His mind already hours ahead of his next few tasks, Bill pushed open the door to his office, hand automatically reaching for the light switch.
Maybe if he hadn’t been so distracted, he would’ve noticed the sharp smell of liquor cutting through the darkness, the rasp of stifled breathing.
Something rammed into his stomach, knocking the breath out of him, sending the cigarette flying out of his mouth. Bill’s feet flipped up as his head dropped down, toppling over the body barreling out of his office. He didn’t notice a face or shape or hair color. Just a broad shoulder, muscular arms, a low grunt of exertion. Nothing, really.
Bill’s head struck the floor, the thin carpet doing nothing to cushion the blow. His thoughts blinked out as the darkness took him.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
VERONICA
Veronica stared at the entrance to the school, her heart thumping fast against her ribs. Who was that who had come running out of the school? He’d jumped out the window by Bill’s office.
The light was still off. It shouldn’t still be off.
And where was Bill?
In the back seat, Millie clutched her stuffed bear, murmuring gibberish into its chewed and tattered ear. She scooted forward on the bench seat to hold the bear up to Veronica.
“Mommy kiss.”
Veronica twisted to kiss the top of the bear’s raggedy head, and Millie grinned, hugging the bear tight. She lowered her voice, tucking her chin into her chest to do a bear voice. “Tank you, Mommy!”
Veronica looked toward the school again. The main office light was still on, but Bill’s was off. She couldn’t see him through the window.
She squinted, shielding her eyes with her hand as if that might somehow give her a better view, even though the sun had long since set. She stared at Bill’s office window, waiting to see if she’d really seen what she thought she saw.
Yes, there! An orange flicker.
And was that . . . smoke?
Oh god.
Veronica jumped out of the car and flung open the back door. Scooping up Millie so fast that she dropped her bear, she plopped her back down in the seat and fastened her seat belt. She tightened it with shaking hands.
The quick motion had startled Millie, and she started to sniffle. Veronica picked the bear up from the floor of the car and pushed it into her arms. “Stay here with bear, baby,” she said, hoping Millie didn’t pick up on the tremble in her voice.
“Mama, hold you!” Millie was full-on sobbing now, stretching her arms toward her mother, her face scrunched up and red.
“Stay here,” Veronica repeated, then closed the door, her heart pounding. Millie’s muffled screams leaked through the window, but she would be safe. She didn’t know how to undo the seat belt or open the door. At least, Veronica hoped she didn’t.
The front door to the school was unlocked. Bill had his keys with him. Veronica threw the door open and ran inside.
The smell of smoke hit her right away, her ragged breathing pulling it into her lungs, which then worked to push it back out with equal force. Coughing, Veronica pulled open the door to the main office, covering her mouth with her sleeve.
The air was hazy, but she didn’t see any fire yet. Her chest burning, Veronica moved through the office, her eyes scanning everywhere for Bill.
The door to his office was ajar. The lights were off, but she could still see inside, thanks to the dancing flames licking across the carpet, climbing up onto the desk.
Bill lay crumpled on his back, his arms splayed at his sides. He wasn’t moving.
“Bill!” Veronica knew she shouldn’t try to talk, but his name came out without thinking. Smoke took advantage of the moment to shove its way into her mouth, down her throat, into her lungs. Her eyes watered and dripped, her eyelashes fluttering frantically. Still, she couldn’t help herself. “Bill, oh god, honey? Bill? Are you okay?”
She leaned down to press her ear to his chest, too frightened even to breathe. A comforting, steady thump sent relief sweeping through her. He was alive, just unconscious.
What happened?
There would be time for that later. Now, she had to get him out.
Veronica looped her arms under his, pulling with all her might. Her back strained and ached. He slid a little, but the process was agonizingly slow. Too slow.
Kicking off her heels and tossing aside the stifling red blazer she’d bought for the debate, Veronica hurried around Bill’s prone body and grabbed his feet. Blinking sweat out of her eyes, she heaved his body around so his feet pointed toward the door, tucking each foot under her arms and gripping him tight at the ankles.
This was better. She shuffled backward, dragging him with her an inch at a time. Smoke stung her eyes and clogged her throat, but she kept going, determinedly placing one foot behind the other.
Her eyes streamed, so she closed them. It was a mostly straight shot to the door. She didn’t need to see.
A fire was building in her chest, searing claws tearing through her with every breath. She ignored it as long as she could, trying to hold her breath, but she couldn’t go more than a couple of steps before gasping for air, only to find none.
How far was the door? Surely she had to be almost there.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Veronica doubled over in a fit of coughing, straining for breath. Her head swam, her thoughts fuzzy. She stumbled, then realized she was on her hands and knees, gasping and hacking over her husband.
Get up, Veronica.
She braced her hands on Bill’s stomach, one nylon-clad foot planting itself on the carpet and pushing upward. She was standing again!
But Bill. Where was Bill? She’d dropped his feet. She needed to find his feet.
She bent down, patting blindly along the floor, searching. There! Her hands closed around the rubber sole of his shoe, then his ankle. She couldn’t find the other one, but one ankle was enough. She could work with one ankle.
She tried to get up again, to take him with her this time, but she couldn’t. Her legs were no longer cooperating. Neither were her lungs. She knew what she needed to do, but she couldn’t make her body do it.
The sound of the fire was growing louder. It cracked and spit, eating up everything in its path.
Soon, the office wouldn’t contain it. It would spread to this room. And then beyond. The whole school, and whatever it could reach around it.
Whatever was nearby.
Millie. Millie!
A sob wrenched out of her as she dropped Bill’s foot and turned to drag herself toward the door, leaving him behind. Her thoughts were little more than smoke-clogged sludge. She couldn’t see anything. Everything hurt, like she was burning from the inside.
Inside her head, though, a clear picture:
Her daughter, crying. The fire inching its way toward the car.
She had to get to her. Her nails dug into the carpet, bending and breaking as she clawed her way forward.
It’s okay, Millie, she imagined herself saying. It’s okay. Mama’s here. It’s okay. I’ll fix it.
She didn’t notice when she stopped moving.
She didn’t notice when her cheek came to rest against the carpet.
It’s okay, baby. Everything’s going to be just fine.
She didn’t notice when she stopped breathing.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
JUSTIN
No wonder Karl is so afraid of these kids.
Winded, I can’t do much more than curl into a ball and cover my head with my hands as they drive their sneakered feet into every part of me they can reach. I don’t feel the tree branch again, but that’s not much comfort when their shoes are smashing like hammers. My back, my ribs, my arms, everything screams for this to stop, stop, stop. But when I open my mouth to form the word, nothing comes out but a wet wheeze. My chest burns from the effort, and I picture my bones rattling around like nails in a jar, ripping and bruising from the inside out.