14
Ty tried to get Jana and Curt off alone. But it didn’t work.
The Firebirds had been released overnight. It was just past dawn and they were loading up the helos on the trailers, doublechecking that they had all their gear, and saying their goodbyes. Two other outfits were released as well—the rest were still in full firefight hustle. The wide pavement in front of the Zulies’ headquarters were a mass of people and machinery.
He and Mallory had spread out their sleeping bags separately. Not far apart, but apart. And he’d missed her every minute of the sleepless night as he’d watched the slowly turning stars.
But he finally got Jana and Curt aside, sitting on one of the lowboy trailers while he stood awkwardly in front of them not knowing where to begin.
Before he could, Jasper and St
