by Clare Revell
He resisted the temptation to look around for Niamh. Every building had standard evacuation procedures, the judiciary even more stringent ones, and the court officers would make sure everyone got out. Until told otherwise he would assume she was safe. He had to. Otherwise, he couldn’t focus on his job.
Jared pulled his BA onto his back and fastened it. He checked his air and gave his tally to Phil who stood with the breathing apparatus entry control board.
“You’re Alpha One team,” Phil remarked as he checked Jared’s details.
Skippy handed over his tally.
“Alpha One with Jared.”
Brad looked at him. “Jared, I want you manning the BA board.”
He shook his head. “I want in there, Guv, please.”
Toby ran over to him. “Niamh’s still in there. Miles has her.”
“What?” Terror gripped him. “But he wants her dead.” He spun around to face his commanding officer. “Please, Guv. This guy’s been after her for weeks. If he set the fire, if he kills her now after everything she’s been through…”
“Fine, but you don’t take any risks. Skippy, go with him.”
“Thanks. Toby, where is she?”
“We were in court five, towards the back of the building. It’s on the fifth floor. Miles, Niamh, and I left together. There was an explosion in the fire exit stairwell, we got separated as we headed back the way we’d come. I got out through another exit. I don’t know what happened to them.”
“Skippy, let’s go.” Pulling his mask on and rushing the pre-entry check, Jared ran towards the burning building.
Lord, if I am to die here, help me get at least one person out. Let me save Niamh. I couldn’t save our daughter two years ago, allow me to redeem myself now. And let Patrick be safe. I don’t have time to check he got out.
The heat was intense, almost pushing him backwards. The building crackled and shimmied around him. He hadn’t been this scared in a fire since the one that claimed Dayna’s life.
Keeping close to Skippy, he dodged the dancing angels of fire coming at them from every wall and vent.
He pointed towards the fifth floor and Skippy nodded. Once the ladder was secure, Jared took the lead, running up the ladder with the hose. He checked the floor before clambering over the window sill. Fire raged inside, but spraying water on the fire as they moved, the two men made their way up to the corridor.
The radio crackled in his ear. “Alpha one withdraw! The front of the building shifted. It’s unsafe.”
Skippy pulled his arm. “We have to go.”
Jared shook his head. “You go. I’m not leaving Niamh.”
Boom!
An explosion to the left sent both men to the floor, a shower of debris covering them. Jared quickly pushed it off and scrambled to his feet, hauling Skippy up with him. “I’m staying,” he repeated.
“Then so am I.”
Jared let go of him and turned the hose on what had become an inferno. If he ever imagined hell, this is what it would look like. Thick black smoke assailed him from every angle. Hissing and blistering flames impeded his path, sizzling under the impact of the water. Sweat dripped down inside his mask, pooling inside his collar. Deep inside, the persistent fear he was too late, tried to get out. But if he let it, he was doomed.
****
Niamh watched helplessly as Miles sloshed petrol around the floor, the clanking can mixing with the sound of the fire.
“Why pour fuel on a fire?”
“Setting up a flashover. Toby will send that fool of a husband in to find you. This will deal with him. The explosion puts out the fire by the door so I can get out.”
She twisted her hands. A futile gesture as the rope was too tight. “Please, let me go. We can both get out of here.”
Miles set a trail of petrol from her feet to the door. Then he tossed the can away. It landed by the bench, the last dregs of petrol eking towards the flames.
Niamh struggled harder. “Help!”
Miles pulled the gun from his belt and pointed it at her. “Oh be quiet.”
She looked at him defiantly. “Help!”
Miles held the gun in the air and fired.
****
“What’s that?” Jared turned hearing something. “Sounded like a gunshot.”
“In there,” Skippy said. “Court five. Isn’t that what he said?”
Jared nodded. “Niamh, are you in there?”
“Jared.” Her voice was muffled behind the door, but he knew it was her.
“Here.” He shouldered the door.
“Check the door for heat, Jared.”
Skippy’s call came too late. The door blew open, sending a backdraft of light and heat and fire hurling towards them. Jared dived, pushing Skippy out of the way.
Heat and light barreled over him.
He automatically held his breath, forgetting his air tank would still supply his oxygen.
Once the heat passed, he stood and hauled Skippy to his feet. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. You?”
“I will be once we find Niamh.” He turned his attention to the door. The fire had lessened. “Niamh?”
“Jared, in here.”
Taking a deep breath, he reacquired the hose and aimed the water onto the fire and into the room beyond.
****
To Niamh it looked like a scene from a film, with the firefighters standing silhouetted against a fire filled doorway. Her heart leapt. He’d come for her.
The floor creaked beneath her. Miles stood beside her, gun aimed at her head. Tears streamed down her face. Her chest heaved with the effort to breathe as she twisted her hands against her bonds.
Water sprayed from the hose, clearing a path towards her. She twisted her hands, feeling the rope loosen a little. “Jared,” she called, the one word sending her into a paroxysm of coughing.
“Let her go.” Jared’s voice was muffled behind the mask, his coat scorched. He held out a hand. “Just let her go and we can all get out of here. Hon, take my hand.”
Niamh twisted her head as the floor at the corner of the room buckled. “I can’t move. Please, Miles, untie me. Don’t do this.”
Jared’s voice took on a stronger tone. “We have to go now.” His hand stretched through the flames.
His image shimmered in the heat, and she blinked hard. “I can’t move.”
Was this how Dayna felt in those last few moments of her life? Heat searing her body, unable to breathe or see.
She moved her hands again, the rope finally giving and slipping from her wrists.
Jared took a step towards her. She reached out, trying to grasp his hand.
The gun clicked. The hose moved, the jet of water hitting Miles and sending him across the room.
The floor creaked and gave way beneath her. She screamed as she fell.
Her arm jerked as something grasped her hand. She glanced up and saw Jared leaning over the hole, his gloved hand folded around her wrist.
“Give me your other hand.”
She stretched up. Something heavy grabbed her leg. She glanced down to see Miles leering up at her. He looked dark against the brightness of the flames beneath them. She squirmed, trying to free herself. Was this was like to be roasted on a spit? The intense heat felt like it melted the soles of her shoes.
Jared grunted with effort. His grip faltered and her hand slipped.
“Don’t drop me,” she screamed. Please, God, don’t let him drop me.
“Give me your other hand.”
She stretched as far as she could, but not far enough. Her fingers grazed his, not able to grasp them. She slipped a little further. The weight on her leg dragging her down.
Just as she was about to fall, another gloved hand grasped hers. She glanced up as both Jared and his partner heaved, pulling her to safety.
The hand on her ankle loosened, and a scream echoed as Miles fell into the inferno below. Then she was tossed over Jared’s shoulder as he and the other firefighter mad
e their way from the room.
The floor beneath them creaked, and the walls buckled. Jared broke into a run. No sooner had they rounded a corner than the corridor behind them fell into oblivion.
Niamh raised her head. Through blurred eyes, she glimpsed the two firefighters point. Their muffled words made no sense over the roar of the flames.
She closed her eyes praying hard. She had no idea how they were going to get out. There was no human way they could get out. The stairs were gone, the floor behind them gone.
Only God could save them now.
Then Jared began moving again with a greater sense of urgency. The whole building began to move.
She raised a hand to protect her head as masonry began to fall around them.
22
Niamh sat on the stretcher inside the ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders, and an oxygen mask over her face. She smiled at Jared as he stood outside the doors. He was hopping from one foot to the other as the paramedics checked her over. She smiled, trying to ease his nerves. “I’m OK.”
“No talking,” the paramedic chided. “We’re taking you to hospital. You inhaled a lot of smoke.”
“Then I’ll come with,” Jared said, climbing in beside her. “I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”
Brad came over to him. “I need you here, I’m afraid.”
“Guv?”
“Niamh isn’t in any danger. Unlike the building behind me. If we don’t get a handle on this fire soon, we’ll lose it and the one next to it.”
Niamh could see the indecision play on his face. Torn between love and duty. “I’m fine, Jarrie.” She pulled the mask off and kissed his soot covered cheek. He smelled of fire and smoke. She probably did as well. “They need you here. I’ll get Liam to come and sit with me. And if you should see Patrick anywhere, tell him where I am.”
Jared held her gaze, and then pulled her in for a gentle kiss. “OK.”
She ran her hand down his face. “Just stay safe. No more heroics tonight. I intend to marry you in the morning.”
“I promise. And I’ll find out about Patrick if I can.”
“Thank you. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He leapt down from the ambulance and did his jacket up as he headed back towards the fire with the other firefighters.
Thank you, Lord, for getting us out of there. Keep him safe. Keep them all safe.
Darkness had fallen and the sky was lit with an eerie orange glow. Soot and ash rained down from the sky. A loud crash sent embers high as the back of the building fell inwards.
“We’ve got to go. They’re pulling everyone back.”
Just as the door closed, a voice she recognized spoke. “Wait a second. That’s my sister.”
She pulled the mask off again. “Patrick.”
The door opened slightly and, in the next instant, she was in his arms. “I thought I’d lost you,” she cried.
“I thought the same.” He sat down and pushed her to lie down. “We can talk on the way.”
The paramedic strapped her down and the ambulance pulled away, sirens blaring.
“Patrick, Toby…”
“Toby is safe. He went back to the office once he’d been checked over.”
She shook her head. “Toby is the inside leak. It’s his handwriting. Judge Matheson has the papers. Or he did. He’ll know.”
Patrick’s eyes grew wide, and he pulled out his phone. “He’ll be after the judge.” He dialed rapidly. “Nate, its Patrick. You need to arrest Toby Croft. And get someone over to Judge Matheson’s immediately. Croft’s the inside man and he’ll try to take out the judge next. I know. No, Niamh’s safe. I’m with her now on the way to Headley General. Sure, we’ll meet you there.”
Niamh closed her eyes and let Patrick’s voice fade into the background. All that mattered was Jared and the fire he was fighting. Her mind played back the images from inside the court. He’d put his own life on the line to save her. He was doing the same thing now, to put out the fire before it spread. That made him one very special man. And he was hers.
****
The fire finally under control and his shift over, Jared strode across the ED reception. “Jared Harkin. My wife, Niamh was brought in by ambulance from the fire at the Crown Court.”
“Take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”
He nodded and crossed over to where Patrick sat. “How is she? Why aren’t you with her?”
Patrick held up a hand. “Take it easy. She’s in with the doctor. They’ll let us know when we can go in. She wanted me to wait here for you. Fill you in.”
“First of all, you should know we pulled Miles Kingsman out. He’s alive, but going to wish he wasn’t. They airlifted him to the burns unit at Dirham.”
“OK, good. The police will want to speak with him. It wasn’t just him. Toby Croft was involved as well.”
“Wait a minute. The Toby Croft, the CPS guy Niamh was working with?”
“Yeah. Nate Holmes was going to arrest him. He wrote the letters, cut her brakes, stole the files…”
Jared rubbed his hands over his face, sinking into the chair beside his brother-in-law. “I don’t believe it. She trusted him.”
“A lot of people did.”
He glanced up as Liam joined him. “Been here before,” Jared joked wryly. He got to his feet and exchanged a manly hug with his brother-in-law. Niamh always called them that because she claimed men never hugged properly, in case the hug got taken the wrong way.
“At least this time she’s awake and not in any danger,” Liam told him. “Thanks to you.”
“I was doing my job.” He sank back into the chair. “But it’s a lot easier when it’s not Niamh I’m rescuing.”
“I bet it is. Has the doctor said anything?”
“Not yet.”
Liam sat beside him. “Shame we don’t get paid to sit here.”
Jared scrunched his nose up at him. “Yeah, really.” He sighed. “What’s taking them so long?”
“You know doctors. And she inhaled a lot of smoke.”
Jared started pacing again.
“Jared.”
He spun as someone called his name. Nate and a uniformed officer strode over to him. “Hi, Nate. She’s in with the doctor. They haven’t said anything yet.”
Nate nodded. “We picked up Toby Croft. He’s in a holding cell for now. I’m here to talk to Niamh.”
“So she’s safe?”
Nate nodded. “As far as we know. PC Williams is going to stand outside her cubicle for now. I’ll be back in a few.” He moved over to the reception desk and flashed his ID. Then he and the uniformed officer vanished through the doors.
Jared sighed. “How come he can do that and I can’t?”
“His ID is better than yours,” Liam told him.
“Evidently so.” Jared stretched out his booted feet in front of him and folded his arms over his chest. He closed his eyes. “Tell me when I can go in.”
“You’re going to sleep?” Liam sounded horrified.
“Like you said, she’s not in any danger. And I’m not sleeping. Just resting my eyes.”
Fifteen minutes later a nurse came over to him. “Mr. Harkin? You can go in now.”
Jared stood, instantly awake. “How is she?”
“She’s doing OK. The doctor wants her to stay in, but she’s refusing.”
“Sounds like her.” Jared followed the nurse, relief filling him. If she was well enough to argue, then she wasn’t too badly hurt.
“Then I’ll sign a disclaimer.” He could hear her voice as he approached the cubicle. “I’m getting married tomorrow. I want to go home and start getting ready.”
Jared pushed aside the curtain. “You really are stubborn, woman.”
“Jarrie…”
He covered the floor to the bed in three swift strides and folded his arms tightly around her.
She clung to him tightly. “I’m OK.”
He looked over the top of her head at the
doctor. “How is she?”
“Her lungs are clear, but I really would rather she stayed in overnight.”
“Is she in any danger if she went home? She isn’t going to be on her own.”
The doctor shook his head. “No.”
Niamh sat upright. “Then I want to go home. It’s been a really long day. All I want is a bath and my bed.”
“I’ll get the paperwork.”
Jared pulled Niamh back into his arms and kissed her soundly. “When I knew you were still in there...” he whispered.
“It’s over,” she told him. “I was terrified, but then I saw you silhouetted against those flames, hose in hand. A real hero.”
Her fingers trailed down his face. He caught her hand in his in a vain attempt to quench the rivers of fire and desire caused by her touch. “It’s my job.”
She nodded. “They caught them both. It’s over.”
“Good. I assume you won’t be prosecuting either of them when the case gets to court?”
“No. I’ll be a witness.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Toby pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, and arson. They’ll charge Miles with the same. Assuming he survives.”
“He was pretty badly burned.”
“That could have been me, should have been me.” Sobs shook her body, and Jared cradled her tightly, rocking her gently.
“It’s all right,” he whispered. He closed his eyes and began to pray, thanking God for delivering them both safe from the fire.
****
Jared sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at Niamh. He chinked his mug of cocoa against hers. “To the night before the morning after.”
“Shouldn’t that the morning after the night before?”
“I said what I meant,” he told her. “Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives. This is the last night of what has to be one of the longest years ever. So we’re drinking to tonight—the night before the morning after.”
“The night before the morning after, and a happily ever after to boot.” She touched her cup to his and sipped it, before leaning back on the pillows. She put the cup down and coughed violently.
