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She slowed down to study the crowd, searching for Ingram, but didn’t see her. Had she been caught in this? There had to be a reason her friend hadn’t shown up for lunch, but she didn’t want it to be because Ingram was hurt.
Zack had all his firefighter friends to help him get out.
Who did Ingram have?
Naya pulled around and parked at the back of the lot, out of the way. A quick glance at her phone showed no new messages.
She dialed Ingram’s number, but it went to straight voicemail.
Naya gripped the door handle. “Hey, Grams, it’s Naya. Not sure if you got my message, but I’m at Ethos. I’ll have to take a raincheck on lunch. Give me a call when you can.”
Naya hung up and an unsettling feeling grew in her stomach.
Ingram had never been one to ghost someone or forget to respond to messages when they had plans.
Naya slid her purse over her head so it rested like a crossbody, then got out of the car. She passed the staff lot and recognized a yellow Jeep.
“Please don’t let it be Ingram’s,” she whispered. Naya peered in the driver’s side window and took note of the flower-shaped air freshener and the sticky note attached to the center console. That was Ingram’s car for sure.
A few raindrops plopped onto Naya’s head, and she quickened her steps to the front entrance, where a crowd of people faced the fire chief, Macon. Did he know if Zack was all right?
Pleas for help came from every direction. “We need to call in another ambulance.”
“There’s still people inside.”
“My coworker isn’t out yet.”
Naya fought past people and got to the front door of the building.
“I’m sorry, we can’t let you inside.” Tazwell stuck her hand out.
What could she say? Her friend and…her boyfriend were in there? That she was a reporter?
Naya pulled out her Tribune badge. “I’m with the paper.”
“You can cover the story from out here.” Tazwell crossed her arms. “You step in there without proper equipment, you’ll be on the floor in seconds. It’s safer out here.”
“What do you mean?” Naya pictured Ingram and Zack lying somewhere in an office or dark corridor. “What happened?”
“There’s a chemical leak.” Tazwell’s radio squawked.
“I know that. I was at the firehouse when the call came in.”
“Good for you.” She turned her back to Naya.
What if they didn’t find them in time and the gasses were deadly?
Guide the crews, Lord. Let them find everyone before it’s too late.
Naya paced the sidewalk. She needed to do something. “Excuse me.” She walked over to an older man who leaned back against a bench. “What’s happening?”
“Some hooligan rammed the forklift into a conference room. Brought a wall down and started some kind of gas leak.”
Naya listened to the man but kept her focus on the entrance, where more people were being escorted out. She hoped Ingram and Zack appeared next.
“I always knew having the warehouse connected to the office building was a bad idea. Too many hazardous materials. I’ll be writing a complaint to Mr. Callahan the moment I get back to my computer.” He huffed. “You’d think working overtime on a weekend would make them treat you better.”
That’s right. Today was Sunday. Why was Ingram in the office on a Sunday? She never worked weekends.