The Search (12 page)

Logan could die.

Don't think about it. Just sit here and listen for the helicopter.

Ten minutes.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Thirty-five minutes passed before she heard the helicopter.

Faint.

Far away.

But coming closer every second.

She snapped the leash on Monty. "Come on, boy."

He eagerly bounded down the path in front of her, dragging her forward through the brush. He knew exactly where he was going even if she didn't.

Gunshots.

Explosions.

She caught sight of the camp and it looked like a war zone. Acrid smoke. Bodies. Blood. Fighting. She stopped on the path, staring in astonishment. What was going on here? When the helicopter came back, the battle was supposed to be over. It wasn't over.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Logan was beside her. "Never mind. Just don't come any closer." He said over his shoulder, "Bassett, stay with her."

The tall, lanky man behind him nodded. "I'm not moving a muscle until you come back for me. That's a promise."

Logan turned and ran back toward the camp.

Chapter 5.

"This is no time for introductions, but I'm Tom Bassett," the man standing beside Sarah said. "And you are?"

"Sarah Patrick." Her tone was abstracted, her gaze on Logan.

What the hell are you doing here? Logan had said.

"I've no idea why you're here, but I'm very glad to see you. Hell, I'm glad to see anyone but those stooges of Rudzak's." Bassett shook his head. "I thought my goose was well and truly cooked. When I saw Logan burst into my tent, I wanted to kiss him."

"I believe that would have upset him."

If Logan had not expected her, then they had not radioed for the helicopter?

But the helicopter was coming. She had heard it.

Dear God.

"Stay here." She ran toward the camp. She could still see Logan making his way through the smoke toward where Galen was standing. She and Monty dodged across the campsite to stand next to them.

Logan was not pleased to see her. "I told you to--"

"Shut up. Do you think I came here just because I wanted to see you kill and maim someone? Did you radio for the helicopter?"

"Not yet."

"Well, I heard a helicopter, dammit. And if it wasn't Galen's pilot, who do you think it was?"

He stiffened. "Shit. Rudzak. You're sure?"

"I've ridden in enough helicopters to know that sound in my sleep. Your red herring didn't work."

"How close?"

"Not close then, but they could be almost on top of us by now."

Galen turned away. "I'll radio for pickup." He waved his arm and shouted to his men. "We're pulling out."

"Tell the pilot to go to the clearing," Logan said. "We have to make a run for it back there."

"Take Bassett and get out of here. We'll be right behind you. It's not--"

Rotors. Loud. Close.

Sarah's heart jumped. She couldn't see the helicopter through the palms, but it must have been near and getting nearer every minute.

Logan took her arm. "Run for it. I'll get Bassett."

She didn't have to be told twice. "Monty!"

Branches hit her in the face as she tore through the jungle with Monty beside her.

The helicopter flew over her, almost on top of the camp.

Bullets.

The helicopter was spraying firepower on the camp below.

Logan and Bassett were next to her now.

More shots from the helicopter.

Galen and his men were behind them, then passing them as they raced toward the clearing.

It was scarcely a mile. It seemed a thousand.

Her lungs ached as she tried to force air into them. God, she was afraid. Stop it. Fear was always the enemy. She had been afraid before and survived. She'd survive now.

The clearing was up ahead. Would the helicopter be there?

It was landing as they burst out of the jungle. Galen's men weren't even waiting until it hit the ground to jerk open the door and tumble into the aircraft. Galen was standing by the door waving his men inside before he jumped in himself.

Bassett reached the helicopter and Galen pulled him inside. "Logan," Galen called. "Hurry. Get the hell inside. They must have spotted us. I hear them coming."

"So do I." Logan was looking up at the sky. "Get Sarah and the dog inside."

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Rudzak's helicopter flying low and fast toward them.

"Hurry." Galen reached for Sarah's hand.

"Monty," she called, and the retriever jumped inside the helicopter with her.

Bullets. Spraying the clearing from Rudzak's helicopter.

Logan moved away from the helicopter, lifted his weapon, and released a hail of bullets at the approaching helicopter.

Another spray of bullets.

"Logan!" Galen shouted.

Logan was down, blood streaming from his thigh. "Get out of here, Galen."

"The hell I will." Galen jumped out of the helicopter.

But Monty was ahead of him, already running toward Logan.

"Monty!" Sarah screamed.

Monty began tugging at Logan's shirt, trying to move him.

Sarah dove out of the helicopter.

More bullets.

Monty. Still. Bleeding.

"No!" She sank to her knees beside Monty. He was still breathing. Thank God.

"Get back in the helicopter." Galen was squatting beside her. "I'll take care of Logan."

"She'll never leave Monty. Get the dog first, Galen," Logan said. "Dammit, get the dog first."

"He's my dog. I'll do--" Sarah broke off when Galen picked up Monty.

"Go take care of your dog," Logan told her. "Galen will--"

"Shut up." She picked up Logan in a fireman's lift and struggled to her feet. Jesus, he was heavy. Three steps and she had him in the helicopter. "Lift off."

More shots.

What if they hit the fuel tank?

"Cover fire," Galen snapped.

Sarah was only dimly aware that Galen's men were shooting as she cradled Monty in her arms. He opened his eyes and licked her arm. The helicopter lifted and headed north, barely skimming the trees.

Oh, God, Rudzak's aircraft was right behind them.

Then, suddenly, it was gone.

"Got him." Galen's gaze was on Rudzak's helicopter, which was slowly spiraling to the ground. "We must have hit something crucial. He's trying to get back to the clearing to land. I hope he gets a palm tree up his ass. Too bad we used the last of our missiles back at the camp." He turned to Logan. "You always did cause me trouble. Somebody pass me the first aid kit and I'll try to stop the blood."

"How's the . . . dog?" Logan whispered.

"I'm tending to him." Sarah was pressing a compress to Monty's wound. "I think he's going to be okay. The bullet only skimmed his shoulder and he's not bleeding much." She glanced at Galen. "Do you need help taking care of Logan? I've had training."

Logan tried to smile. "Yeah, she went to vet school. She can take care of my fleas at the same time."

She ignored him and spoke to Galen. "I've also had EMT training."

"Galen can handle it," Logan said. "Just make sure-- the dog's okay. I know I'll be on your hit list if anything happens to him."

"You're right." She felt angry and scared and, yes, guilty that Monty had been hurt. She had placed him in harm's way. There was no doubt Logan was ultimately responsible, but he had ordered Galen to save Monty first even though his life had been in danger. "I'll care for Monty. Worry about yourself."

His eyes closed. "Too--much trouble. Galen, you-- do it."

He passed out.

Logan didn't regain consciousness until they were transferring him to the jet at Santo Camaro.

"About time you came back to us," Galen said. "You've caused me no end of trouble and made a mess of my copter. Of course, the pooch didn't help."

"He's alive?"

"In better shape than you. Sarah's bandaged him and is trying to keep him still."

"Where is she?"

"Inside the plane with Monty and Bassett." Galen paused. "You still have a bullet in your thigh. I didn't think there'd be any additional damage if I let you go back to the States and have it taken out there. Sarah didn't think so either. So we plugged you up and she'll give you a shot of morphine once you take off. Where do you want to go? Monterey?"

He tried to think. His mind was so blurry, he already felt as if he had the morphine. "It depends on whether Rudzak's alive. Go back and check and phone me. It would be nice if the bastard crashed and burned, but we're probably not that lucky."

Galen nodded. "I was going anyway. I thought you'd want to be certain one way or the other."

"And don't let her give me the morphine. Tell her you just remembered I'm allergic to it or something. I need to know about Rudzak as soon as possible."

"Why not tell her the truth?"

"And let her find out this may be only the beginning? I promised her when we found Bassett, her part would be over, but the situation's changed and I don't know how it's going to affect her. I'm not up to handling her right now. I have to stall."

"And what do I tell the pilot?"

"Just tell him to get us out of South American airspace and I'll give him his orders when I hear from you."

"Okay, but it's a long flight and you're going to hurt like hell."

"I'm hurting like hell now, but Rudzak had to have seen her and Monty. If he's alive, then he may try to take her out first. She's an easier target and it's pretty clear he doesn't want me dead before he can make me suffer."

"Are you going to tell her that?"

"Not if I can help it. It may get in the way and she's pissed enough at me. I just have to be wherever she is to keep Rudzak in check."

"You're not exactly in prime condition to keep anyone in check. You could get protection for her. You don't have to do it yourself."

"I made her a promise." He smiled crookedly. "And, hell, I probably owe her for more than Bassett now."

"You mean for picking you up and throwing you into the helicopter? It's possible. Seconds were counting at that point." Galen grinned. "And it was an interesting role reversal. Do you suppose she has Amazon blood?"