I am Baaack! Part 8

Robbie remained behind. She waited till the paper smoldered and then finally caught fire, then she went back into the den and put on her dress. She mussed her hair and smudged her makeup as if she had been sleeping. She looked back into the living room, and seeing that the fire was spreading from the paper to the edges of Ed's chair, she reached in her purse, pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. "Show time!" was all she said. Ending that call, she dialed 911.

About two blocks away, Steve put down his cell phone and started his car, a 1995 red Mazda Miata; he had bought it just three days ago, thinking it was perfect for them both, Steve and Stephanie. He drove toward Lou and Ed's building, pulled up about two buildings away, and waited. Robbie would call again if he was needed. About five minutes later he heard the sirens, and in another couple of minutes watched as a fire truck rolled up in front of the building and the firemen hurried in.

It had been about twenty minutes since the call to 911, and the smoke was getting heavy. Robbie was coughing and wheezing, and it was no act. She was just about to call Steve again when she heard knocking on the door; she collapsed to the floor instead. The knocking turned to hammering, and the door burst open. Three firemen entered; one grabbed Robbie and helped her stand. "Any others?" he asked. When she shook her head no, he clapped an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth and half walked, half carried her out of the apartment while the other two moved to double check and then put out the fire.

As the fireman brought Robbie out of the building, Steve came rushing up. When he saw the oxygen mask, the plan went out the window. "Robbie! Robbie! Are you all right?" Realizing she couldn't answer with the mask over her mouth, he turned to the fireman. "Will she be okay?"

By this time, they were to the curb and the fireman helped Robbie sit down on the bus stop bench there. Ironically, the ad on the back of the bench was for a firm that sold and installed fireplaces.