“Stop,” he said. “Just stop that nonsense.”
“Let me say it, Mark. I’m sorry I even thought of blaming you for what’s happened. It doesn’t have anything to do with you or your story, and never really could have. I guess I wanted to find some reason for it, and before I had one — I’m sorry. It wasn’t right.”
He sighed. “Irene, you think I didn’t understand that? I wish to God that John had put someone else on this story—”
“I don’t. No one else would tell me what’s going on without trying to pry a quote out of me.”
He smiled. “No quote? Why the hell did I follow you over here?”
“Hope springs eternal, I guess.”
He looked toward the building, solemn now. “Got to have hope.”
“What’s happening in there?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I was feeling.
“The police have cut the phone lines and power, had SWAT deliver a throw phone. But the takers aren’t talking on it yet. There’s some kind of backup generator that’s supplying power to some of the floors. The team in the helicopter has used a FLIR — forward-looking infrared devices — you know about them?”
I nodded. “Thermal sensors, right? The devices that can pick up body heat?”
“Yes. They’re also called thermal imaging devices. They can pick up anything that gives off more than two degrees of heat.”
“The building is about five stories high, though—”
“Doesn’t matter. They’ve got them so sensitive now, multiple stories are no problem. You’d have to go to some extreme measures to defeat them.”
“What have they picked up?”
“Two people in the building, on one of the upper floors — third floor.” He hesitated, then added, “One lying prone. Hasn’t moved much.”
I bit my lower lip. He put a hand on my shoulder.
“These guys are the best,” Mark said. “I’ve seen them pull off some amazing shit.”
“Thanks for telling me, Mark.”
“I wasn’t sure I should. I figured I’d want to know, if it was my wife in there.”
“Yes.”
“Look, I’ve got to get back over there. You want me to walk you back?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be all right. Go on ahead.”
Reluctantly he started to go. He paused, then turned back. “That other business — I just want you to know, Hocus wasn’t my source. I won’t say who it was, but it wasn’t them. I didn’t want you to think… well, it wasn’t them.”
“Thanks,” I said. “It wouldn’t matter to me anyway.”
“No, I guess not. See you.”
He hurried off.
Slowly I walked back. The cop who had hassled me had been replaced, and I hoped I hadn’t caused him to get in trouble. The new cop apparently recognized me, because he didn’t keep me from walking into the roped-off area.
Jack took one look at my face and said, “My God, what’s happened?”
I didn’t have to answer. We were distracted when everyone who was watching the building gave a collective shout — as the roof burst into flames.
33
WE STOOD IN A HUDDLE, clutching one another, looking and not wanting to look, as flames spiked up into the building’s smoky crown. Black and billowing clouds rose from the roof, carrying ashes that fell on us as swirling, papery rain. The helicopter pulled sharply away. Over nearby police radios, we heard the crackle of voices raised — the staccato of urgent commands.
Get him out of there, I prayed silently. Please, please, please.
“Why aren’t they going in?” Bea asked angrily.
“SWAT team has to clear the building,” Pete said. “Can’t risk the firefighters’ lives. If they can’t get the taker out of there, they may just let it burn.”
To our horror, for long moments it seemed that was exactly what would happen.
The roof suddenly collapsed with a loud boom. The walls of the upper story gave way — bricks flew outward, plummeting to the street in a hot and deadly rain. At the top of the building sparks outdistanced flames, rising orange and bright even as the fire fell. More smoke followed as the blaze began to devour the next floor of the building.
Apparently a signal was given by the SWAT team soon after the roof collapsed, for a great rush toward the building began — orderly but rapid movement by men dressed in yellow slickers and masks, carrying heavy hoses and equipment.
As the interior fire-fighting team went in, another group worked from the exterior of the building. The streets below became slick and shiny with water. Sirens sounded as more trucks arrived.
At one point a set of television lights turned our way, and others soon followed, stark and bright. We turned from them like cave creatures, unused to the sun. Lewis barked some orders and the police moved us out of range. Denied the treat of capturing our tense faces, cameras and lights swung back to the building.
