Chapter 8 - Race Against Fire
Caleb did not wait for another word from the FBI agent.
He sprinted toward the basement stairwell with Mr. Henderson trailing closely behind him.
The distinct, acrid smell of smoke was already creeping up the concrete steps.
Caleb burst through the heavy steel double doors into the massive basement boiler room.
Flames were aggressively licking the brick walls near the massive industrial incinerator unit.
Mrs. Baxter stood near the main control panel with a twisted, evil smile on her face.
She held a silver lighter in one hand and an empty red gas can in the other.
Malik was locked securely inside a heavy steel mesh cage directly next to the blazing furnace.
He was coughing violently, his hands wrapped desperately around the metal bars.
"I am going to burn this entire school down to cover our tracks," Mrs. Baxter laughed manically.
Mr. Henderson stepped forward and aimed his federal service weapon directly at her head.
"Step away from the controls, Evelyn, or I will drop you right here," he commanded.
Mrs. Baxter did not look intimidated in the slightest.
She threw the lit lighter directly onto a thick trail of gasoline on the floor.
A massive wall of fire erupted instantly, completely separating them from Malik's cage.
The intense heat forced Caleb and Mr. Henderson to take several steps backward.
Mrs. Baxter used the fiery distraction to slam her hand against a hidden emergency lever on the wall.
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The concrete floor beneath Mr. Henderson suddenly cracked open with a loud mechanical groan.
He screamed as he fell completely backward into a deep maintenance pit, disappearing from sight.
