Chapter Thirty-Five
Miguel’s beat-up red Chevy pickup raced into the parking lot outside the lab. Wyatt hit the brakes. Miguel screeched to a halt and hopped out.
Wyatt lowered the window. “What’s going on? You’re driving like a crazy man.”
Miguel leaned on the Land Rover, his breaths coming in short sharp gasps. He pointed east.
He jerked his gaze toward the bungalow. Plumes of black smoke billowed in the early evening sky. Fire. At the bungalow. Maddie. Holy fucking shit.
“Get in,” Wyatt commanded. “And call 9-1-1.”
Miguel jumped into the passenger seat and dialed.
Wyatt nailed the accelerator and took off.
#
Maddie coughed as smoke wafted up through the space under the door. Peeling off her sweater and scarf, she stuffed them into the gap. The puffs stopped. Need to find a way out. Now. With a last ditch effort, she threw her weight against the wood barrier, and prayed for a miracle. The whole closet shook but the door didn’t open.
Fine. Maddie Scott-Smith was made of tougher stuff. No way would she die in here. She wanted to live. For herself. No matter what happened between her and Wyatt. And for Jacob. He wouldn’t grow up without his parents. Not if she could help it. If leaving by the door wasn’t an option, she’d find another exit. No, make one. Through the wall.
Grasping her purse, she fished around inside searching for something, anything that could punch a hole through the drywall. Coming up empty-handed, she dropped to the floor, drew her knees to her chest and shoved her feet hard against the sheetrock. The wall rattled but didn’t give. She tried again and again, stopping after the fourth attempt. Damn it! Maddie needed something sharp she could drive into the wall, but Chip had removed everything inside to prevent her escape.
Not everything. He’d left the shelves. They rested on metal brackets attached to the wall. Jumping to her feet, Maddie grabbed the closest board, and slammed the corner into the wall. “Take that Chip. I won’t let you win.”
#
Sirens blared in the distance. Wyatt slammed the Land Rover in to park at the bottom of the long driveway. “Stay here with Jacob.” He jumped out.
“Will do, boss.”
Flames leapt from the back of the bungalow. The Civic sat in front, but he found no trace of Maddie. Where the hell was she?
Wyatt raced toward the house as if all the demons in hell chased after him, fighting the urge to cut and run in the opposite direction. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Maddie!”
No response.
His gaze landed on the front door. Standing wide open. No. She wasn’t inside. Couldn’t be. His gut curled in tight knots. Yes, she is. Wyatt knew with a certainty that went soul deep she’d gone in. Maddie believed he’d sent the texts and she’d entered the bungalow searching for him.
There was only one reason she wouldn’t have answered when he’d shouted her name.
She couldn’t.
No. He wouldn’t consider the idea. No way would he lose her now. He loved her with all his heart and he’d damned well tell her, over and over until she believed he’d stick around and never walk out on her again.
Heat blasted from the interior. Holy shit. Wyatt jumped back, shaking from head to toe. He couldn’t do this. Couldn’t go in there.
Get a grip. If he didn’t act, he could lose her forever. No fucking way. Ignoring the blaze and the tortured screams he heard in his mind, he concentrated on Maddie. Her blue eyes as warm and welcoming as a sunny day, her smiling face shining with happiness. He’d find her. No matter what.
“Maddie.” Smoke accosted him. Wyatt sputtered. Dropping to his hands and knees, he tried to catch his breath. Sweat poured off him and moisture gathered in his stinging eyes as he crawled forward.
“Are you in here, Maddie?”
“Wyatt?”
Alive. His heart soared. “Where are you?”
“In the closet across from the bathroom. There’s a chair wedged under the handle.”
Imprisoned. Left to die. Why? Another coughing fit made his lungs burn. Who and why didn’t matter right now. Getting Maddie out did. He inched his way through the dense thickness sticking as close to the ground as possible.
A loud thunk rent the air as he reached the hall. He jerked to a stop, his pulse racing. What the hell? “Maddie? Are you all right?” He lifted his gaze. Flames glowed through the sooty air.
“Yeah.”
Wyatt released the breath he held and scurried forward. The noise sounded again and something thudded against the floor.
Maddie screamed. Louder this time, and more clear.
“What happened?”
“Fire’s too close,” she sobbed. “Burned me when I broke through the wall.”
Son of a bitch. “Hang on, sweetheart. I’m coming.”
Wyatt rushed forward, heading into the inferno.