Page 13 of Jina

“You’re going to think I’m an idiot, but I forgot my phone.” She shot him a chagrined look. “I left it on the charger in my kitchen. Sorry, but can we head back to the duplex?”

“Of course.” He made a quick U-turn to retrace their path. “I’m glad to know you’re human and not a Terminator.”

“Haha, very funny. That Terminator movie is older than dirt.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Normally, I’m not this scattered.”

“Like I said, it’s nice to know you’re human.” He frowned as he noticed dark smoke trailing up to the sky. “Do you see that? Something is on fire.”

“I see it.” She craned her neck to get a better look. “It is autumn, could be someone burning leaves.”

“Maybe, but the smoke is darker than I’d expect for that.” He quickly turned left, heading to the duplex. The cloud of smoke grew larger and darker as they drove. A sliver of apprehension slid down his spine.

“Not leaves,” Jina said in a terse tone, mirroring his thoughts. “Either a garage or a house is on fire.”

Silently agreeing with her assessment, he pressed the call button on his steering wheel and spoke. “Call 911.”

Seconds later, a woman answered the phone. “This is the 911 operator, please state your emergency.”

“I’d like to report a fire. We’re heading north on 120th Street.” He glanced at the house numbers and rattled them off too.

“Yes, we have received several reports of a house fire in that area,” the dispatcher said. “Please stay away from the property. I have dispatched fire responders who will be arriving shortly.”

He ended the call without saying anything more. Two minutes later, he turned onto the street where Jina lived. His stomach clenched when he saw the two-story brown and tan duplex had black smoke pouring from the lower-level windows.

“Stop the car! Mr. Glen!” Jina pushed her car door open before he’d come to a complete stop. Then she sprinted toward the house.

“Wait! You can’t go in there!” He killed the engine, then quickly followed her to the house, the thick black smoke already obscuring his vision. “Jina!”

She had stripped out of her denim jacket and wrapped it around her fist as she punched through a window that wasn’t oozing smoke. After knocking all the shards of glass out of the way, she poked her head through the opening. “Mr. Glen! Mr. Glen, can you hear me?”

He lunged for her, grabbing her arm to prevent her from climbing into the house. The smoke made them cough. “Wait for the fire department,” he urged between hacking breaths.

“No! I need to find Mr. Glen!” With a quick move, she twisted out of his grip and crawled in through the broken window.

He glanced over his shoulder. The wailing sirens said help was on the way, but there was no sign of the fire trucks yet. Muttering about stubborn women, he followed her inside, praying God would spare their lives, especially her landlord, Mr. Glen.

CHAPTER FOUR

Coughs racking her body, Jina was horrified she couldn’t see anything through the thick haze of smoke. Stumbling through the living room, she called out to Mr. Glen until nothing more than a hoarse croak emerged.

“Jina!” She turned blindly when Cole grabbed her arm. “There’s an older guy outside walking with a cane!”

Mr. Glen used a cane, but there were several older residents in this neighborhood. She didn’t want to leave but somehow found herself back at the broken window with Cole at her side. Filling her lungs with fresh air, or at least somewhat fresher air than what was inside the house, she peered at the older man standing on the sidewalk.

Mr. Glen! He was safe! And for the first time in her life, she silently added, Thank You, God.

“Jina? What’s going on?” She heard Mr. Glen’s confused voice as Cole pushed her through the window.

Still coughing, she tumbled out of the house, then ran toward her landlord. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, wrapping her arms around the older man.

“I’m glad you are too,” he said, patting her back. “How did the fire start? Did you burn something in the kitchen?”

“Not me. I wasn’t here.” She glanced briefly at Cole who’d come to stand beside them. “I was with Cole; we were coming back for my phone.” She coughed again, then added, “I was worried you were still inside.”

“We’re glad you’re not hurt,” Cole added.

“I went out for my usual walk,” Mr. Glen said, staring in shock at the burning home. “I don’t understand how this happened.”

She had a very bad feeling this was no accident. And if she hadn’t come back for her phone, she wouldn’t have known anything about it. Before she could ask Mr. Glen more questions, the sirens grew louder. Soon a long fire truck lumbered up the road toward the duplex, pulling to a stop along the curb.

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