He stood upright and patted me on the shoulder. “She needs an assignment, Jojo. Not any of the usual boring shit, either. Something both the locals and tourists want to know more about. Something exciting. Sexy!”

Jojo frowned. “Ew. Don’t say that, Daddy.”

Tyler finally pushed through the door. “I’m not leaving.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you have a job to do?”

Wick snapped his fingers. “Yes! That’s it!”

“What’s it?” Jojo asked.

“Ellie’s first assignment!” He pointed to Tyler. “She can follow the hotshot crew. We know the basics, but what do they really do? How dangerous is their job? How physically arduous? What does it take to be a hotshot? Who are they? What do they do in their down time?”

“No,” I said, more begging than answering.

“Oh my God, Daddy, that’s brilliant!”

“Jojo,” I pleaded. “I’m not a journalist.”

“I’ll help you,” Jojo said. “I can rewrite it, or write the whole damn thing if I have to. You just take notes and get the pictures.”

Wick smiled, all of his yellow teeth on display. He puffed out his chest, proud of his daughter. “This is going to be a feature. Edson and Wick. It could get picked up by the AP.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Are we sure this is even possible?” I asked. “I’m sure there are safety concerns.”

Wick pointed to Tyler. “Make this happen, Maddox. I’m calling in a favor.”

“Don’t call in a favor,” I said.

Tyler took a step toward Jojo’s desk. “I’m sure I could work it out with the superintendent. I have the day off tomorrow. I could take her in and speak with him.”

I sighed and raked my fingers through my hair, pleading to Wick and Jojo with my eyes. “Stop. Let’s think about this for two seconds. You want my first assignment—as an amateur photographer—to be a featured story about following hotshots into fires? Really?”

Jojo turned off her computer, slipped on her coat, and winked at me. “Bring me back something amazing.”

“It’s my second day of taking photographs. You want amazing?”

“I have faith in you,” Jojo said. “Get out of here. Work day is over, and José is outside.”

I trudged to my office to gather my things. When I returned to the lobby, Tyler was standing in the dark, chatting with Jojo about my assignment. Jojo had already turned off the lights and was waiting for me to leave, keys in hand to lock up behind me.

Tyler walked with me to the curb where the Audi was parked, white clouds puffing from the exhaust. Sally hadn’t authorized the use of the car, but José was certain my parents wouldn’t want me walking miles in the snow.

I wasn’t as sure.

“So … breakfast tomorrow before we go in? My treat.”