Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(89)

Zach cursed. “Any mention of the kids?”

“Nothing. If they haven’t been recaptured, then they’re still out there somewhere.”

“What are the coordinates?” Deb asked.

Gabe relayed them.

She adjusted course.

“The other kid sounded sick or hurt,” Gabe said. “They won’t be moving fast. If we start the search pattern near the truck explosion and go systematically from there, we may luck out.”

Deb scanned the horizon, looking for anything out of place. They had to be there. Had to be. She pushed the chopper to its limits. “We should be nearing the explosion area soon,” she said, following the ribbon of highway that dissected the desert landscape. “You see any unfriendlies?”

“Nothing,” Zach said. “Makes me nervous.”

“You got that right.” Gabe smoothed the map over his lap, growing more impatient by the minute. A half hour later, there was still no sign, and the sun had gone down lower in the sky. Shadows started falling over the mountains.

Gabe’s gaze swept across the barren vista.

“Anything?” Deb asked, the pit of her stomach twisting in knots. Flying missions overseas, facing gunfire, was nothing compared to searching for her little sister. Deb couldn’t remember ever feeling quite so much terror as this moment. So close and panicked, they might end up being too late.

“Not yet. Maybe they didn’t get as far as they thought.”

Each minute seemed to inch the sun lower in the sky. “Wait!” Gabe shouted. “Blue fabric came winging out from behind that mound.”

Deb turned the helicopter and moved very low very fast. Gabe caught his breath, but Deb’s hand didn’t waiver.

A blue T-shirt lay on the ground. “Smart kids,” Deb said. “That’s something Ashley would do.”

She circled the area. One of the boys crawled out and yanked the shirt behind the rock. “They know we’re here.”

“I’ll set her down,” Deb said. “Be ready to grab them so we can take off immediately.”

“Two ATVs approaching fast from behind,” Zach yelled. “They’re armed.”

Deb pushed the chopper to cover the distance. She cursed. She couldn’t land between the boys and the ATVs. She quickly landed on the packed earth. She hated this part. Waiting, wanting to help. She sat at the controls, ready to pull up as soon as the boys were inside.

Gabe palmed his weapon and opened the door. “You call out, Deb,” he said. “They don’t know me.”

She cupped her hands. “Justin! It’s Deb Lansing.”

The boys ran toward them, sprinting as the ATV roared closer and closer.

Zach and Gabe bounded out of the helicopter, guns at the ready.

“Run, Dave!” Justin yelled. “Faster.”

Dave fell. Justin hauled him back to his feet.

“They found us!” Justin sprinted out into the open first, heading right toward them.

Dave followed, but it was easy to see how much he struggled. She wanted to get out and run, but she had to stay ready.

The helicopter’s rotors whirred, buffeting them. The ATVs pulled within range, spewing dirt in the air, then split off.

Taking advantage of the dust cloud, Gabe raced toward the kids, firing as he ran. Zach veered toward the second ATV.

Deb leaned forward, straining to see the murky view. Shots rang out. Dave stumbled.

The ATV quickly gained on the boy. He couldn’t seem to get back on his feet.

“South!” Deb shouted.

Gabe shifted, aimed at the gunman pointing his weapon at the boy. Direct hit. The man slumped over. The driver pulled out a pistol and shot Dave where he lay.

“No!”

“Get down, Justin!” Gabe yelled.

Justin dove.

Zach hit the second ATV’s gunman in the head.

The vehicle swerved. Zach’s shot missed the driver’s heart. He turned the steering wheel toward Justin. Gabe and Zach both fired, killing the driver instantly, but the vehicle’s trajectory was set.

The ATV smashed into Justin, knocking him down and running over him.

Deb’s fists clenched the controls. There was nothing anyone could do. God, she hated this part of her job. Useless. Waiting.

Gabe ran to Justin and knelt beside him. Zach ran to Dave. They returned quickly to the chopper, each man holding a boy in his arms.

Zach loaded Dave onto the floor. “He’s bad. You have medical training. Watch him and I’ll fly.”

Deb nodded, slipping into the back beside the unconscious boy. Within seconds Zach lifted off.

While she settled Dave, Gabe checked Justin. One side of his head bore a long cut and a huge bruise.

He tested his pulse. “It’s weak, but there.” He ran his hands over Justin’s arms and legs. “He’s in bad shape. I think there are cracked ribs and probably internal injuries. We have to get him to a hospital immediately.”

“I don’t know about Dave,” Deb said. The boy’s lips were blue, his chest covered with blood. Gabe removed his shirt and thrust it into Deb’s hands. She tried to stanch the bleeding. “Look for a medical kit. See what they have.” Wheezes sounded from the boy’s chest.

“After I get the coordinates for the nearest hospital, I’ll tell them to stand by,” Zach yelled.