Authors: Jude Pittman
The sirens started about two miles from the apartment. Of course, they didn’t mean a thing—sirens went off all night in the city. Still, they set his nerves on edge and his foot pressed harder on the gas pedal.
The closer he got, the louder the sirens screamed and try as he might, Kelly couldn’t keep the hard knot out of his stomach. Two blocks from the apartment, he gave up all pretense of calm. Fire trucks blocked both ends of the street and screamed into the night.
Kelly slammed on the brakes, rammed Old Blue into a parking space and yanked the door half off its hinges. His feet hit the concrete flying. Across lawns, over retaining walls and past two apartment complexes, Kelly ran like a man with the devil on his heels. When he rounded the corner of Krystal’s building, a cloud of thick, black smoke choked the breath out of his lungs. His eyes burned and his breath came in short gasps but he kept running, with only one thought in his head—get to Krystal’s bedroom and get her out.
“Please, God,” he begged. “Don’t let me be too late.”
Kelly raced around the complex until he reached the apartment. Stopping outside Krystal’s bedroom window, he yanked off his jacket, rolled it into a ball and smashed his hand into the glass. He saw the blood spurt up his arm. He felt nothing. Up and over the sill he went, letting go and falling into a pile of downy pillows.
“Krystal!” He screamed her name.
She didn’t answer. He crawled off the bed and stumbled across the smoke-filled room.
“Krystal!” he called again, as he pulled open her closet and groped around inside.
“Where are you?” He backed out and started for the door. His hand felt the wall and found the light switch. Choking and retching, he wiped his burning eyes and tried to see through the faint glow of light. Nothing moved. The room was empty. Where was she? Had they gotten her out? He couldn’t breathe.
Talking aloud, using his own voice to keep himself calm, he stopped at the door and felt the wood. It burned his fingers.
“No, don’t open it,” he said, yanking back his hand. “It’s too hot. She’s not in here. They must’ve gotten her out. Stop it now. Steady. Don’t panic. Got to get back out of here. Back to the window. Okay, careful now, over the sill.”
Putting all his strength into the effort, he heaved himself through the window and crashed to the ground.
“Hey!” A fireman grabbed his arms as he struggled to stand. “You can’t go in there,” the fireman said.
“Penny!” Kelly croaked. “Got to check her room. Where’s Krystal?”
“Take it easy,” the fireman said, forcing Kelly back to the ground. “Our guys are inside. They’ll take care of them. That’s a nasty gash on your hand. We better get the medic over here to take a look.”
Kelly stared at the blood-crusted wound. The painful throbbing finally registered in his brain but he pushed it aside.
“Look!” he shouted.
Another fireman stood framed in the window of Penny’s bedroom with a blanket-wrapped bundle clutched in his arms.
“Medics!” Kelly’s companion shouted and raced to help his partner. Seconds later, two white-coated medics rushed up with a stretcher and the fireman handed his bundle out the window. The blanket dropped away and Penny’s long black hair fell like a web onto the white-sheeted stretcher.
The medics pushed the stretcher away from the fire and clamped an oxygen mask over Penny’s face. Kelly let out his breath. At least she wasn’t dead.
“That’s everybody out,” Penny’s rescuer said to Kelly’s companion. “Who’s this?” he asked, pointing at Kelly.
“Friend,” Kelly choked.
“Okay. Better move back. Your friend is on her way to the hospital.”
“Krystal.” Kelly managed to control his voice. “Her roommate. Where is she?”
“Sorry. I don’t know. She’s not inside, though. The apartment’s empty. Maybe she’s out front.”
“Thanks!” Kelly struggled to his feet. “I’ll go take a look.”
Kelly circled the complex a dozen times while the firemen finished the clean up. Krystal was nowhere in sight. Finally, he approached an onlooker, borrowed his cell phone and called Gus. Gus listened to Kelly’s story and asked to speak to the fire chief. Kelly found the chief and handed over the phone. After a short conversation, the chief handed it back to Kelly.
“No one but Penny was hurt in that fire,” Gus said. “Krystal must’ve been out somewhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. The chief says his men have checked all the units. Everyone’s safe.”
“Thanks,” Kelly said, reassured. “I’ll head on over to the hospital and check on Penny. Maybe she’ll know where I can find Krystal.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you there. I don’t want to get you stirred up again but the chief says they found a gas can in the girls’ living room. This could be connected to Anna’s murder. I’ll want to talk with Penny myself. You’re not a relative, so you’ll need clearance to get inside. Why don’t you wait for me out front.”
“Okay. Thanks, Gus.”
* * * * *
“What happened to your hand?” Gus asked, when he walked up to Kelly in front of John Petersmith Hospital.
“It’s nothing,” Kelly glanced at the bandage. “Just a cut from breaking the glass in Krystal’s window. The medics taped it up.”
Gus nodded. “Let’s go then. Penny is on the fifth floor.”
With Gus in the lead, they strode through the front doors, crossed the crowded lobby and stepped into one of the elevators. On the fifth floor, Gus headed down the hall to the nursing station. A tall, gray-haired nurse looked up from reading one of the charts. Gus pulled out his identification and asked for Penny’s room number.
“She’s in five-sixteen,” the nurse said, satisfied with Gus’ credentials. “Straight down the hall and turn to your right. I’ll page her doctor.”
“Thanks.” Gus said and started down the hall with Kelly at his heels.
At the door, Gus knocked gently and pushed it open.
Penny lay on the stark white sheets with her hair fanned out across the pillow. Kelly caught his breath. She looked like one of the china dolls he’d seen in a gift shop.
Gus walked over to the bed and sat down in a chair. Kelly stood back and watched. Penny’s arms lay stiff against the sheets.
Gus touched her hand and her eyelids fluttered open. Fear sprang into her eyes and she squeezed them shut. Quickly, Kelly stepped up to the bed and crouched beside her. “It’s okay, Penny,” he said. “Detective Graham is here with me.”
Her eyes opened to narrow slits, then widened in recognition. “Penny, where’s Krystal?” Kelly stroked her hair.
“Krissie no home,” she said.
“I know.” Kelly nodded. “Where is she?”
“Not know. I go shopping. Come home. Krissie say man call from Houston. Talk with her about mother. Krissie go.”
“Go where?”
“Not say. Maybe see uncle?”
“She said she was going to see her uncle?”
“No. But she say go to Houston. I think maybe she talk to uncle.” Penny’s breath had started coming in short gasps.
Gus reached over and touched Kelly’s arm. “Better take it easy,” he said.
Kelly flushed and drew back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
Gus nodded. “I know. Maybe we should wait for the doctor before we ask her any more questions.”
Kelly nodded and smiled down at Penny. “Sorry,” he said. “I got a bit carried away.”
Penny blinked and tried to smile. “I worry for Krissie too. Hurts a little.” She placed her hand against her chest.
Kelly stroked her hand and smiled. “Don’t talk. I’ll find out where Krystal is. She’ll go crazy when she hears about you. As far as she’s concerned, you’re her sister.”
That brought a real smile to Penny’s face and she blinked to keep back tears.
The door to the room swung open and a tall man wearing a white coat strode into the room.
“I’m Dr. Hankins,” he said. “You’re the police detective?”
“Detective Graham,” Gus said, standing and offering his hand. “The nurse seemed to think it was okay for us to wait here in the room.”
Dr. Hankins nodded. “She’s going to be fine. There was quite a lot of smoke inhalation but we don’t expect any permanent damage. We’ll keep her a couple of days for observation.”
“I’ll just ask her a few more questions then,” Gus said. “If that’s okay?”
“Fine. As long as she stays calm.” He stepped up to the bed and bent over Penny. “I’ve spoken to the university. They’ve been in touch with your parents and they’re flying in from China tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Penny gasped. “They are frightened?”
“No, they’re okay. They just want to be with you. Don’t worry now. I’ll let you talk to these gentlemen for a couple of minutes, then I want you to get some sleep. Okay?”
“Thank you,” Penny said.
“Five minutes.” The doctor turned to Gus.
“On the button,” Gus said.
Dr. Hankins nodded and strode out of the room.
Gus sat back down in the chair and smiled at Penny. “This man Krystal spoke with on the telephone…did she mention his name?”
“No.” Penny shook her head.
“Can you remember what she said about her mother?”
“Say man know why mother killed.”
Gus stiffened. “She said that?”
Penny nodded. “I ask her not go but she say she must. I say please call Mr. Kelly but she say no.”
Kelly clenched his fists and clamped his lips to keep from interrupting Gus’ interrogation.
“What time did Krystal leave the apartment?” Gus asked.
“Maybe ten.” Penny squinted, trying to remember. “I make tea after shopping. We sit. Krissie have milk, then say she go. I get very sleepy. Go to bed.”
Gus looked at Penny and nodded. “You’ve been a big help. I don’t think we need to bother you any more right now.”
Penny looked at Kelly. “You find Krissie.”
“You bet I’ll find her.” Kelly took her hand. “And she’ll call you herself, the minute I tell her what happened.”
“Thank you,” she said and her eyes fluttered shut.
Kelly and Gus walked quietly out of the room. Outside, Gus turned to Kelly.
“I want to have a word with that doctor before we leave,” he said. “How about if I meet you down in the lobby.”
“Sure,” Kelly said. “I could use some air.”
“Okay. I won’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes.”
Out front, Kelly paced back and forth in front of the doors. It was times like this when he almost wished he smoked. Gus’ behavior puzzled him. He obviously wanted to ask the doctor something he didn’t intend to share with Kelly—probably something about Krystal.
Gus knew Kelly had fallen hard for her. He wouldn’t be likely to share any fears he had for her safety. He didn’t need to, though. Kelly already suspected that the man who’d called Krystal was the murderer. It scared the hell out of him.
Where’s Gus? He’d said ten minutes. It had been at least twenty. Damn it all, Gus was a cop. He ought to know Krystal’s life could be in danger.