Epilogue
LONDON
SEVEN YEARS the situation has escalated.”
“Copy that, 53. Hold tight, sending 43 your way.”
Walking for the building, I look up. “It’s moving fast, Phillips, stay close, stay focused.”
“Yes ma’am.”
We hesitate at the front doors. Phillips is all but bouncing on her feet. I’ve been where she is right now. Nervous as hell, but keen to get inside at the same time and make a difference.
According to the tablet, forty-two residents live in this building, with only around twelve already out and crowded on the curb. Thirty to locate and retrieve.
“Sandy, I need that ventilation, stat!”
Perez and Sandy are running for the fire stairs on the northeast, poles and axes in hand.
“What if we can’t get to them all in time?” Phillips asks, her voice muffled by the mask.
“We keep running those stairs until we can’t, the rest is out of our control.”
“Understood.”
I push through the front door, my probie behind me as we walk into the inferno from hell.
Here we go again.