A column of gray smoke is roiling out of the treetops in the distance.

“Penn, that’s a fire.”

I hit the accelerator hard, knowing that a neighbor could be in trouble. Most of them are older now, and it doesn’t matter whose house it is: I’ve probably known the family all my life.

“Where is it?” she asks, her voice tight.

“Close to my parents.”

I press harder on the gas, roaring up the street, with every yard becoming more afraid of something my brain does not want to consider. It couldn’t be our house burning. It couldn’t be.

Fifty yards from the corner, I see that it is.

CHAPTER 26

I drive the Fiat right into the yard, where my mother stands with Annie and a dozen neighbors, all pointing helplessly at the burning house, all in various stages of shock. I jump out of the car, run to my mother, and take Annie from her arms.

“Daddy, the house is on fire!” she cries, more amazed than frightened.

“The fire engine’s right behind me,” I tell Mom. “Is everybody okay?”

She grabs my arms, her eyes wide with terror. “Ruby’s in there! We heard a boom and then smelled smoke . . . when we saw the flames we ran but Ruby fell. Penn, I think she broke her hip. I couldn’t drag her out. I brought Annie out, and by then it was too bad to get back in. But that off-duty policeman—Officer Ervin—he went in anyway. He went after Ruby, but he never came out!”

“How long ago was this?”

My mother is close to hyperventilating. I put my hands on her shoulders and squeeze hard enough for her to feel pain.

“Five minutes . . . maybe more. I don’t know.”

As I stare at the house, a runner of flame races up the roof shingles. That’s no kitchen fire. The whole house is burning. The house I grew up in.

“Where was Ruby when she fell?”

“By the back bathroom.”

There’s no exterior door anywhere near that bathroom. And going through the front door would be suicide. I wouldn’t even make it to the bedrooms before being overcome by smoke. I hug Annie and pass her to Mom, then kiss them both.

“When the firemen get here, tell them to look for Ervin.”

My mother blanches. “Penn, you can’t go in there.”

“I’m not leaving Ruby in there to die.”

Livy grabs my arm from behind. “Penn, it’s too late. Wait for the fire truck.”