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"Wrap this blanket around you," Dylan instructed, already helping her do that, then flinging the second blanket around himself. "The backyard's fenced in and the key to the back door's hidden in a drawer. We've got to get out of here—now. Our chances are better heading straight for the front door. I'll go first. Follow right behind me. And stay low to the ground. If the smoke gets bad, we'll crawl."
Sabrina's eyes were already stinging, and her nose was burning terribly. But she nodded, doing as Dylan said, staying low and following him into the hallway.
The full length of the hall was in flames, and the front door frame was a rectangular inferno.
Dylan knew they were in trouble.
He also knew it would only get worse. They had to get out of here—now.
He turned to Sabrina, beckoned her forward. "Come here." He unwrapped the blanket from around him and pulled her inside, blanket and all, anchoring her against him. Then, he wrapped his blanket around them both, enveloping her in as tight a cocoon as he could, and muttered, "Hang on. We're making a break for the door."
Gritting his teeth, Dylan urged them forward, and they bolted through the hallway like a pair of sprinters. He could feel the heat of the flames, and the smoke that was choking him, making his eyes water, but he refused to give in. Next to him, Sabrina was seized by a horrible coughing fit, but he ignored that, too. Gripping the blanket so it enveloped his arm and hand, he reached through the flames, and flipped open the front door lock. Even through the protective layer of acrylic, the metal was unbearably hot, but he didn't give a damn. He braced himself, then grabbed hold of the doorknob, twisted, and pulled.
The cool night air slapped at his face, but it didn't compare to the burning heat all around him. He heard Sabrina's whimper, knew the blanket was in flames, but he also knew it was the only protection they had for what needed to be don
e. He anchored Sabrina against him and made a dive for the pavement, cushioning Sabrina's fall with his body. He landed hard, a sharp pain shooting through his skull as it struck the concrete. He fought the pain, holding Sabrina tightly, and rolled the two of them back and forth across the pavement until the flames subsided and his strength ran out.
He collapsed, waves of dizziness blending with throbbing pain.
From far away, a fire truck siren blared.
The last thing Dylan remembered before blacking out was hearing Sabrina dissolve into a violent spasm of coughing.
It was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.
CHAPTER 27
5:45 A.M.
Mt. Sinai Hospital
"I'm fine," Dylan insisted hoarsely as he followed the pinpoint of light the emergency room doctor was moving back and forth in a horizontal line in front of his eyes. "I just have a lousy headache."
"That lousy headache is a mild concussion," the doctor corrected. "You hit your head pretty hard."
Dylan forced a smile. "Yeah, but I stopped the blanket from burning, didn't I?"
"That you did." The doctor put away his medical instruments and checked the bandage that covered an ample section of Dylan's chest. "Good. The bleeding's stopped." He stepped away, planting his feet in that doctor-about-to-issue-a-lecture stance. "Look. You're a lucky guy. Besides the concussion, you've got that whopping gash on your chest, cuts and scrapes on your arms, a few impressive lacerations on your face and neck, and minor burns, plus a scratchy voice from those few minutes of smoke inhalation. Considering what could have happened..."
"Yeah, I know." Dylan moved his head and winced a bit.
"The painkiller should start working soon."
"Good. Fine. Thanks. Can I see Sabrina now?" Dylan demanded. "You said she was all right. So let me go to her."
"She is all right," the doctor returned sternly. "She was treated and released. And you don't need to go to her. Last I saw her, she was pacing outside your door, where I asked her to wait until I finished examining you. She takes orders about as well as you do." Seeing the profound concern on Dylan's face, the doctor's demeanor softened. "She really is fine—thanks to you. You took the brunt of the fall. Her cuts and scrapes are minor, and she's got minimal burns. The toughest part for her was the smoke inhalation. It affected her more than it did you. Not so much her lungs, which are pretty clear, but her nose and throat. They were badly irritated. But she'll be herself in a couple of days."
"Thank God."
"I'll send her in now. Oh, by the way, there are a couple of detectives here who want to speak with you, too."
Dylan's mouth thinned into a grim line. "Let me guess. Detectives Whitman and Barton."
"Yup. That's them."
"They'll have to wait a minute. I want to see Sabrina first."
The doctor nodded. "Remember, I want you to sit still for a while longer, just to be on the safe side. No sudden movements."
