“Call out!”
“Help!”
He sprang into action. Squeezed through the debris from the collapsed ceiling. The heat was suffocating, the smoke blinding. He slipped through the doorway. Flames engulfed the room. “Call out!”
“Over here.”
He headed toward the voice. The coughing. There was the bed. He squatted next to it and the teenage girl grappled for his boots.
“Found the victim,” Ty reported.
“Get her out the front. Move, move!”
Ty pulled her out and lifted her to her feet. But she was too weak to stand. Wracked with coughing. He pulled off his mask and put it over her face. “Hold it.”
She grasped the facepiece, and Ty swept her up in his arms. “Hang on!” Heat seared his lungs. Fire roared along the walls, nearly engulfing the exit. He had to get her out of here and fast.
“Parker, report!”
Ty ducked low, dashed through the doorway. A crack sounded. He hunched over, pushing forward. But a force from above shoved him down. The ground closed in.
Then there was only darkness.
Chapter 40
Jenna must’ve finally dozed off because the buzzing of her phone startled her awake.
Tyson.The fire must be out. He was calling to set her mind at ease. She grabbed for her phone and blinked at the screen.
Ronda?
She could think of only one reason Ty’s mom would be calling her at this hour. Jenna sprang upright, her heart thrashing as she stabbed at the Accept button. “What’s wrong?”
“Jenna, it’s Ty. He’s on his way to Riverview Shore.”
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I was so flustered. Chief said something about smoke inhalation and a head injury. Rick and I are getting ready to leave now.”
“I’ll be right over.” Jenna disconnected the call, flung off the covers, and jumped from the bed. She was halfway down the steps when she realized she was still in her pajamas.
Think, Jenna!
She quickly changed into the clothes she’d worn that night, grabbed her purse, and made it all the way to the front door before remembering her mom.
She rushed into her mother’s room and tapped her shoulder. “Mom. Mom, wake up.”
“Huh? Jenna? What’s wrong?”
“Ty’s headed to the hospital. He got injured on a call. I’m riding with the Parkers.”
“Wait.” Mom sat up. “I’ll go with you.”
Mom would hold them up by at least ten minutes. And Jenna didn’t want to put her through another stressful wait at the hospital. “No, stay here. I just wanted you to know where I was.” Jenna backed to the door. “Pray for him, Mom.”
“Of course, honey. Let me know when you get there.”
Jenna dashed from the house and tore across the street, panic rising with each step. The Parkers were exiting their house, rushing toward their crossover as frantically as she was.
