People were streaming out of the room, pushing and shoving each other through the double doors.Ben yanked the flaming curtains off the wall and tried to stomp out the flames.But two more fire bombs hurtled through the windows.Men came running from the back of the house to help stomp out flames.She and Stella huddled by the bar as they tried to stay out of the stampede of men streaming out of the club.Ben caught her eye, muscled his way over to them, grabbed her and Stella each by an arm, and guided them out of the room, which was filling with smoke at an alarming rate.In the main foyer, he pulled them over by the stairs.
“Are you harmed?”
Elizabeth shook her head.Stella dashed up the stairs.“I have to tell the dancers in the theater to get outside,” she called over her shoulder.
Elizabeth looked up at Ben.“I have to go get Robert.”Panic filled her as she imagined the smoke and fire reaching the second floor.She and Ben raced up the stairs after Stella.They burst through the doors to the suite.“Mrs.Todd!”she shouted.
A door opened and the lady appeared, wrapping her robe around her.“What’s happening?”
“Fire.Downstairs in the main gaming room.We need to get everyone outside,” Ben said.
Elizabeth wrenched open the door to Robert’s room.He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.She hurried to the bed and scooped into her arms.“We must get outside, darling.”
“What’s the matter, mama?”
“There’s a fire downstairs.”She turned and met up with Ben and Mrs.Todd.They raced down the corridor.As they came out of the wing, Elizabeth saw a man disappear through the doors into the theater.His oiled black hair and scarlet cravat were unmistakable.Jonas!Of course, he would be the orchestrator of the chaos.She turned to Ben.“I have to go find Stella.I will never forgive myself if she is hurt.Please take Robert.”
“No, Miz Harper.You should come with us.”Ben argued.
“I have to make sure Stella is safe.Please, take care of my son.”
Ben nodded and took Robert from her arms.“At the back of the stage, there are two doors that lead to a wooden staircase that will take everyone safely to the alley out back.Mrs.Langley knows the way.Make sure she knows what’s happening.”
“I will.”Elizabeth flew across the landing and flung open the doors to the theater room.It was empty and eerily quiet.She ran through the tables and climbed onto the stage.Pushing past the curtains, she finally saw people across the backstage area.The back door was open, and Mrs.Langley stood at the opening with a candelabra in her hand.She ushered the girls outside.“Anne, where is Gertie?”Mrs.Langley called out.
“I’m here!”A girl called out as she raced down the hallway.
Elizabeth hurried over.“Mrs.Langley, have you seen Stella?”
“Yes, she came back here to tell us about the fire.How bad is it?”
“I don’t know.Flaming bottles were thrown through the windows in the main gaming room.The men were trying to stomp out the flames, but there was a lot of smoke.Ben and I ran upstairs to get my son and Mrs.Todd.Ben has them.”She looked around.“Where is Stella?”
“Perhaps she already went down the stairs?”Mrs.Langley said.
“Go down and see, please.Call up if she is there.”
“But Miss Harper, you should come down too.”
“No, we are far from the smoke.I’ll be all right.I can’t leave without knowing if she is safe.”
Mrs.Langley followed the last of the girls down the stairs.Elizabeth stood in the doorway, waiting.She had a horrible feeling in her gut.Where was Griffen?He definitely came in here.Then she heard a crash from down the hallway that led to the dressing rooms.She raced toward the sound.
“You thought you could get away from me?”
Elizabeth careened to a halt outside Stella’s dressing room.The girl was on the floor, clutching her cheek.Griffen loomed over her, his face a mask of fury.
“Get away from her!”she yelled.She rushed at him with all her body weight, pushing him against the dressing table with a crash.His surprise had him stumbling and falling over a stool to sprawl on the floor.
Elizabeth grasped Stella’s hand and hauled her to her feet.But they weren’t quick enough.With a roar, Griffen grabbed his sister by the hair to pull her against him.He wrapped an arm around her throat.“You have fire, I will give you that, Miss Harper.Good thing I like it when they fight.”His features morphed into an eerily calm expression.All but his eyes.The candlelight flickered and reflected an unholy gleam in them.
Stella scraped with her fingernails against the arm around her neck.
“Don’t hurt her.Please!”Elizabeth cried out.
His arm relaxed slightly.Stella sucked in a breath, her chest rising and falling.
“You both are coming with me.Don’t try to run, or I’ll snap her neck.”He jerked his head to the door.“Slowly.”
