Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Another man came running up with a phone in hand, so Logan instructed him to call Duke.
“I just tried calling him. He didn’t answer, but that’s not unusual. He gets up every morning before first light and goes fishing before heading into the office. Cell service is spotty out at Ennis Lake.”
“What happened?” a woman called out as she came running up.
Logan shook his head. “Max woke me up because he smelled the smoke. I got here right as it blew.” He looked at the shell of the building. “Was that a business?”
“Yeah. K & L Mortuary.”
The mortuary sat on a large piece of land away from other structures, but Logan scanned the area to make sure no other businesses were affected, just in case.
“What about Frank?” a woman asked as she walked up, clutching a robe around her body.
Logan went on alert. “Frank? Did he live in there?”
She nodded, looking back at the building with sorrow etched deeply in the lines of her face. “He lived upstairs.”
Logan took off toward the ruins, barking out, “Call the county sheriff if you can’t reach Duke,” as he maneuvered around burning debris.
The contents of the building began to take shape around him as he neared what was left of the building. Metal tables he assumed were for the dead were scattered and bent like a giant had folded them in two. The back half of the building still remained, but the front half was gone. Covering his nose and mouth with the collar of his shirt, Logan paused when he saw a body resting amongst smoldering timbers. It appeared to be an elderly woman, most likely recently deceased based on the age. If not, she was already gone. He moved the timbers away from her body then went in search for the living. He made his way through destroyed desks and empty coffins, past what looked to be the incinerator until what was left of a staircase opened up before him. It was still burning and could collapse at any time, but the living quarters seemed to have mostly escaped the explosion. If Frank had survived the blast, he didn’t have long. Logan scanned the area looking for a water source. If he could find a hose, he could attempt to put out the fire still burning the roof and stairs.
Rushing back through the debris field, he shouted, “I need a hose and water!”
The gathered crowd looked at each other with wide eyes, but no one moved to help. They were still shell-shocked, unable to wrap their minds around the destruction in front of them. He’d seen it before in the desert of Afghanistan, but he didn’t have time for them to recover from the stranglehold shock had on their minds. He needed them focused, ready for action. He was about to start barking orders again when a large figure peeled out of the darkness and headed Logan’s way. Ty kept going around the back of the building, so Logan followed, keeping an eye on the burning structure in case it collapsed.
Ty stopped at the back of the building, reached down, pulled a hose from its coil, and handed it to Logan as he connected it to a faucet. “Frank watered his lawn every day. Said the families of the dearly departed felt at ease around flowers.”
He turned the faucet on, so Logan stood back, aiming the stream at what was left of the roof. The flames weren’t thick, the blast having put out most of the fire, but he was more worried about the smoke. If Frank lived through the explosion, he’d succumb to smoke inhalation quickly.
“We need to soak the stairs,” Logan bit out.
Ty took off without argument and rounded the building. Moments later, a door on the back of the building was kicked open. Logan handed off the hose to Ty with a nod, glad in that moment to have a man his size on his team rather than fighting him. Logan stayed outside to make sure the hose didn’t snag on shrapnel, until the full length was taut, then he ran through the open door and followed Ty.
The moment Ty had the flames burning the stairs at a manageable level, Logan began to climb them. The steps creaked under his weight but held. At the top of the landing was a large hole with little wiggle room for mistake. Needing momentum to make the jump, Logan backed up as far as he could but stopped when Max ran past him and cleared the gaping hole in a single bound, disappearing through an open doorway. Logan reset his stance and jumped too, following his four-legged team member through the door. “Max! Rescue!”
Covering his nose and mouth again, he waited for the telltale bark to alert him. Less than thirty seconds later, Max signaled from the right. Logan turned toward the sound. His eyes stung from the acrid smoke, but he kept pushing through, keeping low to the floor where there was still air to breathe, as sirens broke the night air. He should have waited for fire and rescue, but Frank might not have the time, so he kept moving. Entering a bedroom, he found Max crouched next to a man lying face up on the floor under a fallen ceiling joist. Logan didn’t take the time to check his pulse. If he was dead it didn’t matter, but if he were alive he needed air immediately. He grabbed hold of the body, pulled it out from under the joist, then hoisted him up and over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and exited the room with Max trailing behind.