Cries in the Night Read Free

eyes.
    “You’re Julie, aren’t you?” he asked.
    She was a little surprised that he knew her name because they had never actually spoken. Not that she was a stranger to any of the public responders because Julie or one of her volunteers showed up at all of the more serious crime, fire or accident scenes. “Yes, I am. And you’re …?”
    “Rusty,” he answered and pointed toward his last name that was printed on his jacket as he added, “Wilson. I’m sure you know my younger brothers.”
    “Oh, so you’re that Wilson,” Julie teased. She was very well acquainted with his brothers. Sam was a Denver cop who she worked with often, and Chris, the youngest, was a paramedic out of Denver Health. He wasn’t one of the ones on scene tonight, but their paths had crossed often in the course of their jobs.
    Rusty held up his hands. “Whoa, you can’t believe everything you hear about me.”
    “Why do you assume it’s all bad?” she asked.
    “Because some of it is true. I’m the first to admit that I enjoy life. But my brothers like to exaggerate my …,” he grinned, “… transgressions.”
    Julie shrugged. This was not a point she wanted to debate in the middle of a snowy night when she was without a coat. “I was just wondering if someone could take me inside for a minute. I need to get Danny’s things and … well, something else.”
    “Sure, I’ll take you in, but he needs to stay out here.” Rusty called over one of the other firefighters. “Jackson, would you hang with my friend Daniel for a few minutes?”
    Jackson, a middle-aged black firefighter who had just finished shutting off the hydrant and screwing the cap back on, nodded and knelt down next to Danny. “Hey buddy. My name is Jackson. Do you mind keeping me company while they go get some of your clothes?”
    Danny nodded, solemn again. He stayed, but his gaze moved back to Julie.
    “Don’t let anyone take him away, okay?” she asked Jackson.
    “Gotcha,” Jackson confirmed.
    After giving Danny a reassuring pat on the head, she turned to follow Rusty.
    “Don’t forget my cap,” Danny called after her.
    “I won’t,” she called back.
    “Watch your step,” Rusty cautioned. He had taken a flashlight out of his utility belt and turned it on, illuminating a wide arc of destruction.
    Apparently, the electricity was off and the spotlights didn’t penetrate past the front door. The dark house took on a sinister spook-house sort of feeling as they stepped over the threshold and into the smoldering interior.
    “The fire didn’t make it to this part of the house, but the back two bedrooms are pretty much gone,” he added as they made their way around pieces of furniture that had been knocked over or tossed out of the way.
    “Any idea what caused it?” She followed directly behind him, keeping her hand on his back because nothing could be seen outside the beam of his light.
    “Looks like an iron on the carpet. But the investigators will find out for sure.”
    They picked their way along the soggy carpet of the hallway. Even though the flames hadn’t made it into the hallway, the sheetrock was damp and there was a heavy, acrid smell that burned her lungs. When they arrived at Danny’s room, she hurried to collect his jacket and a few items of clothing, including his Little League baseball cap that was sitting on his chest of drawers. She also scooped up the stuffed monkey that held an obvious position of importance on his pillow and stuffed it all into his Cars backpack.
    “We need to get out of here,” Rusty reminded her.
    “I have one more thing,” she told him. “Did you happen to notice a laundry room?”
    “Not in this part of the house. Maybe off the kitchen?” He led the way back down the hall and across the small living room to the kitchen. Sure enough, in the mud room that led outside was a small stackable washer and dryer that had probably been one of Gloria’s prized possessions. But Julie had eyes only for the