Boomer's Saving Grace: Mercy Springs Heroes Series Book 2

by Bliss Carter

  “You think the bitch is in here?”

  “Yeah, she’s somewhere. I’m not worried about opening all these damn cabinets. Just get it lit and we’ll be on our way. She won’t stand a chance. Her firefighter boyfriend can’t save her.”

  Francie heard some noises, some jostling around, a slosh of liquid being spilled out on the floor. All of a sudden, a whoosh of sound, along with a crackling she could feel in her teeth erupted nearby. Francie was torn. Should she try to get out of the closet to see what was waiting for her? Or should she stay put until help arrived? Thinking that she needed to at least peek out to see if they were still there, Francie tried to push the cabinet door open. It wouldn’t budge. Panic set in. She was trapped!

  She held the phone up to her and very quietly, almost soundless, stated to the 911 dispatcher, “Uhmmm, I’m not sure what’s going on, but I think they left me. I heard some noises going on in the kitchen, but when I tried to peek out, the door wouldn’t budge. I can’t get the cabinet door to open at all. It’s like it’s stuck or something.” Just then Francie noticed a trail of smoke wafting inside the cabinet. “Can you get them to hurry? I see and smell smoke. Oh my gosh! Is this place on fire? Please hurry. I don’t want to die!” Francie began crying hysterically now, barely paying attention to the voice on the other end of the line. She could feel the heat coming in from the door, hear the crackling of flames on the other side.

  “Help is almost there. I’m dispatching fire rescue as well. Just hold on a few more minutes Francie. Stay with me. Okay? Francie! Can you hear me?”

  “I…I, uh…hear you.” Francie said between sobs, coughs beginning to erupt from her throat and lungs.

  The smoke soon became thick inside where she was. Her throat began to burn, her lungs felt on fire. Coughing became a priority. She tried covering her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt to filter some of it, but it wasn’t working too well. Please hurry, she thought. Please help me. Her last thought before she lost consciousness was that she wished Ash would come rescue her. She knew if she could see his handsome face staring down at her, that she would know everything was going to be okay.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Walker was riding around in his cruiser, having just come back from visiting with Mrs. Groves and her son, David. Walker and his fellow brothers in blue had been called out to their home several weeks ago on a domestic abuse concern. Mr. Groves had been beating both his wife and son and a neighbor had heard the screams. Walker was glad that the woman had decided to press charges and obtain a restraining order. He had just delivered a copy of it to her and had gone over some protection tips. He hoped he wouldn’t be called back out there. His car radio came to life and he listened to dispatch.

  “Calling all available units to a shooting in progress. Address is 5851 Brooks Drive, vacant vendor building. Female reports shots fired at her and she escaped into building. Assailants unknown, number of and whereabouts unknown.”

  “Unit 6358 responding, requesting back up to this location. ETA three minutes out.” Walker stated calmly into his radio. This was his job. He knew what to do, how to do it. But since marrying Grace and becoming a father, he saw it in a brand-new light. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his life. He valued it and what he had in it too much. He had to do this the smart way. He raced his vehicle towards the area of Brooks Drive, not knowing what he’d see.

  “Unit 6358, please be advised four additional units are on the move to your location. Also, caller is reporting smelling and seeing smoke. She is trapped in closet in the kitchen area. Door possibly jammed or blocked. Fire and Rescue have been dispatched.”

  Walker cursed out loud. This wasn’t good. The address was bothering him, too. Like it sounded familiar. A bad thought was forming in his head. Desperation in his voice, Boomer asked, “Dispatch, do we have a name for the victim? Is she the only one?”

  “Vic is Francie Anderson. States she is alone at property, except for assailants.”

  Walker’s stomach dropped. His breath caught in his throat. Oh gosh, no. No, no, no. Not Francie. “Dispatch, relay this info to Detective Cade Grantham, badge 6984. Ask him to converge on scene with me and other units. It’s family.”

  Walker pushed down the gas pedal, racing as fast as he could towards Francie. Please let him get there in time.

  His sirens screaming, Walker drove up to the parking lot at the same time as other units. He noticed a black SUV with tinted windows sitting near the front door. He opened his door and swiftly took out his firearm. He patted his protective vest and waited for the other officers to exit their cars and secure backup before moving in. He saw Cade drive up like a bat out of hell from the corner of his eye, but didn’t lose focus on the SUV in front of him.

  Walker took off with his fellow cops across the cracked pavement, crouched and weapon ready. All of a sudden, both side windows opened up and Walker had a split second to see the gun barrels pushing out. He saw a flash from one of the guns and opened fire on the vehicle. Shots rang out, back and forth as he turned to take cover behind his open car door. He didn’t see it coming, didn’t know it would happen, but his foot caught in a crack and he stumbled for a moment. All of a sudden, he felt the impact of a bullet in his thigh. The searing pain, the burning flesh. He had never felt anything like it. It was overpowering. Walker stumbled again and fell to the ground, hearing shots firing still around him and over his head. He immediately started dragging himself towards the rear of his car, trying to take cover as best as he could. He heard Cade roar and more rapid fire from guns. Then all was silent, except for the loud hiss of a fire flaring to life inside the building.

  Walker could hear Cade screaming into his radio that he kept clipped to his belt, “Officer down! Officer down! Shots fired at MSPD on Brooks Dr. Badge 6358 down. I repeat, Officer badge number 6358 down. Ambulance needed. Known assailants are dead. Female still trapped in building. Fire and Rescue ETA imminent.”

  Walker felt Cade beside him. He was laying face down on the pavement, his thigh on fire. He looked up at Cade and the fury in his face and the concern there helped to clear his mind for a moment. “Cade, Francie. It’s Francie inside the building. That’s her car over there. She was coming today to look at the place for the girls to buy.” Boomer gasped in pain, sweat running into his eyes and fear lodged in his chest. “She’s trapped in the kitchen, in a cabinet. For several minutes now. Get her. Find her. Don’t worry about me. Grace will never get over it if she loses Francie.” He could see the anguish on Cade’s face as he looked at the building, knowing his sister in law was inside, in the midst of smoke and flames.

  Fire engine sirens were screaming as they filled the parking lot. Firefighters crawled out of doors, getting hoses ready, gathering up gear and masks. Boomer heard Cade take a swift indrawn breath. “Ash.” Boomer couldn’t believe it. He opened his mouth to repeat what Cade had said, then Cade yelled again. “Ash!”

  All of a sudden, Asher Yates was standing there in his turn out gear, fire jacket on and his helmet and face mask dangling in his hand. Cade looked at Asher, not giving him time to say anything first and stated calmly, almost too calm, “I don’t know when you got back, and I don’t care right now. The woman trapped inside the kitchen is Francie. Get her the hell out of there, Ash. Now. Do whatever you have to do.” The last part was said in a roar that brought the attention of everyone around them.

  Walker, grimacing in massive pain as his thigh muscles contracted around the bullet hole, saw Ash go completely pale.

  It was Ash’s turn to roar. “Francie? My Francie? Oh God. Please, no.” No more was said as he went racing off to his unit, letting them know what he had just been told. Then he and his fellow firefighters, including Killian and Braxton, were racing towards the front door of the building. Walker and Cade watched as the firefighters raced inside.

  Cade turned back to Walker, kneeling down next to him. “Ambulance is pulling up, bro. When it loads you, I’m going to go myself to Whimsy Events to get your wife an
d let them know about Francie. Ash has got her. He’ll get her out. I know it. I’m here for you brother. Always.” He held Boomer’s hand as EMTs raced towards him.

  “Take care of my wife, Cade. Promise me that you’ll tell her I’m talking and I’m okay. Tell her I said for her not to tell Jaxson anything. He doesn’t need to see me at the ER with a swarm of cops around me, hurt. I’m not going to do that to him.” At Cade’s nod of a promise, Boomer let the EMTs take over and assess his injury.

  ∞∞∞

  Well, this wasn’t the way he wanted to start his first day back in Mercy Springs in two months. Ash had only driven in at lunch today, and his shift had started at 2 PM since he was filling in for another crew member. Otherwise, he would have been at Francie’s office as soon as his tires hit main street. Now this. Ash’s heart was beating out of his chest as he advanced into the building, his protective mask on, and oxygen tank at his back. Even with not having worn it for a while, his body was still in tune with wearing his gear, as heavy as it was. But it wasn’t any heavier than his heart right now. Francie. Dear Lord. His baby was inside this hell hole. He and Killian made their way through to the kitchen, where from appearances is where the fire started. It had the ear marks of being created by some sort of accelerant. Maybe gasoline. Possibly something else. The fire inspector would be able to determine that. He didn’t care a bit about the why. He only cared about the who.

  As they fought their way through the kitchen, he found the cabinet that Cade spoke about. He seemed to know that this is where Francie was. As he and Killian got closer, he saw a broken broom handle stuck against the door, wedging it, and preventing it from opening. He kicked away the stick and wrenched open the door. Inside was Francie, his beautiful Francie Pants. The cabinet was too narrow for her to be totally on the floor, but she was slouched down inside, unconscious.

  Ash didn’t think further than getting her out of there. He looked at Killian, who nodded and shouted, “Get her and go. Now!” Ash pulled Francie from her position inside, and hefted her into his arms, which was like carrying a feather. Her arms hung loose from her sides, her head rolled towards his shoulder and Ash couldn’t even tell if she was breathing or not. He quickly advanced back out of the building, carrying her out into the fresh air, not once stopping until he got to the empty gurney waiting. He laid her gently on it, and let the EMTs get to work. As he watched them assess her, he ripped off his mask, all the while praying, pleading, for God to save her.

  He held his breath for what seemed like forever and heard the EMT state they had a pulse, but her oxygen level was very low. Probably soot in her throat and lungs and smoke inhalation. Ash watched them silently as they pushed up the gurney into the transport, tears running down his cheeks. He sniffed and wiped at them, leaving soot streaks in their wake. He couldn’t do anything else as he watched them pull away with her. He shook himself out of his stupor. Time to get things finished up, then get permission to take off to go see about his Francie. He hoped like hell she forgave him for the last two months.

  ∞∞∞

  Grace, Gertie and Kresley were standing at the coffee bar, laughing over a joke that Birdie had text them earlier, when the front door crashed open. Kresley turned and saw Cade come through, pale and looking like a thunder cloud. She immediately knew something was very wrong.

  “Cade. What’s wrong?” Her eyes widened when he walked straight over to Grace, but immediately began talking to her.

  Cade took hold of Grace’s hands and held on. “Kres, I need you call Sara and make sure she can take care of Jaxson for the rest of the day and possibly into the night. Tell her she’ll need to plan to spend the night, just in case. Do that as soon as I finish what I’m about to say. Gertie, I need you to go find Grace’s purse, phone and keys. Get them ready and be prepared to drive her. Grace, sweetheart, I have a message from Boomer. He told me to tell you that he loves you very much and that he’s talking and he’s going to be okay.” At that last statement, Cade felt Grace’s nails dig into his fingers and her face go deathly pale. She started hyperventilating, but remained standing, waiting on his next words.

  “Boomer, along with several other police officers, were caught in a shoot out earlier. He was hit by a bullet in the thigh and has gone to the ER. He was talking, alert, but in pain when I left him. I need to know that you’re okay and stable before I let you leave to go to the ER. Can you talk to me?” His soothing voice went well into helping her pull herself together.

  Grace took a long calming breath, her hands shaking as she pushed back her hair from her face. Now wasn’t the time to lose it. Boomer needed her. She cleared her throat and looked at Cade. “I’m fine, Cade. Thank you for how you told me. It would have been much worse if you had torn in here like a bat out of hell. Gertie, are you ready to go?” She stopped at Cade’s pressure on her fingers.

  “Kresley…where’s Birdie?” Cade asked, looking around. Kres just looked at him, perplexed.

  “She had to run an errand for a foster parent thing. She’ll be back soon.” Gertie stated, dread winding its way into her heart. “Why?”

  Cade took a deep breath. “The place where Boomer was shot is the same place that Francie went today to check out that vendor building. I don’t know how to say all of this, so I’m just going to say it. Francie arrived and soon after an SUV parked nearby. She was about to enter the building and noticed them. For some unknown reason, they opened fire on her and she was able to avoid them by getting inside and shutting the door. But she had to find a place to hide. She called 911 and stayed on the line with them. MSPD was dispatched out there, but in the meantime, the assailants came in and blocked the cabinet that she was hiding in, so she couldn’t get out. Then they lit the kitchen on fire, with her inside. Fire and Rescue arrived and Ash was there. I told him where she was, according to her words to 911 and told him to get her. I had no doubt that he would. Boomer left with EMTs for the ER and I left to come here and let you all know what was going on. But they called me on the way here and said that Francie had been found and was taken by ambulance to the ER as well. I know this is a lot to take in, but we all need to get going. Gertie can you drive?”

  Gertie simply nodded, not knowing what to say. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Ash?” Kresley asked, her hand stroking her baby bump, her eyes wide with fear and heavy concern.

  “I don’t know baby. I have no details other than he was there and from his expression when he found out about Francie, nothing and no one was going to stand in his way of finding her. Kresley, you’re riding with me baby. Gertie is driving Grace. Someone needs to call Birdie, but don’t tell her all that’s going on. Just tell her to come to the ER and you’ll tell her more there. Okay? I don’t want her driving upset.” The women merely nodded their heads and after turning off lights, making the phone call to Sara, they locked the door to Whimsy Events and took off for the ER.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Where the hell is everybody? What’s going on? Somebody better start talking now!” Birdie loudly yelled as she barreled into the ER waiting room. Out of breath from running and also from fear, she looked around with wide, panicked eyes. Tears began pouring down her cheeks.

  Killian, who had been standing near the doors, pretending to be just waiting with Ash, but secretly waiting to see Birdie, tore across the room to her. He put his hands around her face, holding her head firmly in his hands. “Birdie, calm down. Now!” He said firmly, commanding her to listen. He held her gaze steady with his, willing her to listen to him. “That’s right. Deep breaths mo ghràdh. Good girl. Everything is going to be okay. Let’s go over and let your sisters tell you what’s going on. Okay. That’s right, take my hand and we’ll walk together.” Killian took hold of Birdie’s delicate hand, squeezing it softly.

  Birdie, having calmed down with Killian’s help, snorted softly. “Another Scottish word, Killie? I really need to get a dictionary to be able to talk to you, huh?” Killian just smiled and kept quiet, knowing Birdie
joked to bypass her panic and pain.

  Kresley met Birdie in the middle of the room and held her arms open. Birdie flew into them, hugging her tightly for a few moments. Then she backed away and looked around. “Okay, so if hugs are over, tell me what’s going on. Who’s hurt? I don’t see Grace and I don’t see Francie…so I’m leaning towards one of them. I know it’s not Gertie since she’s the one who called me.” Birdie looked back over her shoulder at Killian and that’s when she saw him. “Ash?! What the hell?” She pointed her finger at him, looking at the tired resigned look in his eyes. “I’ll get to you in a sec.”

  Kresley rolled her eyes at Birdie’s antics. “Knock it off, Birdie. Not in the mood and we don’t have time for it. Today is a good day to grow up a little. Grace is with Boomer in the back. He was in the middle of a shootout earlier and got shot in the thigh. No, no! Don’t start crying. We don’t have time or energy for tears. He’s okay. He’s talking. He’s in pain, but he’ll be okay. No permanent injuries. So, chill.” Kresley watched her sister take a deep breath to center herself and waited. “Okay, good. Now, Francie is also back in the ER. We’re waiting to hear anything on her. I have no clue how to tell you this so I’m just going to say it and let Killian keep holding your hand.” Kresley looked over at Killie and at his nod, as if to say that he had Birdie, Kresley continued to tell her what happened to Francie.

  Voice quivering, tears trying to overflow her deep green eyes, Birdie looked around in confusion. “Cade, what in the world? Who would do this to my sister? Please tell me their dead. I know that sounds harsh, but I’d feel better knowing that they weren’t able to hurt anyone else.”

  Cade, who had come to stand next to his wife and hold her in his arms for support, leaned towards Birdie and kissed her forehead. “Brat, listen. Your sister needs you to be fierce and strong. The ones who did this are dead. We don’t know who they are right now, except for names. They shot at Francie, but we have no clue why. She’s lucky she was still conscious after being stuck in that cabinet inhaling smoke as long as she did. If it wasn’t for Ash and Killian finding her and getting her out quickly, she may not be here.” He saw Birdie’s head whip around quickly to Ash, who was still standing against the wall, eyes closed, a pained look on his face. When she started to go to Ash, Cade growled out “Birdie,” as if to warn her to watch herself. Without looking back, Birdie flipped off Cade and walked on towards Ash.