Claim - Page 62

I hurried down the hallway. Doors to the rooms either side of the hall were open and empty. Then I heard a sob. I saw a woman crouched just inside the door to a bedroom.

“You need to get out,” I said.

“I can’t.” There was terror on her face.

“You can.” I slid an arm around her.

We’d just reached the top of the stairs when Kav charged through the fire. “Did you find Bell?”

“Not yet.” I shoved the woman at him. “But I will.”

Kav lifted the terrified woman into his arms, then carried her back down the stairs.

I strode to Bell’s door. The smoke was thick as I hammered my fist on it. “Bell!”

At first, I didn’t hear anything, and my heart squeezed hard.

“Bell!”

Then I heard a muffled noise on the other side of the door. “Beau!”

“Get back from the door.” The handle was too hot to touch, so I used my jacket. But the door wouldn’t move. I felt around.

Then I started coughing. The smoke was getting worse. My fingers ran over something.

Pure rage filled me.

The door had been nailed shut.

Carr.

I rammed my shoulder against the wood several times. Then I reared back several steps and kicked it. The wood splintered, but the door wouldn’t budge.

Bending low, I went into the open room next door. I saw women’s clothing spilled on the floor.

I needed something solid.

I spotted a chair with sturdy legs. I hefted it, testing its weight. It would do.

Holding it up, I ran back to Bell’s door. I paused as a coughing fit overtook me.

Kav returned. “Beau, the fire’s getting worse. The fire truck just pulled up.”

“Bell’s door is nailed shut.”

“What the fuck?”

We didn’t have time to talk. “Let’s get it open.” I picked up the chair. “Hold onto this. We’ll use it as a ram.”

Kav gripped the other side of the chair. We swung it back like a battering ram and stepped forward.

Thunk.

“Again,” I yelled.

Thunk. Thunk.

Wood splintered and the door burst inward.