Meet Matt Kline: Firefighter and Arson Investigator

I could say ‘boyfriend’, but I don’t think we are there yet. Not that I wouldn’t like to be there—I would. But Brandy? She would likely tell you she’s too busy to be in a “couple relationship”, which I suppose, is true. She does have a lot on her plate.

 

I guess I do, too, so perhaps being friends is best for now. Who knows? Time will tell.

 

So, a little more about me…. I'm a regular guy—nothing fancy. Unlike Brandy, I am not a native Louisvillian. I moved to Kentucky from Michigan when I was in high school. Man, it was a bit of a culture shift coming to this Southern/Midwest city.

I see Louisville as a bit of an anomaly. The city has a rich southern history and culture—food, architecture, hospitality, and more—but presents itself as very Midwest, progressive, and diverse. It’s a nice mix and after living here for over a decade now, I can’t imagine living elsewhere.

 

I met Brandy one hot August afternoon when her car overheated. Fortunately for me, she pulled over and parked in front of my fire station. You see, I’m a firefighter assigned to Station 2, which is in downtown Louisville. When Brandy stepped out of her car and rounded the front, looking at the steam rolling out from underneath, she likely never expected so many firefighters to race out of the firehouse to her rescue.

I mean, who could resist a petite, blonde, damsel in distress? Not me. That’s for certain.

 

While my fellow firefighters catered to her every need, fawning over her and everything, I simply popped the hood, assessed the situation, filled her radiator with water, and quietly solved the problem. When she realized what I’d done, she turned her smile on me and yes, as they say, I was then a goner.

That smile has captivated me ever since. 

A week later, Brandy came by the station with a tray full of fancy donuts for the guys—and a special box with more of the same just for me. Inside the box was her business card, complete with phone number.

That made my heart smile. 

Maybe she likes me a bit more than 'just friends' after all, and she's simply playing hard to get?

Women. When you figure them out, let me know. Okay?

So, I didn’t call her right away. I waited. And I suppose I waited too long, because a month after the initial meeting, a call came into the station from Brandy, who wondered if someone could check her carbon monoxide level in her condo—her monitor was beeping. So, guess who went. Yep, me. Turned out her monitor just needed a battery, but since I was at the end of my shift, I suggested we grab a bite to eat, and she agreed. 

We’ve had a standing Thursday night dinner “arrangement” ever since—unless I'm working a late shift, of course, or called in for an arson investigation. Seriously, I would like to elevate that to more—like adding occasional Friday and/or Saturday nights and calling them dates, but we will see. I'm happy for now. 

The one plus is when Brandy gets herself into a pickle—a crime-related pickle, that is--she calls me. For a fancy cake baker, she gets herself involved with more murder cases around town—especially in her Chelsea Court neighborhood—than normal people. And since I do a bit of investigation with my job, she often calls me with questions.

I have people, you know, LMPD, MEs, ATF, etc. 

Besides, I enjoy helping her put out fires.

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Keep watching this blog for more information on Brandy and Matt's investigative adventures and crime solving capers in the upcoming Chelsea Court Cozy Mystery Series by Julienne Bourbon!