Chapter 3
Halle
Beep. Beep. Wahhh…
Jerking up, I took a couple of scattered breaths as I assimilated the sound. Even though my brain was still fuzzy from being in a deep sleep, the sound was one I’d been trained to tune into.
A five-alarm fire.
Almost instantly, my phone rang, vibrating against the nightstand. I grabbed it, dropping my head into my other hand as I answered. “Captain O’Leary.”
“Captain, this is Jack Richards from dispatch. We have a dangerous situation in Rockcreek Estates. We need Engine 57 to respond. Three other engine companies have already been dispatched. Unfortunately, Engine 29 is on a call and can’t make it in time.
You’re the closest engine company. 1452 Rockcreek Place. ”
Rockcreek?
While still foggy, I remembered the location of the gated and highly secured as well as wealthy neighborhood located on the outskirts of Las Vegas. We were second on the list for the area, but it was still a stretch. I made note of the address. “We’ll be right there.”
I threw back the covers, immediately responding, soon to be fully awake. Glancing at the clock, I groaned. Two-thirty in the morning. Thank God, I’d stopped at two glasses of wine with dinner.
And I was thankful that since Kristine had been planning on returning in the morning to stay with Emily, she’d decided to stay the night. We’d enjoyed some girl talk, which was long overdue.
I hurriedly dressed, scratched a note to Kristine, and called my second in command, Lieutenant Mark Sears. “Mark. You got the call.” He’d been scheduled at the firehouse along with several others. They were closer than I was.
“Yep. Already on our way. Are you going to meet us there?”
“Yes. I’m headed out now.” There was no time to waste.
Snatching my keys, I rushed to the door and to my car.
My little car that I often thought of as the little engine that could.
She was old but sturdy. For now. But as with everything else in my life, it seemed one disaster or issue was always right around the corner.
No matter what happened at the fire, today would be a long one. I was scheduled to work at my second job, which wouldn’t leave me much time to spend with my baby girl. She’d learned to adapt, but my need to pick up a second job had been tough on both of us.
Maybe another month or two and I could breathe a little easier.
Plus, she was headed to kindergarten in a matter of days, which would also help alleviate some pressure on Kristine.
My life centered around just getting by, one day after another. But I was happy. Sort of.
I realized my slumber had been fraught with dreams. Vivid dreams. Of him to be exact.
The man who’d pricked my skin and had kept my pussy aching. Even now, I could still see the images I’d formed in my mind of the desirable man. Only in my dreams he hadn’t been wearing a suit.
In fact, he hadn’t been wearing anything at all.
I licked my lips, trying to shake off the lurid visions and thoughts. He even had a delicious Russian accent, when he wasn’t being an arrogant jerk, smooth like velvet, deep and enthralling, enough so to create several fantasies in the darkest reaches of my mind.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Captain,” I said out loud, trying to concentrate on the job ahead.
Even the lateness of the hour didn’t decrease the number of cars on the road. Vegas was hopping at all times of the day and night. I’d just learned how to avoid the critical areas, discovering back routes that allowed me to bypass most of the insanity.
Rockcreek Estates. Homes for the rich and famous in Vegas. The homes were sprawling over two or three acres, which was huge in comparison to the postage stamp lot my little house existed on. But at least I had a house and not a cramped apartment.
There were three pristine neighborhoods in and around the city, all three secured, gated, and coming with their own zip codes.
Rockcreek was also a mini city like the other two with stores and restaurants, schools and parks. The one thing that hadn’t been completed yet was the fire station. That’s why two engine companies were listed as the main protection.
I hurried along the roads going in excess of the speed limit, finally making the last turn. While I couldn’t see flames dancing high in the sky, the heavy police activity indicated the situation was dangerous.
Immediately, I yanked out my credentials as I approached the guard station. “Captain Halle O’Leary. I was called to the fire.”
“Yes, ma’am. Take a right and follow the sirens,” the guard said.
“Anyone living in the house?”
“One resident, Captain.”
I nodded, mentally preparing myself as I always did.
The fires that occurred in the middle of the night were the roughest for me emotionally.
They caused me to remember, which wasn’t in my best interest. Or anyone else around me.
For months, I’d been unable to respond to a nighttime fire, almost losing my job over it.
The psychiatrist had helped, even though I’d balked at seeing one, finally ordered to do so by my battalion chief. At least the tightness in my chest was better than the last time. I could breathe. However, all the what-ifs still remained.
What if someone was inside?
What if I couldn’t save them?
Ugh. I twisted my hand on the steering wheel and suddenly, I could see flames over the treetops. The fire was huge and given the typical building materials used for the newer homes, I was somewhat surprised the fire had gotten so out of hand so quickly.
That usually indicated an accelerant had been used.
Arson.
I rushed toward our engine just as Jeff and two others were about to rush toward the home. “What’s the status?”
“Not sure yet, but it appears to have started at the back of the house.”
“Anyone inside?”
Jeff hesitated just long enough I had my answer, and it was an indication he didn’t want to tell me. “The neighbors said the owner hasn’t come out.”
“Fuck. Alright, let’s get a handle on this.” I suited up within two minutes, grabbing my helmet and an axe as I headed toward the house. The smoke was already acrid, police forced to keep at least fifteen other residents away. The entire situation was a goddamn spectacle.
I barked out orders even before I reached the building. Water had just gotten to the flames behind the house. I moved to the front door.
“It’s fucking hot, Cap’n,” Jeff said from behind me.
“I get that. We need to try and see if the owner is inside.” There was no time to waste. After trying the door, I hissed. Locked. Using the handle of the axe, I smashed it against the solid wood panel. Fortunately, it broke free.
“Anyone inside?” I called out. The rush of heat hit me in the face, pushing me back by several feet. “Any sign of the resident?” I called into the two-way radio.
“Negative,” Camden called out first, others following within seconds.
Shit.
A loud popping sound grabbed my attention, a boom vibrating the ground all around us. Embers blanketed the trees. I threw a look over my shoulder. The other homeowners were too damn close. They were also hindering the other engine company’s attempt to get closer to the fire.
Firefighters moved around me with hoses heading into the house while I raced back to where one of the police officers was standing.
“You need to get them further back!” My bark wasn’t well received, the officer nodding, but not moving right away. “Do it now!”
Finally, he got his ass moving.
I rushed back just as Jeff came barreling out, immediately ripping off his mask. “It’s too hot in there.”
“Fuck. We need to check the interior. Get some air. I’ll take over from here.” I grabbed the hose he was carrying, taking a deep breath while demons crawled at my mind.
“Halle. You can’t go inside.”
“I’m going to save him. He’s my husband.”
“No, Halle. You’re not going in. You saw the explosion. It’s too hot,” Mark yelled as he tried to drag me from the doorway.
I jerked my arm free. “I’m going inside.”
The vision was short but powerful and I found myself unmoving.
“Help…”
The cry was faint and deep. A man’s voice. I heard it, which broke the spell. Without thinking, I switched on my flashlight and ran inside.
Flames licked up two walls, already reaching the ceiling in the darkened room. Wood creaked, the sound ominous. It wouldn’t be long before the ceiling caved in. By how hot the fire was burning, there was no doubt in my mind it had been intentionally set.
“Is anyone in here?” I called out as I swung the beam back and forth throughout the room. Only the sound of the raging fire answered me.
I moved slowly, narrowly avoiding being hit by falling wallboard. Smoke made it almost impossible to see more than a few inches in front of me. From somewhere behind me, I heard my name being called, but I refused to allow history to repeat itself. Not this time.
Never again.
My breathing heavy, I moved toward a hallway, noticing a darker form.
Then I heard a short but deep moan. “Over… here.”
As soon as I took a step closer, another part of the ceiling came down. Instantly flames rushed down from the second floor, totally engulfing the walls. I was running out of time.
A barely controlled frenzy tore through me as I swung the beam, finally catching sight of a man. He lifted his head and I could tell he was struggling with something that was holding him down.
“Stay down!” I called. The man was gasping for air.
I moved toward him, instantly crouching down.
He could barely breathe. Without hesitation, I yanked off my mask, carefully placing it over his mouth.
“Just breathe normally.” I pressed my hand against the face shield, coughing into my arm while I waited for him to take some deep breaths.
“Captain O’Leary. Where are you?”
I couldn’t tell if it was Jeff’s or Mark’s voice, but it didn’t matter. Another thudding sound grabbed my attention. “In the hallway.” Another cough rattled me and I realized some debris was covering the man’s legs. There was no time to waste.