Page 72 of Alex

“Oh, my God! My apartment is on fire!”

Chapter Twenty

ELISE

I don’t understand.

“How? Why?” I shake my head and try to focus on the commotion. Firefighters scramble with the hose to spray water on the fire.

Alex parks his car far enough away so we won’t be trapped or have ashes fall on his car, but he’s parked close enough that we can still see what’s going on.

Residents stand on the sidewalk across the street and watch as the flames get smaller and smaller.

When there are more firefighters standing around than there are firefighters fighting the fire, I get out of Alex’s car.

I need answers.

Walking up to a firefighter, I say, “Excuse me. I was wondering if you could tell me what happened here?”

He looks toward the steaming building before turning his gaze back to me. “I don’t know anythingother than the fire originated from the bottom floor apartment. I’m just a low guy on the totem pole.”

He chuckles before pointing at another firefighter. “He should know more than I do.”

Alex’s voice sounds from behind me, scaring me. “You didn’t know anything.”

I spin around as my heart jolts in my chest. Playfully, I smack his chest. “God, Alex, you scared me! Don’t be an ass.” I turn toward the firefighter. “Thank you for your help.”

He gives me a friendly nod before walking over to the other side of the large fire truck.

Alex follows me as I walk over to the firefighter that should know what is going on.

“Excuse me,” I say as I get closer to the man.

When he looks up at me, I continue. “I was wondering if you know what happened here?”

The firefighter glances toward my apartment. “A fire.”

I roll my eyes as Alex chuckles behind me. “Obviously, I know a fire happened. I just saw huge flames coming from my apartment. I meant what happened in the beginning, like how did the fire start?”

He shrugs. “Honestly, we won’t know until the investigation is complete, but from our preliminary scan, the fire started from the electrical outlet by the window.”

“But nothing was plugged into the outlet. I never used that outlet.”

“Did that outlet work? Was it faulty?”

Alex steps closer to me, standing tall over my short frame. The firefighter turns his attention to Alex for a moment before returning his gaze to mine.

“I never used that outlet.”

Alex leans his head down and whispers in my ear. “Don’t say anything else because they can use whatever you say to try to pin it on you.”

My eyes widen. I don’t have insurance and can’t afford to repair an entire apartment building.

“Thank you.” I give the man a friendly smile before walking back to Alex’s car.

When we are alone, Alex speaks. “I was probably being a little too paranoid, but I don’t want you to worry. There’s no way they can blame you for this. You haven’t been home in a few days.”

He’s right. I haven’t been home in almost two weeks because I’ve been working from Mr. Strickland’s house.

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