Page 93 of The Midnight Lock (Lincoln Rhyme 14)

She repeated it.

“No.”

Spencer said, “Okay. Hang tight. We’ll work something out.”

She told him this and disconnected.

The fire was worse now. The smoke thicker. Her heart was pounding hard. She’d known Pulaski for years. She’d mentored him. She thought of breaking the news of his death to his wife and children, to his twin brother, also a cop.

No, she’d think of—

Spencer said to the chief, “Fire the line gun and have him haul up a climbing line.”

“Climbing line?”

“At least three-quarter inch. You have that?”

“We do, but he can’t shimmy down it.”

“He’s not going to. I’ll climb up, rig him with the Sterling.”

“How do you mean?”

Spencer was impatient. He repeated what he’d said then added, “We’ve got tomove.”

“Nobody can climb a rope a hundred feet in the air.”

“I can.”

“Well, sir, you’re civilian, aren’t you?”

Sachs said, “He’s deputized.”

Though there was no procedure for conferring that status in the NYPD handbook, the fire department chief either didn’t know this or decided if there was any time to circumvent procedure it was now.

She continued, “Get him what he needs.”

“Give me oxygen, a mask and two Sterlings. And gloves with wrist straps, and boots. Size thirteen if you have them.”

The radio clattered. “Chief, water’s not doing shit. It’s flowing down the stairs on both sides; the fire’s in the core. We can’t reach it.”

“Roger.” Then to Spencer, “Okay, we’ll get what you need.” He ordered two of his men to do so.

Spencer said, “Can you call him?”

Sachs did and handed over the phone, on speaker.

“Yes?” Coughing, hard breathing.

“Officer, this is Lyle Spencer. We’re going to fire a tie line to you, then you’re going to drag a climbing rope up. What can you secure it to?”

“There’s a …” Fierce coughing. “A radiator under the window.”

“Good. I’ll get back to you.” He handed the phone to Sachs.

A flash of white on the street as a large van turned the corner. It was Lincoln Rhyme’s Sprinter—his disabled-accessible vehicle. It parked and a side door opened and an elevator lowered Rhyme and his chair to the sidewalk. He rolled away from the van, which curled its accessory up. Thom drove off to find a parking space out of the way of the official vehicles.

Rhyme approached. The chief nodded.