Thursday's Child (26 page)

She tried not to cough, but the smoke filled her lungs, and she had no choice.

“I know you’re in here.” Shuffling steps came up behind her. “Come on, Niamh. Let’s talk about this.”

“Nothing to say, Miles.” She kept crawling. Surely the window was in front of her, but she was so lightheaded she was no longer sure.

“Niamh, I found a way out. Where are you?”

“Where’s Toby?”

“Saving his own skin. We need to get out of here. Come and give me a hand trying to get this door open.”

Why is he doing this when he wants me dead?
“Why should I believe you? You’re in this as deep as he is.”

Groping fingers found a wall and door frame.

His voice was husky. “You believe me because you know Toby wrote those notes as well as I do, Niamh. How else could you receive them in the internal mail? And now the judge knows. Toby cut your brakes. He took the files and gave them to me. He set the fires in here. We can send him down.”

“While you plead insanity? Or turn Queen’s evidence?”

Miles’s hand gripped her wrist and hauled her to her feet. “Do you want to get out of here or not? Just help me with this door.”

After a couple of shoves from both of them, the door gave enough for them to roll through. She shut the door behind her. Pushing upright, she staggered to the window. It had bars across it. She looked around for a chair. She was back in the courtroom.

Flames crackled from the bench and around the doors. She was trapped. Picking up the fire extinguisher, she raised it and aimed it at the window. It just fitted between the bars.

Nothing happened.
Of course, reinforced glass. It won’t break and besides I’m on the fifth floor. Far too high to jump.

She jumped as a hand grabbed her, pulling her away.

“No, you don’t.” Miles dragged her to the center of the room, pushing her against the central pillar. Yanking her hands behind her back, tying her securely.

“Miles…” Terror filled her. Tears blinded her as the heat from the acrid smell seared her throat. “What…?”

“You’ve heard of Joan of Arc?” he whispered in her ear. “This is Niamh of Headley Cross. Different story. Same end.”

21

Flames issued from every window of the court building as Jared's fire engine reached the shout. Thick smoke rose high into the sky. The hissing, crackling sound Jared knew all too well, filled the air. Dozens of other fire engines had already arrived. Hoses ran across the courtyard and well over one hundred firefighters stood kitted up in breathing apparatus.

Water streamed from high volume hoses, making little impact on the immense fire.

He resisted the temptation to look around for Niamh. Every building had standard evacuation procedures, the judiciary even more stringent ones, and the court officers would make sure everyone got out. Until told otherwise he would assume she was safe. He had to. Otherwise, he couldn’t focus on his job.

Jared pulled his BA onto his back and fastened it. He checked his air and gave his tally to Phil who stood with the breathing apparatus entry control board.

“You’re Alpha One team,” Phil remarked as he checked Jared’s details.

Skippy handed over his tally.

“Alpha One with Jared.”

Brad looked at him. “Jared, I want you manning the BA board.”

He shook his head. “I want in there, Guv, please.”

Toby ran over to him. “Niamh’s still in there. Miles has her.”

“What?” Terror gripped him. “But he wants her dead.” He spun around to face his commanding officer. “Please, Guv. This guy’s been after her for weeks. If he set the fire, if he kills her now after everything she’s been through…”

“Fine, but you don’t take any risks. Skippy, go with him.”

“Thanks. Toby, where is she?”

“We were in court five, towards the back of the building. It’s on the fifth floor. Miles, Niamh, and I left together. There was an explosion in the fire exit stairwell, we got separated as we headed back the way we’d come. I got out through another exit. I don’t know what happened to them.”

“Skippy, let’s go.” Pulling his mask on and rushing the pre-entry check, Jared ran towards the burning building.

Lord, if I am to die here, help me get at least one person out. Let me save Niamh. I couldn’t save our daughter two years ago, allow me to redeem myself now. And let Patrick be safe. I don’t have time to check he got out.

The heat was intense, almost pushing him backwards. The building crackled and shimmied around him. He hadn’t been this scared in a fire since the one that claimed Dayna’s life.

Keeping close to Skippy, he dodged the dancing angels of fire coming at them from every wall and vent.

He pointed towards the fifth floor and Skippy nodded. Once the ladder was secure, Jared took the lead, running up the ladder with the hose. He checked the floor before clambering over the window sill. Fire raged inside, but spraying water on the fire as they moved, the two men made their way up to the corridor.

The radio crackled in his ear. “Alpha one withdraw! The front of the building shifted. It’s unsafe.”

Skippy pulled his arm. “We have to go.”

Jared shook his head. “You go. I’m not leaving Niamh.”

Boom!

An explosion to the left sent both men to the floor, a shower of debris covering them. Jared quickly pushed it off and scrambled to his feet, hauling Skippy up with him. “I’m staying,” he repeated.

“Then so am I.”

Jared let go of him and turned the hose on what had become an inferno. If he ever imagined hell, this is what it would look like. Thick black smoke assailed him from every angle. Hissing and blistering flames impeded his path, sizzling under the impact of the water. Sweat dripped down inside his mask, pooling inside his collar. Deep inside, the persistent fear he was too late, tried to get out. But if he let it, he was doomed.

****

Niamh watched helplessly as Miles sloshed petrol around the floor, the clanking can mixing with the sound of the fire.

“Why pour fuel on a fire?”

“Setting up a flashover. Toby will send that fool of a husband in to find you. This will deal with him. The explosion puts out the fire by the door so I can get out.”

She twisted her hands. A futile gesture as the rope was too tight. “Please, let me go. We can both get out of here.”

Miles set a trail of petrol from her feet to the door. Then he tossed the can away. It landed by the bench, the last dregs of petrol eking towards the flames.

Niamh struggled harder. “Help!”

Miles pulled the gun from his belt and pointed it at her. “Oh be quiet.”

She looked at him defiantly. “Help!”

Miles held the gun in the air and fired.

****

“What’s that?” Jared turned hearing something. “Sounded like a gunshot.”

“In there,” Skippy said. “Court five. Isn’t that what he said?”

Jared nodded. “Niamh, are you in there?”

“Jared.” Her voice was muffled behind the door, but he knew it was her.

“Here.” He shouldered the door.

“Check the door for heat, Jared.”

Skippy’s call came too late. The door blew open, sending a backdraft of light and heat and fire hurling towards them. Jared dived, pushing Skippy out of the way.

Heat and light barreled over him.

He automatically held his breath, forgetting his air tank would still supply his oxygen.

Once the heat passed, he stood and hauled Skippy to his feet. “Are you all right?”

“Fine. You?”

“I will be once we find Niamh.” He turned his attention to the door. The fire had lessened. “Niamh?”

“Jared, in here.”

Taking a deep breath, he reacquired the hose and aimed the water onto the fire and into the room beyond.

****

To Niamh it looked like a scene from a film, with the firefighters standing silhouetted against a fire filled doorway. Her heart leapt. He’d come for her.

The floor creaked beneath her. Miles stood beside her, gun aimed at her head. Tears streamed down her face. Her chest heaved with the effort to breathe as she twisted her hands against her bonds.

Water sprayed from the hose, clearing a path towards her. She twisted her hands, feeling the rope loosen a little. “Jared,” she called, the one word sending her into a paroxysm of coughing.

“Let her go.” Jared’s voice was muffled behind the mask, his coat scorched. He held out a hand. “Just let her go and we can all get out of here. Hon, take my hand.”

Niamh twisted her head as the floor at the corner of the room buckled. “I can’t move. Please, Miles, untie me. Don’t do this.”

Jared’s voice took on a stronger tone. “We have to go now.” His hand stretched through the flames.

His image shimmered in the heat, and she blinked hard. “I can’t move.”

Was this how Dayna felt in those last few moments of her life? Heat searing her body, unable to breathe or see.

She moved her hands again, the rope finally giving and slipping from her wrists.

Jared took a step towards her. She reached out, trying to grasp his hand.

The gun clicked. The hose moved, the jet of water hitting Miles and sending him across the room.

The floor creaked and gave way beneath her. She screamed as she fell.

Her arm jerked as something grasped her hand. She glanced up and saw Jared leaning over the hole, his gloved hand folded around her wrist.

“Give me your other hand.”

She stretched up. Something heavy grabbed her leg. She glanced down to see Miles leering up at her. He looked dark against the brightness of the flames beneath them. She squirmed, trying to free herself. Was this was like to be roasted on a spit? The intense heat felt like it melted the soles of her shoes.

Jared grunted with effort. His grip faltered and her hand slipped.

“Don’t drop me,” she screamed.
Please, God, don’t let him drop me
.

“Give me your other hand.”

She stretched as far as she could, but not far enough. Her fingers grazed his, not able to grasp them. She slipped a little further. The weight on her leg dragging her down.

Just as she was about to fall, another gloved hand grasped hers. She glanced up as both Jared and his partner heaved, pulling her to safety.

The hand on her ankle loosened, and a scream echoed as Miles fell into the inferno below. Then she was tossed over Jared’s shoulder as he and the other firefighter made their way from the room.

The floor beneath them creaked, and the walls buckled. Jared broke into a run. No sooner had they rounded a corner than the corridor behind them fell into oblivion.

Niamh raised her head. Through blurred eyes, she glimpsed the two firefighters point. Their muffled words made no sense over the roar of the flames.

She closed her eyes praying hard. She had no idea how they were going to get out. There was no human way they could get out. The stairs were gone, the floor behind them gone.

Only God could save them now.

Then Jared began moving again with a greater sense of urgency. The whole building began to move.

She raised a hand to protect her head as masonry began to fall around them.

22

Niamh sat on the stretcher inside the ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders, and an oxygen mask over her face. She smiled at Jared as he stood outside the doors. He was hopping from one foot to the other as the paramedics checked her over. She smiled, trying to ease his nerves. “I’m OK.”

“No talking,” the paramedic chided. “We’re taking you to hospital. You inhaled a lot of smoke.”

“Then I’ll come with,” Jared said, climbing in beside her. “I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”

Brad came over to him. “I need you here, I’m afraid.”

“Guv?”

“Niamh isn’t in any danger. Unlike the building behind me. If we don’t get a handle on this fire soon, we’ll lose it and the one next to it.”

Niamh could see the indecision play on his face. Torn between love and duty. “I’m fine, Jarrie.” She pulled the mask off and kissed his soot covered cheek. He smelled of fire and smoke. She probably did as well. “They need you here. I’ll get Liam to come and sit with me. And if you should see Patrick anywhere, tell him where I am.”

Jared held her gaze, and then pulled her in for a gentle kiss. “OK.”

She ran her hand down his face. “Just stay safe. No more heroics tonight. I intend to marry you in the morning.”

“I promise. And I’ll find out about Patrick if I can.”

“Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He leapt down from the ambulance and did his jacket up as he headed back towards the fire with the other firefighters.

Thank you, Lord, for getting us out of there. Keep him safe. Keep them all safe
.

Darkness had fallen and the sky was lit with an eerie orange glow. Soot and ash rained down from the sky. A loud crash sent embers high as the back of the building fell inwards.

“We’ve got to go. They’re pulling everyone back.”

Just as the door closed, a voice she recognized spoke. “Wait a second. That’s my sister.”

She pulled the mask off again. “Patrick.”

The door opened slightly and, in the next instant, she was in his arms. “I thought I’d lost you,” she cried.

“I thought the same.” He sat down and pushed her to lie down. “We can talk on the way.”

The paramedic strapped her down and the ambulance pulled away, sirens blaring.

“Patrick, Toby…”

“Toby is safe. He went back to the office once he’d been checked over.”

She shook her head. “Toby is the inside leak. It’s his handwriting. Judge Matheson has the papers. Or he did. He’ll know.”

Patrick’s eyes grew wide, and he pulled out his phone. “He’ll be after the judge.” He dialed rapidly. “Nate, its Patrick. You need to arrest Toby Croft. And get someone over to Judge Matheson’s immediately. Croft’s the inside man and he’ll try to take out the judge next. I know. No, Niamh’s safe. I’m with her now on the way to Headley General. Sure, we’ll meet you there.”