Snapshot (The Jamieson Collection)

by Angie Stanton

  Marti wanted to scream. The woman wasn’t trapped in a burning building. “I am. I will.” She fixated on the flames outside her patio door dancing higher and higher. She thought of Adam and how badly she wanted to see him and now she might not, if the firefighters couldn’t get to her in time. She coughed as the air thickened.

  “Marti, are you doing okay?” the woman asked, keeping tabs on her.

  “I’m okay, but I’m gonna hang up.”

  “Don’t hang up! I want you to stay on the line.” A sense of urgency now laced the woman’s voice.

  “I need to call my boyfriend. I have to. I’m sorry.” She ended the call as the woman protested. The air in the room darkened. Marti looked up. Smoke now poured through the air vents like a waterfall.

  “Oh no!” She quickly pressed Adam’s number and waited an eternity she didn’t have as his phone rang. And rang. And rang. Her heart sank. He wasn’t going to pick up. His voicemail answered and she thought about hanging up, but then decided not to.

  At the sound of the beep, she cleared her throat and tried to sound normal.

  * * *

  The wheels touched down at LAX. Adam wanted to whoop with excitement. Instead he drummed his fingers on the armrest until he could finally deplane. He turned on his phone and saw he had twelve messages.

  No big surprise. By now his family would be livid. He had missed the SNL performance. Funny thing, he didn’t even care. He meant it when he said he quit the band. He didn’t need their overbearing manipulation any more. He could do whatever he wanted.

  Walking through the terminal with a cap pulled low on his brow, he fought to hide his grin. Freedom! Soon he’d be with Marti. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when he showed up at her door.

  He passed a sports bar and noticed people crowded around the TVs. He paused for a second to see what national disaster had struck this time.

  The news network reported on a major fire in the Hollywood Hills. He began to walk away when he noticed the message feed at the bottom of the screen. “Live footage: Steven Hunter’s Hollywood Hills Mansion In Flames.”

  Adam nearly dropped his bag. He pushed closer. A newscaster reported: “Steven Hunter, lead guitarist for the legendary rock band Graphite Angels, was hosting a party when flames broke out. We still don’t know if all attendees made it out safely, but will bring you an update you as soon as we have it. The cause of the fire is yet unknown, but high winds have caused the fire to spread quickly, making it more difficult to contain.”

  Marti!

  He pushed out of the crowd and called her as he rushed for the airport exit.

  “Pick up, pick up, pick up,” he muttered.

  “Hello?” Her voice sounded raw and tense.

  “Marti! Oh my god, I’m so glad to hear your voice. I just saw the news. Is that your house? Are you okay?”

  “Oh Adam, I’m so sorry.”

  He heard her sniff back tears.

  “Why are you sorry, what’s wrong?”

  “I wanted to see you so badly.”

  He heard her sniffle and cough. He stopped dead in his tracks. “Marti, where are you? Are you safe? Answer me right now!”

  “I’m trapped in my room. I can’t get out! And the smoke is getting really bad.” She coughed again.

  His blood ran cold. “Marti, I’m here! I’m in LA. I’m coming right now.” He started to run.

  “Really? You came early.”

  He pictured the smile on her tear-streaked face and wanted to cry. “Tell me, where in your room are you?” He ran through the baggage claim area, out the doors to the taxi stand and rushed to a random cab.

  “I’m on the floor, near my bed.”

  “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

  “I’m okay. It’s getting hard to breathe, and it’s really hot. It makes the heat in the sauna at camp seem like air conditioning.”

  He detected the panic just under the surface of her voice, as if she was fighting to stay calm.

  “Marti, can you get to a bathroom?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Marti said.

  “Do it!”

  The cabbie turned to him, annoyed. “Sorry kid, you’ve got to wait in line like everyone else. I can’t take you ‘til I get to the head of the line.”

  Adam pulled the phone away from his mouth. “This is a huge emergency. I can’t wait in line. Please take me!” He pulled a bunch of bills out of his wallet and tossed them on the seat.

  The surly man nodded. “Let’s go.”

  He told the driver the address. “Marti?”

  “I’m here. I’m in the bathroom.”

  “Close the door! Now fill the bathtub with water.” Adam ignored the cabbie’s curious look in the rearview mirror.

  “Get a towel wet and block the bottom of the door.” He couldn’t get the image of the burning mansion he’d seen on TV out of his mind. Flames engulfed half the building.

  Marti coughed some more. “Okay. Done.”

  “Now get in the bathtub. You’ll be safer. And cover your mouth with something so it’s easier to breathe.”

  “You want me to take my clothes off too?” She laughed and then started to hack.

  He smiled. “You’re such a smartass. That’s what I first liked about you.”

  “And I liked the way you kissed. Little did I know you were a virgin.”

  “So were you!” For a moment he forgot the danger surrounding her. Her coughing brought reality crushing back. He could tell it was getting harder for her to speak.

  “Adam, I’m gonna hang up now,” she wheezed.

  “No! Don’t. I’m on my way, and I want you to stay on the phone with me until I get there.” He feared that if he let her hang up, he’d lose her forever.

  “Adam.” She coughed harder. “I’m scared.”

  She sounded small and distant. “I know. I’m scared too, but it’s going to be all right. It is, I know it is.” He prayed it would be. The cabbie glanced in the rearview mirror and then averted his eyes when Adam caught him.

  “I’m having trouble breathing.” She coughed uncontrollably. He pictured her struggling to find clean air. “After I hang up, call 911. Tell them I’m in the bathroom. They know where the bedroom is, but not that I’m in the tub.”

  Her voice sounded resigned, and he knew she was trying to say goodbye. He wouldn’t let her.

  “I will.” His voice broke. She tried to say something, but was wracked with more coughing. He gripped the phone like a lifeline, like if he only held on tight enough, she’d be okay. He waited for her to catch her breath, but all he heard was uncontrollable coughing.

  The phone went dead.

  “Marti! Marti!” He yelled into the phone, but she was gone. He dialed her back, but she didn’t pick up. His hand dropped to his side. He stared out the window, his world falling to pieces.

  * * *

  Marti’s phone dropped over the edge of the tub as she choked out cough after cough. The air, so hot, burned her lungs. She wrung out a washcloth and held it over her face. That helped. She concentrated all her energy on trying to breath.

  The house crackled and roared as the fire ate through it. Outside the bathroom window, flames grew higher and higher, threatening to close in. Marti clung to the sides of the tub, trying to blink through the thickening air. The fumes made her nauseous, and her throat burned.

  She didn’t want to die. She was too young. The water pressure slowed, but still ran. Maybe the water in the tub would save her. Each breath scorched her throat raw. She hacked, trying to get air, but each breath provided less oxygen. She clawed at the washcloth, desperate to breathe through it. Too much soot coated her throat. She dipped under water where the cool liquid soothed her body, but still starved her of air. She burst up from the water gasping, the cloth still over her mouth.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  * * *

  Trapped in the cab, Adam was going insane. He kept telling himself Marti would be okay, she had to be. He wouldn’t acce
pt anything less.

  “Please hurry,” he said again to the driver.

  “Doing the best I can,” he replied, and Adam had to agree, the man drove like a maniac.

  He scanned his phone, hoping Marti would call back and say this was all a big misunderstanding and that she was fine and relaxing by a pool somewhere. He glanced through all the missed calls from his family and zeroed in on Marti’s. She’d left him a message! From what he could tell, she had called right before he landed. He played the message.

  “Hi Adam, I just was calling to say hi, but I guess you’re busy.”

  He heard the strain in her voice. Dammit! Why had he missed her call?

  “You know, in case I don’t see you tomorrow, I wanted to let you know how much I love you. I never said it to you, but I always wanted to. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I wish we could spend more time together.”

  He could hear the fear in her voice as she struggled to get the words out. She coughed. “I better get going, but know that I love you, and thank you for… for everything.” She muffled a cry. “Bye.”

  The call ended. Adam tried to force down his emotions. She had called to say goodbye. He ran a hand through his hair. He knew her so well. Of course she wouldn’t mention the fire or the danger.

  He clicked off his phone and wanted to scream. But instead, he silently sent her strength. Marti, I’m trying to get there. Be brave, hang on.

  The highway curved, and the cab took an exit onto a side road. In the distance, flames lit the night sky.

  “Holy shit, get a look at that fire!” the cabbie said.

  For the first time in his life, Adam felt a cold, stark fear. His throat went dry. “My girlfriend’s trapped in that fire,” he said in a whisper.

  The cabbie glanced in the rear view mirror. His eyes said what Adam refused to believe.

  She’d never make it out alive.

  Chapter 22

  A noise sounded over the roaring fire. Marti muffled her chokes to listen, sharpening her senses. She heard it again and sat up. She tried to call out, “I’m here!” but choked on the words.

  “This is the Fire Department. Is anyone here?” They sounded loud and close. She called out again and her throat felt like the Sahara desert.

  A bright light appeared, moving low on the floor from the direction of the doorway. “This is the Fire Department. Is anyone here?”

  “Yes!” She waved her arm while climbing over the side of the tub. The light caught her movement and zeroed in. She flopped onto the floor like a dead fish. The light came closer until she could see the looming figure of a fireman leaning over her.

  Thank God!

  He looked like some sort of alien with his huge oxygen mask. “Is there anyone else here?” he asked, the sound somehow amplified through his mask.

  Marti shook her head. “No.”

  “Are you able to walk?”

  “Yes,” she choked out with a nod.

  “Take my hand.” He held out a large gloved hand. She placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet, helping her keep her balance. “We’re going to move as fast as we can. Are you ready?”

  Marti nodded to the masked hero. They took a few steps with him leading her by the hand. She doubled over, coughing from the thicker smoke.

  Before she realized what was happening, he scooped her into his arms and moved quickly through her room and into the hall. She clung to him with her head tucked into his chest. She closed her eyes to block out the gritty soot and toxic fumes. The strong arms held her firm as he rushed down the hallway to the stairs. She opened her eyes long enough to see the stairs still intact, but the other side of the room lit by vicious flames. The heat was so intense she feared being baked alive.

  Marti held on with all her might, holding back her coughs as best she could. Suddenly, cool air hit her skin. She opened her eyes and found herself outside. The pristine circular drive looked like a war zone of fire trucks and rescue equipment. An army of firefighters roamed the grounds. The mansion burned like the hells of Mordor.

  When they were a safe distance away, her rescuer gently set her feet on the grass and held her steady. Marti couldn’t suck in the fresh air fast enough, but each breath still caused her to choke and gag. She hacked until her stomach heaved. She fell to her knees and vomited until her stomach had nothing left.

  A moment later, soothing voices offered assistance. Her fireman helped her to her feet. “I’m going to turn you over to the EMT’s. They’ll take good care of you.”

  He’d taken his mask off and looked like a normal man, with a sooty, sweat-streaked face. Is that how she looked?

  “Thank you,” she croaked, barely able to make a sound.

  “You’re welcome,” he said with a smile, and Marti wanted to weep with gratitude.

  The EMT’s led her to an ambulance. Before she even sat on the back fender, they placed an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose. She felt immediate relief through the burned rawness of her nose and throat.

  A blood pressure cuff appeared on her arm and a brown haired, kind-eyed EMT shone a pen-light in each of her eyes.

  She was alive. She made it! She saw everything but felt slow to react. The EMT asked her questions and she didn’t know if she answered or not. In the distance, crowds of people watched the spectacle of the fire. Some of them were probably from the party.

  She thought of her dad and experienced a new nightmare. “My dad!” She pulled off the oxygen mask.

  “He’s fine. He’s safe. You can see him later.” They placed the oxygen mask back on.

  Marti sighed in relief and concentrated on dragging clean air into her lungs.

  * * *

  “This is as close as I can get,” the cabbie said. His expression said that only bad news lay ahead.

  “Thanks.” Adam handed over the fare.

  “Good luck, kid. I hope your friend is okay.”

  Adam nodded stiffly. He only had thoughts for Marti. Was she alive? Did they find her yet?

  He ran through the throngs of onlookers, panic growing with each moment. The fire lit up the night sky like a fireworks finale. News helicopters flew overhead. He passed numerous reporters filming live, and photographers snapping pictures.

  A barricade held the public back. He pushed through, and a police officer stopped him. “You’ll need to remain behind the barricade.”

  Adam stopped, debating his next move. He hadn’t come this far to be kept away. He’d knock the cop out cold if he had to. Thankfully the officer turned to hear a radio message, and Adam slipped by unnoticed.

  As he got closer, heat radiated from the firestorm. He didn’t know where to look or who to ask, so he ran up to a fireman. “Did they get the girl out?”

  “I’m not sure, but hang on and I’ll see if I can find out.”

  Adam paused while the fireman radioed in the question. A lot of static came back, but no answer. Adam couldn’t wait around. He took off in search of her. He spotted two ambulances, one with a couple of middle-aged guys near it. Two EMT’s stood next to the second ambulance, helping a person covered in soot. The person’s face was smudged and dirty, with bright white eyes staring out. It must have been pure hell in that house. Adam’s heart tightened as he thought of Marti fighting for her life.

  The person he’d been looking at tore off the oxygen mask and yelled something, but Adam couldn’t hear it. He moved on, but the figure in the ambulance waved, pushed off the medical personnel and ran toward him. He couldn’t imagine a fan recognizing him at a time like this, especially someone who’d just been in a fire.

  He froze.

  Marti?

  As the person got closer, he realized it was a girl. She called out again.

  “Adam!” Her voice sounded rough, like sandpaper.

  “Marti!” He couldn’t believe it. The world stopped turning as he looked at her smoke-ravaged body. Every inch of her was black and sooty. Her hair and clothes were wet. She ran to him, and he pulled her into
his arms and held her tight. Behind them, the fire raged as he held this beautiful miracle in his arms. He vowed to never let her go.

  “Adam!” she cried with a cough.

  He touched her hair and her back and held her trembling body close. He cursed his cast for getting in the way. She molded herself into him and cried.

  “You scared me so bad!” He held her face and looked into her beautiful eyes. How had he not recognized her?

  “I scared me! I can’t believe you’re here.” She smiled, revealing soot-covered teeth. She coughed again.

  “Are you okay?” He held her as she doubled over.

  She continued to hack and then said, “I’m fine.”

  “Let’s get you back to the ambulance and let them take care of you.” He knew she’d never go on her own, she was that stubborn.

  Adam rode along when they transferred Marti to the hospital. As the ambulance drove away, the mansion crashed in on itself, the firefighters losing the battle. Adam had been scared when he had fallen onto the rocks at camp. He had worried about his injury and that he’d let people down. But now, as they left the destruction, he realized how close he’d come to experiencing true despair, losing Marti.

  He still couldn’t believe he had arrived when he did. What if he would have waited until tomorrow? Was there some mystical force that had made him ditch his family in New York and hop a plane? He didn’t know. But he thanked the heavens he had.

  They delivered Marti to the ER at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. She looked like a refugee from a war-torn country. The staff buzzed with efficiency, asking her questions and setting up the room.

  A nurse entered data in a computer. “What are you parents’ names and numbers? We need to contact them right away.”

  Marti glanced at Adam with uncertainty and removed the oxygen mask. “My mom lives in Wisconsin, but no one knows where she is. My dad is Steven Hunter. He was in the house, but I don’t know where he is now.” She coughed, but not as bad as before.