Aftermath Read online

  The sound of crumpling metal and breaking glass blared over the phone. Made her imagination spin just as out of control.

  And then silence reigned.

  “Guys?”

  No answer. The tinkle of what had to be raining glass confirmed they hadn’t lost connection. She rounded the desk and opened Dexter’s laptop. Pulled up software and had it downloading in seconds.

  “What’s his number?”

  He flicked her hands out of the way and typed it in. And then they waited. “Looks like they’re somewhere between Killian Crossroads and Maiden.”

  “Amanda? Can you hear me?” Beth stared at the phone as if she might be able to see beyond it. She knelt next the desk. Willed someone to answer.

  Beth’s heart began to pound over the sound of Dexter’s conversation on the other phone. They needed to do something. Anything.

  “Amanda? Baker Jackson? Can you hear me?”

  Silence.

  “H-hello?” A young, female voice came through the speakers.

  Beth shifted and took a breath. Reached for the phone and pulled it closer. “What’s your name?”

  “Paige.”

  Her heart stopped. No. Way. She was forty miles from where she’d been twelve hours ago. And even if this was that Paige, they were still in a lot of danger. “Okay, Paige. I’m Beth, I’m…”

  What was she?

  Nothing.

  Dexter put the phone down, and swiveled his chair toward her. Leaned forward to get a better look at the map she’d pulled up.

  She gave a harsh swallow. Resisted moving away.

  “Hi, Paige. I’m Dexter Knight. We’re friends with a man and woman who might have been in a car accident. Can you describe the scene in front of you?”

  “I-I can’t stay.”

  “It’s okay.” Beth scooted close to the phone as if cradling it was the equivalent of doing so to her biological daughter. “We aren’t going to ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. You’re not in any trouble and you won’t get in any trouble, okay?”

  A long paused filled the phone. Had the girl run off? She glanced up at Dexter. He’d braced an elbow on one thigh and pinched his lower lip between thumb and index finger.

  “Paige?” His voice was smooth and calm. “Are you still there?”

  “I want to help, but if I stay…”

  He shifted. “Is there a man and woman with a black SUV, nearby?”

  Another pause. “Yes.” Some shuffling came over the line. “The truck is upside down. It’s pretty banged up.”

  Beth pressed a hand to her mouth. Held back a lurch of stomach acid. Along with all the contradictions racing through her brain. If this was what she’d wanted all those years ago, why wasn’t she jumping for joy right now?

  Why did it feel like her heart was being ripped from her body?

  Beth cleared her throat. “Does it smell like gas? Any sparks coming from anywhere nearby? Is the car stable?”

  “A little like gas. Some smoke, but it seems okay.” More scuffling. “The woman has a pulse and a few scrapes across her face. Looks like the airbag went off.”

  “And the man?”

  A loud tear filled the space. “No airbag. There’s blood everywhere, but bleeding from the face always looks worse than it is.”

  Wow. Beth sat back. “How old are you, Paige?”

  “Thirteen. I like…health class.” The girl sucked in a breath. “I take that back. That’s as bad as it looks.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  A GRUNT AND the sound of female voices brought Amanda from the blackness. Her face was on fire, the pressure in her head making it come alive with a vengeance. Her collarbone throbbed as if someone had used a baseball bat on it.

  What had happened? The last thing she remembered was…

  The brakes had gone out. Even with jerking the vehicle into neutral and swerving as much as the road would allow, they’d still taken the curve too fast. Rolled over the guardrail. Her airbag deployed. Glass rained everywhere.

  She was pretty sure they’d rolled another time before they’d stopped.

  “Alright, Paige, apply firm pressure. Don’t worry about wrapping that bandage too tight.” The voice was Beth’s, but that couldn’t be right. Beth was…

  “What about the fire?” A young voice entered the mix.

  Fire?

  Amanda’s eyes snapped open. A heap of mangled metal was in her direct view, a windshield frame squished into a smaller rectangle. Bits of grass and dirt poked through the opening. Smoke billowed up into the cabin, the smell of gas permeating the air. Flickers of light bounced off the shiny bits of metal, like the reflection of a fireplace in a window.

  She glanced to her right. The trees and grass beyond her missing window were hanging from the sky. Her arms were above her head. And numb. She blinked. Brought it back into focus, the same.

  “We’ve got help headed toward you.” Beth’s voice came through the speakers…because they’d been on speaker phone.

  Who was she talking to?

  Amanda looked toward the driver’s side. Caught sight of Robinson in much the same position. Blood oozed from somewhere near his temple and dripped downward.

  He wasn’t moving. A head of dark hair, matted in places, poked through the open driver’s side door. Steady hands wrapped a cloth around the wound. The remnants of his airbag were nowhere in sight, the steering wheel intact.

  No. Agony tore through her body like the bullets from a well-aimed machine gun. Had her struggling with her seatbelt. Her hands wouldn’t work properly. “Robbie?”

  “Amanda?” Beth’s voice wiggled through the whoosh of blood in her ears. It was in stereo with another. Dexter.

  The person working on her husband stilled. Glanced up at her with amber colored eyes. Dirt was smudged on her thin face.

  “Paige?” Paige? Saliva gathered in her mouth. “Have you seen Ariana?”

  Distrust flashed in her eyes. “Do I know you?”

  “Amanda, hold still a second.” Beth’s voice held worry. “You could have a neck injury or worse.”

  Amanda shook her head. “I’m okay.”

  “That’s the adrenaline talking. Keeping that fight or flight response alive.” Beth’s words came fast and on notes of panic. “You could have internal bleeding—”

  “Dexter, give her a paper bag to breathe into or something.” Right now, she didn’t care about anything, but getting to her husband.

  She found the latch with her left hand and braced the opposite on the crumpled roof of the car, inches from her head. As soon as the belt gave way, her body rushed toward the ceiling. And she landed in a heap near the missing windshield.

  Heat radiated toward her backside. Now the fire comment made sense. The whole vehicle would be an inferno in a matter of minutes. Maybe less.

  She righted herself and moved toward Robinson, over sharp bits of glass and jagged metal. The short trip seemed to take an eternity. “Robbie.” She placed two fingers at his neck. Held her breath. Felt a sluggish beat against her fingers.

  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 R
ed’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.