The smoke was getting thicker and thicker the closer they came to the front of the clinic.

“Major is working the problem from the front, and Joe and the boys should be here in ten,” Roxie said, her voice low.

From here he could hear the crackling of the fire, feel the heat. How much time did they have? The fire department would be here soon, but they might have only minutes before the fire got to Lila. Where was she?

He had to take the chance. “I’m going to the front. From what I overheard, Donny knocked them out and left them. I think they’ll be close to the fire.”

“I’ll watch your back, but be careful. He could be anywhere in here.”

This wasn’t how he should do it, but he couldn’t care. He had a damn bullet in his shoulder, but he wasn’t about to stop. She was somewhere in here and she needed him. He couldn’t let her down. Not again.

In the distance he heard the sound of sirens. They would be here soon.

He strode down the hall, being as careful as he could, but more worried about Lila and Mabel than getting shot again. It would be far easier to get shot than to know she was gone.

He stepped out of the hall and into the reception area. He could barely breathe.

Something banged against the walls, the sound louder than the crackling of the flames that had completely overtaken the reception desk.

Major was trying to get the doors open. Armie could find the fire extinguisher, but it was too out of control.

“Sheriff.” Roxie was behind him. “There are oxygen tanks in the back. We need to move fast.”

He hadn’t even thought about that. Where was she?

He waved a hand in front of his face and finally saw a body. He rushed to get to the still form on the floor. She wore scrubs but she was smaller and lighter than his love. Mabel. He checked her wrist and sure enough, she was alive.

If those tanks blew, the whole block might go up. “Roxie, get Mabel out of here and then come back for those tanks if it’s safe.”

“I can’t leave you,” she argued.

“You have to. Start getting those tanks out or we’re going to have more than this building to worry about.”

“He’s in here somewhere,” Roxie insisted.

He couldn’t worry about that now. “I gave you an order, Deputy. I have to find Lila. Get out and have Major help set up a perimeter.”

He moved on as Roxie holstered her weapon and picked up Mabel, getting her over her shoulder in a fireman’s hold. He glanced back and saw her running toward the door. She wouldn’t stay away for long. His orders wouldn’t keep her from putting herself on the line to try to save him.