Page 94 of Up In Smoke

“The ladder’s in position, Lieutenant,” he shouts at me.

“Let’s go, Bell!” I cry back, already running to mount the rig and start our accent.

People are hanging out of their windows from the third floor up, screaming for help. I’m guessing those on the second and first floors were able to climb out of their windows safe enough. Thankfully, from the sirens in the distance, more assistance is on the way.

“We’re coming!” I assure them. “Close all your doors and put wet towels at the bases if you can!”

A few people disappear, presumably to do just that. Smoke isn’t coming out of any of their windows, so that gives me hope that the blaze is mostly restricted to the stairwells for now.

That doesn’t help them escape, though.

“Flores, you copy?” the captain’s voice comes over the coms.

“Go ahead,” I reply.

“Dispatch is getting reports that the fourth floor is much worse than the others. The fire is all along the hall, connecting the two stairwells. Focus your rescue efforts there first.”

“The fourth floor?” I repeat in horror.

My floor.

“Please!” one of my immediate neighbors screams, waving her hands at us. I think her name might be Karen or Sharron? She’s a single mom I’ve helped multiple times with her buggy. “The fire’s inside the apartment now! Please help us!”

“Haskell,” I radio down to Gene. “We need to reposition the ladder to that fourth-floor window. Do you see?” I point at my sobbing neighbor.

“On it, Lieutenant,” he says, and the ladder starts swinging her way.

“Bell, get her out,” I order him. “She’s got two little kids and a giant fucking rabbit.”

“Where are you going?” he asks, seeing that I’m already throwing my leg over the side of the ladder.

I point at the next window over. It’s conspicuously empty of anyone begging for help.

“That’s my place,” I tell him.

His eyes widen. “Go!”

He doesn’t need to tell me twice.

The sills are wide enough to stand on, and a ledge runs between them. My adrenaline is pumping, but this is what I’m trained for. I’d be lying, though, if I said the added terror of what I’m going to find in my apartment isn’t complicating the situation.

When I reach my bedroom, I waste no time in smashing the window so I can clamber inside. “Jesse!” I shout. “Klaus! Jesse, where are you?”

Nothing.

I run into the main living area and check the bathroom. Still nothing.

“Fire department! Call out!”

Nothing.

If they’re not in here and not outside…then where the hell are they?

CHAPTER 29

Jesse

I slamthe door shut in horror and stare at Klaus. “What do we do?” I squeak at him.