Page 6 of Rescued Heart

Think.

Eddie ripped off his mask from around his eyes and turned in a circle. Lieutenant Crawford had applauded him on his quick and creative decisions in the smoke house training, however, this was a real-life scenario. God’s mercies were new every day. Just like the fresh chance to prove himself, especially when it actually counted.

Lord, we really need You.

He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and handed it to her. “Call 9-1-1.”

As Bianca dialed on speaker, Eddie rummaged in the first crate. There had to be something in here that he could use to break open the door.

A female voice answered the call. “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

“Yes, I…” A cough stole Bianca’s voice.

“This is Eddie Rice, firefighter with Eastside.” He yelled over his shoulder as he dug into the next crate. “I’ve got a fire inside the mayor’s event. We’re trapped in what looks to be the auction storage room. Flames escalating fast with no accessible exit. We’re locked in with some kind of electric keypad.”

“Did you say the mayor’s?—”

“Yes!” Bianca added in, with blood now trickling down her face.

“A fire truck’s five minutes out,” the dispatcher said.

“That’s too long.” Bianca banged on the door and used the handle to stand. “Help! Someone help us?—”

Another cough thundered through her.

Eddie’s chest squeezed. He slipped off his suit jacket. “Hold this over your mouth. Stay low to the ground and remain on the line with dispatch.”

Smoke embraced his lungs like a thief. He bent over and squinted at the door handle. There was a spot for a key. His foster brother’s lock-picking skills would have actually come in handy. Too bad Eddie had never paid attention.

Eddie pushed the numbers one through four on the keypad, but it only beeped angrily.

“Four minutes out,” came the dispatcher’s reply over the phone’s speaker, which remained in Bianca’s grip.

Eddie winced.

Bianca was right. That wouldn’t be quick enough.

Sweat dripped down his forehead. This was his job. Firefighters rescued people. But there was no way to save Bianca on his own strength.

Lord, help.

Smoke burned his eyes. The heat prickled the back of his neck as sweat dripped into his vision. He shoved over the first stack of disheveled crates. The crash was dwarfed by the crackle of the roaring fire. A diamond necklace, a piece of broken pottery, and a box of chocolates tumbled onto the floor. None of which was going to save them.

The ting of metal hitting the ground sounded—an axe that looked like it belonged in that medieval painting. He gripped it and took a running step, forcing all his strength through his swing. The axe struck the door handle and vibrated through Eddie’s body. A ting and a thump ricocheted through the air as the axe head flew off the handle and sailed somewhere behind him.

But what mattered most was that the door handle dropped to the ground.

Eddie spun around. “Bianca!”

Where was she? Please, let the axe head not have struck her.

She popped up from behind a piano.

Eddie reached out his hand to her. “Our eviction notice is overdue.”

Her gaze flicked to the opened door but snagged on the bright flames engulfing what was more than likely an antique harp. “Wait! This stuff is priceless. We need to put out the fire before it’s too late.”

“That’s another firefighter’s job.” He pressed the handkerchief up to her head and placed her hand over the top of it. “You’re far more priceless than any material stuff. If only more people realized their true worth.”

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