Page 119 of Her Last Whisper

The fire was in full force—the heat unbearable.

Katie and Cisco made it to the doorway and she rolled outside on her back feeling the fresh air, the coolness of light rain on her face, and knew that she had faced her demons and won this time. She pushed herself up and continued to crawl away from the house.

The crackling flames continued to build with smoke expelling from every broken window and crack in the house. Was it too late?

Moments later, McGaven stumbled out the front door carrying the lifeless woman. Trying to control his coughing, he gently put her on the ground safely away from the house. She moved subtly and murmured incoherent words. He took off his jacket and covered her as she lay there.

“You okay?” he said to Katie, helping her to her feet.

She grimaced. “Yeah, we’re okay. You cut it a little close,” she said.

“I’ll work on that next time.”

The light from the fire lit up the entire street and cast an eerie red-orange glow around them.

As McGaven helped her up on her feet, she contorted from the pain, and he guided her out of harm’s way.

Cisco stayed right next to Katie and wouldn’t leave her side.

“Good boy, Cisco,” McGaven said, quickly checking him over.

“I tried to call it in…” she said.

“Don’t worry. I think I’ve dispatched every first responder—cops, ambulances, fire trucks, forensics. I think maybe the army too.” He held tightly to Katie. “Don’t move, okay? Let’s take a look at your side. We need to make sure the bleeding has stopped.”

“Just one question,” she said.

“Damn, that’s a nasty injury,” he said, ripping part of his shirt to press against the wound. “You might have a broken rib or two.”

“I have a question,” she insisted. “Hey! One question.”

“What’s that?”

“Is every cold case going to be as tough as this one?”

McGaven held her tight. “God help us.”

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