I could not have another person I cared about—another person Charlotte cared about—taken in a single, senseless moment.
Not again.
My hands shook as I switched my phone to speaker mode and opened my Notes app.
Front door code for Lucy’s home: 4344.
The door wasn’t hot to the touch. The smoke looked denser toward the back.
Was it in the upstairs apartment?
Or the attic?
Please don’t let it be between her and the stairs. Hopefully, Nora could get out in time.
My phone was still ringing as I typed in the code.
The lock clicked.
I shoved the door open.
Smoke hung low in the air. Thick but not yet choking. No visible flames.
“Nora!” I called again.
Still nothing.
I ran up the stairs, but the apartment door was locked, too.
I pounded on it. “Nora!”
Silence.
I tried the handle again.
Please.
4344.
The lock disengaged.Thank you!
I pushed inside, stepping into heavier smoke. It stung my eyes immediately.
Where was she?
I scanned the living room, but it was empty. Just the loud sound of their decrepit air conditioner blowing in from the window.
No wonder she hadn’t heard me pounding on the door.
Was she already asleep then?
Her bedroom was down the hall on the right.
I passed Lucy’s room on the way. The door was open. Bed made. No one there.
I reached Nora’s door and shoved it open.
And there she was, under the covers.