“What’s going on?” Cam came up behind Beth, and she was grateful to feel his steady calm.
“There’s a fire,” she said. “At one of our manufacturing plants.” Turning to look at him, she added, “I’m riding over with Piper, but first I have to find Gracie. Let her know I’m leaving.”
Cam looked to Piper and said, “You go ahead. I’ll bring Beth.”
Piper looked at the two of them and nodded. “See you there. I have to find Ava.”
“I’ll tell Zeke. He can find Luke,” Beth said as Piper hurried away.
“Come on.” Cam grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd. In one corner of her mind, Beth was amazed at how the crowd seemed to part right in front of him. People made way. Whether it was Cam himself or the fact that they could tell there was an emergency, she didn’t know. But she wouldn’t have been surprised to find it was simply Cam’s commanding personality that had people stepping out of his way.
She paused when she saw Zeke, still on the dance floor. This time, he was doing a complicated ten-step with his friend, Reagan Sinclair. Reagan’s long, dark brown hair flew out behind her like a velvet cape as she laughed up into Zeke’s face.
“Sorry to break this up,” Beth said, tugging at Zeke’s arm. “Reagan, I really need Zeke.”
“No problem.” Reagan looked concerned but didn’t slow them down with questions.
Quickly Beth explained everything and watched the fun in Zeke’s eyes drain away and be replaced by solemn resolve.
“Reagan, gotta go,” he said. Then he turned to Beth. “I’ll find Luke and we’ll meet you at the plant.”
Beth and Cam set off again and found Gracie near the donation table talking to James Harris. It only took a minute to explain what was happening and that she needed Gracie to take charge of the rest of the party.
Cam’s truck was parked close by, and before long they were on the highway leading out of Royal. “So talk to me,” he said. “This is a WinJet plant?”
“Yes,” she replied, willing them to go faster. “Sebastian said there’s a whole shift working there today to make up time on back orders. If the fire...”
She didn’t even want to think about it, really. A fire sweeping through the plant could spread quickly. Anyone caught inside was in real danger. There were so many potentially flammable things stored there. Chemicals used in working on the planes, paints, fiberglass... Fire was the absolute worst thing that could happen. She could only pray that everyone had gotten out safely.
Cam didn’t ask any more questions and didn’t offer meaningless platitudes, for which she was grateful. He only grabbed her hand and held on. Beth curled her fingers around his, thankful for the support. As they neared the turnoff, she could see thick black smoke snaking up into the sky and twisting in the breeze. “Oh, God.”
Cam took the turnoff and drove straight to the front of the parking lot, where Beth’s family was already gathered, watching the firefighters attack the blaze. Beth was out of the car before he’d put it in Park, and Cam wasn’t far behind her.
Beth grabbed Sutton’s arm. “Did everyone get out?”
He looked down at her and his features were tight. “Everyone’s out, but three of the men on the line were hurt.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough,” Sebastian said darkly, and nodded a greeting as Cam came up behind Beth. “There’s smoke inhalation, a couple of second-degree burns, and one of the guys broke his leg when he jumped off a ladder to get out.”
“But they are out and they’re going to be fine,” Zeke put in.
Absently, Beth noted Cam draping one arm around her shoulder. She liked it. It spoke of solidarity and silent comfort, both of which she needed at the moment.
Sebastian turned to look at all of them, and his gaze flickered briefly when he noticed Cam’s arm around Beth. But he stayed on subject when he said, “The men have already been transported to Royal hospital. They’re being taken care of, and everyone else is being checked out by the EMTs, just in case. The real question is how did the fire start in the first place?”
Good point. Beth watched Nathan Battles, his face set in grim lines, walk up to join them. “Sorry to see this, but the fire captain says they’ll have it out in another hour.”
“Can we go in then?”
Nathan took off his hat and ran his forearm across his forehead. “Probably not. The fire marshal has to inspect the property, then the arson inspector will be out to do the same.”
“Arson?” Beth repeated, shocked at the idea.
“You can’t be serious,” Piper said. “Nate, you know us.”
“I’m not saying the fire was deliberately set,” Nathan clarified a second later. “That’s standard procedure for a fire. We have to find out how the blaze started.”