Silent Scream Read Online Free PDF Page A

You
     looked a little green getting out of your car.”
    Olivia’s cheeks heated. “Yes,” she said curtly, embarrassed she’d let it show, even in front of Kane. “Let’s just get this
     done.” Except it was never done. There would always be another kid in the wrong place at the wrong time.Another kid with bruises. Another runaway. Another guy with a bullet whose wife they had to inform. It stuck in her throat,
     choking her. “Come on. We’ve got one more body to process tonight.”
    Monday, September 20, 1:20 a.m.
    “Anything?” Jeff asked. They’d strapped their masks on and changed air tanks. The fumes generated by building materials were
     often toxic, and David knew too many veteran firefighters with lung damage. He hated the mask, but he liked his lungs.
    “No.” David swept the thermal camera over the central wall. Behind it was the ventilating shaft, a prime spot for hidden fire.
     But there was nothing. They’d come up through the stairwell, searching the top three floors. They were now back on the fourth,
     where he’d found the girl. So far, no fire and no more victims.
Thank you.
    David turned to the window they’d cut through. Now that the smoke had dissipated, he could clearly see the palm prints she’d
     left behind. He shone his flashlight along the floor, hoping to find a purse, a backpack, something to tell them who she was.
    And then he blinked as his light was abruptly reflected back at him. “Zell, look,” he said, pointing the beam at a ball that
     glistened as her handprints had. It was about four inches across and lay about two feet from where he’d found her. He’d taken
     a few steps closer when he felt the wood floor go spongy.
    He took a large step back, holding his breath until the floor felt solid again.
    “David?” Zell had also frozen in place.
    “I’m okay.” His heart raced from the adrenaline surge. Ignoring it, he once again shone his light on the glistening ball.
     “Do you see that?”
    “Yeah. What is it?”
    “Don’t know, but it’s covered in gel.”
    “Like her hands. I say leave it for the cops.”
    “Agree.” He turned to the stairwell—then all he felt was air as the floor collapsed.
“Zell.”
On reflex, David spread his arms wide, hooking his elbows on the edges of the floor that remained. His body wedged in the
     hole, his feet dangling. Below him, he saw only blackness. The third-floor fire had burned through the ceiling. If he let
     go, he might land on solid floor, but chances were better that he’d crash through the third floor, too.
    Jeff dropped to his stomach, the handle of his ax outstretched. “On three.”
    David grabbed the ax handle with his left hand, keeping his right elbow anchored for leverage. On “three,” he threw his hips
     up and over and a few seconds later lay on his stomach on solid floor, breathing hard, his eyes squeezed shut. More of the
     floor had broken away when he’d pushed against it, widening the hole. Most of the condo’s living room floor was now gone.
     Too close. That had been too damn close.
    He rolled to his side, opening his eyes just as the slimy ball began to slide down one of the broken planks of the hardwood
     floor, down into the hole. Again, sheer reflex had him stretching his arm out over the hole, and the ball plopped into his
     glove.
    “Safe,” he muttered and behind him Jeff laughed, a wheezing sound.
    “That ball better be worth it, pal.”
    David looked into the palm of his glove, then into the dark hole, trying not to let himself dwell on how close he’d come.
     “Shit. Now what do I do with it?”
    “Put it back where you found it. Cops’ll shit a ring if you take evidence.”
    “I can’t put it where I found it. Where I found it is nothing but air.”
    “Then take it with you. But the cops’ll still shit a ring.” Jeff tapped his radio. “Fourth floor has collapsed. Hunter and
     I are unhurt. We’re coming back down via the stairwell.”
    “Acknowledged,” came