Spark (Elemental 2)

Gabriel thought of Nick breaking his leg last weekend. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m ”

“Just go! ”

Gabriel pulled.

And then he had help. He didn’t know where they’d come from, but two firefighters were beside him, dragging them through the door that must have been right there, pulling them out of the smoke and flames, getting them into the fresh air.

Someone had a blanket around his shoulders, smacking at the flames on his coat and his legs. Someone else was in his face yelling something about a medic making Gabriel remember that he had only a helmet and a coat. No pants, no oxygen mask, no tanks.

He probably had about fifteen seconds before all these guys realized he wasn’t who he was pretending to be.

“Yeah,” he coughed. “Medic.”

And when the guy turned his head to speak into a radio, Gabriel ran.

CHAPTER 17

Gabriel sat beside Hunter in the front of his Jeep, eating a Big Mac and wondering how he was going to go home looking like this. He couldn’t even walk into a store. If the cops and firemen were looking for an arsonist, a kid walking around with burned clothes might draw a little attention.

“So we need to bring a change of clothes,” said Hunter.

Gabriel gave him a look. “You think?”

“You said they got a good look at you?”

Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t know. I had the helmet on. There was a lot of smoke.”

But he’d bet good money they’d figure it out.

“Did you delete the text I sent you?”

Gabriel nodded. “I’m not an idiot.”

He wondered if Hannah would put it together that he’d run out of the house on the same night a stranger showed up at a fire. She hadn’t come to their house suspecting him of arson she’d just been looking for information.

Right?

He set half the burger on the wrapper. “I need to tell you something.”

Hunter was eating a grilled chicken sandwich. He didn’t even look over. “This is so sudden.”

“Shut up. They think someone is starting these fires.”

Hunter shrugged. “An arsonist. I know.”

Gabriel blinked. “You do? ”

“Sure. It was in the paper. My grandfather mentioned it at dinner. Something about that guy at school having his house targeted.”

Gabriel picked up his soda and took a sip. “He’s a tool.”

Hunter looked over. “You regret pulling his little sister out of that fire?”

“No.” Gabriel hesitated. “I need to tell you something else.”

“Shoot.”

Gabriel told him about the night he’d started the fire in the woods, how he’d lost control. He told him about Hannah, how she’d come to the house tonight, fishing for information.