“Should be,” Flash repeated and coughed.
“We can’t stay in here.” Anxiety tore through Hernandez’s voice as he rocked from one big foot to the other. He wiped a hand down his face, eyes darting at the inferno surrounding them. “We’ll cook!”
His fear was far too close to reality. Flash understood how much every second counted in a fire, especially with no clear way out. Sizzling heat, cracking beams, and suffocating smoke. The four of them were walled in by lethal flames trying to swallow them whole. Plus, she still ached from being blasted across the office and might have cracked a rib. Flash shook it off. Panicking agents or whiny firefighters wouldn’t help the situation. Everyone counted on her to get them to safety, and all but one avenue had been explored.
“I’ll check the front door,” Flash said.
Athena clamped her arm, pinning her with an intense gaze. “Be careful,” she said, voice thick with smoke and fear. Flash gave a crooked grin and jogged toward the fire.
She had to shimmy between columns of blistering flames and press through ravenous, fiery tongues that licked at her gear to reach the door. Smoke clawed at her throat, clouded her eyes. The ceiling groaned overhead—every second a countdown to being baked alive.
Weathered plywood covered the broken glass from the door and should be easy to break if the mechanism was jammed.
“I’m here,” Campbell said into everyone’s ears. “Someone parked a forklift, blocked the door, and took the keys.” Oofing sounds ensued. “Won’t budge.”
With her ears now clear, Flash heard the whir of approaching sirens. Flip the deadbolt, turn the handle. Sticky. Tight. She reared back and kicked it. Plywood splinters flew from the frame as a spooky light poured through. Flash recognized that odd look in the sky—the hurricane was closing in. Squeezing the handle again, Flash thrust her hip into the door to jar it loose, then pulled. The rickety, metal-framed door opened, then fell off its hinges, tumbling into the burning remains of a visitor’s chair.
She raced back the way she’d come, the flames higher, the heat more intense. A chunk of ceiling hurtled down, and she hurdled over burning debris to avoid it. Flash threw off her coat and flung it around Athena.
“Make a mad dash. Don’t give the fire time to burn you.”
Everyone ducked when another piece of the roof crashed behind them. “Let’s go!” Flash urged.
“Are you sure about this?” Hernandez’s questioning gaze met Athena’s.
“I trust Firefighter Cash on this. Run for it,” she ordered, voice low and urgent.
Flash led the way, zigging and zagging, carving out the safest route to the outside. A portion of wall collapsed behind them, spurring the reluctant Hernandez forward. Campbell’s face was washed in relief as they emerged.
“You made it!” he exclaimed, extending a hand to shake Samuel’s.
“Is everyone OK?” Athena asked her team as they distanced themselves from the inferno.
Ice beat out a smoldering hole in his pant leg. “Right as rain.”
“I don’t like fires,” Hernandez grumbled while checking himself over.
“Speaking of rain.” Flash glanced up and pointed. “Clouds are rolling in.”
“Paulson, where are we on finding that bloody felon?” Athena shouted into her headset mic.
“He was moving north before the signal died. Glad you’re all OK,” Paulson said.
“Shoops and I have split up,” Howard reported, “taking opposite sides of Burkett Street. Mostly residential. Some vacant lots.”
“I want eyes in the sky,” Athena ordered. “Extra units at our location, pronto. He’s on foot. There’s no excuse if we can’t catch him.” Pivoting to Flash, her tone softened. “Thanks for getting us out of there. I knew you would.” She shrugged off the protective coat and handed it to Flash.
“I should’ve seenthe trap,” Flash muttered, jaw tight. Athena could’ve been burned—or worse. Hernandez would have nightmares. Nothing fazed Ice. But still. She took the coat and kicked at a root.
“It’s OK.” The look in Athena’s eyes said it all. “Hey, Engine Twenty-five. Why don’t you stay and help?” she suggested. “We’re off to chase down our unsub. Campbell, drive the van. Be ready to block off a street.”
As he raced away, Flash caught Athena’s arm and attention. With a determined stare, leaving Athena no room to argue, she vowed, “I’m coming with you.”
Athena’s lip twitched. She slapped a hand on her hip and shook her head, then acquiesced. “Fine. Let’s go. Ice, Hernandez, you cover the next street to the right, and we’ll go left. Let’s find this guy.”
While Firehouse Twenty-five got to work, Flash and Athena darted down the street, looking for someone acting suspicious. To Flash’s surprise, Athena set an ambitious pace and stuck with it.That’ll teach me to underestimate a femme,she thought, heat flushing her face with pride.
More sirens sounded in the distance as her feet pounded the pavement. Eyes scanning, blood pumping. A dog barked. Flash jerked her head around, but the rottie on a chain seemed to be barking at them. Lightning cascaded through a smoky cloud overhead.
