Love in the Looking Glass by Lucinda Race

Author:Lucinda Race [Race, Lucinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998664705
Publisher: MC Two Press

Pad thrust Ellie behind him. “Stay behind me,” he hissed.

The doorknob turned easily. Pad hesitated and opened the door a crack. He felt a flash of heat and the dim interior was bright with orange light. “Call 911, now!” Pad raced into the house.

“Pad, wait. Get the fire extinguisher.” Ellie screamed.

In a few long strides, he was at the counter. Reaching down, his hand struck the metal holder. With one fluid motion, he pulled the extinguisher off the wall and pulled the pin. Feet planted, he directed the nozzle at the base. Fanning back and forth, he worked to suppress the flames. It was enough. The fire was out.

Pad called out, “Ellie, where are you?”

Sirens in the distance were growing closer.

“Ellie!”

Silence.

Pad ran toward the back of the house and discovered her heels discarded in the driveway. He took off down the road. Just as he was ready to reverse direction he spotted her, limping towards him. Pad ran to her and wrapped his arms around her. Holding tightly, he demanded, “Where did you go?”

“Someone ran out the back door so I followed them. Unfortunately, they were too fast and got away.”

“Don’t be stupid and do something like that again.”

Ellie stiffened. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

Before an argument could develop, Ellie hobbled down the sidewalk with Pad falling in step beside her. Police cars and fire trucks were in front of her home, water hoses crisscrossing the lawn.

Crossing the dew-dampened grass, Ellie called out to a fireman. “Brian! Have you been inside yet?”

The fireman came over to where they stood. “Hey, El, yeah. The fire was small. It looks like you got home just in time. It could have been really bad. Good thing your friend here acted fast and knew how to handle a fire extinguisher.”

Ellie looked at Pad. “This is Brian Gallagher a friend from high school.”

Pad shook the guy’s hand. “Pad Stone. Wish we could have met under better circumstances. Are you sure we got the embers?”

“We laid down some suppressant and that will smother anything. Other than a mess that needs to be cleaned up, everything is all clear.”

Ellie started to walk up the steps before Pad stopped her.

“We’ll have to wait. This is a crime scene, and it needs to be processed first.”

Ellie plopped onto an iron bench resting her head in her hands. The sounds of tires screeching caught Pad’s attention. Ray and her mom got out of the car and ran to Ellie. Dropping next to her daughter, Cari wrapped Ellie in her arms and the tears started to flow.

Ray snapped. “What happened here tonight? I thought Ellie would be safe with you.”

“Ray, hold on a minute. We went out to dinner and had just gotten home. We heard a crash, and when I tried the door, it was unlocked and I saw the fire starting to spread. Ellie gave chase to the intruder. I couldn’t take care of the fire and watch her too.”

Ray shook his head. “I’m sorry. I know she is pigheaded and you’re right, putting out the fire was your first priority.

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