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Olivia nodded. “I do.” She opened her briefcase and showed her the pictures.
“Johnny, come out here,” his mother called.
Suddenly, an ominous sound pierced the air—a sharp pop, followed by the crackling of flames. A white sheet covering something was engulfed in flames. “Johnny's e-bike!” his mother's voice filled with fear, her eyes wide with terror.
The sight stole the breath from Olivia’s lungs. Flames were already snaking their way up the walls and along the ceiling. She turned to Johnny's mother, her voice firm but laced with urgency. “Where’s Johnny?”
“He’s in his room. You have to save him,” the hysterical woman begged.
“Mrs. Auran, get out of here and call 9-1-1; tell them it’s an e-bike fire.” She started to cough.
Mrs. Auran's eyes widened in panic, her hands trembling as she fumbled for her phone. “Oh God, Johnny's bike... the fire...”
Olivia grabbed her by the shoulders, guiding her toward the door. “Go now! Tell them it's Johnny's e-bike battery that caught fire.”
As Mrs. Auran hurried out, Olivia took a deep breath and pulled her shirt over her nose and mouth, trying to shield herself from the thickening smoke.
Dropping to her knees, she began to crawl toward the bedroom, the flames following her. When she crossed the threshold, she found Johnny unconscious and the fire eating up the carpet.
Olivia grasped Johnny's arms and dragged the 150-pound boy out of the fully engulfed room, inch by inch. Her muscles strained, her body protesting the heat and smoke. Where’s Jackson when I need him?
As she was dragging him out of the apartment, the door caught on a coat rack, so she couldn’t fully close it. Knowing this would spread the fire, she forced herself to stand up to clear the door and pull it closed. She had to slow the fire. It was spreading rapidly.
“Fire. Get out!” her voice was choked as she warned the other residents. Coughing and sputtering as she dragged Johnny, she hit the stair landing, missing the top step. With her vision obscured by the smoke, she and thirteen-year-old Johnny tumbled down the stairs.
Olivia's body trembled from exertion and the searing chest pain of inhaling the acrid smoke. Johnny lay beside her, his face contorted in agony from burns that marred his skin. Firefighters pulled them to the asphalt street.
Paramedics rushed to their aid, transporting them to the ER. Sophie's familiar face appeared as she took charge of admitting Johnny to the burn unit and putting her sister in the care of another physician.
Olivia's vision blurred, her chest heaving with labored breaths as she was whisked away to a room for treatment and monitoring. The relentless smoke inhalation left her gasping for air, her senses overwhelmed.
* * *
In the hospital room, monitors beeped rhythmically, tracking Olivia's oxygen levels as a pulmonologist and nurses worked to cure the effects of the smoke exposure and minor burns. Sophie stood nearby, worried.
As Olivia's breathing eased, she turned to her sister, her voice hoarse but determined. “Soph, is Johnny okay? How badly is he hurt?”
Sophie's expression softened. “He's in the burn unit, Liv. You saved him. He’s got a long way to go, but he should make it.”
Olivia nodded weakly. “I had to do something.”
“You almost got yourself killed.” Sophie moved closer and hugged her. “You could have really used the firefighting training.” She rustled her hair.
“Poor Daddy.” Olivia understood what her father must have gone through. Her eyes closed, exhausted from breathing.
Five
Jackson and Turk leaned against a weathered brick wall. Neither talked much as they awaited their release from the scene.
Jackson's mind filled with thoughts. “I wish Livvy was running this show. Things would move faster.” He couldn't help but wonder about the current situation, the mystery deepening with every passing moment as the detectives seemed to walk in circles.
Turk smiled. “Why do I think it’s more than her detective work that’s got you hooked?”
Jackson shrugged. He couldn't ignore the undeniable pull he felt toward Liv. She was unlike anyone he had ever met before—strong, independent, and fiercely passionate about her work. Liv had captured his heart in a way he never thought possible, and he was willing to do whatever it took to see where this unexpected journey led.
As each fire captain took turns giving their statement, relaying their intention to relax during the hike and their accidental discovery of the body, the act of repeating the account multiple times began to feel annoying and stupid. Finally, they were cleared to leave the scene.
Hiking back to their vehicle, Turk's radio crackled with pressing words, breaking the calm of the woods. His hand hovered over the radio as he awaited the latest update. “Jackson, this doesn't sound good. Lithium-ion fire on Hazel Street.”
