Diana (22 page)

"Sure you can, doll. Just move your legs."

"I can't feel them."

He swallowed hard. “What do you mean you can't feel them? Are they just cold from the water?” He couldn't help but wonder if she were suffering from hypothermia.

"I hit the side landing. Went through the wood. My hip is cut badly."

He pulled her legs gently onto his. The radio crackled in the background.

"Luke! Are you okay? Is Diana okay?” Brian asked.

"She has multiple injuries.” He glanced at Diana's face. Her coloring was bad, and her breathing was shallow.

"How bad, Luke?"

"Bad. We need to get her out of this water."

"We're making our way back down another floor below this one. There's an entranceway. Can you see it from where you are?"

He looked up. “I think I see it. How did we miss that?"

"We didn't. It's near an adjacent hallway to the left of the stairwell we started on. We called in a gurney. The guys are bringing one up."

"We'll hold tight."

He stared at Diana and caressed her face. “They're coming for us, doll. Hold on a bit longer. We're gonna get you out of this place."

Her body went limp in his arms. She lost consciousness. He embraced her tighter and leaned closer to feel her breath. She was barely alive.

He waited for what seemed like minutes until Brian and the others opened the double doors about twenty feet above them. He glanced around, wondering how the hell Diana wound up in the shaft, and how she kept afloat with her injuries. She was a trooper, that was certain. He wanted to find the one responsible for her suffering and make him pay.

"Luke, grab the line. We're bringing down the basket. Get her inside."

"Then wrap this one around you. We'll pull you up,” one of the other firefighters said.

He grabbed the gurney and carefully placed Diana inside. She never awoke. He grabbed the rope next, and his fellow firefighters pulled him to safety. Quickly, they exited the stairwell, then the building.

The news on the extent of Diana's injuries hit them hard. Luke watched as the paramedics worked on her. Brian pulled off his gear, Vinny stood alongside the ambulance as the chief and the others watched.

"We got to get her out of here,” one of the paramedics said.

Luke saw the torn flesh of her hipbone, the deep cuts on her arms, and the battered look on her face. It was white, ice cold, and her lips were a deep color of blue. She looked like death, and it overwhelmed him.

"Oh, my God, Brian, look at her. Is she alive?” Vinny asked.

"Just barely. We have to get her to the hospital."

The paramedics loaded the gurney into the back of the emergency vehicle. Sirens blared as the police moved the crowd of onlookers, and made room for the quick exit of the paramedics.

"Let's follow them. Did you call Mom and Dad?” Brian asked, as he removed the rest of his gear.

"You go. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"What? Why?"

"Go with Luke. There's something I need to take care of."

"What? What could be so important?"

"Brian, listen to me. Diana asked me to do something, no matter what happened to her. I need to do this."

"What's going on? What did Diana ask you to take care of?” Luke asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Fire Marshal.” Vinny stared into Luke's eyes. “I'll get to the hospital as soon as I can. Make sure they take good care of her. I know you'll do that, Luke.” He watched his brother and friend leave.

Vinny stood near the chief, as the fire fighters continued to fight the blaze and put out the remainder of the flames. Thirty minutes later, the firefighters had the fire fully extinguished.

Vinny felt the hand on his shoulder. “Are you going to let me in on this little secret between your sister and this fire?” Damian Toby asked.

"You just do your job and get the fire marshal in there, then forensics."

"They've arrived,” Commander Paul Fontella said, as he stood beside Vinny.

"Please tell me that my best homicide detective didn't commit some felony crime to obtain evidence and prove my son's innocence."

Vinny eyed the commander from head to toe.

Paul moved closer, so he could whisper to Vinny. “I hope you know I respect your sister. There was never anything inappropriate going on between us. She's my best detective, and just risked her life to save my son."

"Commander Fontella, my sister could die tonight trying to not only save your son but save her brother and reveal the real killer. If she's right and her plan worked, then an hour from now it'll all work out, and we'll find the real killer."

"The fire marshal gave the okay!” the chief yelled to them.

Vinny looked at Commander Fontella.

"Lead the way, son. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next."

Luke and Brian stood outside of the critical care unit inside of the emergency room. There were alarms blaring moments after Diana arrived, and Luke knew she wasn't in the clear. She continued to fight for her life.

The nurse came out to give them an update, after Brian and Luke attempted to enter the ICU.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but you will have to wait out here. Are you related to the patient?"

"I'm her brother."

"She's unconscious and needed to be resuscitated. Her vitals are weak, but the doctors are working on her. As soon as they evaluate her injuries, I will give you an update. You may want to call other family members."

Brian exchanged glances with Luke as the nurse walked back through the double doors.

"Brian!"

The two men turned to the voice. Vincent and Marie Pellino were running down the corridor toward them, with concerned looks on their faces. Luke recognized their shock at seeing him. It was obvious they thought he was responsible.

"What's going on? Where is Diana?"

Brian explained the situation to his mother.

"You're the one who made accusations about our son,” Vince Pellino said.

"He's not the killer, Dad. The police released him. The real killer wanted to set up Luke, but somehow Diana intervened and wound up trapped in the burning building. There's more going on now, but Vinny is still on the scene."

"Vinny? What does Vinny have to do with this?” Vincent asked.

"Beats the hell out of me, Dad. All I know is Diana made him promise to do something whether she lived or died."

"Die? Is it that bad? Could she die?” Tears flowed down Maria's cheeks.

"They're not telling us anything yet. Just that they needed to resuscitate her."

"Oh, no...” Marie cried harder, and Vincent pulled her into his arms.

"Oh, my God. Diana came up with this plan, and a judge approved the undercover operation?” Paul Fontella asked. He stared at the substance on the ground illuminated by the ultraviolet light.

"Yes, sir, she did. Do you see the substance here along the trim of this area? Our killer intended to start the fire here and let Fontella die. Instead, it appears that Diana came along and he attacked her. Her gun was found over there. She fell through that opening in the elevator shaft."

Paul walked closer to the edge and looked down. “Holy shit, we have to be at least ten stories high."

"Somehow, my sister survived that fall. The water filled compartment probably helped. Now, there are two more places the flares were found. The one on the first floor didn't ignite all the way because of the water main break and the flooding."

"So, does it have the invisible substance on it?"

"Yes, sir, and because it didn't fully ignite, it contains the serial number. Diana said we can trace the number to the store and to the firehouse. The storeowner keeps a record of which flares and serial numbers are purchased by each firehouse or individual. But there's no need to, the flare is covered with this stuff."

"Now what do we do?"

"We let the firefighters go back to the firehouse and we meet them there with the arson unit and the police. If Diana was right and her plan works, then as she told me, ‘Our killer will light up like a Christmas tree.'

"I can't believe she did all this. Could this actually work?"

"Let's hope so."

Paul Pellino joined the family outside of the critical care unit just as a doctor emerged.

Everyone walked closer to the man.

"You're all family?"

"Yes, Doctor. How is Diana?"

"I need to know what occurred for her to have sustained such injuries. Where and how long she remained untreated."

"It was an abandoned building. She was caught between a flooded elevator shaft and multiple fires,” Luke said.

"Flooded from what source?"

"Water main break,” Brian added.

The doctor quickly turned back toward the double doors.

"Doc, what's going on? Is she gonna make it?” Brian yelled.

The doctor paused by the doorway.

"It appears she has sustained some sort of infection through the open wounds. It is traveling very quickly through her bloodstream. It also appears she contracted pneumonia. Her lungs are unable to function without assistance. I'm sorry, folks, but it doesn't look good."

"Oh, my god. My baby!” Marie Pellino cried out, covering her mouth with her hands. Her husband embraced her.

"What about the infection? Can you do anything to stop it from spreading?” Vincent asked.

"I'm going to try my hardest. Now that I know it was a water main break and contaminated water, I can treat it more aggressively. I'll keep you posted. It's really going to be touch and go for the next few hours. As soon as I have her stabilized, I'll allow you to see her one at a time."

More family and friends arrived at the hospital, including most of the detectives who worked with Diana in her department.

Luke stood near the adjacent hallway, away from her family and friends. The fear she could die was too much for him to handle. He found himself making promises to God to save her life, asking Him to take his own instead.

He prayed Diana would somehow pull through, and he would marry her and cherish every moment they had together. He wondered how she found out about the meeting, and why she went in alone? What was she thinking?

"Luke."

He turned to the voice. Both Brian and Paul Pellino stood in front of him. They probably blamed him for this entire mess and for Diana's condition.

"Why are you all the way over here?” Brian asked.

"I'm sorry. I wish it were me in there instead of Diana."

Brian placed his hand on Luke's shoulder. “We all wish she wasn't in there. We're not blaming you for this."

"Yeah, our sister is known to do some crazy, gung-ho stuff, but with good reason. We don't know the circumstances of what took place, but if our sister was willing to risk her life for you, then she must think a lot of you,” Paul said.

"I'm the reason why your sister is lying in there clinging to her life."

Brian's cell phone rang and he flipped it open. “Hello."

"How is she doing?” Vinny asked.

"You need to get here now, Vinny."

"What are you saying? She's not going to make it?"

"It's real bad, Vin, real bad. You need to wrap up whatever it is Diana asked you to do and get here to be with the family. She might not make it past the next few hours."

"Jesus! I gotta do this, for Diana. I'll be there soon."

Brian hung up the phone.

"What's going on? Is Vinny on his way?” Paul said.

"Not yet. Whatever Diana asked him to take care of must be crucial to this case.” Brian stuffed the cell phone back into his pocket.

"Come on, Luke. Sit over here with the family.” Paul headed toward his parents. Luke and Brian followed.

Vinny, Commander Paul Fontella, Damian Toby, Chief Watkins, Jerry Montoff, and a few other uniformed officers and detectives stood inside the garage bay doors.

The firefighters were removing their gear, preparing to check over their equipment, and do the routine post-fire checks.

Don O'Rourke, Vinny's cousin approached him. “Any word on Diana?"

"It's not looking good."

"Guys, I need everyone lined up next to their equipment cubby,” the chief ordered, interrupting their conversation.

The guys weren't thrilled about the request. They were obviously tired and wanted to get their gear off.

"I'm gonna get going. I want to be there for Diana,” Don told Vinny, as he headed toward the door.

"After this."

Don glanced down at the ultraviolet light in Vinny's hand.

"What the hell is going on?".

"We're going hunting,” Damian Toby whispered over Vinny's shoulder.

Don quickly removed the remainder of his gear and stood with the others.

Vinny glanced at the crowd of men. Men he'd known for many years, men who'd visited his parents’ house, men who'd shared a deep connection with his brother Brian. The possibility that one of them was the killer chilled him to the bone.

Most of the guys still joked with one another as they stood waiting for their chief to address them.

"Is this everyone who was working tonight and who responded to the fire?” Damian Toby asked.

"Yes.” The chief's voice sounded shaky but stern.

"Jerry, the lights,” Vinny nodded, indicating it was time.

Jerry Montoff turned off the lights inside the garage. Darkness covered the crowd, and the guys started whistling and carrying on, obviously wondering what the heck Vinny Pellino was doing.

Vinny turned on the ultraviolet light. The glare covered the room. He walked slowly toward the men.

"Hands out in front of you,” Commander Pellino ordered, and the men did as they were told. Their silence indicated they knew what they were being accused of.

"What is this shit?” Don complained.

"Yeah. What the hell is going on?” Vasquez said.

"Hands out in front,” Vinny said.

"What for?” Don gave attitude.

"Because I said to. Just do it and stop joking around.” Vinny placed the light closer to Don. Instantly, Don's hands lit up in purple.