Page 91 of Her Braun
Fire flared in the window and Gibson could see smoke coming out of the roof.
"Truck Forty-two, this is officially a fire call! Let's go through the front door and given that it’s a restaurant fire, this could involve gas or grease so use dry chemical suppression to knock this fire down!"
The whole crew filed out of the ladder truck and headed for the front door.
Pits ran up beside Braun with his Halligan in his hands. "Lieutenant? You want me to take her down?"
Gibson nodded. "Do it!"
Pits stopped just short of the front door and tried the knob.
Nope.
Locked tight.
Taking the Halligan in both hands, Pits turned his shoulder to the door and with a powerful twist of his body he hit the door and it burst open, swinging in on its hinges until it hit the inside wall.
"Down!"
Gibson knocked Pits sideways as a ball of fire exploded out of the doorway.
As soon he knew they were clear, he reached down and spoke into his radio. "Knock it down, men.
Pits looked up at Gibson, his face a grim mask. "Thanks, Lieutenant."
"I should have seen that coming." Gibson got up on his knees and held out a hand.
Pits took it and they both got up, keeping an eye on the windows over their heads.
"You can't anticipate everything, Braun. But I'd go with your gut over anything else."
"Come on, man. Let's get out of the way."
Pits followed him off to the side and the others reported back. Russell called in first. "Webb here, Lieutenant. The door in the back is locked. I shook it and it jingled. I think it's chained shut."
Chained shut.
"Got it."
Gibson couldn't help but clench his fists.
If someone had gone to the trouble of locking the back door, they didn't want anyone to get out or in.
Mats came next. "I know you know this, Braun, but that car is definitely Doctor Hata's. It has the parking sticker from Cole Medical Center on the front and back windows."
"Yeah." He wasn't sure if his voice was working, his heart barely was. "Got it."
The radio crackled. "Irish here, Lieutenant."
Gibson lifted his radio microphone again. "Yes?"
"I sent a cruiser to the Doctor's house. She's not home. I was hoping she caught a ride, sir. Left her car there because it wasn't working."
"Thanks, Irish. I-"
A truck pulled up along the side wall.
"That's the Engine from House Ten, sir. They'll help you put the fire out sooner."
