Page 41 of Betting on Lizzie

“Looks fine to me,” he quipped.

She laughed. “He was sick. Threw up all over my office. Maybe he’s feeling better. I hope so anyway.”

As she entered the kitchen to look for something to offer him, an ear-piercing alarm sounded. “What the…” she said, closing the refrigerator.

“Fire alarm.” He opened the front door, walked out a few steps, and returned. “In a complex like this, they’re all linked. Doesn’t appear to be near you, but it’s probably in your building. I’m gonna check it out.”

He was back in less than a minute. “Let’s go. Get a coat and leash up Charlie.”

“Seriously? Is something on fire?”

“There’s smoke coming from a unit on the first floor two buildings over. Better safe than sorry.”

Once in the parking lot, he looked around. “Why isn’t anyone else out here?” Without waiting for an answer, he handed her Jasper’s leash. “I’m sure they know, but just in case, call nine-one-one, will ya? Be right back.”

Before she could protest, he’d run the short distance to the building on fire. Smoke seeped out from under the door of a ground-floor condo, obviously the source. She walked in the same direction, both dogs in tow.

The complex contained four buildings—four condos per floor and four floors in each building. Lizzie’s condo was two buildings over, so the fire probably wouldn’t threaten her place. But there definitely should have been more people outside.

Ben pounded on all four doors of the ground floor. Lizzie thought it was futile. Why would anyone still be in the building? But she watched as occupant after occupant came out, their surprised looks turning horrified upon realizing the next-door condo was on fire.

“Get out!” Ben screamed over and over. He ran up to the next floor and did the same thing. Lizzie couldn’t believe so many had ignored the fire alarm, apparently sitting blissfully inside with no idea the building was burning.

A couple, a family of four, and a single guy all wandered out slowly before realizing what was happening and suddenly moving much quicker. Some just slipped on their shoes and escaped to the parking lot. Others ran back in, coming out seconds later hauling a box or a bag.

Ben covered all four floors, pounding on doors and yelling as he went. In all but a few, people came out. In the thick smoke at the top of the open stairway, Lizzie momentarily lost sight of him. Just when she got worried enough to go after him, he burst through the smoke carrying a toddler-sized little girl. Flanked by a couple, each of whom also held a child, he carefully ran down the stairs.

Lizzie and the dogs rushed to meet them at ground level.

“What did nine-one-one say?” Ben asked.

“They were already on their way when I called. Shouldn’t be long.”

“Help these folks. And get back,” he said, thrusting the baby into her arms.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“The door of the source is still shut. I don’t think they’ve come out.”

“Maybe they’re not home,” Lizzie said.

“Gotta find out.” With that, he turned and raced back to the first condo.

Holding the leashes and a toddler was a struggle, but she coaxed the little family to a spot away from the building. Once settled, the man thanked her and took the baby. Lizzie dragged the dogs back toward the building, not wanting to let Ben out of her sight.

The smoke thickened quickly. Most of it flowed up and around the outdoor stairwell, but it was also congregating in the area below the stairs. Lizzie watched as Ben hammered the door again and again. Finally, he reared back and kicked it hard.

The door burst open, and a gush of thick, black smoke poured out. Ben startled when a huge black dog barreled past him, coughing and weak. Ben shooed it away, made eye contact with Lizzie, and pointed to the dog.

“Here, boy,” Lizzie yelled, trying to be heard over the commotion. “Come on. Come here.”

The dog made its way to Lizzie, who grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away. When she turned back, she watched in horror as Ben hunched over and entered the condo.

“Ben,” she screamed. What was he thinking? The fire trucks had arrived, but it would take some time to set up and get water flowing.

She looped Charlie’s leash through the black dog’s collar and dragged all three to where the fire truck had parked. The firemen were busy pulling out hoses and hooking up water, and she struggled to get anyone’s attention. All the while, she kept a close eye on the front door of the condo, waiting for Ben to reemerge.

Just when she started to really panic, he came around the back side of the building. From the flames and smoke emerged a tall, soot-covered Adonis, holding another large dog in his arms. Holy hot mamacita. Ben was good-looking on a normal day, but slap a hero’s badge on him, and he turned hotter than the flames eating the building behind him. She closed her mouth and shook her head. Ogling wouldn’t do anyone any good.

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