Page 705 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Kendall looked at the ground.

“Kendall!”

His eyes met Walter’s.

“You know that, right?”

Kendall nodded.

“Now that she knows, she won’t stop until she brings it all down around her.”

“But I can convince her, make her understand.”

Walter paused one awful moment, long enough for a twinge of hope to flicker in Kendall. “No son, I don’t think you can,” he finally said. “You’ve got to think of your mama and Emma.”

Doubt flashed in Kendall’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Look, I don’t care all that much what’ll happen to you or me if this gets out, but think what it’ll do to them. Think would what happen to your sweet mama if she realized what J. W. did. You’ve got to be a man and disassociate yourself from this thing. Sometimes you have to see past the unpleasantness to hold victory in your hands. Kendall! Look at me!”

Kendall’s eyes met Walter’s as the latter spoke. “You know what you need to do.”

Sydney struggledto free her hands from the ropes, but Sean had tied them too tight. Her eyes were growing accustomed to the darkness, and she tried to get a feel for her surroundings. The first thing she saw was the faint light coming in from a window up above. The window was so corroded with dust that it was barely visible in the darkness. Next she saw light spilling in around the edges of the door. She managed to half roll, half scoot, and work her way toward it. She’d almost made it when the door burst open. Kendall stepped in and threw an unconscious Sean on the floor. He paused when he realized that Sydney was right there.

Tears were streaming down her face when she looked up at him. “Please help me!”

He bent down and cupped her cheek, and she noticed that his hand was trembling.

“Kendall, don’t do this!”

He looked at her for one long moment. His eyes grew soft, and she thought he was going to help her. He backed away.“Goodbye, Sydney.”

The door slammed shut, sounding like the closing of a tomb. Darkness enveloped her.

The ignitingkerosene sounded like rushing water encircling the building. A giant fist was choking Sydney. She lay on the floor, gasping for air. It was like she was watching herself in slow motion. Please, she prayed in her mind. Lord, please help me! Her mind cleared for a second, and she managed to propel herself to a sitting position. She hit her body against Sean’s. “Wake up! The building’s on fire! Sean! Sean!” It took what seemed like an eternity for him to respond.

He rolled over and opened his eyes.

“Get up! The building is burning!”

He sat up and winced, holding his rib cage. He rubbed the back of his head and squinted his eyes.

Smoke was pouring into the building, and Sydney knew it would only be a matter of time before the fire sucked out all the oxygen. She was no longer in a building with Sean but on the burning boat with Avery. A high-pitch scream started in her throat and then echoed through the building.

She felt hands on her arms, shaking her. “Listen to me! Get ahold of yourself! We’ve only got a few minutes before the building collapses! Sydney, listen to me!”

All she could see was Avery. “Dad! Dad! Don’t hurt him!” She felt a sudden slap on her face and came back to the present. Sean had not left her. She tried desperately to stave off the panic.

Sean reached for his phone, but came up empty-handed. He then pulled a pocketknife from his boot. “I’m going to cut you loose, and then we’re gonna find a way out of here.”

Sean repeatedly threw his body against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. He swore. Smoke was pouring in around them, burning their eyes and causing them to double over in spasms of coughing. He took Sydney’s hand.

“Stay down low!”

She was sobbing again. “It’s no use! They’re going to kill Stella! Everyone I ever loved has died! And now she will too … all because of me.”

“Sydney, I love you. I believe I’ve always loved you,” Sean said, then a fit of coughing overtook him. “I called for backup. They should be here in a few minutes.”

“Backup? What’re you talking about?”

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