think she’d be pleased to meet Seth.”
“Your wife?” Elena asked. “The woman who was with you at the funeral?”
“Yes. Irene Kelly.”
“Irene Kelly — now I remember where I’ve seen her before. You married a reporter?”
“Yes.”
“Man, you must already be on the outs with the department.”
“What do you mean, Mom?” Seth asked.
Before she could answer, the guinea pig began making squealing noises, sounds of distress.
“What’s wrong, My Dog?” Seth asked, then sniffed. “Do you smell smoke?”
The smoke alarm went off before anyone could answer.
“Are you cooking?” Seth asked his mother.
“No,” she said, “but let me check the oven.” She hurried out of the room, ignoring Frank as he called after her.
But the acrid scent indicated more than a kitchen mishap. As it rapidly grew stronger, he saw smoke billowing outside Seth’s window. Seth’s eyes widened in fright. Frank put a hand on the boy’s shoulder and kept his voice calm as he said, “Let’s all go outside. Why don’t I carry My Dog’s cage?”
Seth ducked out from under his hand and got down on the floor, scattering toy soldiers.
“Seth!” Elena called out frantically as the air in the condo itself began filling with smoke.
“My treasures!” Seth said, pulling a small wooden box from beneath the bed and tucking it inside his shirt.
Frank grabbed hold of him and lifted him into one arm, and took the guinea pig cage with his free hand just as Elena struggled back to them.
“I’ve got him!” Frank shouted. “Go!”
Eyes tearing, he felt Seth gripping tightly to him, the edges of the wooden box pressing into his side. They found their way to the front door, coughing. Elena started to reach for the doorknob, but Frank yelled, “No! Feel the door first.”
“It’s hot,” she said, backing away from it, a look of panic on her face.
“The fire ladders!” Seth shouted, squirming.
“Where are they?” Frank asked.
“In the bedroom closets.”
“You stay here with your mother. Get down on the floor — more air there!” Handing Seth over to her, he hurried back toward Seth’s bedroom, the nearest of the two. The smoke had thickened. He stumbled over toys but located the closet and yanked the door open. He bent close to the floor, but still the smoke made his nose and throat and lungs feel as if he were breathing hot needles. He found the ladder and made his way out to the living room in time to hear glass shatter. Elena had picked up a chair and used it to break out the large front window. It sent a rush of cooler, less smoky air into the room. He hooked the chain ladder on the sill and dropped it down. The distance from the bottom rung to the ground would not be difficult for an adult to manage, but he was afraid the boy would be hurt or might freeze halfway down the rungs, trapping them. “You first,” he rasped to Elena. “I’ll send Seth down after you.”
She didn’t argue. Seth held on to Frank as he watched her maneuver her way out. He put Seth on the ladder as soon as she was clear of the window. Seth seemed unafraid of the height, but balked at leaving the guinea pig behind. “My Dog!”
“I’ll bring him!” Frank said. “Now go!”
Seth obeyed the commanding tone. Frank reached in the cage, grasped the frightened animal by the scruff of the neck, and forced it into his inside jacket pocket, where it squirmed nervously. He was certain it was going to jump to its death when he was halfway down the ladder, but it seemed to realize the pocket was the lesser of two evils, and after that, was subdued. Elena had already moved Seth away from the building. She held him tightly, asking him again and again if he was all right. Frank handed the guinea pig over to Seth, then used his cell phone to report the fire.
Neighbors had already reported it, though, and no sooner had he hung up the phone than they heard a fire truck. It pulled into the alley and the firefighters immediately went to work. One of them hurried over to them and asked if any of them were injured and if anyone else was inside. Frank told him that everyone was safe and showed the firefighter his identification. “We’ll be right here,” Frank said. Reassured, the man joined the others. In a matter of minutes, the fire was out.
During those few minutes, Frank made a second call, to the department. He asked for the chief and was put through to Hale.
“Detective Harriman,” Hale said, “I hear things are going better today. Are you calling to tell me we’re about to arrest Dane?”
“No, sir. I’m at Lefebvre’s condo.”
“I thought I told you—”
“I know you think it’s useless for me to investigate Lefebvre’s death, sir, but apparently not everyone feels so sure about that.”
“Speak up! What the hell’s wrong with your voice?”
“Sorry, sir. It’s the smoke. Someone just tried to set fire to the condo while I was in it — there were two other people inside at the time as well — a woman and her son. I’d say more, but I’m not on a secure line.”
