Page 37 of Captivating Anika
With that, I figure I’ve had my say and get up to let him stew for a bit.
But Bodhi isn’t done.
“You’re ten years her senior, for Christ’s sake.”
It pisses me off he throws that in my face, mainly because it is one of the issues I’ve struggled with myself.
“So is Bill to Vic. And your wife is four years older than you, what of it?”
When he has no retort, I take my leave and head back to the dining table, just as the alarm buzzes with an incoming call.
So much for breakfast.
“Hey!”
A woman comes running across the street at us.
We’ve just pulled up in front of a modest house on the outskirts of town. The call was for an out-of-control brush fire, but it looks like it was too close to the attached garage, which is now also in flames.
“I think he’s still in there. I saw him come home earlier and his truck is still there.”
The truck she refers to is haphazardly parked in front of the burning garage.
Cap immediately starts barking orders.
“Roadkill, Hog, check the house. Vic, you and Cheddar get a line on that garage.”
When we’re geared up with tanks and full-faced masks, I grab the Halligan tool and lead the way to the front door. I hear Bodhi’s boots right behind me.
Smoke is already seeping from a crack under the door. Not good. I make room to give Bodhi a chance to knock and ring the doorbell. Then I step in and set the forks of the Halligan between the edge of the door and the doorjamb. With the back of his axe, Bodhi hammers the tool deeper in the jamb, giving me enough leverage to force the lock open.
When thick smoke streams out, I turn my back and fit my mask over my face while my partner does the same beside me. Then I follow him into the house, crouching low.
“Fire Department! Call out!” he yells in front of me.
There is no fire visible but I can feel the heat, so I know it can’t be far. If we’re going to get anyone out of here, we’ll have to hurry. When I catch sight of stairs going up to the second level, I tap Bodhi on the shoulder and point up.
“Checking upstairs,” I let him know, and wait for his thumbs-up before making my way upstairs.
It’s distinctly hotter up here, and when I peer up through the thick, black smoke, I spot what looks like blistering on the ceiling. Not good at all. I’m going to have to hurry.
Three doors, two are open. Staying low to the ground, I duck into the first one.
“Fire Department! Call out!”
I don’t get far, since the room looks to be used as storage and is packed full. Great. All these boxes and bins will make nice fuel. I quickly move on to the next open door, which turns out to be a bathroom. Nobody in here either.
It’s becoming harder to make anything out by the time I get to the third door. I test the knob, which isn’t hot to the touch, so I push open the door, just as my radio comes to life in my ear.
“Hog, Roadkill, anything? We’ve got the roof engaged,” Cap’s tinny voice announces.
“Negative down here.”
“Clearing the last room upstairs,” I report, working my way into the bedroom.
“I need you both to clear out.”
No sooner does Cap give us the order, when a deafening crack shakes the house around me. I turn and dive for the door as the burning ceiling comes down, slamming me to the floor.