Read Online Burning Ambition by Amy Knupp - Free Book Online

six-thirty. Came in for a burger with Mayor Romero. Been drinking ever since.”
    “Can you call him a cab?”
    “In his state, I don’t think that’s a wise solution. Cab could take a while to get here, with all the spring breakers. I’m concerned about someone recognizing him.”
    “He’s that messed up?” Joe couldn’t fathom the man he’d looked up to for years making a spectacle of himself. He’d never even seen the chief tipsy and couldn’t imagine how much liquor it would take to make him falling down drunk. If he knew the chief the way he thought he did, the man would be humiliated once he sobered up and realized what he’d done. But hell. Lately Chief Peligni wasn’t acting like the man Joe knew.
    “I’m not sure he can walk on his own,” Derek said with some hesitation. “I’d take him home myself, but thought it’d be better for you to handle it. You’re tight with him, right?”
    Joe couldn’t fault Derek for not wanting to get involved in the chief’s business—especially not this business. It’d be awkward enough for Joe. “I’ll take care of it. Can you stay with him until I get there?” He pulled a wrinkled T-shirt off the floor and shook it out.
    “I’ll be here.”
    “See you in five.” Joe ended the call and pulled the shirt over his head, trying to wrap his brain around the situation. Either he’d been sleeping harder than he’d thought or the chief had gone off the deep end.
    Without his permission, Joe’s mind veered to Faith. Did she know what her dad was up to? He doubted it. She wasn’t the type to sit back and let her father self-destroy. After what she’d said the other night in the station kitchen, he suspected she’d take it hard if she found out about the chief’s current state. Though it wasn’t his business or his place to interfere, Joe didn’t want Faith to learn about her dad’s bender. Didn’t want her to be hurt.
    He hightailed it the few blocks to the Shell Shack and turned into the small parking lot, taking the only available spot.
    He jumped out, the brisk night breeze rustling the palms that lined the hotel lot next door. If the weather didn’t make a massive turnaround in the next few days, spring break visitors to the island were going to be mighty disappointed. Maybe it would scare away a few, but likely not enough to make a difference in the havoc the month wreaked on the fire department.
    When Joe cleared the doorway, he instantly spotted the chief leaning heavily on the bar. The horseshoe-shaped counter curved around such that Joe had a view of the older man’s face. It was red, the skin droopy. His eyes were aimed downward but Joe could tell from here they weren’t focused on anything. The chief wore a light gray polo shirt—thank God he’d changed out of his uniform beforehand—and there was a wet splotch on the front.
    Derek sat on the stool next to Chief Peligni, talking to him. He glanced up at Joe and shook his head slowly.
    Joe walked around the crowded bar and stopped next to them. “Evening, gentlemen.”
    Derek nodded in reply, looking uncomfortable as he stood up and let Joe take his place. Chief Peligni didn’t react for a few seconds. Finally, he raised his gaze and squinted. “That the captain?”
    “It’s me,” Joe affirmed. The man reeked of a distillery even from two feet away.
    Glancing around, Joe took inventory of the other bar patrons, relieved that everyone was too caught up in themselves and their drinks to pay any attention to the chief.
    “Can I get you anything, Captain?” Kevin asked from behind the bar.
    “No, thanks.”
    Joe sat on the stool Derek had vacated and attempted to make small talk with the blitzed chief. To his comments about the weather and the crush of customers, Joe received unintelligible mumbles.
    Okay, enough bullshitting. He needed to get Chief Peligni out of here and safely home. Wouldn’t be an easy task—the older man had gained weight recently and must weigh over three