Chapter 83

In front of the shop, the men were cutting a hole through one of the plate glass windows with their axes, while others cleared out neighboring shops and kept pedestrians safely away. Clearly the fire had started in back - someone should tell Stan to take the truck through the alley. All Eli could do was look at the woman in pink, crumpled right by the front door.

"She's breathing," one of the men called, peering through the smoky glass. "Why the hell didn't they leave her a key?"

Eli didn't answer. As soon as the hole was large enough, he pushed one of the other men aside - he was too far out of his head to notice faces - and climbed through, rushing to Nettie.

She moaned in his arms. Alive. "Thank God!"

He handed her off to one of the others and climbed back through, taking her into his arms again. Finally feeling the pain in his leg, he allowed someone to push him down onto a sidewalk bench before he fell. He cradled Nettie close, stroking her face.