Word Games (Angie Gomez Cozy Murder Mystery, Book 2) by Ines Saint

Author:Ines Saint [Saint, Ines]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!

EIGHT

“Where there was a fire, ashes remain.”

SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN SAYING

I was thrown back and fell hard. Tito was still tucked into my arms. Patio furniture lifted off the ground around me. Instinct kicked in. I crawled away, hugging Tito, while projectiles rained down on my back.

Ears still ringing and vision hazy, I hauled myself up and tried to see through the smoke, but I wasn’t sure which way to go. I ended up in the street, with people shouting and sirens blaring. I stumbled onto the pavement and was soon surrounded by neighbors, but I couldn’t hear what anyone was saying. My only reaction was to swat hands away and not let anyone take Tito away from me. He was tenderly licking my arms, and he would not be happy to be separated from me.

“The candle. The flame. The universe…” I tried to explain to the faces hovering over me, but I knew no one would understand. I looked toward my house. Fire engulfed the kitchen.

Concerned faces peered into mine. I closed my eyes, tried to think, and the scene began to make some sort of sense. An explosion. In my kitchen. “Is everyone here okay?” I croaked, opening my eyes again. Thinking about my nosy but wonderful neighbors and their pets had me blinking back tears. Had they been hurt? I was assured everyone was okay.

A fire truck soon arrived. Thank goodness I lived only a few blocks away from the fire station. Someone picked me up, and I looked up to see a firefighter’s face shield. Again, they tried to take Tito away from me, but I wouldn't let them. “It was the universe. It's trying to tell me something, but I don't know if it agrees or disagrees with my request,” I explained as she sat me down on a stretcher. “Shh,” she hushed me. I wanted to try to explain again, but the sight of paramedics and open ambulance doors stopped me. An image of Abuela Nydia getting a Google alert about an explosion at my house had me sitting up. My Abuelas would handcuff me to their sides for life if this landed me in the hospital. “I’m fine! I’m fine!” I tried to climb down, but they wouldn’t let me.

I took a few calming breaths and sorted through my thoughts. No one would believe I was fine unless I acted like I was okay. I tried a quick self-assessment. “I'm a little sore from where debris hit my back and legs, and the skin there stings, but I feel fine. I was lifted away from the blast. I protected Tito, and he’s been alert and conscious the entire time, as have I. But you can check our vitals,” I offered. Although I had held Tito to me, and his heart rate felt normal, I wanted to make sure his little body was okay.

Our vitals were checked, and everything was within normal range. I refused to be taken to the hospital. After they treated my wounds, they asked if they could call anyone for me, and I hesitated.

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