Going to Extreme Measures

Chapter 12

Mike and Johnny pulled up at the station last the next morning. Mike had to pick Johnny up and that made them later than he normally was. They weren't as late as Johnny usually arrived, but they were definitely later than Mike liked to be.

"Hey Roy get a look at that. Johnny and Mike must have had a busy day yesterday. They never even got back for Gage's car." Chet tried to get Roy to react. Roy simply glanced up and went back to reading the paper. "Aren't you even curious about what they were up to?"

"I know what they were up to Chet. Johnny called me last night and told me the whole thing. That's what friends do Chet. They share things." Roy didn't even look up at Chet. He just kept looking at the paper.

"Well?"

"Well what Chet?"

"Well aren't you going to tell the rest of us?"

"Chet if Johnny wants you to know what he and Mike did yesterday he'll tell you." This time he laid the paper down and glared at Chet.

"Okay Roy, don't get mad. I was just curious."

"Curious about what, Chester B?" Johnny asked as he came into the room and headed straight for the coffee pot.

"Nothing Gage."

"Well obviously you wanted to know something you've bothered my partner until he's mad about it. What do you want to know?" Johnny walked over and stood looking down at Chet who was now sitting on the couch petting Henry.

"I was just asking him what you and Mike did yesterday that caused you to be gone so long you didn't even get back for your Rover. That's all." Embarrassed he kept his head down.

"Why would you ask Roy? Why not ask me or Mike? We were the one's hanging out together Chet." Johnny was aggravated at Chet for bothering Roy with his questions.

"There was a drowning victim at the beach. Johnny and I had to do CPR until the squad got there. He was tired. I took him home and picked him up this morning. Any other questions Chet?" Mike was angry now too. He didn't like everyone knowing his business. Johnny was helping him and Chet didn't need to know about what he was helping with.

Chet knew better than to mess with Mike. "No. I didn't mean to upset you Mike. I just thought it was odd that's all."

"Odd Chet?" Mike was now standing beside Johnny. "What was odd?"

"That Gage didn't pick up his car." Chet was growing more and more uncomfortable.

"Roll call in five," Captain Stanley said from the doorway breaking the conversation. The men downed their coffee and filed out into the bay.

Mike came up behind Chet, placed his hand on his shoulder, squeezed, and quietly commented, "Don't pry into my business Chet, and when it concerns me you leave Johnny alone too. Got it?"

Chet pulled away from Mike's grip, "I got it."

After roll call everyone went about performing their assigned duties.

The tones went off sending the squad on a series of calls that kept them busy until late afternoon. The engine had several calls during that time as well, but they did manage to get back for lunch. When Johnny and Roy walked slowly into the kitchen and sat at the table without even looking for lunch the rest of the crew knew that they must have had a difficult run.

"Everything all right?" Captain Stanley asked. "You guys look beat."

"Yeah Cap just tired," Roy answered.

"You guys hungry?" Cap looked them over as he asked.

"Starved," Johnny looked up as he spoke. "Just too tired to get up and get it."