s obvious tension between you two, but I ask that you be adults. Erika, when you set up this appointment, I expected to be here all day. That’s no longer the case. I’m leaving for the airport. Jack will have to be the one to answer your questions.”
“I’m fine with that.” She flashed a look his way. “We can work together. We have before. Many days of good work. There seems to be a little misunderstanding, but we can work that out.”
Joe turned to Jack. “Can you give her some time today? Maybe the next few days.”
“I have the meeting to prepare for, and things I need to do in the field, but I can give her whatever time I have left.”
“Find the time,” Joe said. “Jack, take a seat and I’ll give you both a few minutes.”
He settled back into a chair.
Jones transformed into cool confidence, her chiseled but attractive features focused on the superintendent. A dark suit like hers rarely made an appearance in Piedras Coloradas, and when it did, the skirt was typically longer. Jack glanced again at the blond hair, clipped almost short. Such a different look than the Erika Jones he remembered. What was confidence before now seemed catlike.
Morgan pointed at Jack. “Before we turn to Erika’s business, I meant to ask about the fire.”
“She’s fine, a good fire. Johnny’s plan is good, and he’s got good people monitoring spread north and west.”
“She?” Erika asked. She smiled.
“It—I mean it.”
“Must be a dainty little thing.”
“No, she’s not. I mean, it’s not. Has the potential to get large and complicated.”
She dangled a shoe. “Complicated. What’s her name, Jack?”
“Why?”
“Just wondering. Do you name your fires after women you know? Complicated ones. Hot, wild ones. Tame and controllable ones.”
Joe threw his head back and laughed. “Careful.”
Jack looked over, expected a familiar teasing smile. There was none. “I misspoke.”
“I’ll behave,” she said, exchanging smiles with Joe. “Wouldn’t want a fire named after me. Might be awful, or worse, a puny little thing.”
Jack scowled. “I’m not ready for your sense of humor.”
“So, Erika, why are you here?” Joe asked.
“I’m on a project for the Regional Director. Fact finding mostly. Visiting parks to understand their management issues. Giving him my take on how solid their planning is. Whether we should be approaching things differently.”
“What kind of things?” Joe asked, suspiciously.
“Public engagement. Political pitfalls.”
“Why would he be sticking his fingers into that from Denver?”
Her smile slipped away. “Oh, no, don’t get me wrong. I won’t be suggesting that we get involved in what you’re doing at park-level, where the rubber meets the road.”
“Then what?”
“We want a better handle on what’s happening around the region so we can complement your efforts. Engage the right people, buy you space to operate.”
“What does that mean?” Joe shook his head. “And how does it justify a trip here? For several days?”
“I’m making a sweep of several parks. Believe me, this park isn’t one we’re worried about. Things run well here, but you have to see the contrasts to know what help and intangibles a poorly-run park might need.”
“Well, I can’t give you the time I promised, but Jack’s the right person. Talk to him. He’ll have any information you need.”
Erika re-crossed her legs. “We’ll be fine.” She nodded, giving Jack a glance. “I look forward to learning a thing or two. Like old times, huh Jack?”
Jack refused himself a reaction.
Margie stuck her head in the door. “Phone call. Washington.”
“I have to take this. Jack, tell her what we’ve got going on. Send me that email later.” Joe gestured them toward the door. He picked up the phone. “Good morning.”
They slipped into the hall. Jack stopped at his office door and motioned her inside. She took the seat beside his desk.
She smiled and locked eyes on his. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in uniform. Only a coat and tie, maybe a suit. Looks good.”
He avoided her eyes. “Identity. Tradition. All that stuff.”
“Part of the team.”
“I’m in no mood for small talk. What are your questions?”
“Sometimes I wish I still wore the uniform. I have one, you know. Past job, and I look pretty damned good in it. Most people trust the uniform. I like that.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re not allowed to wear one. Might ruin
