5
Bev could feel the heat as the patrol car came to a stop with the other official vehicles at the scene. Officer Gant jumped out and disappeared in the distorted light of the fire and emergency strobes. The building was what Bev would describe as engulfed, flames shot out from the second story windows and rolled in waves across the roof. The scene and the heat literally took your breath away. Wood popped, the building groaned, water hissed, the whole image was like a starving beast consuming a stolen meal. Firemen in full garb were spraying in vain at the beast, barely able to direct the force of water to do their bidding. Other firemen aimed at damage control and made sure the beast only devoured what it had in its grasp.
Bev now saw familiar faces, Officer Mac, the Spanish pressman,
