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Thank fuck she’d gotten rid of the animals over the past few weeks, donating them to the schools as class pets.
I knew my own room had one, but hers was a two bedroom compared to my three bedroom, and I didn’t know if that would change the layout any.
“Yes, it’s covered by a bookshelf though.” She squeaked.
My jaw clenched.
I hated when people covered their windows with furniture. That was a fire hazard, and it made it incredibly hard to get into places in times of emergency.
Or, in this case, get out of.
“We’ll have to have a talk about this later.” I grunted as I pushed through her spare bedroom.
Dropping her down on her feet, I took in the room in a glance, saw there wasn’t anything other than books on the shelf, gestured for Adeline to move aside, and threw the bookshelf over onto its face, spilling books everywhere.
The shelf hit with a small slam, revealing the window that Adeline had covered.
The window faced the apartment above my own, and I said a silent prayer that there was no fire consuming the back bedrooms of the one underneath yet, otherwise we’d be stuck.
Thank God she’d gotten rid of the slew of animals she’d stolen from the lab she used to work at. Those animals would’ve burned. There was no way I’d have been able to get them, her, and me out in time.
When I lifted the window and looked down, I was relieved to find nothing there, except smooth grass and the chilling breeze outside.
“Come here,” I snapped and held out my hand.
Adeline grabbed my hand firmly with hers, and stepped up on the bookshelf before dropping down to the carpet in the little space where the shelf used to be.
“I’m going to lower you down. You’ll still have a three foot drop. Bend your knees, and hold on to Monty. Okay?” I said looking into her wide brown eyes.
At her nod, I hoisted her up onto the window’s ledge; taking a firm grip of her forearms, I lowered her down carefully.
My muscles strained instantly, bunching in exertion.
She squeaked in startled surprise when she didn’t have anything but my arms to support her anymore, but she adjusted quickly and tried to keep the squirming to a minimum.
Once I had her where her body was fully extended, I said, “Okay, going to drop you now. Ready?”
At her nod, I let her drop.
• • •
ADELINE
Heart pounding, I felt Kettle’s iron grip around my forearms loosen, and then let go all together, then I was airborne for a few heart-stopping instants.
I landed with my knees bent slightly, just as Kettle had suggested.
My feet held true, and I scrambled forward and out of the way before turning and looking up at the window I’d just been dropped out of.
Kettle was sitting on the windowsill and ready to jump out just as a cop and a K-9 officer rounded the edge of the apartment from the front.
I didn’t realize I was nearly face to face with Trance until the wind shifted some of the smoke up, allowing me to see his face.
Trance and Radar.
It was getting thick and heavy, and starting to pour out of the open window of my own apartment now, too.
Kettle jumped, landing easily.
