Scorch (Missoula Smokejumpers Book 6)

by Piper Stone

  “Jesus. We have to get out of here. I know this school. The boiler is underneath us.”

  “Fuck,” Sawyer mumbled as they remained low. He heard the little girl coughing and yanked off his mask. “Here. Keep this on.”

  Antonio did the same, cursing under his breath.

  Within seconds the hallway was engulfed, becoming disorienting.

  “Where are the stairs?” Antonio managed as he coughed.

  “We’re almost there.” Blinking, his eyes stinging, Sawyer was forced to stop and look, blinking in order to try and focus. God. They could have overshot the stairwell. He had to take a leap of faith and follow his instincts. Moving to the left, he felt along the wall until his hand met an open space. “Come on!”

  Sawyer took the stairs carefully, making certain to keep Megan covered. The creaks became groans in the building as the metal expanded. The boiler was something else entirely. The gas lines could go at any minute. “Almost.” Choking, he tried to hold his breath as he made his way down. He could see light. “Almost there.” Pulling back, he made certain Antonio was right behind him.

  “I’m here. Go. Go!” As they moved onto the landing, he could just make out the fire engine rolling into the parking lot. Thank you, God. Thank you-

  Boom!

  Shaken, Reese walked out of the interrogation room after several hours. Yes, she understood the seriousness of the fact Katrina Dreyfus had escaped, no doubt with the help of her maniacal brother, Bo Dreyfus. She’d been given more than a crash course on the entire family and the devious criminal activity, enabling her to understand the nature of what they were all up against.

  As she’d been led out of the building to the same awaiting SUV, she’d been the one to remain quiet, her thoughts swirling around her conversation with Katrina. Perhaps she should have picked up on the fact the girl was stating in no uncertain terms that she was going to escape. The thought, given her mental exhaustion, was almost hysterical. How and why should she even contemplate the fact a prisoner in both wrist and ankle chains, escorted by two armed deputies in a bullet proof car could have any chance of escaping? The thought was ludicrous.

  But it happened.

  Katrina had an entire team working in order to mastermind her escape. Reese doubted the entire scope would come to light for days, if not weeks. There were too many moving parts as well as injuries. Deaths. As she was driven toward her car, she could still see billowing smoke, but the direction was off. Not the same as the buildings from before.

  “Was there another explosion?” She moved to the edge of the seat, doing her best to peer out the windshield.

  “The wooded area just outside the city caught fire,” Agent Marks stated casually.

  “Caught fire? A product of the Dreyfus escape?” Reese knew she wasn’t cut out for this profession. This beautiful city targeted by absolute monsters.

  “No word. Fire teams have been working to get it under control. That’s all I’ve heard,” Agent Brennan added. As he pulled over to the curb, he exhaled. “We’re going to need all your case notes on Katrina.”

  “I’m aware. You can have them.” Reese grabbed the handle of the vehicle. Fire teams. All she wanted to do at this point was hear the sound of Sawyer’s voice.

  “Thank you for your cooperation. I will tell you that if Katrina and her brother follow the same path, you might be in danger. We will need more of your time as this case unfolds.”

  Of course, they would. She glanced at the male agent, unable to detect any real concern. Maybe she was simply used to the cold natured business. “I’ll keep my doors locked.” Opening the door, she could see a solid half dozen press vans and other vehicles, all waiting for their fifteen minutes of fame. And the stench was rancid, seared metal and charred wood infiltrated the air, creating a haze.

  “One last thing, Miss Winton,” Agent Brennan said. “You need to keep the conversation confidential. With the exhaustive connections both Katrina and her brother have made, you’ll never know when there are eyes and ears.”

  Reese knew the drill. Tipping her head, she gave the agent a sneering smile. “Absolutely.” Without waiting for another jaded comment, she stepped out, slamming the door. And immediately a chill trickled down the back of her legs. The wind was whipping, allowing soot and other small debris to float in the air. Even from where she was standing, she could see at least three burned out buildings, the ruins still smoldering. “My God.”

  While there was police tape as well as deputies monitoring the area, keeping the path clear for emergency vehicles, dozens of people lined the streets, even after all this time. She had no idea how to get the hell out of the area. After finding her car blocked in, she grabbed her phone. Seeing the voice mail from Sawyer and from hours before, she tried to control the apprehension. He was a smokejumper, not a firefighter. That meant he was nowhere close to these fires. Right?

  She replayed the message twice before hitting redial. “Damn it.” His sensuous voice asking for the caller to leave a message wasn’t comforting. Instead, the level of anxiety increased. “Sawyer. I’m fine. I’m stuck at the scene near the courthouse right now. Call me back as soon as you can.” Holding the phone to her head, she said a silent prayer. Maybe she was still in some level of shock, but she knew in her heart that Sawyer was in trouble. There was so much activity, fire engines positioned every few feet. As she studied the area, scanning both sides of the street, another rift of smoke caught her attention. The direction had to be from an adjacent street.

  Cutting her way through the crowd, she kept her head down as she walked to the end of the street then down an alley, half jogging as she willed her phone to ring. When she reached the other street, she could tell an area all the way down and toward the outskirts of town was also blocked off. Lights were going and there was another group of reporters waiting in the background.

  You bet she was going to find out what was going on. She walked to the closest group of reporters. There was no way of knowing if they’d recognize her as being a part of the Dreyfus defense, but she would push aside any direct questions. “Excuse me. What’s going on? Another fire?”

  The reporter didn’t bother looking in her direction. “An explosion near the elementary school.”

  “Anyone hurt?” Reese wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer.

  “No confirmation, but there are reports that a smokejumper was injured. They were able to contain the fire, but part of the elementary school burned. They think there were still children inside.”

  “Children?” she managed as she tried to understand what was happening.

  “Unfortunately. There’s no report but they believe one of the smokejumpers was killed trying to save their lives.”

  “A smokejumper?” Sawyer’s nightmare flooded her mind. No. No! He hadn’t experienced some level of a premonition. There was no chance. She took two steps closer, her heart racing to the point she was having difficulty breathing. Died? No. There was no way. Please God. Please God! Don’t forsake the man I love. Please!

  “Yeah. Brave guys. I can tell you that much.” The reporter looked in her direction, narrowing her eyes. “Wait a minute. Aren’t you Reese Winton?”

  Reese took another few steps, all noise clearly wrapped up in a vacuum.

  “Hey, Ron. We have Katrina Dreyfus’ defense attorney. Miss. Can we ask you a few questions?”

  She knew she was shaking her head but had no voice as she meandered her way closer. The school. The entire area was blocked off, but she had to get there. She would find a way. Turning around, she fought to get back to where she’d been. As the crowd thickened, she pushed and shoved her way, scrambling to get out. “Excuse me. Excuse me!”

  “Miss! We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  Her mind was on lock down and she reacted, weaving in and out of the dozens of people until she was able to take off running, her high heels clipping then slipping on the pavement. Nothing was going to stop her. Nothing. She kept her head down, pushin
g, heading in the direction of her car. Racing down the alley, she heard other footsteps, as if the reporters were following her. She could see nothing as tears slid into her eyes, beads of sweat trickling down both sides of her face.

  No. No! Please don’t let anything have happened to him.

  She could hear the sound of her thudding heart echoing in her ears and for a few seconds, all time rolled into slow motion. Her hands fumbling, she managed to get into her car and started the engine. While she was still blocked in on one side, she threw the gear into drive, turning the steering wheel and inching out. Throwing the gear into reverse, she maneuvered the wheels, making headway an inch at a time. “Come on. Come on!” Exasperated, she slapped her hand on the steering wheel then willed herself to try again.

  What had to be ten minutes later, she was free and made a turn in the middle of the street. She slammed on the accelerator, moving through the yellow light and heading in the direction of the school. Her mind was in a fog, yet she kept going, trying to keep her eyes on the road. Turn after turn, she blinked as tears threatened to derail her.

  When she finally made the last turn, heading for the school, she could see lights of emergency vehicles. There were other reporters, news crews from every station. My God. This was a nightmare. She rolled into the parking lot but was immediately cut off. Jerking to a stop and stopping the engine, she flew out of the car, racing toward the school. Firefighters seemed to be everywhere, water pumping on the school. Children stood with adults on the outskirts, staring in horror at their school.

  “Reese!”

  Hearing a familiar female voice, she turned, seeing Laney standing with a group of children. “Laney. What is going on?”

  “An explosion at the school. Two children were left inside. I just…” Her face twisted, full of anguish. “I should have gone back, but they forced us out.”

  “Honey. You did all you could. Sawyer. Have you seen him?” Reese could tell by the flash in her new friend’s eyes that Sawyer was unaccounted for. “No!” She backed away, her entire body shaking.

  “Stay with me. You can’t go over there yet. I’m sure everything is fine.” Laney walked toward her, holding out her hand.

  “No. You don’t understand. He’s my…” She wasn’t certain of the words until that moment. “He’s my life.”

  “I do understand,” Laney whispered. “Go. Go find him.”

  She took off, running, passing by several of the deputies and a few firefighters.

  “Miss! You… can’t… go… there!”

  The deputy tried to catch her, but she jerked away, flying past him until she could see the burned-out section of the building, the firefighters standing in a circle. The forest beside the school was blackened, once majestic trees charred. Then she noticed the team. The smokejumpers. They were coming out of the forest. One by one. Their faces covered in soot. Their walks slow, methodical. And their expressions…

  Full of anger. Or fear.

  “Sawyer. Where is Sawyer?” She wasn’t even entirely certain if she was speaking out loud.

  “Whoa! Reese. Hold on!”

  “No. No!” she exclaimed and tried to move even closer.

  “It’s Boone. Stop.” Catching her by the arm, Boone pulled her back and away from the still smoldering fire. “You can’t go in there.”

  “Boone. Where’s Sawyer? Where is he?”

  “Just breathe for me. He went inside to rescue two children.”

  Yanking away her arm, she almost made it two additional feet before another smokejumper caught her. “Let me go.”

  “Stop,” Boone said from behind. “I have this, Stoker. Okay?”

  Panting, she continued to struggle, trying desperately to scan the other men. She recognized the majority.

  But there was no Sawyer.

  “Tell me what’s happened. Where is he?” Reese demanded.

  “Stop!” Boone directed, pulling her to the side. “I’ll tell you.”

  After two seconds, she almost exploded. “Then do it. Now!”

  “He’s down. He’s hurt but he saved the children. Just wait. Okay?”

  “What? What?” Terror and exasperation melded together until she was wheezing. She noticed another smokejumper sitting on the edge of an ambulance.

  “Reese.”

  Had she heard her name being called? She was cognizant that dozens of people had swarmed around them, cameras everywhere, people talking. Sirens seemed to be coming from every location, surrounding her. The smoke blew across in wave after wave, fueled by the wind, blocking her view. Nauseous, she gripped Boone’s shirt, pulling hard as she glared at him in the eyes. “Tell me!”

  “There he is!”

  The voice was unknown, and people rushed in front of them. Reese tried desperately to get out of his hold. She could just see through a break in the group of reporters as two men walked out of the smoke. Unable to make out any features, she held her breath.

  Two smokejumpers were carrying a third in between them. The jumper’s head was low, but he was walking to some degree. The moment he tilted his head, she was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions. “Sawyer.” Breaking free from Boone’s hold, she managed to head directly for him.

  Sawyer looked up, his eyes darting back and forth. The moment recognition flashed in them, he righted his body, his hands pushing at the men holding him.

  They backed away, darting glances in her direction. As one of the jumpers smiled, he nodded to her, giving her a slight salute.

  “Sawyer!”

  “I’m okay. I’m okay,” Sawyer whispered, clinging to her, pressing his hand on the back of her head. “And I love you. God, I love you.”

  Pulling back, she gazed into his face, his amazing eyes. “I love you.”

  Time stood still as the wind blew, lifting the smoke away from the area and toward the sky.

  A smile crossing his face, he captured her mouth and lifted her off the ground and into his arms.

  “Yes!”

  “Fantastic!”

  As the crowd began to cheer, she allowed the tears to fall. Her man was safe. He was alive.

  But she remained terrified…

  Chapter 13

  Darkness, the creator of evil, but only if you allow its tentacles to grasp your heart.

  And your soul…

  The saying he’d read in a book somewhere a long time ago. The evil surrounding his beautiful city was destroying not only structures, but the very resolve he’d known his entire life. “I’m fine. Really.” Sawyer sat on the end of the gurney, his eyes sweeping the emergency room. “I don’t need to be here.” He’d blacked out the moment the gas blew. If they hadn’t already been outside, the children would have been killed. He remained enraged, his blood pumping at an increased rate.

  “You’re staying put,” Reese stated, crossing her arms and giving him a dominating look. “You blood pressure is off the chart.” She nodded toward the monitor.

  He didn’t bother glancing in the direction. Of course, his blood pressure was high given his level of anger. “I need to know every detail of what’s going on and how the authorities plan on capturing these monsters.”

  “Monsters are everywhere. Katrina Dreyfus escaped. She had a hell of a lot of help.”

  “How the fuck did that happen?” he snarled.

  “I don’t know. There are very few details right now,” she whispered. “I’m so…”

  “And they blew up a school?”

  Her lower lip quivered. “This is all my fault. Katrina even warned me that her brother was going to get her out. If I’d just told the authorities, none of this would have happened.”

  He grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb across her fingers. “That’s not true. You have no idea how connected they are. They should never have been in the city in the first place. Why the hell were they brought here? This was a federal case.”

  “I think it was planned. They wanted her here.”

  “Who is they?” Sawyer demanded then sucked in his a
nger. “Do you know?”

  “I have my suspicions but why, I’m not certain. I think some people were paid off.”

  A dark shadow crossed over her face and he reined in his emotions, knowing the love of his life needed his strength. He was far too impatient to wait for the official release. Yanking the blood pressure cuff off his arm, he tossed it and rose to his feet. “Then the sheriff will figure this out and you can tell him what you’re thinking. First things first. We’re getting out of here.”

  “Over my dead body. You could have a concussion or worse. Internal injuries.” Reese rushed in front of him, holding out her hands.

  A chuckle found its way out of his mouth. He gripped her shoulders, rubbing her dirty and stained blouse then fiddled with the loose strands of her hair. “You’re a mess.”

  “Yeah, well, this was a shitty day.” She tugged the clip holding a portion of her hair in place and swung her head. “A really shitty day.”

  “I know. I can’t even fathom this shit. Everything burned. Christ. Let’s get out of here.”

  “Sawyer. Please. We have to know you’re okay.”

  Cupping her chin, he rubbed his thumb back and forth. “Thank you for taking care of me, but I can manage.”

  “They’re calling us heroes.” The male voice held an edge.

  Hearing Antonio’s voice, he grimaced and shook his head before giving his buddy a nod. “We’re not heroes. We just needed to make certain everyone was okay.”

  Antonio grimaced as he walked in. “You look a hell of a lot worse than I do. You took the brunt of the blast.”

  “Would you please explain to him why he can’t leave this hospital?” Reese implored.

  “Oh, no. I refuse to get in the middle of a lover’s quarrel. Besides, he’s one tough man. Saved several lives this past week.”

  “You’re both insufferable. How are the children?” She gave a waning smile.

  “Megan and Jimmy are doing just fine, according to the nurses. They’re being kept overnight for observation but they only experienced cuts and bruises.”