Page 85 of Dark Obsession

“My aunt was at Margie’s just a little while ago,” Demetrius said. “I need to find her.”

“From what we’ve been told, the whole block has been evacuated.”

“What started the fire?” Cody asked.

“No idea. When we got here, the place was already engulfed, and the Orchid was getting started.” He squinted slightly. “What’s with the garlic?”

“Everyone make it out okay?” Demetrius asked, ignoring his question.

“We don’t have a head count yet. There were some injuries, and a couple of ambulances took them to Memorial.”

“Ambulances,” Demetrius repeated as the sidewalk beneath him tilted.

Oliver and Dave came up behind them, and Oliver asked, “Any updates?”

“No,” Demetrius replied, then looked at the deputy again. The man’s name tag caught the light from the fire and Demetrius was able to read it: Deputy M. Alberti. “Is there anyone who can tell us about our family and friends?”

“I can radio in and see.” Alberti pointed down to where they stood. “Wait here.”

He walked off a few feet, head tipped as he spoke into his radio.

“What should we do?” Oliver was on his toes, trying to see over and around emergency vehicles and personnel.

The others joined them, huddling in close. Clarabell came up and stood beside Demetrius. “Any updates?”

“No. He’s on the radio asking how we can find out.”

“I know a better way,” Cody said quietly.

“What is it?” Demetrius asked.

“The back alley. We’ll have to dodge some dumpsters, and the lighting is spotty, but if we all stick together, we should be okay.”

Demetrius nodded as the deputy approached. His steps faltered slightly when he saw how much larger their group had grown. “Right now the focus is on containing the fire so it doesn’t spread beyond the two storefronts. In a little while, the Sheriff will have us reach out to those whose family members have been taken to Memorial. That’s all I can tell you for now.” He looked at all of them. “The garlic ropes help with mosquitoes or something?”

“Thank you, Deputy Alberti,” Cody said. “We’ll check back later.”

The deputy nodded, and Cody took Demetrius’s elbow, turning him away from the sight of the fires and chaos. As Cody led him down the sidewalk, Demetrius saw him glance back and jerk his head, signaling the others to follow. Demetrius’s mind spun. Where was Amelia? Where was Eileen? Where was everyone else they knew and loved?

When they reached the end of the connected shops on that side of the street, Cody checked over his shoulder once more before dodging left into the shadowy, narrow parking lot beside Gene & Jan’s Hair Style Shop. He tugged Demetrius along with him, the others right behind.

“Lucia should be training these deputies what garlic and wooden stakes are for,” Clarabell said. “I’m going to have a talk with her after this is all over.”

“Knock yourself out,” Cody said, swiveling his head back and forth. “I’m not going to visit you in jail.”

A few steps later, Cody stopped short. He released Demetrius and moved in front of him, aiming the water rifle at a tall, broad figure standing in the shadows.

“Evening, Linebacker. Looks like you brought the whole found family to the party.”

The voice was familiar, but Demetrius couldn’t place it. The sounds of the fire, the crew battling it, Amelia’s safety, all of it distracted him.

“Hey, Paul. Really didn’t want to see you here tonight,” Cody said.

The name put a face to the man blocking their path. Paul, the friendly butcher from Ike’s Market.

“Aw, don’t say that, Linebacker. I’ve been looking for you.”

Twin spots of red glowed in the shadows hiding Paul’s face. The plastic of Demetrius’s water rifle creaked under his fingers.