Fire Escape - Book Three: Troubled Heroes Series (An Action Thriller) (9 page)

             
“Rise and shine, beautiful! We gotta get some major cleaning done during our down time today!” Lieu yelled, slamming the newspaper down right by Michael’s head. “I surmise you want this.”

             
Michael lifted his head and looked at his superior through one eye. “And what the hell has made you so damn chipper this morning? You must’ve gotten laid last night. How much you pay her?”

             
“Well hell, McGinnis. Not all of us can be as gorgeous as you, but where God failed in giving me looks, he compensated well in other areas, if you know what I mean.”

             
Michael scoffed and put the paper up in front of him. “Enough with the visuals, damn it! Let me read this crap and I’ll get started on whatever mundane task you have scheduled for me, oh fearless leader.”

             
Lieu peered over the top of the paper. “That why Crisante called in? She caught wind of the busy work today?”

             
“She caught wind of something, now shut up and let me read my damn paper.” He double checked to make sure they were the only one in the kitchen. “Seriously though, Lieu, can I ask you something?”

             
“Yeah, what’s up?”

             
“Since when did Captain Rooker start posting the call-ins for everyone to see?”

             
Lieu looked surprised, like Michael was talking in a different language. “What the hell are you talking about, McGinnis?”

             
“One of the guys was telling me he does that now.”

             
“Well whoever told you that is full of shit. Probably just yanking your chain.”

             
Michael played it cool, but why the hell would Gregg tell him something like that? He read over the same paragraph three times, finally giving up on concentrating on the news. Fibbing on something as stupid as the schedule? He didn’t get it. It wasn’t a big deal and he had bigger things to worry about.

             
“Engine, ladder… Engine Ladder…”
The tones went off, interrupting their chores.

             
On the drive over, he filled them in on the call. “Several witnesses say a car drove over the edge into the river. They think there are two victims. McGinnis and Walsh, you’ll be the first guys in. Prepare for a water rescue.”

             
“Damn, and it’s only forty or so degrees out there. Check your balls now, boys, because once you get in that water they’re gonna be nowhere to be found!”

             
Michael wasn’t as enthused, seeing as he had to do a rescue with Gregg, a man on his team that he was finding it harder and harder to trust. He had to push the personal stuff aside and focus on the rescue. Right now it was about the victims, not about Eva and Gregg and all of the crap piling up on his shoulders.

             
They arrived on scene and Michael stripped his coat and boots off. Within seconds, he dove into the river, attempting to get to the people before the car was completely sunk. It was like shards of glass stabbing him when he hit the water, taking his breath away. He pushed the pain aside and dove down to get a better vantage point. Swimming to the surface, he relayed his findings.

             
“There’s a woman in the driver’s seat and a little girl, probably around four or five in the back. Both are conscious at the moment, but the car is filling up fast.”

             
Gregg went to the driver’s side, and Michael worked on the back with the child.

             
“My door is unlocked and able to be opened,” Gregg said.

             
“Don’t do it yet. You open that door and it’s gonna sink even faster. It’s jammed back here.” Michael tried to bust the window, but with the resistance from the water, it was practically impossible. “Did you grab the window tool?” Michael felt the car edging farther under, and soon the child would be completely submerged. She was beginning to panic and scream.

             
“I’ll go get it.”

             
“Damn it, hurry!” He focused on the little girl. “Stay calm. We’re gonna get you out of here.”

             
“Please help me!” She screamed.

             
Her mom was also freaking out, and before Michael realized it, had opened her door. The car was quickly sinking, and Gregg was still not back with the tool. It didn’t matter now. He was going to have to crawl in from the front and get the girl. She was now under water and the more time they waited, the chances were greater that she would drown.

             
The woman had found Gregg at the surface, and Michael took a long breath in and dove down. He would have to do this all at once for it to be a success. Moving through the car, he fought against the current the vehicle was creating. The girl was now unresponsive and dead weight as he got to her. Her seat belt wouldn’t budge and he had to cut her loose with his pocket knife. His lungs were burning and his body begged for a breath of fresh air. The edges of his vision were growing fuzzy, but he fought it. It was about the little girl.

             
He lurched at the lack of oxygen and hoisted her under his arm. Kicking as hard as he could, he kept his eyes up toward the surface where the water grew clearer with the sun shining through. Just a few more seconds. He’d be able to breathe in a few more feet.

             
The first air he took in was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Coming to his senses, he swam to the medics standing at the edge of the water. They went to work on her and Michael tried to wait patiently. Someone offered him a towel that he didn’t care much about, but draped over his shoulders anyway.

             
“Come on,” he whispered. The cold air was strong and he had several people coming up to him, telling him to get changed into some warm clothes. Ignoring their comments, he focused on the child. “Come on, damn it.”

             
The cops were trying to distract the mom to keep her away, but were failing at it. Michael couldn’t keep from looking. With each second that passed, his hope was dissipating. He ducked his head and closed his eyes. How could they have forgotten the window tool that would’ve shattered the window instantly? He should have made sure himself.

             
A loud gurgling sound followed by coughing brought his attention back to the chaotic scene. The girl was awake and breathing. Michael felt a small smile part his lips. One of the medics walked up to Michael and patted him on the back.

             
“She took in a lot of water, but at least she’s awake and breathing. Good job.”

             
“No, I don’t deserve the credit. You guys did the hard part.” Turning to Lieu, he said, “How about we call clear so I can get my ass in to some dry clothes? Walsh and I are looking like a couple of drown rats.”

***

              Eva had finally managed to move from the bed to the couch at around noon, still feeling dizzy and nauseous. She flipped through the channels on TV, suddenly reminded that daytime television was horrible. After a couple episodes of
Judge Judy,
she grabbed her phone and dialed Michael. She tried not to call him too much when he was doing a tour, but he wouldn’t answer if he was busy anyway.

             
“Hey Eva, how you feeling?”

             
“Sorry to call, but I’m too tired to text. On your way home tonight can you pick up some crackers and ginger ale? Maybe some chicken broth too?” She closed her eyes to fight off some vertigo, unsure if she could throw up anymore. There was nothing left in her stomach, not even acid.

             
“Sure, hon. You sure you don’t need to go to the doctor? Is the virus that bad?”

             
There was concern in his tone and she was glad he was there for her. “We had to pick up a few people for dehydration yesterday. They needed IV’s. But don’t worry, I’m drinking a lot of water and keeping an eye on it.” She pulled the phone away and gagged, fearing he’d hear her. “I’ll try and eat when you get home and see how much I can keep down.”

             
“Okay. By the sound of things, I might spend the night at a friend’s. Not sure I want to get your nasty germs,” Michael replied, laughing off his comment.

             
“Hey Mikey, guess what?” She smiled through the discomfort.

             
“What?”

             
“I have a nice, big, juicy kiss with your name on it when you come through the door tonight. Bet you really can’t wait now, can you?”

             
“Yeah, I guess I’m gonna have to break down and see if Gregg has an extra place for me to sleep tonight. I’d rather chance it with weird guy than with vomit girl.” There was a short pause. “Seriously though, please call me if you get worse. I’ll be home right away to help you. I love you.”

             
“Love you too, Mikey.” She hung the phone up and pulled a blanket up around her, sighing at the choices on the TV guide. Her phone rang again and she felt like ignoring the call completely. Just talking felt like she was out running, but when she saw it was her friend Janet, she decided it was best to answer or the phone would ring until she did.

             
“Hello?” She tried to hide the fact that she felt like death ran over twice, but Janet knew her too well.

             
“Hey Eva, you at work today?”

             
Clearing her throat, she tried sitting up. It was a bad idea and she stayed in the one spot where she was somewhat comfortable, and that was on her back. “No, I’m home.”

             
“Oh good, can I come over? Since we had drinks the other night, I feel like we haven’t talked! Has Mikey been keeping you hostage?”

             
“No, it’s probably best you don’t. I’m a bit under the weather. Think I got a stomach bug or something. My damn job makes me catch everything that comes through.”

             
“Stomach bug? Sure Eva, that’s what we all say.”

             
She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, needing a shower, but far too exhausted to even attempt it. “What the hell are you implying, Janet? Just spit it out.”

             
“Let me think for a sec, sugar. You’re tired more than usual, yes? Nauseous? Barfing up everything that hits your stomach?”

             
“Damn it, Janet, get to the point!” In the back of her mind, she knew exactly what her friend was assuming, but she had to hear it from her mouth just to make sure.

             
“Stomach bug my ass, sweetie. You’re pregnant!”

             
“And what makes you so sure? I work around sick people all day….”

             
“And I happen to know you can’t keep your hands off of Mikey. You said so yourself. I remember your exact wording was he was the best you ever had. Quit denying it. He knocked you up.”

             
“I’m hanging up now, Janet. You’re crazy.”

             
“I’ll be over there in ten with a pregnancy test!”

             
Eva pushed the phone down on the coffee table and stared at it. Pregnant? The thought never even occurred to her. There was definitely something going around. She had witnessed it out on the street. Numerous calls of people dehydrated from it. Or maybe she was over-exaggerating, and they really didn’t run as many calls as she had thought. Her heart was beating so fast it felt as if it would burst through her chest. So many thoughts flashed in her mind.

             
She buried her face in her hands, desperately attempting to calm down. There was nothing saying she was pregnant yet. She could sit around and ponder all of the possibilities, but it was best not to panic until she knew the facts. Right now it was all assumption, based on the possibility that she could either be sick with something contagious, or Janet could be right – After all, she and Mikey hadn’t been that careful with contraceptives. It was something they didn’t think about, and now she wished they had.

             
A loud knock on the door pulled her from her daydream.

             
“Eva, I’m here!”

             
Opening the door, she saw her friend on the other side, a Walgreen’s bag in her hand. She was waving it around like a damn flag and Eva pulled her inside.

             
“Let’s get this over with. You’re causing me to freak out over something that’s gonna come out completely opposite from what you’re thinking.”

             
Janet winked as she pulled the test out. “I guess we’ll find out in a few short minutes. I bought two different kinds for accuracy. I hope you have to pee!”