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Chapter 3

"I need to get into that building, Sir. No. Sir… I have an officer inside. Ugggg!" Adam Fuller snapped his phone closed and stormed back over to where Hanson and Penhall were waiting in the sweltering afternoon sun.

Doug watched the face of his superior officer as he walked over to the two men. He looked bitterly angry as he watched the ground under his feet. He had beads of sweat slipping down the side of his cheek as he finally stopped in front of the two men. He ran his long fingers over the beard on his chin before he looked up at Penhall.

"We're not to enter the building until it has been cleared by the building inspector." Fuller exhaled trying to force some other emotions onto his face.

"What do mean Cap'n, Joey's in…"

"I know that Doug. Trust me, this is eating at me too, but our orders are to stay put until the inspectors show up and clear the building for entrance." Fuller interjected.

Hanson looked at the ground under his feet. He sighed loudly as he listened to the string of curses coming from his partner's mouth. He wet his lips as he slowly looked back up. There was defiantly more that they could do, it would just have to be under the radar. Fuller would have to be left in the dark, or at least claim he had no knowledge of the event.

"The inspectors have arrived." Hanson muttered as Ioki walked up behind Fuller, he and Booker both with a look of concern on their faces.

Fuller turned and watched as Booker stood with his thumbs hitched in his blue jeans pockets continued to puff on the cigarette fastened securely between his lips. Ioki surveyed the front of the toppling building. Fuller watched the look of frustration in the young officer's eyes. Both men looked as if they were struggling with this unmentionable inner battle.

"Where did you two come from?" Fuller asked in a voice that sounded almost as if he didn't want to know.

"Busted Sanchez and we were on our way back to the Chapel when all hell broke loose." Booker declared.

"When Judy called we started walking. Most of the town is a mess of broken waterlines. There are a few fires and lots of panic. There's no electricity anywhere." Ioki stated calmly.

"Joey, he still…"

"He's not been found yet, Dennis." Penhal blurted out.

Booker took the cigarette from his lips and extinguished it on the ground. Rubbing his lips with the tip of his thumb, he looked over the building. It was in ruins. It hadn't been in great shape before all of this happened. The school was the poorest in the county. There was nothing to refurbish it with, and nothing to rebuild it with. There was always a joke that it would fall down some summer during break, nobody ever thought it would happen, especially with the children inside.

"When was the last time you remember an earthquake, Coach?" Booker asked raising an eyebrow.

"I don't, Dennis. They always said we were overdue for one, but it never came. Look we have to stay cool until something develops with County." Fuller wiped his forehead with his hand and then slid the sweat soaked appendage down his pants leg.

"How many do we have missing?" Ioki asked uncomfortably.

"Fourteen, Harry, possibly more." Fuller responded looking back at what used to be the front of the school.

Fuller knew all to well that this was the weather that killed people. It was ninety degrees in the shade with about a hundred percent humidity. It was the kind of weather that caused the deaths of elderly people who couldn't afford fans or air conditioning. It was going to be twice as bad for anyone trapped in this building after the earthquake. He could feel the perspiration dripping down his back as he waited for some answer. His stomach dropped as he thought of Joey trapped underneath a pile of rubble somewhere alive and smothering in the climbing temperature.

--

Booker walked to the side pulling Penhall's shirt sleeve indicating he needed to follow. Penhall was then followed closely by Hanson, Ioki and Hoffs.

"We have to get in there. Harry and I have seen the rest of town and County won't be out here for a while. It's a freaken mess." Booker affirmed quietly.

"You're not telling me anything I don't already know Booker. Have you got an idea of how to slip in without Captain Fuller stopping us?" Doug recoiled.

"Just tell him." Judy responded. "He'll tell us we can't and that will be it. At that point he has done his job and he's in the clear."

Hanson folded his arms across his front. He looked up at the top of what was left of the building. He could remember Joey talking about the second story fire escape near the old nurse's office. He had said they had roped the area off to students due to the asbestos falling when anyone would used the stairs, or walk on anything.

"We have to figure out where he's at." Hanson stated quietly shading his eyes from the sun.

"Brilliant, Hanson." Booker snapped as he looked over at the officer.

Hanson raised an eyebrow while glaring at the dark haired officer. He then looked at Penhall and Ioki.

"Remember, Joey said something about being near the second story fire escape. He said it was right next to what used to be the nurses office."

"That's great, Tommy, but how do we figure out where that's at now?" Judy asked forcefully.

"Up the stairs and to the left, down the corridor and then zigzag to the right; can't miss it." Hanson concluded.

It was now Ioki's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Impressive, Hanson, if only you could find my apartment so easily."

Hanson bit his lips as he scratched the back of his head. He remembered how Joey had walked them through the easiest way to where they would be. It hadn't been too difficult to remember.

"There's a whole section of building missing there, Tom." Doug sighed softly.

Hanson's eyes went up and down as he watched the front of the building as if it would move and indicate that there was anyone there. He fidgeted and then looked back over at Penhall.

"We just gotta have faith on this one, Doug. Joey's still alive in there." Tom patted his partner nervously on the shoulder.

"Okay, so whose gonna tell the Captain?" Doug asked.

--

Joey groaned softly. He could feel the sweat bead and roll off of his face. He had lost all feeling in his left arm sometime ago. He was only saddened that he didn't loose that feeling in his shoulder and ribs. He continued to wiggle his toes to be sure they were still there, but they too were starting to become numb. His right hip felt as though it was being ground into a fine powder. He could feel the bruise on and throughout the bone. He was working on a nice bone bruise. He remembered having one of those when he bashed his elbow into a corner of his desk at Jump Street Chapel. It had hurt for months, this one was surely gonna hurt longer. He knew that this day was going to leave a lasting impression on him for sometime.

"It's really hot in here." Flea stated as he paced the remains of the room.

Joey realized the remnants of the area weren't going to be enough space for the kid much longer. There wasn't enough space for him either. He was already on the boarder of a full blown mental breakdown because of the issues he was starting to have with Closter phobia and now Flea was starting to do his cricket jumping out of the bucket impression. More like a nervous chicken in den of foxes and Joey was starting to feel closed in too.

"Gotta… calm down…" Joey struggled to see the boy as he moved back and forth.

"I can't… can't calm down. It's hot-dark… it's too small-in here." Flea stammered.

"Please… just… s-sit down…" Joey clinched his teeth as he felt a vibration below them.

"What the hell…"

Flea reached out for what was left of the wall. He heard Joey scream out loudly as chunks of plaster and dust began to fall again. This time the rumbling only lasted a few seconds before it stopped. He could see the rays of light splitting through the jagged cinderblocks and bricks.

Joey slapped his free hand across his face as he felt the residual sediment fall upon him. He could feel every single vibration in his shoulder, ribs and hip. It was more vicious than anything he could have imagined to date. He felt something big hit the ground as the vibrations finally stopped.

"Thaddous…" Joey strained to call out.

"Flea." The kid responded in a monotone voice.

Joey ran his fingers across his forehead as brushing the dust off of his face. He felt the urge to cough rising up in him. He knew that was going to hurt more than anything. Joey flung his hand blindly out to the side feeling it hit a leg. He grasped at the jeans on the leg and then felt a set of fingers reach out and lift his hand just as he started to cough violently.

"What-fell?" Joey swallowed as he stopped coughing and composed himself. He still had a death grip on the kid's hand. His chest felt like it could cave in at any minute.

"Not sure, Joe-Joe, but it made one hell of a thump." Flea tried to make a joke but the humor just was not there.

Joey closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he listened to Flea. He could feel the hot salty tears slipping down his cheeks. He was thirsty, sore, and more importantly, he was frightened. He was terrified that the last time he saw his brother was the last time he would. He was fearful of what Doug would say to Clavo about why his Uncle Joey would never be able to take him out for pizza and ball again. He just wanted a chance to tell his family how much they meant to him before he departed his life.