Page 4 of Backdraft
"She's up there alone. Swinging something at the wall. She looks like she has it handled," he advised the crew.
"She'll be okay," the lieutenant told him.
"It looks like she's trying to pull down the wall," he said, and took off his gloves, balling them up.
The three men looked up at the window. Taylor saw a shadow of concern on the lieutenant's face. Maybe he should've waited.
She stuck her head out the window and waved her hand.
"Move the ladder closer. She's holding something."
Taylor stepped back and unzipped his Tyvek suit. It was damn hot, but he didn't look away from her. Had they missed a body?
He watched her climb out the window with ease and make it down the ladder. At the bottom, the firefighters surrounded her. She did have something in her arms.
Taylor hung back and watched, curious to see what she'd found.
News crews were on scene, and he wasn't surprised. This would be a huge headline in their next edition and was probably online already.
One of reporters pointed in the direction of the huddle around the investigator. The rest turned like a pack and crowded in to see what was happening.
They blocked his view and were just as curious to see what she'd brought out of the burned-up house.
Chapter Two
I smashed the Halligan into the wall and yanked down the crumbling drywall. I kept at it until I had a hole big enough to look inside. There were no telltale signs of fire in the wall.
I had no idea what to expect, but the scratching was driving me crazy. It was probably just a mouse, a rat, or even a bird, but I couldn't just ignore the sound. I looked into the hole, and the light on my helmet illuminated the gloom and darkness. A low growl greeted me, and I froze.
I half expected the unseen creature to leap at me as it tried to beat a hasty escape. I leaned in a little more and peered down. At first, I couldn't see anything and moved my head so the helmet light pierced into the far corners.
Even though I was somewhat prepared, I was still startled when two glowing eyes stared back at me. I gasped and retreated quickly. Scratching continued, and there was a sad little mewling sound.
"Don't be such a baby," I told myself and peeked in again. Two big green eyes looked back at me.
It was a cat. A black cat. Either that, or he was covered in soot and smoke.
"Oh hey, little guy. It's all okay."
I grabbed the kitty and tucked him under my arm. I leaned out the window and waved my arm indicating I was ready to come down, then picked up the Halligan propped against the wall.
Juggling the cat, Halligan, and holding the ladder, it wasn’t easy climbing down. Thankfully the cat was relatively still, but I hung on to him tight. I had to descend effortlessly, like I’d been born to do it because I could feel all the eyes below watching me.
Finally, back on the driveway I let out a breath and gave the cat a pat on the head rubbing him gently. He was black underneath all the muck and wet fur.
The crew gathered around to see him.
"So, there was something in the wall," the forensic officer commented.
I nodded. "The scratching was driving me nuts, and I had to see what was doing it. Poor little guy. He's lucky he didn't get toasted. The baseboard was missing, and I guess he climbed up the wall cavity.”
"He sure is a mess," another said and gave me a wet towel to clean him up
I wrapped him in the towel. "I'll take him back to my truck. Hopefully, he’ll settle. Thanks."
When I emerged from the barrier of firefighters, a barrage of questions was thrown at me from photographers.
"Is that a cat?"
