The Wages of Sin (A Detective India Kane & AJ Colt Crime Thriller) by Bo Brennan

Author:Bo Brennan [Brennan, Bo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

Winchester, Hampshire

The turnout system activated as soon as Gray Davies bedded down for the night.

Scanning his pager, he swung out of his bunk and into his boots under the full glare of the fire station’s automatic lights and blaring alarms. ‘Cantilever Court’ was all his pager said. His heart skipped a beat. Knew he should’ve confiscated Mrs Reynolds’ bloody chip pan when they did the inspection.

Charlie was first down the pole. “Cantilever Court,” he shouted, tearing the printout from the teleprinter on their way to the engine.

“No number on there either?” Gray queried, boarding the appliance.

Charlie shrugged and handed him the details. “Just says ground floor.” He sat back, fastening his jacket. “PDA is two WL’s attending. Us and Whitchurch retained.”

“Shit.” Gray reached into the overhead locker, pulling out copies of the week’s fire inspection reports as the engine roared into the night. Cantilever Court might not be a high-rise, but the pre-determined attendance of two water ladders wasn’t going to be anywhere near enough if the main foyer was alight.

It took less than three minutes for them to arrive at the entrance to the close, only to find a police car blocking their route.

Sergeant Trevor Marshall, from Hampshire Constabulary’s Traffic Division, door-stepped the appliance and leaned into the driver’s window. “Road’s blocked with residents’ motors,” he said. “Ambulances only just made it through, you’ve got no chance. Officers are going door to door trying to get them shifted.”

“Jesus Christ,” the driver shouted. “Boss, we’ve got a going job here. What d’you want me to do?”

Gray stood up and leaned through the front seats to see Cantilever Court, at the end of the close, well ablaze. Fire filled the front door, the building’s only means of escape. They’d need platforms at the first-floor windows to get any remaining residents out. And there was no time to waste running hoses from here. “Move your car, Trev. We’re going in.”

“But –”

“Now!”

The driver gunned the engine and Textbook Trevor ran to his car, reversing out of the way.

As the fire engine scraped through, leaving a trail of broken mirrors and buckled wings in its wake, Gray radioed Control, booking-in their attendance as first appliance on scene and requesting three additional appliances, including platforms.

The crew began unravelling and coupling hoses immediately.

A man stumbled from the burning building and into the street as Gray leapt from the wagon.

The police incident co-ordinator was easy to locate. “Where’s he just come from?” she shouted at the ambulance crew, rushing to the escapee’s aid. “I need the flat number, asap!”

Gray touched her arm and she started. “Watch Manager Davies. Winchester.”

“Thank God,” she said, holding out a roughly made sketch of the building. “We’ve got a four on four, two front two back on each level. Central staircase –”

“I’ve got layout plans,” Gray said, thrusting them into her hands. “One elderly resident per flat. A multiple occupancy query on Flat 7: first floor, back of building, east side. Who’s accounted for?”

She marked off the entire west side of the building, both levels.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.