Page 2 of Abandoned

When the call came in, Will Cooper had been patrolling five miles away. He got to the fire as fast as he could and arrived just in time to see Zara Grant enter through a second-story window.

What was she thinking?

He ran and joined his lifelong friend, Logan Jackson, and a young woman.

Will shot Logan a what-is-Zara-doing look.

Logan only had to mouth the word baby, and Will understood. He was already drawn to the compassion that fueled Zara’s response to everything.

“Anyone else inside?”

As the woman shook her head, the fire trucks pulled up behind them, and firefighters dove into their task.

Will ran to Captain Ty Washington. “Zara Grant went in to save a baby.”

Ty nodded and informed his team.

Something inside the house crashed.

Will’s heart crashed too. Zara!

AJ and Don Harada ran to the house with a ladder and threw it up at the window Zara had entered.

Seconds crept by, and Will stared at the window while everyone around him rushed to get the fire out.

He prayed Zara and the baby would come out safely.

As Don started up the ladder, Zara’s head poked through. In quick order, she climbed down, cradling a baby.

EMTs Emily and Brennan rushed forward, and Zara handed the baby to Emily, who bolted to the bus.

Will ran and met Zara and Brennan halfway to the ambulance. Will fought the urge to pull Zara into his arms, but as soon as she met his eyes, she embraced him.

Their police gear banged together.

He pushed her back and gazed into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you, friend. Go help. I’m fine.”

Will raised an eyebrow at Brennan.

He said, “I got her.”

Will squeezed Zara’s shoulder and ran into the chaos. He joined Logan, and they corralled the crowd of onlookers to a safe distance from the fire.

Another station arrived and helped Station Seven. Within ten minutes, the fire was under control. He was relieved, but as he glanced around, he didn’t spot Zara. He never saw her exit the ambulance, but it was gone. The crowd dispersed, and fellow officer Jenna Bennett was talking to a distraught man.

Jenna said, “The ambulance just left. Your wife is fine, and the baby was breathing.” Jenna caught Will’s eye. “This is Officer Cooper.”

Will squeezed the man’s shoulder. “Can I drive you to the hospital?”

The man looked at Will. “Please?” But his gaze traveled farther than Will. “What about my house?”

“It’s not safe right now. The fire is out, but the firefighters have more work to do. Let’s get you to the hospital to see your wife and baby.”

The man nodded.

Will directed him to his cruiser and hung back to talk to Logan.