One afternoon, Tom and I got called into the office. That was rarely a good thing. Usually it was Tom getting us into trouble. While he was an awesome medic in the skill and medicine sense, his bedside manner left much to be desired—that and his quick temper, which often spurred complaints from nurses, police, firefighters, anyone who got in his way or challenged him.
A police car was parked outside the office. Not a good sign.
“Why are you so squirmy?” Tom said as we parked.
“Why do you think the cops are here?”
“To arrest your scrawny little butt for being such a chicken shit. Maybe the nationwide manhunt for the goat raper has finally reached its conclusion. I’ll be on the news. He was a good partner, a little strange, didn’t say much, but sure did like to bleat.”
“Am I not a good partner?”
“Didn’t I just say you were?
“Not really.”
“Well, work on it, then?”
While I admit that I liked being the partner of someone who was considered one of the better paramedics, I was coming to realize I really didn’t like Tom very much at all.
Ned Martinson sat us both down and. with a very stern look on his face, said, “Gentlemen, explain yourselves.”
“I didn’t do it,” Tom said. “I categorically deny everything.”
“I was there the whole time,” I said. “I never saw any of it.”
Ned smiled. “You two kill me, you really do. If we didn’t need cars on the road, you both would have been ridden out of here long ago. Spencer for your general attitude, and you, Tim, for being Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil. Someday you are going to get us in a lot of trouble, but today you’ve both gotten a temporary Get Out of Jail Free Card.”
Tom and I looked at each other quizzically.
“That’s right, a surprise. I don’t have you in here to paddle your backsides. We just got notice from the Governor’s Office. You’re both getting Lifesaver Awards for the Collins Street Fire. I know you were out of your assigned area when you happened to spot the fire, but people’s lives were saved, and the state is going to recognize you for it.”
Tom had a big grin on his face. He turned and we slapped high-fives. He put his feet up on Ned’s desk. Ned walked around and knocked them off. “Don’t get carried away. All this means is you’re staying employed until the banquet, unless you really fuck up.”
“What banquet?” Tom asked.
“The state is holding an awards banquet, and you each, as well as a guest, are invited, along with me, my wife, and the boss and his missus.”
“A guest?” Tom said. “How am I going to decide who to take? This is going to cause trouble for me.”
“That’s your problem. You obviously will all have to be on your best behavior. I’ll need to know in advance who you’re bringing so we can get security clearances. Let me know by next Friday. That will be all.”
“Security clearances?”
“Yes, did I forget to mention the Vice President will also be there?”
***
“You want to go with me?” I asked Carrie that night after I’d told her everything.
“I’d love to,” she said. “Are you going to be wearing that dashing tuxedo of yours?”
“Oh, no, I’ll be in dress uniform. It means I’ll have to shine my boots, and the company’s going to give us ties to wear.”
“What do you think I should wear then?”
“You look nice in everything.”
“I should probably get a new dress. I’d like to look good for you. I suppose they’ll be taking lots of pictures. We might even get on TV with the Vice President coming.”
The next day, another drug dealer was gunned down on Lawrence Street. I bought Carrie her new dress.