Smoke

by Toye Lawson Brown

“Yes. Her name is Gabrielle King and she was supposed to be at work this morning but she hasn’t been heard from since about 9:00pm last night.”

  “Is she an older woman?”

  “No, she’s 29. Can you please go check; her boyfriend is very concerned and waiting to hear from me.”

  “Where is he? Does he stay with her?”

  Getting irritated Pam raised her voice. “He’s a Cleveland fireman, I don’t know where he works, but he is at work, and no he doesn’t live here! Now can you do your job and check the house or do I have to go in there alone!”

  “Stay here,” he said. Testing the front door, it was locked. He went to the rear of the house. Looking through the window of the garage, he saw a car. “Does Ms. King drive a black trailblazer or is this a second vehicle?”

  “That’s her car!” Pam’s hands sweated as she rubbed them together. The officer disappeared from her view around the house.

  Pam waited from him to resurface and when he didn’t she went to the back of the house. The backdoor was open and Midnight sat on the step as she walked inside.

  The kitchen showed signs of a struggle. Smears of blood stained the coffee-colored ceramic floor.

  Tears clouded Pam’s eyes as she moved through the kitchen and into the dining room. The glass table had been broken, the large china cabinet smashed. More blood splattered the beige walls. She saw the officer rush from the living room talking in his radio. “Dispatch, this is 157, send homicide to my location stat.”

  “What is it?” Pam asked grabbing him by the arm. “Is Gabrielle in the bedroom?

  Is she in there! Please, tell me,” she said crying.

  “I need you to wait outside and get the boyfriend on the phone.”

  *****

  Jonathan sat stone-faced at the kitchen table with his teeth clinched so tight; he thought his jawbone would break if he didn’t release the pressure. His phone rang.

  “Pam, was she there?”

  Murad and Anthony watched the many reactions his body went through as he talked to Pam on the telephone. He hung up the phone shaking his head.

  “Jon, what did she say?” Anthony asked.

  He swallowed hard. “The house was destroyed. She said blood was

  everywhere but no body. Homicide detectives are combing the scene for evidence.”

  Anthony covered his face falling into a chair from the shock. “This shit can’t be happening; this is a fucking dream!”

  “If this is a dream, will somebody wake me the fuck up; cuz I ain’t feeling it!”

  Jonathan said slamming the chair to the floor as he left the room.

  A car pulled into the driveway as Jonathan paced the sidewalk. A burly man exited the car with another man exiting the passenger’s side. Jonathan assumed they were Detectives from Mayfield Heights.

  “I’m Detective Wells and this is my partner Detective Abrahams; we’re with the Mayfield Heights Homicide unit, is there a Jonathan DeMinico working here today?”

  “Yeah, I’m Jonathan. What did you find at Gabrielle’s house?”

  The Detective raised a skeptical brow. “You’re Jonathan DeMinico—the current boyfriend of Gabrielle King?”

  Jonathan crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, I am! Is that a problem for you?”

  “I wasn’t expecting—“

  Jonathan’s quick temper surfaced. “You weren’t expecting me to be white! The dark ages have lifted, Detective; perhaps you should join the real world where races mix, get together, and live in harmony these days. But, I don’t have time to school you on that; can you tell me what you found at Gabrielle’s house?”

  “Yeah, we found it to be a violent crime scene but no bodies. There was blood splattered throughout the house but not enough to indicate death. We believe Ms. King and her abductor are alive and still in the Cleveland area. Mr. DeMinico, were you here all night?”

  Jonathan held out his hands looking around. “Are you not at a fire station? I’m sure you’re aware we work 24-hour shifts and this being Cleveland; we make tons of runs all day and night. You can check with my superiors and the other firemen, I’ve been with them since Gabrielle went missing.”

  “You can cut the sarcasm; we’re here to help find your girlfriend.”

  “Then do that and stop looking at me as a suspect and start looking for Sandra Rhodes. She will be your lead to finding Gabrielle.”

  “Sandra Rhodes, who is she?”

  “She’s a deranged woman under investigation for child abuse and possibly starting a fire at her home two months ago. The fire almost killed her kid.”

  “Do you have an address or any contact information for this woman?”

  “She’s been on the run since the investigation and turned off the cellphone I had a number for, but I have the Detective’s name at CPD assigned to her case, he can probably help you,” he said digging the card from his wallet.

  Detective Abrahams said, “We did find hair at the scene that didn’t match the hair found in items belonging to Ms. King. We’ll be in touch, Mr. DeMinico.”

  “You know where to find me.”

  The two Detectives returned to their car. Wells started the car watching Jonathan. “He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch and he stays on the list as a suspect, despite his declaration of racial unity.”

  *****

  Sandra pointed to the blood dripping from the long cuts on her face. “Look what you did! How do you expect Jonathan to admire me with my face all sliced up! Look at me!”

  Gabrielle twisted the ropes holding her wrists together; she almost had one hand freed. “Sandra, I asked you to summon the personality of reason, but you didn’t listen.

  You forced me to knock all of them to attention.”

  “You think you’re a comic? It wasn’t funny when I clocked you upside the head with my bat, and you won’t think it’s funny when your ass is burning in the pits of hell!”

  “You got a lucky shot. Why don’t you untie me and give me a rematch.”

  She pointed a bloody finger in Gabrielle’s face. “I’m not stupid!”

  “If you’re not stupid; why are you doing this? If you want your daughter, you have to give yourself up, Sandra. Don’t you want to get help and be with Amira?

  Don’t you want to watch her grow into a young woman?”

  “How many times do I have to tell you people—I don’t want her! She was a mistake that cost me everything. Just like you are standing in my way of getting everything I want with Jonathan.”

  “I had no control over him not wanting to be with you; he’s a grown man and makes his own decisions.”

  “He did want me!” She yelled wielding the bat in the air. “You saw how he looked at me at the hospital. But you kept creeping around; just could not keep your ass away from him! Well if I can’t have him, bitch, neither will you!”

  “Jonathan loves me, and will never be with you no matter what you do to me,”

  Gabrielle said, finally working her hand free of the rope but keeping her hands out of Sandra’s sight.

  “He will be in love with your memory, because that’s all he will have left of you,” Sandra mumbled walking away.

  Rushing Sandra from behind, Gabrielle grabbed the few remaining pieces of long hair hanging from Sandra’s head. Those pieces ripped causing Sandra to yowl.

  Swinging the bat, Sandra landed a hit to Gabrielle shoulder.

  Gabrielle released her grip falling to the floor. Sandra came at her again with the bat but Gabrielle kicked with her legs and twisted her body to deflect the hard blows mostly hitting the floor. Taking hold of Gabrielle’s shirt, Sandra tried to choke her by knotting the material under her neck but Gabrielle stomped on her foot causing Sandra to release her.

  Gabrielle kicked Sandra in the stomach making her drop the bat. “Had enough yet?” Gabrielle asked breathing hard.

  “Bitch, I’m just getting started.” Sandra charged her, but Gabrielle moved aside.

  Sandra fell backwards on the floor after runnin
g into a workbench; Gabrielle jumped on top of her pinning her down. Gabrielle balled her fist striking Sandra repeatedly in the face; blood spewed from Sandra’s nose running across her face.

  Sandra planted her feet on the floor bucking her back, throwing Gabrielle off her.

  Using her shirt, she wiped the blood from her face. “It’s time for you to die, bitch!”

  Gabrielle rolled across the floor when Sandra charged her again. Staggering to her feet, she put her arm around Sandra’s throat, squeezing tight to block air from her getting into her lungs. Sandra bit down on Gabrielle’s arm, sinking her teeth deep enough to break the skin.

  Gabrielle screamed taking hold of her bleeding arm. Gabrielle made the mistake and took her eyes off Sandra which enabled Sandra to scramble from the room closing and locking the door behind her.

  Gabrielle sat on the floor trying to catch her breath and focus on her

  surroundings. The pain from both altercations wrecked her body and, the hit to her head, made her dizzy and nauseous. Looking up, the warehouse windows were painted black and too high to reach. The room also smelled of strong chemicals. Looking around for other windows or doors, she cursed, “Damn, there has to be a way out.”

  Closing her eyes, she waited for the waves of nausea to settle on her stomach before climbing the stairs that led to windowless door. Pulling on it with all her strength it wouldn’t open, it was locked or sealed shut. A loud crash came from behind the door Sandra escaped through.

  Climbing down the stairs Gabrielle went to the door. Hearing Sandra rambling on other side of it, she put her ear to the door to hear what she was doing. The smell of gasoline filled her nose. Looking down the liquid pooled and soaked the bottoms of her canvas tennis shoes.

  Pulling hard on the door it wouldn’t open. “Sandra,” she yelled banging on the door with the palm of her hands. “Sandra, open the damn door!”

  A flash of blue flame flushed under the door. “Oh my God, she’s setting the place on fire! ” Gabrielle panicked. Kicking the shoes off so she wouldn’t leave a flammable trail, she ran to the opposite end of the warehouse to find a way out.

  Not finding a way out, Gabrielle took refuge under a metal workbench. Taking off her t-shirt, she wrapped it around her face. The smoke was cutting off what little oxygen was circulating under the workbench. Hunkering down low she covered her head and face and prayed for help to arrive soon.

  *****

  “Jonathan, get out of here,” Murad said. “You can’t concentrate on work with everything going on.”

  “Thanks, Lieutenant; I can’t sit around here and do nothing. I have to go look for Gabrielle.” He got ready to leave when the alarm sounded summoning them to a triple-three at a former chemical warehouse. His gut told him to go on job. “I’m coming along for this one.”

  *****

  The Battalion Chief and Lieutenant assessed the situation and got the orders going. “A five story abandoned with smoke pouring from the roof. Get the aerial up and start cutting the roof to vent the structure. Get those ladders erected and break those windows; let’s move,” Murad ordered. “Chief, get police to evacuate the area!”

  The Battalion Chief instructed Engine 26 to bring lines to the front of the structure while directing other companies to assist from the rear and have men help with battling the blaze inside.

  Jonathan grabbed the tip with Anthony, Otto and Steve picking up the line behind him. “You smell that?” Jonathan shouted to Anthony.

  “Yeah, it’s gasoline. I’ll get the foam rolling. Dropping the line he saw a car in the lot. “Fuck!” he shouted.

  “What’s the matter,” Jonathan asked.

  “Jon, that’s Sandra’s car in the lot. What if she and Gabrielle are inside?”

  Jonathan dropped the tip rushing to the structure with Anthony in tow. A loud explosion and shower of glass and brick stopped them in their tracks. “Jon, we can’t go any further until Hazmat can get the chemicals stabilized. We don’t know what chemicals are in there.”

  Jonathan’s voice was strong and sure. “I’m going in; you can stay and wait for Hazmat if you want.”

  Anthony lowered his shield over his face. “Let’s go. I’m starting to think we really are Supermen the way we rush into situations.”

  Once inside Anthony surveyed the drums burning. Getting on the radio he relayed his findings. “Murad, we might have victims trapped somewhere in here and these drums are burning like hell. I don’t know what’s in them and water is making it flash like mercury.”

  “Copy, Jenkins, I got foam lines coming your way.”

  “We got a body over here.” Jonathan heard the disturbing traffic come over the radio, but it didn’t it deter him from searching for Gabrielle; he knew in his gut it wasn’t her. Using the poker to bring down burning material in his path, he moved quickly. Firefighter’s Gordon and Reiss reached him location with a hose and dumped foam on the flaming drums.

  Jonathan found a door. Breaking it in with an ax, he poked along the stacks of smoking material. Another small explosion rocked a portion of the building toppling more drums and emptying their content on the floor. The Battalion Chief called for the men to retreat before the whole building blew.

  Jonathan ignored the command when he saw movement out the corner of his

  eye.

  *****

  Firemen took a circular saw to the hard concrete of the roof, cutting vents to allow the smoke to filter outside. They stuck a line inside the hole dropping more foam on the chemicals burning out of control.

  Jonathan cleared the debris from his mask as it fell on him. Reaching under the long metal workbench, he grabbed the body folded in the hurricane position. Gabrielle opened her eyes as Jonathan picked her up. Closing her arms around his neck, she held on as he dashed from the building.

  Paramedics met him with a gurney placing Gabrielle on it. “We got this,” the EMT said stopping him from coming inside the ambulance.

  He pulled his mask off watching them work on her. Anthony came up behind him. “Sandra didn’t make it. How is Gabrielle?”

  “She’s alive, Anthony; she’s beaten up but alive,” he said with his voice cracking.

  Jonathan turned around when he saw the gurney carrying the body bag. He went over before workers could load the body into the coroner’s van. “Wait, I have to see her.”

  “We can’t do that.”

  “She tried to kill the woman I love! I want to see her!”

  The man unzipped the bag lowing it to reveal Sandra’s face. Her face was bloodied but not from the fire. Her ragged spiked hair was charred and crisp. A light trickle of smoke rose from inside the thick plastic and even with the strong smell of smoke; Jonathan got the hint of her hideous perfume.

  “Good God, Sandra, what made you so evil; what happened in your life to turn you into a monster? Whatever it was, I hope it has died with you and now you can rest in peace,” he said zipping the bag.

  “DeMinico,” the EMT called. “Somebody wants to talk to you.”

  Jonathan stepped inside the chamber of the ambulance holding Gabrielle’s hand.

  Gauze wrapped in several layers covered the wound to her head. Other than the surface cuts and scrapes, she appeared to be OK. “Hey, beautiful,” he smiled. “How are you feeling?”

  “I have a massive headache and probably rabies, but other than that, I’m fine thanks to you and your crew. What about Sandra—did she escape or is she in custody?”

  “She didn’t make it, babe. I don’t want to talk about her. You’re my only concern right now.”

  “I never doubted you wouldn’t find me, Jonathan. I can’t say I was afraid. Even with the fire blazing around me, I knew in my heart you would be the one to rescue me.

  I just had to relax and wait for you to come.”

  “I’m Superman in a turnout and bunkers, and you’re my Lois Lane,” he laughed.

  “But all kidding aside, it’s the connection we have, Gabrielle. When that alarm sounded I knew
it was you calling me. I wasn’t going to disappoint you.”

  The rope still dangled around her wrist when she reached up to touch his face.

  “There is nothing you can do to disappoint me.”

  He leaned over to kiss her, bumping her head with his helmet, he tossed it on the gurney. Cupping her face, he covered her mouth with his, savoring the taste of her smoke tinged lips. The EMT slapped his hand against the back door. “I hate to break this up, be we gotta roll, DeMinico.”

  “Alright,” he said releasing her. “I’ll get to the hospital as soon as I can.”

  He jumped down from the rear of the ambulance watching it drive away.

  Anthony came to stand next to him. “She’s lucky to be alive, Jon. That damn warehouse stored all types of lethal chemicals. This whole block was a ticking time bomb. If Sandra had not started the fire it’s no telling when this place would have gone up.”

  “How would Sandra know about this place, Anthony?”

  “She worked at the Plain Dealer, maybe this warehouse was going to be exposed by a reporter but she pretended to be a reporter in order to get info from us first.”

  “Yeah, and we gave her all the information she needed. Some good it did her; she trapped her own self in the fire.”

  Anthony slapped him on the back. “Her plan might have failed but we saved the people on this block from a possible disaster, and we got Gabrielle. Let’s get out of here; I’m hungry.”

  Epilogue

  Four Months Later

  “Babe, the fire is ready for the hot dogs and burgers,” Jonathan said entering the kitchen.

  “Here you go, and don’t burn them. I have to make the potato salad and prep the steaks and I think that will be it.” Gabrielle said raising the wooden spoon.

  It took weeks to repair the damage to her house but with the help of Jonathan, Anthony and the rest of the men at Station 30; the house was back to normal with nothing to show a crime had taken place.

  He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I promise not to burn the food for our first Fourth of July cook-out. What time is everyone supposed to be here?”