As he raced for the emergency stairs, he heard his brother’s footfalls behind him. He’d never made it down a set of stairs faster than he had in that moment. Lungs burning, he didn’t stop until he reached the side of his truck.
As he dug for his keys, Harrison raced up, panting.“What is it?”
“It’s Dash’s office building!”Emerson snapped as he yanked open his door and climbed inside.
Flipping on the siren, he didn’t wait for his brother to get in. Harrison had a vehicle and seconds ticked by. He peeled out and floored it, racing back across town. Hordes of distant sirens filled the air, black smoke rising from where he’d seen the fire erupt. Emerson careened around the first corner before flooring it again. After giving his cellphone verbal commands to call Dash, the number popped up on the truck’s navigation screen.
A ring tone sounded once over the speakers before cutting out to a beeping sound. He tried three more times on the way, never getting past one ring. After hopping several curbs, driving on a length of sidewalk, and zigzagging through morning traffic, he came to a skid as close as he could without taking up valuable logistic space and leapt out of his vehicle.
The first ambulance pulled into the lot as he was getting out.
He scanned the perimeter, assessing the scene. The parking lot was barely half full—it was still early, which was a bonus. Fewer bodies were inside. Only one of those bodies meant everything to him. A growing group of onlookers stood on the sidewalk across from the building, some of them filming the fire with their phones.
A couple of others hovered over someone lying on a grassy median in the parking lot. He strode that way to see if someone needed medical assistance. The person looked familiar. The guy slowly sat up with the aid of someone beside him, coughing and holding his head. His wide-eyed gaze landed on Emerson’s.
“Randall?”
Randall shook his head, appearing muddled.
Emerson knelt beside his brother.“Rand,are you okay?”
“I… I think so.”
“Where’s Dash?”Emerson asked.
“I…” Randall coughed, clearing his lungs. His body and face was covered in black soot. Tiny pieces of glass littered his hair. Minor burns appeared on his arms and the side of his face. “I don’t know. There was an explosion… and then I woke up out here.”
After checking Randall’s pulse, Emerson rose to his full height and scanned the area again. A few more disheveled survivors sat on car hoods or medians, looking dazed and confused. One wept, another comforting him. There were a few men stumbling out of the building, coughing and covered in soot, who appeared to have minor to mild injuries.
But no signs of Dash or any of the others who might’ve been in the office. He mentally listed those he’d seen in the conference room. Four, not counting Randall.
Three young-looking EMTs raced over to Emerson, only one of them carrying their gear.
They all eyed him before one spoke. “Should we set up a triage tent, sir?”
Emerson wasn’t in the headspace to manage the situation, but neither station had arrived on-scene yet. Someone had to direct the trio of green first responders until someone else took charge. “You two set up in the back of the parking lot, between the two entrances. Leave plenty of room for emergency traffic flow and get the Guard to block it off from pedestrians along the sidewalk when they arrive. We’ve got one injured here and more walking out.” He pointed to the EMT carrying their bag and then to Randall. “Assess him first but keep your eye on the injured coming out of the building for any critical cases. Once the other buses arrive, have most work triage with a couple more working through the walking injured to assess.”
“Yes, sir,”the EMTs all said in unison and moved into action.
Engine 1 finally arrived, pulling into the parking lot. The other sirens were getting louder, but they weren’t nearly closeenough for Emerson’s liking. After racing back to his truck, he pulled his turnout gear from the back.
Harrison and his father arrived within seconds of one another. Emerson stepped into his boots and pulled up the protective pants by the suspenders, watching as his father thankfully took control of the scene.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Harrison said, rounding his truck.
Glass shattered above and another, smaller fireball erupted. The shattered pieces rained down onto the ground at the foot of the building.
“I’m going in to find Dash,” Emerson replied calmly.
“You’re an investigator now, not fire and rescue!”
“Did that stop you when it was Raimy?” Emerson barked, eyes wide.
Harrison growled with anger before answering,“No.”
His brother stormed off, leaving him to slide into his protective coat alone. After snagging his oxygen tank, mask, gloves, and helmet, Harrison returned. He clipped a radio onto Emerson’s waistband and attached the walkie to his collar.
“You ran out without communication,asshole,”Harrison muttered, snatching Emerson’s oxygen tank from him.
