Page 384 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

She couldn’t believe it. Except it was undeniable when smoke rolled under the doorway to lick at the floor as it rose into the room. Orange flickered under the door, visible in the gap between the tile and the bottom of the door.

The tang of smoke laced the air. It caught in the back of her throat so that she had to cough to get a breath in.

“We need a way out.” Jacob turned. “But the fire exit is that door.”

He pointed to the source of the smoke, then moved toward it. Instead of going for the handle he touched his hand to the wood. “It’s hot. The fire must be burning hot in the hallway.” He touched the metal handle, just a tap of one finger. “No go on the back door.”

Addie spoke aloud as she thought it through. “He cut the phone lines. Then he locked the door and started a fire in the only other exit?” She glanced at the front. That wasn’t counting the fact she now suspected she’d been herded here.

How was it possible the person outside had set this up? That seemed crazy.

With Jacob behind her she realized he didn’t need to see how completely terrified she was. All her training went out the window when she was the victim. Not something she thought she would ever get used to. Even with a badge on her belt, she felt like that scared teen again.

Most of the time on the job she could push it aside and focus. Assuming she wasn’t flirting with burnout. And yet, since she’d been back in Benson, things she’d successfully buried for years had shown back up, close to the surface. She’d dreamed nearly every night—nightmares really. And after going to the cabins today she couldn’t help thinking about it, even just seeing them fixed up and covered in snow didn’t matter.

That, coupled with the adrenaline of being followed and harassed in her car, meant she was having a hard time keeping her cool now.

Jacob frowned. “I’m guessing it’s some kind of quick-set epoxy. Squeeze it into the lock, it sets in minutes. We can’t get out.”

Addie winced. “So he did the doors, then set the fire, and now what? Is he trying to burn us alive in here?”

“That’s not going to happen.” Jacob crossed the room, went into a closet, and came out with a spray can in each hand. “They came in a pack of two. Lucky us.”

“What is it?” She took one. “Oh, a fire extinguisher. In a spray can?”

“Easier than an extinguisher you have to have checked every year, or whatever the rule is now.” He moved to the hall door, took a knee, and sprayed under the door. “We can keep the fire at bay, but we need a way out if we’re not planning to stay in here and just hope someone shows up.”

All she had was a gun and the can he’d given her. Only one of those things was helpful in a fire. If it got big enough, even the can wasn’t going to be able to neutralize a legit blaze.

She should’ve paid better attention in that ATF seminar.

Instead, she was reduced to looking at the ceiling for a sprinkler system. Shouldn’t a building like this have one?

Not only that, but the phones didn’t work. “You’re right. We do need to get out of here.”

For the first time she saw a flash of fear on his face. “What if he’s out there, waiting to pick us off the minute we step outside? Clearly this guy means business. He got to work straight away, and now we have only minutes before we succumb to smoke inhalation.”

Addie moved to stand in front of him. If she’d had a free hand, she’d have set it on his shoulder. Or taken his hand like she had when he’d held it out, inviting her to connect with him in that small way.

Addie wracked her brain for ideas. “Is there another way out?”

He winced. “It won’t be easy to use. And how do we know he didn’t bar that way as well? Or he’s got a gun and we get shot the second we leave?” He coughed. “We could be headed to our deaths.”

“Sometimes the chance is worth it.” It gave her strength to realize this was what they did. In times of fear, they shored each other up. Supported each other. The way she worked with her FBI colleagues as part of a team.

The way Russ had taken her camping and let her carry some of their stuff. Helped her to make a fire to cook dinner. She’d tried to do it by herself, but it never worked.

Being part of a team was so much better than flying solo. “We have to try.’’

“What if the fire draws a neighbor to call 911?” Jake asked. “He could’ve given us a way to get rescued rather than face certain death. This might actually be a good thing since we can’tget out without risking our lives. Setting this fire might be what saves us from whatever else he has planned.”

He was worried, so it was her turn to comfort him.

Any second now those tables could turn, and she’d be the one in need of reassurance.

“You’d rather sit around and wait to get rescued, assuming a neighbor will call 911?” Her stomach knotted, because even if she was focused on him that didn’t mean she’d lost all her fear. “Last time it took two days for anyone to find us. I’m guessing we don’t have that long here.” She got close to him. Looked for that solidarity she’d been trying to find with someone else since they parted ways.

Had he ever found it with anyone?

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