What did you find wrong?
Trash on the back porch that should have been in a Dumpster. Thats it.
He should have called the company about that, even though Laura McKay had told him not to.
That meshes with what the caller saida blaze on the back porch. The siren wailed as they took the corner. Well attack from the alley. You and Dave can do the entry.
He nodded. Seth was giving him the rescue. Nice to know his big brother had that much faith in him, even though their new relationship of lieutenant to firefighter sometimes rubbed both of them the wrong way.
Of course, if the posting to the arson squad hed applied for came through, it would eliminate the problem. Hed have a different boss, a different job. He hadnt told anyone about it yet, not sure himself how he felt about the change.
He pushed the whole business from his mind. There wasnt room to think about anything else when he went into a fire scene.
They shrieked up the alley, the backs of the buildings a little seedy here compared to the polish of the historic district in the next block. Seth leaned forward, probably assessing what they had to deal with.
Seths caution was a good quality for a lieutenant. All Ryan wanted to do was get in there and make the grab. His body itched with the need to move.
A bystander in robe and slippers rushed up to the apparatus. Im the one called it in. Theres a woman and kid live therethey didnt come out.
Ryan pulled out his hand ax as his feet hit the ground. Dave Hanratty was right behind him, both of them fully geared up with masks. Flames licked at the wooden porch, but the buildings brick walls would slow the blaze down.
He nodded to Dave and together they charged toward the door. A couple of quick hits, a kick, and they were in.
Smoke billowed through the downstairs, and a smoke alarm wailed relentlessly. If Laura heard it, why hadnt she gotten out by now?
Stairs. He pointed with the ax. Apartment on the second floor.
They hit the steps running, their footsteps thundering on the wooden treads. No flames had reached this area, but the smoke was the danger. Smoke could kill.
He reached the second-floor landing a step ahead of Dave and raised his ax. Before he could swing, the door opened.
Laura stumbled toward them. The little girl in her arms was partially covered with a blanket, but her small face was pinched with terror.
He reached for the child. The woman tried to hang on to her.
Ill take her Her words died in a fit of coughing.
He grabbed the little girl, ignoring her frightened wail and the mothers protests. This was no time for politeness. He passed the child to Dave, who started back down the steps with her.
He grabbed Lauras arm. Is there anyone else in the building?
No. She tried to pull away from him. You scared Mandy. I could have carried her out.
When it came to stubborn, this woman took the cake. He yanked her to the stairs. Tell me about it later. Right now were getting out.
Luckily shed shoved her feet into shoes, so he didnt have to worry about her getting cut up. He hustled her down the steps. The front door stood open now, and together they rushed out into the fresh morning air.
The paramedic unit had already pulled up to the curb, and the crew from the secondary tank truck was wetting down the adjoining buildings.
He took Laura straight to the paramedicshis sister Terrys team, thank goodness. Terry was the best. She was already checking out the little girl.
Mandy struggled to get away from Terrys hands, reaching toward her mother. Laura dropped to her knees on the wet pavement, coughing, and swept her child into her arms.
The lump in his throat might have been from the smoke, but he didnt think so.
Thank You, Father.
He suspected Dave was saying the same prayer. Any day they got people out safely was a good day.
You need to let us check you out. Terrys voice was gentle but authoritative as she peeled the little girl away from her mother.
Laura nodded, but Mandy took one look at him and began to wail again.
Quickly he stripped off the mask and helmet and squatted next to her. Hey, Mandy, its me. He pulled off his gloves so he could sign his name. Ryan.
The wailing stopped and the childs dark eyes widened, some of the fear leaving them.
This is just my mask. He had to gesture to make up for the signs he didnt know. See, Terry is going to give you one, too.
Mandy clutched her mothers hand, but she let Terry fit the oxygen mask on her face.
Terry glanced up. Thanks, Ry. Were going to take them both to the hospital.
Im all right Laura began, but the words were interrupted by a fit of coughing.
Just to check you out, Terry said gently. Dont worry.
Listen to my sister. He gave Laura a reassuring smile. Trust me, she knows best.
She nodded, clasping the little girl close as he and Terry helped them into the rig. Thank you, she murmured, and the door closed.
He watched the unit out of sight. Theyd be all right. He and Dave had gotten to them in time.
He turned back to the building. A sense of relief went through him. Thanks to their fast response, the crew nearly had the blaze out already. By the looks of things, the damage probably wasnt going to be severe.
Still, thinking about the job Laura was trying to do, he felt a pang of sympathy. Shed already had her hands full. Now, it looked as if her life had just gotten a whole lot tougher.
Laura trudged up the stairs to the second-floor apartment, following the yellow beam of her flashlight in the darkness. The staircase looked like Mount Everest at the moment. Apparently the doctors had been right about the effects of smoke inhalation.
Im fine. Thats what shed kept repeating to the doctors all day so theyd let her go.
Mandy was spending the night at the hospital. Just to be on the safe side, theyd said. Shed stayed there, too, until her daughter fell asleep. Shed been tempted to go to sleep herself in the vinyl chair next to Mandys bed.
But she kept thinking about the building. How bad was it? Shed been told the fire department had doused the flames quickly, but no one had told her how severe the damage was. She hadnt been able to sleep for thinking about it. Finally shed known she had to see for herself.
So shed come. Shed change her clothes and get Mandys favorite teddy bear to take back to the hospital, just in case her daughter wakened in the night. And shed check out the damage to the only asset they had to their names.
Then she could go back to the hospital and try to sleep in that chair, once she knew the worst.
She pushed herself up the last few steps, feeling as if she carried an enormous weight on her shoulders. The apartment door was closed, but not locked. Had she closed it in the flurry of getting out, when Ryan had manhandled her down those stairs? She didnt remember.
Inside, she swung the light around, half afraid of what shed see. Her breath came out in a sigh of relief. The apartment was untouched. The acrid scent of smoke still hung in the air, but that was minor in comparison to what shed been imagining.
Coughing a little, she crossed to the closest window and opened it a few inches at the top. Cool night air rushed in, fanning her face. Shed deal with airing out the rest of the apartment later.
Coughing a little, she crossed to the closest window and opened it a few inches at the top. Cool night air rushed in, fanning her face. Shed deal with airing out the rest of the apartment later.
She went through into the bedroom. The closet door was closed, and she pulled it open. Not too bad. The closed door had protected her clothing from the worst of the smoke.
She pulled out a pair of slacks and a shirt, changing quickly. Shed showered at the hospital, and a nurse had provided some cast-off clothing to replace the sooty, smoky pajamas shed been wearing. She wouldnt be likely ever to wear those again.
A shudder ran through her. If the smoke alarm hadnt gone off, if someone hadnt seen the blaze and called the fire department, if
No. She couldnt let herself keep reliving those terrifying moments when shed struggled awake and run to Mandys room. The problem would be to stop doing it.
She crossed the hall to her daughters room, her stomach roiling. When shed run in, terrified, Mandy had been awake, huddled under her quilt, clutching her teddy bear. Why hadnt she come to her mother when she realized something was wrong?
The bear, Teddy, lay abandoned on the rag rug next to the single bed. She scooped him up and held him close, feeling tears sting her eyes. Were all right. Were safe.
She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. She had no time for crying. The clock was ticking.
In three weeks her prospective buyer would be here to check out the building. The specialist could call at any time to schedule Mandys cochlear implant. The two most important things in her life sped toward her.
She had to be ready. She suppressed a flicker of panic.
Okay. Carrying the bear, she started back downstairs. Shed take a quick look at the damage and then head back to the hospital. And tomorrow
She frowned, swinging the beam of light around the front room of the downstairs. Water from the fire hoses hadnt mixed very well with the dirt. Would she be able to bring Mandy back here tomorrow? Maybe, if the power company restored the electricity.
If not, that would mean a motel, and how shed pay for that, she couldnt imagine. The panic flickered again and was beaten down. She could do this. Shed find a way.
Little as she wanted to, she had to check the back of the building, where the worst damage was. She picked her way carefully across the littered floor, feet moving in the yellow circle cast by the flashlight.
A loud thud sounded at the back of the house. Her heart stopped for an instant and then started thumping wildly. She heard a scuffling sound, then the rumble of a masculine voice, followed by several loud bangs.
The sensible thing was to run out and call the police. She wasnt feeling very sensible. Instead, rage surged through her. It wasnt bad enough that she and her child had been forced out of their home by the fire. Now some lowlife was trying to get in and rob them. Well, hed get more than hed bargained for this time.
The flashlight beam touched a two-by-four about as long as a baseball bat. Perfect. She grabbed it and advanced on the door to the old kitchen.
Light gleamed from around the swinging door. Apparently her thief had come well-equipped.
Running on anger and adrenaline, she shoved the door open, raising her improvised weapon threateningly. A dark figure stood at the back door.
What do you think youre doing? Get out of here!
He swung around, and her breath caught. Ryan. Ryan Flanagan stood there, a hammer in one hand.
Chapter Two
Ryan lifted his hands. I give up. Dont shoot.
Lauras heart pounded, as if once the adrenaline started to flow, she couldnt stop it. Im sorry. She realized she was still holding the two-by-four. It hit the ragged linoleum with a clatter.
He lowered his hands cautiously, probably not sure she was really disarmed. I didnt mean to startle you. I thought you were at the hospital.
I came back to check the house.
He nodded toward the teddy bear that was clutched under her arm. And to find something important, I guess.
She held the bear a little tighter. Hes important to Mandy. She likes to sleep with him.
How is she? Ryan leaned against a sooty counter, hands braced against its edge, apparently not minding the dirt. Hed exchanged his uniform for jeans and a dark-blue knit shirt, and hed picked up a streak of soot across the front of the shirt, presumably since hed entered the house. The concentrated light of the torch cast his strong face into sharp relief.
She forced herself to concentrate, her wits still scattered after finding him here so unexpectedly. Shes going to be all right. The doctor thought she should stay until tomorrow to be sure there arent any aftereffects from the smoke.
Thats good. He studied her face. You look as if they should have kept you, too.
Im fine. She was getting tired of saying that. I dont want to be rude, but what are you doing here?
Fixing the door. He gestured toward the door that led onto the porch, and she realized belatedly that the powerful torch hed set on the counter was trained on the opening. The door sagged on its hinges.
You dont have to do that.
He shrugged. I broke it. Seems like the least I can do is fix it.
I can take care of the door. I dont need any help. She had to sound strong, because she was unaccountably weepy at the thought that Ryan Flanagan had actually come back to do something for her.
Not even from an old school friend? He gave her the easy grin that charmed so readily.
She blinked, startled. I thought you didnt recognize me.
Youre Laura Jane Phillips. At least, it used to be Phillips. You were a year behind me at Suffolk High. Am I right?
She nodded. So he had remembered her. Or perhaps someone had told him who she was.
Why didnt you tell me who you were yesterday? His eyebrows lifted. Or didnt you remember me?
No one could forget the Flanagans. She answered the second question first, evading his eyes. I justdidnt think it was appropriate to get into old home week when you were here on business.
He leaned casually against the filthy counter, as if ready to stay and chat all night. It bugged me all day, trying to figure out why you looked so familiar to me. How are your folks?
Theyve retired to Arizona. My dads health isnt very good. The usual pang of concern gripped her heart at the thought of her father.
Im sorry to hear that. I guess otherwise hed be here doing the renovation for you.
She nodded. It wasnt necessary to confide in Ryan that her father didnt know she was doing the rehab herself, for that very reason. If Dad knew, hed try to come and probably kill himself in the process.
As for her motherwell, shed stopped trying to figure her mother out a long time ago. She just knew she couldnt count on her for help with this or anything else.
Ryan relaxed his long frame against the counter, not seeming in any hurry to get on with the door-fixing. Anyway, I didnt know youd come back to Suffolk. I thought you were living in Philadelphia.
How on earth would you know that? She hadnt imagined hed remember who she was, let alone know where shed gone after school.