Red Rain

68

Pavano joined the tight formation of agents and cops as they moved toward the open classroom window. Birds squawked, circling crazily overhead. He glanced back. The fire had spread to the next block. People ran screaming from burning houses.

Smoke and fire as far as he could see. The trees were being consumed by the roaring flames. On the street, five or six cars burned. People ducked and tried to cover their heads from the choking waves of black smoke, swirled by sharp gusts of hot wind from the fire.

The crowd of parents appeared to have been blown apart, people running frantically in twos and threes, in all directions. He saw some ducking low as they ran, covering their heads, making their way to the back of the school. Andy knew they might be in the way if the law enforcement people needed to use the back entrances, but there was no time to warn them or move them away. The FBI guys seemed determined to go in there and confront whatever awaited them without any further delay.

“Maybe we all get mowed down,” Pinto said, sweat drenching his forehead. “That kid had a fucking laser blaster like in a movie. Did you see his eyes light up? Fucking weird.”

Pavano struggled to hear him over the wail of sirens as more firefighters poured onto the block, adding to the snarl of the fire, the screams of the frenzied onlookers and the cries of terrified people fleeing their burning homes.

How could a quiet neighborhood erupt so quickly in such screaming terror?

“Did that blast really come from his eyes?” Pavano asked Pinto. “That’s impossible, right?”

Pinto shrugged. “Beats the shit out of me. But I think we know how those three murder vics got burned. And it wasn’t Mark Sutter.”

They followed the backs of four FBI agents. The front row stopped under the window and ducked beneath the stone window ledge. Pavano could see their features tighten, their faces unable to hide their fear. He knew they were picturing Franks screaming and writhing on the ground as his body flamed and burned.

Suddenly, Pavano knew what he was going to do. He had known it for a while. It was there in the back of his mind, waiting. . waiting for the moment he knew would come.

He pushed through the agents and cops to the window. He could see inside the classroom. It was empty and dark.

His heart suddenly beat so hard, he had spots flashing in his eyes. His mouth instantly became as dry as straw. He took a deep breath, willing himself to go ahead with this.

Because it was time to do something brave. Time to do something in his life that he wouldn’t regret later no matter the outcome. Time to do something.

He couldn’t remember which of the agents was in charge. Was it the good-looking guy with the steel-gray eyes and the short blond hair and the high movie-star cheekbones? Or the short, stern-looking older dude?

Pavano decided to try them both. “Let me go in.”

They squinted at him as if he was speaking Martian. “Say again?”

“Let me go in first. Alone.”

“Why?”

Because I’ve screwed up everything else in my life. Maybe I can be an actual hero today.

“I know those boys,” Pavano said. “I’ve spoken to them before. They’ll remember me. I can talk to them. I can reason with them. They’ll listen to me.”

They reacted with hard stares. Like he was totally mental.

“Maybe I can find out what’s happening in there,” he heard himself say. “Without any more casualties. If I go in by myself, maybe. .”

The two agents exchanged glances. Behind them, Pavano glimpsed Pinto, casting him questioning looks, like, What the hell are you doing?

“Go ahead,” the short bald one said. “One shout and we’ll be there behind you.”

Pavano blinked. “Really?”

The agent motioned to the window. “Better you than me, Sergeant. I hate the smell of burning meat.”