First One In Last One Out Read online

  "Mission complete,” he whispered, then smiled and gathered up his equipment. He needed to be sure he left no clues, no evidence of his presence behind.

  He was confident they would not catch him as he snuck back out of the building undetected.

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  Chapter 1

  Katie Marie McKeller exited the hospital through the automatic sliding doors, her shift finally ended. It turned into a double as she assisted the ER doctors with the five victims of a car wreck. She was exhausted. Yawning, she entered her beat up Tempo and headed home. After a half hour stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, she finally made it past the college campus to her apartment complex.

  She waved hello to a few residents she knew but avoided any conversations. Her head was fuzzy. She knew she needed some rest. If she tried to talk to anyone she would surely sound uninterested and non-emotional. Katie had given the ER all she had during the last 22 hours, and the exhaustion set in.

  Finally, she entered her apartment.

  She was home, although her apartment did not feel much like a home, or as appealing as one, despite her use of a cheerful lavender and floral design throughout. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to really feel at home, connected. Her mind traveled back to the hospital and to the one accident victim they had lost.

  "One out of five isn't bad at all,” she recalled one of the more callous doctors stating as he walked through the ER ... as if ‘one’ was just a number. To the rest of them who worked their tails off running, scrambling around trying to save five lives and leave no one behind, his words were like spears through the heart. Through Katie's eyes, that doctor lost his empathy, the human factor that was imperative when working in a medical field. Perhaps he never experienced such personal loss or maybe it was just a defense mechanism. His comment hadn't sat right with her or the rest of the staff who heard it. That doctor was able to walk away. There was no bloody mess for him to clean up or chaos to relive. For him, there were no family members to console, to embrace and to explain that they had done everything humanly possible to save their son's life.

  The tears filled Katie's eyes. She knew the feeling of loss and being out of control. She knew it all too well and that was why she continued in the medical field and worked as a trauma nurse. She wanted to save lives. She sighed deeply as she walked through the living room.

  Katie sat on the wide, built in bench in front of the window. She stared out at the midday traffic and her heart filled with the realization that her life was never going to be the same. Did she want it to be? Did she deserve to be here, to be alive? Why was she given a second chance at life and not Bradley? The tears rolled down her cheeks. Her heart ached.

  Katie closed her eyes and the flashbacks immediately took over her every thought.

  Katie could feel the intense heat of the flames against her skin, charring her flesh, burning others alive. People screamed and the fire alarms blared. Bradley saved her life.

  Oh God.

  If she had just held onto his hand tighter...

  She would have suffered the same fate—death, multiple floors below.

  Wiping the tears away from her eyes with the back of her hands, she pushed herself away from the window and from the negative thoughts the best she could. She stood up too quickly and lost her balance, nearly falling to the floor. The pain in her hip was bothersome to say the least, but she needed it.

  Katie embraced the pain caused by the injuries she suffered from the fire, but on her terms. In public, she would hide her limp. When she was alone, unable to bear the pain of losing her lover and surviving, she embraced the limp, the scarring, the pain and the nightmares. This was her punishment.

  Looking around her apartment, it was obvious to her she'd pushed off her cleaning responsibilities too long. She needed to begin the chores even though she should just rest.

  On the way to the hallway closet she paused to glance into the oval antique mirror and was saddened by her reflection.

  She squeezed her cheeks, forcing some color into them. It only lasted a moment. If she squeezed any harder, she would cause bruises.

  This had become a daily routine since recovering from her injuries. Days grew into weeks and weeks turned into months. She became tired of being alone in her apartment.

  Katie looked into the mirror again. The realization hit her hard.

  She was dying inside.

  Katie worked in the medical field and she knew the signs of the self-destruction a human being was capable of administering to oneself. She showed all the symptoms of posttraumatic stress yet denied the level of intensity. Katie was completely aware of her depression, yet she gave in.

  I'm losing the fight. I won't make it. I can't go on.

  Those thoughts were so unlike her. She had always fought for herself, for everything she accomplished from the smallest achievements to battling so hard against the stereotypes automatically attached to her small, petite frame. Her feminine curves, ample bust size and gentle demeanor played against her and many people assumed she was unable to handle things herself. She fought hard to prove them wrong and to prove to herself that she was more than capable of handling any challenge. She accomplished this in every detail and aspect of her life. She used to embrace those simple accomplishments, like helping lift a 6 ft, 200 lbs male patient back into his bed after he fell out of it during the middle of the night.

  She was no weakling, no little girl, protected from the true realities of life. No. Unfortunately, she had seen and experienced more than her share of life changing events, heart wrenching moments and the true ‘realities of life.'

  Being a trauma nurse pushed her into a world dominated by massive injuries, a need for quick reflexes, education and empathy that only ER experience could provide. The strangest part, considering her own losses in her life, was that she embraced the work, felt comfortable and accomplished in having such a profession. The trouble was, as soon as she exited those automatic doors, she was left with her own thoughts and memories of her life. Katie felt lost and hollow inside.

  I don't think I can hold on much longer.

  She instantly thought of home, her three brothers and her mom. Their house was only two blocks from the beach. Her old room, her friends and her memories at the beach called out to her but she was not a child anymore. She could not run home to Mommy and her brothers and burden them with her pain.

  Katie began to cry. The guilt consumed her.

  How can I continue to keep such a secret from them all? But how could I tell them about losing Bradley, that he was my lover and my best friend?

  She opened the hall closet and pulled out a can of furniture polish, a cloth, and a plastic bag then walked towards the living room while her mind traveled over the past.

  She established a nice career after college. She landed a great job in a big metropolitan hospital and oddly wound up as an ER nurse with a specialty in handling burn victims.

  Katie laughed at the thought.

  A year in a half ago, she met Bradley, a Bolton Bay firefighter and life seemed grand.

  Katie looked around at the mess, wondering where to begin. There were loads of newspapers, magazines and mail scattered around the coffee table. She had been working extra shifts at the hospital and volunteering at the burn center.

  Stacking the magazines into one pile on the floor, she cleared the coffee table then sprayed a good amount of polish across the wood. The lemony smell filled the air, instantly giving freshness to the stale scented room. She wiped the cloth across the table once, twice, then absorbed the fact that more than an inch of dust had disappeared. The sight of the sparkling wood stirred something inside her. In an instant, she was in full-fledged cleaning mode, dusting every piece of furniture in the place. 20 minutes later, she sprinkled carpet cleaner on the rugs, vacuumed them then began to wash the floors. The apartment was gleaming and smelled amazingly clean by the time she was completely finished.

  She practically fell onto the
stool by the island in the kitchen. A huge smile formed on her face at the sight and the smell of her freshly clean home. She was mesmerized by her sudden burst of energy, considering she had been awake for more than 24 hours.

  Then, there was the silence.

  There wasn't a sound. There wasn't a person walking up the sidewalk that was just outside the living room window, not a horn honking from the road, or children laughing.

  Just silence and an eerie feeling that consumed Katie and chilled her to the bone.

  Hugging herself, she sadly glanced around the room.

  Her apartment was empty, her heart was empty, the desire to keep on going was diminishing.

  Instantly she thought of Bradley.

  The dimple in his left cheek, how the brightness of his deep blue eyes did a number on her heart the second they met. He was over 6 ft tall, trim and muscular, not bulky or hefty like many of the other firefighters in his department. He was handsome in his own unique way, not like a movie star or playboy. He was real. She smiled just thinking about him, his embrace and his ability to get along with everyone he met.

  A tear escaped her eye as she wondered about what could have been. The loss of Bradley's life and his love for her left a hole in her heart and her soul. She could not describe it but she silently promised him that she would never love again. She began to sob, to cry out in exhaustion and loneliness as she lay her head down on the counter, crossing her arms and tucking them under her forehead. Strong thoughts of ending it all and giving up the fight to live as a survivor filled her soul as she continued to mourn.

  She was losing the battle. There wasn't any sign of hope, yet she held on and wished for an inkling of a message from God or beyond to tell her what to do next, how to live as a survivor or how to feel alive once more.

  What do I do now? Where do I go from here? Help me. Please, someone, help me.

  The ringing telephone interrupted her thoughts. For a brief moment, she wondered if it were God, calling her as she begged, then the thought disappeared just as quickly.

  "I'm losing it,” she said, while looking towards the cordless phone.

  Katie was going to just let the answering machine get it, but her loneliness scared her. She did not care if it was a salesperson on the other line. She would listen to their entire pitch, even ask questions if necessary just to have someone to talk to.

  Quickly she picked up the receiver.

  "Hello."

  "Hey Katie what's going on? I'm so glad I caught you. I thought I was going to have to leave another message. Where have you been?” her brother Donny asked.

  "Working."

  She did not want to sound so down considering that her brother's phone calls always perked her up. He was a Godsend and he did not even know it.

  "Pulled another all nighter huh?"

  She smiled. Of course Donny would understand. He was a surgeon.

  "Yeah, I'm just tired."

  "You sound more than tired. I wish I was there so I could see you. Are you sure that you're taking care of yourself?"

  Katie swallowed the instant lump in her throat.

  "I'm fine Donny, really.” No I'm not. I'm hurting so bad. I want to die.

  "When are you coming out here?"

  Katie instantly got that nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Donny had been hounding her for months now and she did not want to tell him that she had been considering the idea. She missed her family and there was nothing but unpleasant memories here in Bolton Bay. But didn't she owe it to Bradley's family to stay?

  "I told you Donny, I'll think about it."

  "Well if finding a job is a concern maybe I can help. I can find out if there are any openings in the hospital. Do you want me to?"

  "I'll let you know. You're very persistent, do you know that?"

  "Yep. I'll have you living back here in Warrens Cove in no time. We miss you Katie."

  It was what she needed to hear. She felt a little bit of life perk up deep inside her belly. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she glanced around at the empty apartment. The sensation of being slowly strangled to death entered her thoughts. She was suffocating here. The time had come. She knew, deep down inside,, if she did not take a chance then life was over for her.

  It was time to make some major changes and get control of her life.

  Thank God for older brothers.

  The Grill House restaurant on Jolly Avenue, a block from Pirates Beach was a smoldering mess of ash and smoke. Arson Investigator Kenny Travis listened to the sounds of radio chatter echoing from the large red fire trucks. He scanned the area again, noting the exhausted, black, dirt covered faces. The lieutenant was thanking his firefighters for a job well done but their faces showed their disappointment.

  "You done good, boys. That was a doozie of a fire,” the chief stated as he removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair.

  The men nodded their heads towards the chief more out of courtesy.

  Kenny knew that look all too well. The emotion lodged in his throat. The heroes did not focus on the lives they had saved but those lost.

  The last ambulance left with some surviving victims hours ago. The firefighters were able to save most of the patrons, but unfortunately there were casualties.

  Thick black smoke had filled the parking lot, multiple cars exploded, debris was everywhere. It had been a four-alarm fire, had taken most of the night to put out and now there was the tedious task of filtering through and hoping the body count did not rise.

  Kenny stood alongside Detective Lou Bachelli.

  "So do you suppose our man had something to do with this fire?” Lou asked.

  "It could be. I'll know more once I get inside and go through everything,” Kenny said. He held his clipboard in his hand. His special toolbox sat on the ground next to his feet. “Who's the lead investigator on the scene?"

  "It's Davis. He's good. I'll be able to get access to everything."

  "We don't know if this is Redding's doing yet, Lou."

  Lou gave Kenny a sideways glance.

  Kenny shook his head then looked back towards the building. Firefighters were still cleaning up and gathering their equipment.

  Kenny was itching to catch Earl Redding Jr., the arsonist most likely responsible for the current fire. This particular fire had Redding's name all over it. Kenny wanted him badly since the first fire at The Club near the boardwalk in downtown Bolton Bay. Ten young people died and many firefighters suffered injuries. Kenny continued to search. He hooked up with Lou, a seasoned detective in the local department and a longtime friend. The personal connection to this case and the desire to catch their suspect strengthened their friendship. They were working the homicide investigation and on the hunt for Earl Redding Jr. He was responsible for five separate fires and the deaths of more than sixteen people, along with the murder of Lou's nephew, an off-duty firefighter caught in the blaze.

  "I can't believe this son of bitch has done it again. When are we gonna catch him?” Lou asked. Kenny sighed.

  "You work your end and I'll work mine."

  Kenny picked up his kit and looked at Lou. Lou's face was expressionless and Kenny could sense that he was just as frustrated as he was and just as determined to stop Redding Jr.

  "You coming?” Kenny nodded his head towards the smoky building.

  Lou took a deep breath and followed Kenny inside. Kenny got an eerie feeling as his nostrils consumed the smells around him. Ash, gasoline, death. He exhaled. More detectives and police officers arrived to aid in the investigation. It would be days before they had any answers or anything concrete to go by.

  Kenny walked through the blackness. The emotion and the disgust for their prime suspect consumed his mind as he took in the surroundings. He notified the first responding officer of his presence before heading towards the crime scene.

  They were in the main dining area as two police officers directed them towards the location of the bodies.

  Lou exchanged glances with Kenny.<
br />
  "I'll catch up with you later."

  "No problem.” Kenny headed towards the staircase that led to the basement.

  Kenny noted Lou headed towards a separate hallway past the door that led to the kitchen. The majority of fire damage appeared to surround that area as well.

  Kenny walked through the structure, noting significant points of interest along the way. He would backtrack numerous times to record his impressions and findings along with samples of evidence.

  He located the entrance to the basement and made his way carefully down the charred flight of stairs. Kenny noted the pattern of heavy rolling char on the surface of each step as well as the ‘V’ pattern against the surrounding walls. It appeared that some sort of accelerant assisted in spreading the flames. The fire shot up the staircase in a chimney effect, causing the blaze to spread through the dining area.

  As Kenny walked through the basement, he noted three different areas that contained darker shadows of soot. Each of them appeared to be located in a circular pattern. He bent down, looked more closely, and could see the tiny particles and what appeared to be evidence of explosives.

  Kenny sat back on his heels, balancing himself as the shock penetrated through him.

  The evidence and findings were pointing at arson and he had a feeling that Redding was the one responsible. Redding was taking it to the next level.

  He would need Lou's investigative capabilities to identify the D.O.A.'s upstairs and find a link to Redding.