Then I was out, dropping to my knees, sucking in mouth-fuls of precious air. An EMT carefully put a blanket around me. Everyone was being so good, so professional. I collapsed against a fire truck up on the sidewalk. I almost threw up, then I did.
Someone put an oxygen mask over my mouth and I took several deep gulps. A fireman bent over me. “Were you inside when it went?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I went in to help.” I could barely talk, or think. I opened my fanny pack and showed him my badge. “Lieutenant Boxer,” I said, coughing. “Homicide.”
Womans Murder Club 3 - 3rd Degree
Chapter 4
“I'M ALL RIGHT,” I said, forcing myself out of the EMT's grasp. I made my way over to the boy, who was already strapped onto a gurney. He was being wheeled into a van. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. But he was alive. My God, I had saved his life.
Out on the street, onlookers were being ringed back by the police. I saw the redheaded kid who'd been riding his Razor. Other horrified faces crowded around.
All of a sudden I became aware of barking. Jesus, it was Martha, still tied to the post. I ran over to her and hugged her tightly as she licked my face.
A fireman made his way to me, a division captain's crest on his helmet. “I'm Captain Ed Noroski. You okay?”
“I think so,” I said, not sure.
“You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift, Lieutenant?” Captain Noroski said.
“I was jogging by. I saw it blow. Looked like a gas explo-sion. I just did what I thought was right.”
“Well, you did good, Lieutenant.” The fire captain looked at the wreckage. “But this was no gas explosion.”
“I saw two bodies inside.”
“Yeah,” Noroski said, nodding. “Man and a woman. Another adult in a back room on the first floor. That kid's lucky you got him out.”