Max almost flinched at the word, Dan turned to her and winked, making her feel better. She couldn’t wait to get out of the building, and get cleaned up. The thought of walking all the way down the stairs did not fill her with enthusiasm. However, with Dan there she could do it, despite the heavy feeling in her chest from the smoke. She had been convinced they were all going to choke to death when the fire was at it’s worst.
“Yes, sir,” Dan replied, holding her hand.
“Harry, you go down too. Make sure these people see a paramedic. I want the whole floor cleared, no none but emergency workers are needed at this time.” He directed this last sentence to Bob, who had made to enter the fire damaged part of the offices.
“There are some files I would like to collect, sensitive information on clients.”
“Sorry, sir. Nothing leaves here until the inspector has given the go ahead. No tampering with evidence, the insurance company will be after me if we don’t follow protocol.”
“I’ll be two minutes,” Bob insisted, taking a couple more steps forward.
“Sir.” The Captain put his arm out to block Bob’s way. Max was pretty sure it had been a great many years since anyone dared to tell Bob what to do, and her boss didn’t look best pleased. But the Captain was not a man you argued with. At his moment, in this place, a potential crime scene, his word was law, and everyone was expected to obey.
She smiled to herself as Bob puffed loudly, and then turned and exited the floor, taking the stairs two at a time, his speed belying his age.
“What was all that about?” Phil asked, as bewildered as Max at their boss’s behaviour.
“No idea. Maybe he’s upset about the building. You know, the hassle with insurance and investigators.”
“Dan, get these people moving,” the Captain ordered, and down the stairs they went.
Shirley had already been taken down, the paramedics carrying her in a chair. It would be easier to use the lift, but no one knew what damage had been done, so the slow procession wound it’s way down the numerous flights of stairs.
Harry went ahead, the others following, with Dan at the rear and Max by his side. Slowly he eased her back away from the others, before asking in a low voice, “Any idea what Bob is hiding?”
“Hiding? What do you mean?”
“You don’t find his behaviour strange?”
“No.” She turned to look at him. “Do you?”
“A little.”
“I’ve worked for him for a number of years. He’s got one of the best reputations in banking.” She had nothing but respect for her boss, and couldn’t believe he could be trying to cover something up. “He was simply concerned, he’s going to incur huge losses over this. It’s going to take a few days to get everything back up and running.”
“Especially when his best employee is taking a few days off to get over it.”
“I’ll be back in there tomorrow if he needs me to.”
“No, that’s not happening, you need a few days off to get over this.”
She didn’t feel like arguing again, so she kept her mouth shut and put one foot in front of the other, the floors slowly disappearing, and the air clearing until there was no sign that anything had happened, apart from the eerily deserted building.
The descent down the stairs was slow. Max had to keep stopping to cough and catch her breath. Slowly, as the air became clearer, she felt better, but her body ached and she simply wanted to sleep. All through this Dan kept his arm glued to her waist, supporting her every step of the way.
"Thank you, Dan," she said.
They had stopped on the second floor, pressing themselves back against the wall as a group of workers passed them, heading up the stairs. Max guessed they had come to assess the damage, perhaps for insurance or safety, she found she no longer cared. All she wanted was to stand here with Dan's big comforting body pressed against hers.
"You don't have to thank me. Max, you have no idea how scared I was when I found out it was your building." His voice trembled, emotions he was struggling to keep in check bubbling close to the surface.
"I'm sorry to put you through that."
He snorted. "Don't ever be sorry that someone cares for you, loves you."
"Dan ... I didn't mean it like that." She buried herself in his chest, and mumbled, "I love you too, Dan."
His hand went to the nape of her neck, massaging it, lending her his strength. "I'm not just saying it because of the shock. I know all about how that works."
"And do you think that's why I'm saying it? Because I thought we were going to die trapped in that room." She lifted her head, and looked him in the eyes. "I've known since that first night I was falling for you. That's what scared me so much, but I've never known this kind of love, so I was afraid of it. Afraid of looking naive and stupid, when you're so much more..."
"So much more what?"
"Experienced at these things."
He laughed, "Damn Max. This is as new to me as it is to you. I thought I had found love with Angie, but now, after you ... I know that it wasn't real. And for the first time I'm glad I went through all that pain and regret, because it meant I was free to find you."
“Come on,” she said, pulling back from him. “We can talk later. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”
He laughed. “What? Any more than I already am.”
“Why are you in trouble?”
“You don’t think I’m going to live down the stuff about telling you I worked in construction because I was afraid of what you might think of me if you knew I was a firefighter.”
She cringed. “When you put it that way.”
“That is exactly the way it sounded to my fellow crew members. Harry’ll give me stick for sure.”
“I’m sorry, Dan. Sometimes I wish we could turn back the clock and start again, so there are no lies.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll all soon be forgotten, and from now on we need to be honest about everything else. Too many lies and the walls show cracks and it all caves in.”
“Deal.” She hugged him close. “Thank you, for what you did. I think Phil’s got it for me. If he had found out the truth he would have hounded me about it. I’m sure I’d have got fired.”
“I know. Let’s hope he’s satisfied now.”
“I’m scared that one day you’ll wake up and wonder why you’re with a woman like me. I’ve been nothing but trouble.”
“That’s not true. You’ve got a kind heart, Max. You’ve offered to give me money to help my sister, not many people would do that for someone they don’t know.”
“I hope to get to know Helen. But you know it’s because I want you to be happy, and I know if you’re sister is unhappy, that isn’t going to happen. And they are a lovely little family.”
“Here we go, the end is in sight.” He cut the conversation short, they were about to leave the building. Max thought she would never feel happier to get out into the fresh air as she did at that moment.
“I’ll call Robin. But if she can’t come and get me I’ll drive home myself.”
“I don’t think that’s such a great idea Max. You don’t want to have an accident.”
“I feel fine.”
“You don’t look it.”
“Thanks.”
“It was an observation, nothing more.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear, his breath on her neck sending shivers of arousal through her body, nothing could dampen her desire for him. Nothing at all. “I still think you’re the sexiest woman alive.”
She burst out laughing. “That’s a little over the top.”
“I am entitled to my opinion.” He led her across the street to where an ambulance was stationed. “I’m going to have to hand you over to these guys while I go back to work.”
“OK. I’ll be alright.” But she hated the thought of him going.
“Hey, Tony.” Dan spoke to one of the paramedics, he obviously knew him, but then they probably visited many scenes of crimes and accidents together. When he had finished, he turned back to Max. “Tony here is going to make sure you get home safely. He is not allowed to let you drive yourself.”
“I gave Dan my word, so no trouble Max. OK.”
“Yes sir,” she said, but really she liked the idea that he cared so much for her and her well being. “I promise, Dan.” She went to him and kissed his cheek. “I hope that’s allowed when you’re on duty.”
“It’s worth the punishment if it’s not.”
“If you’re going to get punished for kissing me, let’s make sure it’s one to remember.” She pulled him back to her, but allowed him to decide whether to take the kiss further. He did.
His mouth found hers, and she clung to him, the emotions she had been bottling up bubbling to the surface. She didn’t want him to see her tears, and swallowed hard to keep the lump in her throat from erupting into big crushing sobs.
Then he was walking away, turning to smile at her before going back into the building. Did he know he was taking her heart with him? As Tony began to check her over, she wrapped herself in the thought that he loved her, and hoped it would keep her strong until she could get home and let her tears flow.
“How well do you know Mr Pierceson?”
“Bob?” Dan asked. He had just arrived back on the burned out floor, the climb up harder knowing each step was taking him away from Max. If only he could leave work and take her home himself, but this was his job, and he had to see it through.
“Yes.”
“Not very. I met him once, at a charity dinner last Saturday.”
“And that woman of yours?”
“Long enough to know I trust her.” He skirted around the truth. There was no way he could lie to the face of his Captain. If the question was asked directly, he would have to own up to the lie he had just told. This sounded serious all of a sudden.
“The fire seems to have been deliberately started. A waste paper basket with papers inside. We’re trying to work out if those are the same papers he wanted to go and retrieve.”
“I wish I could be of more help. Max trusts him, he’s happily married as far as I can tell. His wife, Elaine is old school, they have grown up kids. That’s about all I know.”
“OK. Let’s keep this to ourselves shall we. Dan go help with the clear up. The boys are checking the ceilings while the inspector carries on with his investigation.”
“Sir,” Dan said, going to join his crew. When he had asked Max about Bob, he had no idea there might be something in it. But Bob’s behaviour had been odd. To come all the way upstairs to check fire damage was not something he would normally expect an executive to do, especially a man of Bob’s age.
He went to work, keeping tabs on the inspector and his assistant. They were being very thorough. Often coming to talk to the Captain. Something was up, he only hoped it wasn’t going to cause a problem for Max.
“You need to get out of those clothes and take a nice hot bath. I’ll get you a warm drink to help your throat.”
Robin had driven Max home, in Max’s car. Several times Max had to bite her tongue to stop herself from telling Robin to stop the car and let her drive. Although she had a license, Robin chose not to drive, depending on public transport, and Max, for getting around. It was one of the many quirks that made up Robin.
“Thanks, I don’t know if I’ll ever get the smell of smoke out of these clothes. I might have to bin them.”
“Leave it with me,” Robin said, bundling them up as Max stripped down.
Max paused, and then looked at Robin, her lip trembling. “Thank you for coming, Robin.”
“Hey, no problem, my boss understood.” She sat on the bed next to Max, and put her arms around her. “You know I’d do anything for you. Just like that man of yours did. I know you wanted to see him in his uniform, but this was a bit of an extreme length to go to.”
Max smiled, her tears coming under control again. “Yes. It’s a shame I wasn’t in a position to truly appreciate him.”
“You’ll have to ask him to act out the rescue again next time you see him.”
“That will be tonight, I haven’t forgotten about your hot date.”
“Oh, I was going to cancel it. I figured you’d want to spend the night in your own bed.”
“No. I want to see Dan. You go ahead with your plans.”
“It doesn’t feel right.”
“Now who needs to wear their big girl pants?”
“Funny. Very funny. I see smoke inhalation makes you think you’re a comedian.”
“It was awful, Robin. I wondered if we were going to make it, you know?”
“Oh, come here, let it all out.”
And she did, big sobs erupted, and she sobbed in Robin’s arms until she was exhausted.
***
“Dan called,” Robin said, coming into the bathroom, where Max was soaking in a bath full of bubbles. “He’s finished work and will be around in half an hour.”
“I should get out,” Max said, struggling to summon the will to leave the hot water. She had washed her hair three times, but she still could faintly smell smoke. She figured it must be stuck up her nose.
“Take your time, he’ll wait.”
“I know he will. But what about your date? You need to get ready, and we need to be out of here. Oh, I can smell you’ve been cooking.” Perhaps it was time to get out of the bath.
Robin might just rival Dan’s mom in the kitchen. But where as Dan’s mom baked, Robin made fabulous meals from scratch, inventing new flavours as she went. Why she had never gone into cooking professionally, Max couldn’t ever understand. She had even offered to support Robin while she got some professional qualifications, but she had said it would curb her creative mind, and so she had tinkered at home instead.
Max had been more than content to be a guinea pig for all her new dishes.
“Don’t worry, I’ve made enough for you to take with you.”
“Really? Oh thanks Robin, I’m starving now I think about it, I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Maybe you should get out and get dressed. You’ll pass out if you don’t eat.”
She was right, as soon as she stood up, Max felt a little faint. Wrapping a towel around herself she tried not to let her teeth chatter as fatigue covered her. Maybe bed would be the best option, but she’d told Robin not to cancel her date, so there was no way she could stay here.
Drying herself and putting a robe on, she went out to see if she could scavenge something to eat. She grabbed a bar of chocolate, and sat eating it while she dried her hair and then got dressed. The sugar rush giving her enough energy to get her overnight bag packed.