Aftermath (50 page)

Tears choked her.

“The airbag didn’t go off.” The crunch of something came from the speakers as Beth spoke. “From the sounds of it, he’s got a large laceration across the frontal lobe, right at the hairline.”

A flare of fire moved into the cabin area, where she’d been sitting. It tracked up the door, plastic dripping downward like rain.

“Here.” Amanda placed her hands where Paige had hers. The younger woman moved hers away as if she’d been burned, leaving Amanda holding the wadded red cloth to Robinson’s forehead. “Do you have another strip of cloth?”

The girl scooted out of the door and ripped a second piece from her red cloak. The bulge of late pregnancy showed through her ragged shirt.

No way.

The girl’s eyes connected with Amanda as if she knew her thoughts. As if Amanda had condemned her for actions she knew nothing about. And then she went back to her task.

“When you…be careful…injury.” Beth’s voice warbled in and out.

Behind Amanda, the fire jumped onto the passenger seat. It spread across the dashboard. Heat radiated toward them as Paige wrapped the strip of cloth around Robinson’s head.

“Okay, when I give the signal, think you can release his seatbelt?”

She nodded.

“Once you’ve done that, you’ll have to help me keep his legs from falling, so he doesn’t get hurt.”

“Okay.”

The fire licked across the console. Amanda wedged herself between Robinson and the steering column. Then she cupped her hands on the tops of his shoulders and braced for his weight. Pushed her shoulder into his torso and prayed she could hold him. “Go ahead. You’re gonna have to pull the belt toward the buckle. Give it a little slack.”

Paige tugged on the belt and then hit the button. All two-hundred pounds of muscle released into Amanda’s hands. Paige grabbed his legs and kept them from falling. The flames reached out toward Robinson’s seat. Smoke swirled around them.

Amanda slid him downward an inch. “We gotta move, Paige. Tuck his legs out the door.”

The teen complied. Amanda adjusted her grip as she did so. Had one arm under his head and shoulders, the other wrapped around his torso. A pale hue crept up his face.

He was going to be okay. He had to be.

She inched forward. Paige mirrored the movements, one of Robinson’s legs in each hand and her body between them at his ankles.

Siren’s pierced the air. A hot lick of fire jumped onto her pants. She ignored the burn bursting through her nerves. Shuffled forward until they were out of the vehicle.

Paige set his legs down. Whipped her cape from her shoulders and used it to douse the flames on Amanda’s leg.

An intense sharp, throb tore through her body. She clamped her lips together. Held back a barrage of ugly words.

“I-I’m sorry.” Paige’s eyes filled with worry.

“You did good, kid.” Amanda let out a breath. Instantly wished she hadn’t. “Let’s move away from the truck.”

Paige laid her cape on the ground, a few yards from the inferno now devouring Robinson’s vehicle. Then she resumed her position and they carried him to the spot. Set him down.

Amanda didn’t remove her arm from behind his head. She ran her free hand over his cheek. Pressed her fingers back to his neck.

Didn’t feel anything.

“Robbie?” She repositioned her hand. Watched his chest. Nothing happened.

No. She tugged her other arm from under his head. This was wrong. He had to be breathing.

She checked again. Nothing.

No. The thought screamed through her system as she found his sternum and positioned both hands near it. Began compressions. Tears clouded her vision. Something wet landed on her arms as she worked.

She couldn’t focus on the number of times she’d pumped his heart. Was it fifteen? Thirty?

Paige appeared next to them. Stilled Amanda’s movements. Gave him two breaths. Amanda checked for a pulse.

Still none. Restarted compressions.

“You’re not allowed to leave me, Baker Jackson Desmond Robinson the fourth.” He couldn’t. She wouldn’t let him. “There’s a bridge. No paranormal ghost stories, remember?” A cloud of emotion hung on her vocal chords.

She didn’t care. She needed to feel his breath. His heartbeat. See those beautiful eyes open again. Hear the rumble of his laughter. The passion of words spoken out of love. A kiss. A hug.

Those things were hers. And she wasn’t ready to give them up. To give him up. Not to another woman. Nor a risk she couldn’t see clear outcomes for. Not to death.

A pair of paramedics burst through the foliage. One of them carried a backboard. They pushed both her and Paige away from Robinson. Resumed CPR. Clamped a C-collar around his neck. Shifted a backboard under his body. Started an IV. Replaced their bandage with sterile gauze. Talked in words that didn’t make sense to Amanda.

He had to live.

She stood near his feet. A buzz filled her head, the sound louder than a million angry insects. She followed the paramedics as they wrangled him up the ditch and to the road. Her stomach sought to choke her.

A trembling and dirty hand slipped inside hers. When she glanced over, she expected to see a little girl. Instead amber-colored eyes locked on her. The kid’s head reached Amanda’s shoulders.

“Is that Ariana’s uncle?” Her voice was steady.

“Yes.”

The girl’s mouth clamped tight. Her fingers mirrored the motion. “S-she’s in trouble. Back at the nature center. He told me if I didn’t run, he’d kill me, too.” Her wild gaze scanned the area. Then bounced back to Amanda.

“He put a tracking device on me, so I know he’s going to kill me, anyway.”

___

LEAVING ROBINSON IN the care of the paramedics had been the most agonizing decision Amanda had ever made. And while every inch of her wanted to turn around and beat him to the hospital, she knew he’d never forgive her if she didn’t try to get to Ariana.

Either way, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself. The numbness they’d fought together, over the last week, was already crawling back in.

He had to make it. Any other alternative…

Amanda clenched the device that had been around Paige’s ankle as she cleared the nature center’s parking lot. They’d used one of the firefighter’s tools to remove what appeared to be a tracking device from the young woman’s leg. And then she’d taken the red, hooded cape and draped it on her shoulders.

It smelled like unwashed skin and urine. And Paige had looked stricken when Amanda had donned it. Asked her to ride in the ambulance with Robinson. Given one of the paramedic’s McKenna’s number and begged him to call her.

If Amanda had done so, as he’d suggested, she wouldn’t be here. And they’d have wasted critical time in the hunt for Ariana.

That wasn’t an option.

Three buildings sat on the vacant lot. A gift shop, an animal habitat and a hydroelectric demonstration building, all stacked in a row. All three were locked up tight.

She peered in the windows as she rounded the back of the buildings. Didn’t see anything out of the norm. Her heart dropped into her stomach. This had to be the missing link they needed. Not a dead end where she failed everyone she loved.

The crunch of gravel floated toward her.

She reached in her shoulder holster for her Glock, but didn’t find it. Somewhere in the roll, the thing had dislodged from her holster. Instead, she had Robinson’s Ruger LCP, which had stayed in his ankle holster during the accident.

She fingered the markings on the handle. The initials he carved into everything. Pushed down the suffocating anxiety clawing at her insides. And the complete meltdown begging for release.

She had to do this. For Ariana. For Lilly. For Robinson.

The steps continued, slow and sure, from the back of the building. There wasn’t anywhere to go. If she made a run for it, to the trees at the front of the lot, she’d be seen.

She pressed herself against the edge of the metal siding, near a large bush. Watched a dark-haired man pass by with a bag in his hands. He whistled an unfamiliar tune. His step was light as he swung the soft, black carrying case with embroidered lettering on it.

Carter’s Meats.

Amanda tore the cloak from her body and wrapped the monitoring device into the middle of it. Then shoved the entire thing under a bush. Kept her gun at the ready.

And followed at a discreet distance as he crossed into a wooded area marked Jackman Trail. While he took the shortest route to a clearing in the distance, Amanda weaved between trees.

When her class had come for this field trip, there had been nothing but dense forest beyond this trail. A creek that flowed through the center.

Now, a paved path cut through those trees, a bridge providing a crossing over the water. A cottage-style building sat at the end, a sign labeling it Red’s Sit n’ Sip. The man she’d been following, opened the front door and stepped inside.

The paved lot held one vehicle. A white delivery truck was parked alongside the building.
Carter’s Meats
graced the hood.

When she’d attended, the hall had served sandwiches and fruit. Not a gourmet meal. And it had been located in one of the main buildings.

Amanda made a dash from the edge of the clearing to the side of the building. Crouched beneath a set of windows. Peeked inside what appeared to be one giant room. Floor to ceiling aquariums filled the far wall. Some had heat lamps and were filled with reptiles of all manners. Others had creatures of the sea.

Cafeteria style benches lined the middle of the room. The man walked past the seats, to the tanks. Donned a pair of gloves and removed a yellowish-brown octopus with pale blue rings.

Amanda stepped back. Davis had said the lab in DC had found trace amounts of seafood. Was it that this guy had been feeding his victims the Blue-ringed Octopus?

Or merely extracting the venom for later use? Was that even possible?

She crept around the house, her movements slower than she liked. Stiffness crept into her muscles as if little minions attacked every molecule at once.

A loud metallic whine stopped her short. Had her drawing in a sharp breath. She peeked around the corner.

A man exited the cargo area of the truck, shut the door and locked the handle into place. Zander Singleton removed a pair of surgical gloves. Brushed something from his grey t-shirt. He rounded the front of the vehicle and entered the cottage.

Amanda watched his trek through the building and to the kitchen area, near where she crouched. He pulled a white, long package from a drawer in the corner.

It looked like a…

Long needle in sterile packaging.

She gripped the edge of the windowsill. Her heart pounded in her ears.

He paused. And then, as if he’d heard a sound from her direction, he turned toward her.

She ducked below the window. Pressed herself against the building. Didn’t dare breathe. Her sight caught the truck again.

He’d come out wearing surgical gloves.

On hands and knees, she crawled toward the door. When she reached it, she stood. Hazarded a glance back toward the building. Half expected Zander to still be looking in her direction.

No one stood at the window. She could make out his figure deeper in the room. She lifted the latching handle. It gave the same whine.

Amanda froze. Didn’t see anyone rushing toward her.

Rip the band-aid off, Nettles.

The words came to her in Robinson’s snappy tone. Had her complying before she could change her mind. Find a way to get to a phone and call for backup.

Time they didn’t have.

Rows of packaged meat stared at her as a rush of arctic cold flowed over her skin.

No bodies. She peek farther inside. One row followed the length of the vehicle, the others perpendicular.

Not even a hint of anything sinister.

“You mind shutting that door before my meat thaws.” Zander’s voice was smooth and calm. And maybe a tinge annoyed. As if she’d interrupted him during a five-course meal.

She whirled toward him, gun aimed. “Not gonna happen. Too cold in there, Dana.”

He neared with a tray holding the package she’d seen earlier. A fresh pair of gloves. He pulled the opposite door open and hauled himself inside. Stashed the tray on top of the nearest row of pork and beef. “That guy is gone, detective. And I’d appreciate if you didn’t say the name again.” His lips formed a firm line. “My parents’ killer is still out there.”

Had Beth been wrong about Zander’s cryptic words this morning? Had she led Amanda here for another purpose?

Used a lingering connection somewhere and orchestrated this entire day?

No. Beth’s concern coming through the speakers of Robinson’s vehicle had been genuine. Not the smoke screen she’d used so well in the past.

Fool me once…

“Mind if I come up, Zander?”

His back was toward her as he fiddled with a few packages of his product. “Are you planning on pointing that gun at me all day?”