I spot him near the entrance, pressed against the wall by the crowd, clutching his dragon book with both hands. Tears stream down his face.
I shove through the last few people and grab him, pulling him against my chest.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
We push through the doors into the cool afternoon air.
The sidewalk is chaos—people clustering on the lawn, some on their phones, others just standing and staring at the building. Smoke pours from the back windows now, dark and thick.
Fire trucks are screaming in the distance, getting closer.
Tommy’s crying against my shoulder. I hold him tight, my own hands shaking so badly I can barely keep my grip.
“We’re okay,” I whisper. “We’re okay, baby.”
But I’m staring at the smoke, at the building that was fine five minutes ago and is now burning.
The library.
Dorothy was supposed to be here. Was supposed to be reading to kids this afternoon.
My stomach drops.
Was she inside? Is she still inside?
I scan the crowd, looking for her white hair, her purple cardigan, the cane she always carries.
I don’t see her.
The fire trucks pull up, and firefighters jump out and unroll hoses. I recognize the truck—station 47.
Cole’s.
And then I see him—pulling on his gear, shouting orders to his crew, moving with the same controlled urgency he had at the café.
Theo’s there too, already heading toward the building with the hose line.
I can’t move. Can’t breathe. Can only stand here holding Tommy while the library burns and the sirens wail and my brain screams the same thought repeatedly:
Not again.
Not again.
Not again.
Chapter seventeen
Chapter 17
Marco
It’s three-fifteen and my phone’s ringing.
I’m in my office reviewing financial records for the café investigation when my phone lights up with the dispatch number.
“Reyes.”
“Fire at Millbrook Falls Public Library. Active scene. Requesting arson investigation unit.”
