“Damn.” Alvarez’s voice came from behind her. “He’s good.”
Riya swelled with pride as she turned to Alvarez. “He’s the best.”
Dhillon got close enough to pet the dog. In the same calm voice, he addressed the firefighters. “The dog is stuck in here, too. You’ll have to work around me.”
“Let’s go! We got EMTs? This door comes open, Doc gets the animal, you all get the vic,” Evans called.
Riya stepped out of the way, though every piece of her wanted to help.
Evans and Alvarez stepped slowly up to the car door with the Jaws. Dhillon did his best to keep the dog calm, though the big German shepherd lunged and barked at the two firefighters, forcing them to stop.
“Let me try,” Riya said.
Evans shook his head. “You have no gear on. And besides, you quit, remember?”
“I remember, but we have a situation here. That man is unconscious and bleeding. And I believe I can get close enough to cut him out.”
Evans eyed her, exaggerated patience in his voice. “You’re a civilian. No way.”
“It’s okay, now. He’s getting sleepy. But no sudden movements,” Dhillon continued in that same calm voice, his eyes never leaving the dog.
Evans and Alvarez made their way to the car. The dog was indeed calming down. They were almost close enough when the dog barked.
Riya was unable to tear her eyes from the scene. Dhillon was incredible, and her heart overflowed with pride for him, even as she longed to be the one running the Jaws. What had she done, quitting like that?
Evans and Alvarez removed the door. Dhillon grabbed the dog. Mario and his partner moved in to treat the patient. Helicopter rotors whipped overhead. She looked up as she saw the chopper swing around, looking for a place to land.
“Who’s the chopper for?” she asked.
“Not that it’s any of your concern,” Evans said, “but they’re trying to get a child out of the back seat of that car.” He pointed to the other smashed car on the bridge. He headed to Ambrose for further instruction.
She broke into a run without thought. Her bag slapped her side, and she was vaguely aware of Dhillon running right by her side.
If the child merited a chopper, there was something really wrong. She arrived to find another fire-station unit attempting to extricate the child.
The front of the car was smashed in, the child trapped in his car seat in the back, the car itself tipping dangerously over the guardrail that overlooked the street below. There was no way to access the child except from the street side, and that whole side of the vehicle was smashed. The child’s mother was being treated by paramedics, crying hysterically for someone to save her child.
Riya quickly assessed the scene. If they carefully cut the driver’s-side door open, someone could reach in and grab the child. The team was getting the Jaws ready. She went closer and watched. The side of the car was so badly smashed, only a small portion of it could be cut away. Leaving a very small opening.
She took a step toward them. “Hey. Need a hand?”
The two firefighters looked at her, one of them holding up his hand. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But civilians can’t be here.”
“I’m not a civilian.” But she was. “I’m with 52.” She pointed her thumb in the general direction behind her. “I can fit through that opening and grab the child.” She kept walking toward them and the car.
“Ma’am, I do not care who you say you’re with. Even if you are with 52, you’re not in uniform.” He glanced at her sundress.
“Do you want that child out or not?” Riya clamped her jaw shut and stared him down. “I can fit through a smaller gap.”
“We’ll figure it out. No way we’re letting a civilian—”
“She’s not a civilian.” Dhillon’s voice came from right behind her. Authoritative. “She’s a firefighter.” Proud.
Riya’s heart swelled.
“And who the hell are you?” the firefighter asked Dhillon.
“Listen,” Riya said to catch the firefighter’s attention, “there’s no time to debate this. Let me get him.”
