Twisted Fire (29 page)

“
That’s all they did, and they were killed for it?”

“
It was enough. I do it for fun rather than revenge, until now that is.”

“
I never led you on or teased you. I thought we had a great working relationship.”

“
You didn’t think you led me on?” he said in a sardonic tone. “You pranced around the clinic with your large breasts and full lips, and then just refused me.”

“
You’re delusional.”

“
Oh well, doesn’t matter now. The reason is just a means to an end. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, Charlotte. Anyway I got a fire to light and this time you can be awake. Just the thought of it is exciting. I’m going to enjoy this.”

With a mocking wave, he disappeared from the doorway and she listened for what seemed like endless minutes for any sign of his location to see if escape was an option. This is when she smelt gas and guessed it would be coming from the kitchen. This was obviously his ignition for the fire. Didn’t gas explode? She started to panic. The unmistakable sound of a fire being lit resonated down the hall. Fear and desperation caused her to scream out for help. She knew it was probably pointless but she had to do something.

“
Goodbye, beautiful. Sorry it had to come to this. We might have been great together,” he said sticking his head in the door before disappearing towards the front door. Fear overcame her and the realisation that she might never see her loved ones again hit her full in the face.

Chapter 30

Gone

Lucas and Maggie arrived to find three squad cars waiting for them. There were two officers on each of the back entrances and two on the front, and they were waiting on the word to go. Lucas was about to give that word when they heard the distinct whooshing sound of a fire igniting. An officer on the radio confirmed a blaze had started in the family room. Lucas quickly organised for a fire truck to be dispatched. It would be longer than expected as the crew from the local fire house had already been called out and a truck from a different station, Jared’s station, would be attending. This would result in a delay of at least fifteen minutes.

They were deciding the next course of action when Jared’s Ute pulled up. He leaped out of the car with Chelsea hot on his heels.

The front door flew open as they joined Lucas, and Shaw ran out, straight past two officers who pounced on him immediately.

“
Where is she?” Jared yelled as he ran towards Shaw.

“
She’s inside, but I’m not going to tell you where.”

“
And my brother?”

Shaw shrugged and offered a wry grin.

“
Get him out of here.” Lucas had come up behind Jared.

“
I’m going in,” Jared told him.

“
It can’t be safe. Wait for the truck.”

“
How long before it gets here?

Lucas updated Jared on the ETA.

“
Too long. She can’t wait.”

He was starting to remove his t-shirt when Mitch arrived.

“
What’s going on? What are you doing?” Mitch asked.

“
Where did you go? You were supposed to be protecting her. Forget it, there’s no time. I’m going in.”

“
Here, take my shirt,” Mitch told him as he removed it.

“
Thanks.” Jared threw his t-shirt back on, went to the tap to wet Mitch’s before tying it around his face and heading towards the front door.

Although the smoke was thick, visibility was still satisfactory. He smelt gas and knew he needed to locate her quickly. Shaw must have known this, lit the fire in the family room knowing it wouldn’t take long to ignite the gas but still allow him time to escape.

He searched the front two bedrooms first and found them empty. He almost went past what had been Charlotte’s bedroom, but he knew all rooms should be checked. He was relieved to find her still conscious. He undid the rope attached to the bed, picked her up and headed straight towards the front door. She was yelling something at him but he was unable to hear her. When he set her down to untie her she told him about Max.

“
Where is he?” he asked grimly.

“
In the dining room.”

“
Dammit, the place is going to blow. I have to go back.”

“
Jared,” she cried as he ran back into the house.

He found Max on the floor, breathing shallowly. He carefully collected him from the floor. Even though the fire was burning strongest in this room, Jared determined the fastest exit was through the sliding door in the family room.

The fire was now burning its way towards the dining room and would reach the kitchen and the leaking gas at any moment. There was no time to waste. He sprinted into the family room and stopped when he reached the sliding door. As he smashed the glass with his elbow he felt the glass tear through the skin along his arm and hand. Ignoring his injuries, he climbed carefully but quickly through the broken glass, sprinted toward the back of the yard and the garden shed, hoping to be shielded from the blast.

* * *

Charlotte thought forever must have passed and Jared should be out by now. He would have found Max easily. Surely too much time had gone by. Something must have happened. The thought of losing him was agonising. The truck siren could be heard as it drove up the road and she thought it must be driving in slow motion as it was taking far too long to arrive at the house. It finally pulled up as an explosion rang out.

“
No!” Charlotte screamed.

Chelsea and Lucas were supporting her weight but her legs gave out and she slumped to the ground.

“
Where’s Jared?” Sam asked Lucas as he ran over.

“
He went in to get Max and we haven’t seen him yet,” Lucas answered grimly.

Chelsea was sitting on the ground next to Charlotte holding onto her as she sat stony-faced with shock.

“
I’ll find him. He knows what he’s doing and wouldn’t have been near when the explosion occurred.”

He ran back to the truck, pulled on his protective helmet and went into the house with a crew member. They were gone so long and Charlotte thought this couldn’t be good. Her body felt cold and she couldn’t stop shivering. Her heart thumped so hard she thought it might burst straight out of her chest.

When Sam returned infinite minutes later, he looked dejected.

“
I,” he stopped and tried to calm his building emotions. “I didn’t find him.”

He’d sent his crew member to check the rear yard but didn’t think they were going to have any luck. Jared wouldn’t have gone that way, not into the fire. When the officer returned from his check, he gave a quick shake of his head to Sam.

“
Where is he?” Charlotte asked agitated.

“
We won’t know until the fire is out. He wasn’t anywhere in the house. He either got out the back way or he was in there when it exploded. I’m sorry, Charlotte.”

Sam dropped to the ground, removed his helmet and put his face in his hands.

“
No!” The blood drained from her face. “Jared,” she whispered before weeping in her sister’s arms.

* * *

Jared and Max scarcely hit the deck when the explosion erupted. He felt the hot gust and waited it out until he knew it was safe. He looked down at Max who appeared to be struggling. Jared needed to move.

He stood up slowly to ensure he didn’t cause Max too much pain and then eased him over the neighbour’s fence before jumping it himself. He saw his crew were starting to get the fire under control and determined it would be safe to move through the neighbour’s yard to the front. He wanted to check Charlotte for himself, make sure she was alright and then have her attend to Max.

None of them saw or heard Jared approaching. Chelsea was holding Charlotte and reassuring her. Mitch stood a short distance from the girls, staring at the house, his mouth wide in disbelief. Sam held his head in his hands and Lucas was pacing the lawn, looking at the ground. He placed Max down gently and then crouched in front of Charlotte.

“
Charlotte, honey. Are you ok?”

Her head bolted up and she looked at him in disbelief.

“
Jared?” she asked looking at him in astonishment for a few moments before leaping into his arms.

“
They thought you were inside when … ” She stopped unable to say the words.

“
What kind of fire fighter would that make me then?”

Sam heard his voice and looked up with relief. “Did you actually go out the back way?”

“
Yeah, through the sliding door. I had to break it.”

“
Oh my God, you’re bleeding,” Charlotte cried.

“
It’s OK, it’s not too bad. Charlotte, can you please look at Max.”

“
Oh Max, yes,” she cried. “Can somebody please get me a first aid kit?” Sam raced off to grab the kit and Jared moved Max closer to Charlotte. She observed his laboured breathing and knew he was in trouble. She did what she could by stopping the blood flow and bandaging the wound.

“
You need to get him to the vet hospital right away. He’s lost a lot of blood and was exposed to the smoke for a long time.”

“
I’ll take him, Jared,” Mitch volunteered. “You need to go to the hospital and get stitched up. I’ll let you know how he is when I know.”

“
Thanks, Mitch. Sorry about before.”

“
It’s cool. I’m sorry I left her alone.”

“
It’s not your fault. I’m glad you’re alright.”

Mitch pulled him in for a hug before racing off to get his car ready for Max. They loaded him in and Mitch sped off towards the hospital.

“
Jared, you need to go to the hospital,” Sam reminded him again.

The two ambulance officers, who’d just arrived, were giving Charlotte oxygen and changing the bandage on her arm. One of them walked over to Jared with gauze and a bandage to patch him up for the ride to the hospital.

* * *

Once the relief of knowing he was alive had worn off, Charlotte remembered Emma’s words and the anger and hurt returned.

“
Are you alright, Charlotte?” She didn’t answer him.

“
Charlotte?”

She looked over at him, nodded her head, then turned away.

Chapter 31

Over

Charlotte couldn’t believe she was in the hospital again. She felt fine and hoped she wouldn’t have to stay long. She wanted to leave before seeing Jared. The thought of facing him was too much. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Yes, he had saved her life, again, but that was his job and Jared being the man that he was would not have left anyone inside. He was a good man and would save anyone and anything. Did this mean he was also incapable of the deception? Was there an explanation? Was Emma lying, or would he lie to her? What if the truth was worse?

They’d finished drawing blood and examining her, and she was waiting impatiently to be sent home, when Lucas came in to take her statement. Once completed, Chelsea rushed in.

“
Hi, honey. Are you OK?”

“
I’m fine. Hopefully they will get the blood results quickly and I can leave. I will obviously need to stay with you again.” She paused. “Have you heard about Max yet?”

Chelsea nodded, tears in her eyes. “He didn’t make it, honey.”

“
Oh, Max.” Tears spilled over and it took her a moment to compose herself. “Does Jared know yet?’

“
No, they’re still stitching his arm. The doctors told Mitch he hasn’t done any permanent damage but he’ll have one hell of a scar.”

“
Mitch is here?”

“
Yes. He blames himself.”

“
It’s no-one’s fault but Martin Shaw’s.”

“
Lucas is on his way to the station now to question him. With your statement and his connection to Stevens and the Newberry arsons, as well as the three here, he will be going away for a long time.”

“
I shouldn’t have let him in.”