Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Anthony felt nothing. Not the snow, not the wind, not his toes.
Maybe he was simply numb from the freezing temps, but until he could see with his own eyes that Della was okay, he would ignore everything else.
Especially all the things she’d set off with that quick kiss to his cheek, back at the firehouse.
There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, but all he could think about at the moment was the most important one: Was she okay?
The gnawing in his gut had only intensified since they’d pulled up to the dilapidated Craftsman.
But he tried to stay out of the way as other fire crews rushed across the small lawn in their black gear.
Flames crawled up the right side of the building.
Hoses crisscrossed the snow from the fire hydrant at the street to the crews fighting the blaze from outside.
But Della was inside. Inside where he couldn’t see her. He stuck close to her lieutenant. Patterson would be in communication with Della, but since her request for more water pressure, he hadn’t heard her voice.
“Is she okay in there?”
Amelia looked up from the water gauge she was checking. “Back off, Thomas. She’s a good firefighter.”
“I know, but…it’s been a while.”
“They’re busy, you know, doing their job.”
“And I’m doing mine. Something feels off here. Can’t you have them check in? Then I’ll back off.”
“Okay, okay.”
Amelia spoke into her radio. “Truck 14, check in. We okay in there?”
Nothing but static responded.
“Collins, Nixon, Lewis. How’s it looking?”
After a moment of silence, finally Amelia’s radio crackled. “Collins and I are fine. I don’t have line of sight on Nixon. Got any more water pressure?” It must’ve been Zoe. The voice was female, but not Della’s.
“I’m giving you all I got,” Amelia spoke into the radio. “Why isn’t Nixon responding? She should be giving the updates.”
“She’s checking the next room. We heard her talking a moment ago.”
Anthony’s gut clenched tighter. “She can’t be alone. They need to stay together.”
Amelia waved Anthony out of her face. So maybe he was invading her personal space. But Della. Where was she?
He took a tiny step back. “Get visual confirmation that she’s okay. Please.”
“Nixon, where are you? You should stick with Collins and Lewis.”
No response.
Amelia cleared her throat and tried again. “Lewis, check on Nixon. Collins, you handle the hose.”
“I’ll go find her,” Zoe said. “She might be helping someone and have her hands tied up.”
Anthony grabbed the radio from Amelia and pushed the button. “She can’t be alone, Zoe. I need to hear her voice, and you need to stay with her. Della, if you hear me, speak up—”
Amelia yanked her radio back. “Anthony, I get that you’re worried, but if anyone is going to order them around, it’s me. They’re fighting a dangerous fire in there. We have protocols.”
“Does that include letting someone go alone into a different area? Why isn’t she answering the radio?”
“I don’t know. But before we jump to conclusions—”
“Lieutenant? Lewis here. I’m not seeing Nixon. The smoke is super thick, but she was supposed to be in the next room. She’s not. Want me to check the rest of the house?”
Anthony almost snatched the radio again, but Amelia swerved away.
“I’ll send Rescue in. Zoe, get back to Collins and watch his back.” Amelia ran over to Bryce. “Nixon is missing in the house. Get someone in there to find her.”
Ridge Foster, Rescue 5’s lieutenant, grabbed a tank and mask. “I’ll look for her myself.”
“I’m coming with you.” Anthony reached for another air tank.
Patterson stayed him with a strong grip on his arm. “Anthony, let him do this. He’s trained. You’re not. You go in there unprepared, and we’ll have two people to rescue.”
Ridge jogged off toward the front entrance of the house. He joined Eddie Rice, who waited by the front door.
Anthony’s hands froze on the metal air tank. She was right, but…“I can’t just stand here doing nothing.”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to do. I’ll call Bryce over if I have to.” Amelia stared him down. “But there is something you can do. You can pray.”
Anthony shoved the tank back in place on the truck and marched a few feet away. Yeah, he should trust these firefighters, who considered Della their family. He shouldn’t be so angry at Amelia. But Della was in there and not responding.
Still, the prayer thing was true.
But he was having a really hard time believing it. What did that say about his faith?
A loud, piercing alarm sounded from inside the building.
Anthony grabbed a firefighter walking by, struggling to drag another hose. “What’s that noise?”
“Sounds like a PASS alarm,” he said.
Anthony picked up the wet hose and helped tug it toward the house. “A what?”
“A personal alert safety system. All the fighters have them. Means the person hasn’t moved in thirty seconds.”
Della.
Anthony dropped the hose. Amelia and Bryce were right there.
Bryce grabbed him by the shoulders before he could sprint to the burning building. “Don’t even think about it, Thomas. I know you’re tasked with protecting her, but Rescue is looking for her. That alarm will lead us right to her. Wait.”
Part of him knew this. But logic was not sounding so logical right now. He should be there.
“Bryce, come on.” He didn’t even care if he sounded desperate. Begging.
“I can’t let you in, Thomas. Hold back. And pray.”
Amelia and Bryce weren’t going to relent. He could see it in their stances. But Amelia did go in to help. All Anthony could do was wait.
And fine. He’d try to pray.
But the only words that he could conjure up were woefully insufficient.
Lord, help her. Keep her safe. Please.
Bryce must’ve recognized his compliance. He stood next to him as they faced the front entrance together. The piercing alarm stood out among all the other sounds. Sirens on the trucks still ran. Voices yelled across the lawn.
The fire still roared, now shooting out the chimney on the roof, sending sparks and smoke up into the sky. The falling snow did nothing to extinguish it. The streams of water from the hoses only created sizzling steam as the fire laughed at them and grew stronger.
Zoe’s voice sounded over Amelia’s radio. “We need another hose in here. Collins is trying, but it’s not enough.”
The captain spoke into his unit. “We’ll get the other crew in there. Foster, any word yet?”
“The alarm is coming from upstairs. Second story. Heading there now.” Ridge’s voice came through clearly.
But it wasn’t nearly fast enough.
Bryce called Kianna and Trace over. “We need EMS on standby. Possible unconscious or injured firefighter.”
“We’re ready.”
Anthony checked his watch. Five minutes now. “Why haven’t they found her yet?”
“They have to be thorough. Give them—”
“Found her!” It was Ridge on the radio.
“Status?” Bryce asked.
“Unconscious. Back room in northwest corner. Bringing her out now.”
Kianna looked at Trace. “Let’s get the cot.”
Anthony could only stand there and count the seconds.
There were too many of them as far as he was concerned.
The paramedics were back with the cot right as Ridge and Eddie spilled out of the front entrance, carrying Della between them.
Turnout gear and her mask obscuring her face.
But her dark braid swung in the air until they set her on the cot.
She was too still.
Anthony rushed over, but the others crowded him out. He followed them to the ambulance, where finally, he could at least stand at the foot of the cot as they lifted her in. Kianna removed the mask while Trace checked for a pulse. Kianna froze.
“What?” Anthony yelled. Why did Kianna look so confused? And more importantly, why wasn’t she doing anything?
Trace dropped his hand from the patient’s neck. “I can’t find a pulse.”
“Try again!” Anthony gripped the sides of the ambulance door, ready to launch inside and start CPR himself.
But Trace only shook his head. “ She’s dead.”
The words barely registered when Kianna spoke. “But it’s not Della. I don’t know who this woman is.”