Chilled (Bone Secrets, #2)(94)

She met Alex’s powerful gaze as they joined him and Jim. Her limbs went weak. How would she have lived without him?

Thomas spread his parka on the ground. “Lie down,” he ordered Alex.

Alex eyed the coat. “This is gonna hurt, isn’t it?”

“Just for a second.”

“Fuck.” Alex obeyed.

“Use his jacket to make a U around his ribs,” Thomas instructed her. “Pull both sleeves toward you. It’s got to keep him from moving while I pull on his right arm.” Brynn nodded. She knew the drill.

“Never seen this done before,” Alex muttered. “Except in Lethal Weapon, when Mel slams his shoulder against the wall.”

“Just hang on for a minute,” Brynn soothed him.

Thomas gently bent Alex’s elbow so that his fingers pointed at the sky. He pulled out firmly on his elbow then rotated his arm like he was guiding him to throw a baseball. Alex gasped and clenched his jaw. The notch at the shoulder didn’t change. Behind Brynn, Jim swore softly.

“Gotta do it again,” Thomas muttered. He wiped a hand across his forehead.

Brynn nodded, pulling firmly on the sleeves to keep Alex from sliding toward Thomas’s pull on his arm. Thomas did the overhand pitching movement again and Brynn heard a thunk as the bone slid into the socket. A gruesome sound.

“Ahh,” Alex exhaled, his face relaxing. “God! That’s better.”

“You’re gonna hurt tonight.” Thomas repositioned Alex’s arm across his chest. “I need something to rig him a sling.”

Jim ripped open his jacket. “I’ve got on an extra shirt.” He dropped his jacket and pulled a long-sleeved thermal over his head. Brynn slid the parka out from under Alex while Thomas tied the shirt around his arm and fastened it at his neck.

“That’ll do.”

“Thanks, man.” Alex held out a hand, and Thomas pulled him up to his feet.

Brynn wrapped Alex’s coat around him and rested her head on his chest. “Ready to head back?”

Alex kissed the top of her head. “I’m ready for anything as long as you’re with me.”

Brynn fought back tears. Happy tears.

Jim spoke up, “Anyone else hear a chopper?”





Two Pave Hawk helicopters briefly hovered over the base camp, and Alex stared in awe at the mass of people, cameras, and microphones. The copters landed, blowing the hoods and hats off the spectators and media. Other Madison County Search and Rescue members used their bodies to set up a protective alley from the copters to waiting ambulances, which immediately sped Liam and Tyrone to the hospital. After a short argument, Alex and Ryan refused to get in the ambulance. Alex accepted some painkillers and a sling, and then he brushed off the EMT’s help.

Reporters shouted their questions at the small group. Brynn stuck close to Alex, alternating between glaring at him for refusing care and glaring at the reporters. Sheriff Collins and two other deputies hustled the tired group into the Madison County RV. Collins shooed out the deputies and slammed the door. Alex inhaled the smell of hot coffee; his mouth watered. Someone had cranked up the heat to heavenly. Alex yearned to lie down on the cheap mattress in the back of the RV and sleep for a week. He noticed Matt casting longing looks in the direction of the beds too.

Collins poured six huge cups of coffee, and everyone sighed as they sipped. He filled a bowl with water and set it down for Kiana. The RV was crowded with seven bodies and a large dog, but it felt like a palace after the plane.

“OK.” Collins leaned his bulk against the tiny sink, took a sip of coffee, and ran a hand across his forehead. “You’re sure Darrin Besand didn’t survive? You thoroughly checked the area?”

Everyone nodded.

“No one could survive in that water,” Jim added.

Collins’s gaze rested on Matt and he lifted a brow. He turned to Alex. “You didn’t tell me yesterday that you’d found the team of marshals. What happened to the other marshal?”

“Gary Stewart. He took a shot at Alex. I tackled him and he pulled a gun on me.” Matt looked directly at Collins as he spoke.

“I shot Stewart.” Every set of eyes turned to Alex. “He was about to shoot Matt in the head.”

“Stewart had orders to kill you, didn’t he?” Collins asked flatly.

Alex nodded.

“Because Whittenhall was worried Darrin would tell you his dirty history if you caught up with him out there,” Collins added.

“Darrin did talk. He claimed Whittenhall stood with him and purposefully watched his younger sister drown in a pool years ago.” Alex spoke evenly as Brynn nodded. He felt her hand slip into his.

“What?” The men reacted at his words, bodies stiffening, eyes widening.

“That’s f*cking sick,” Matt said.

“When they were kids?” Ryan paled.

“Your tip on Paul Whittenhall has opened a big can of stinking worms,” Collins said to Alex. “You were right about him.”

Alex’s gaze shot to Collins. “You found a reporter to run with the story? One who figured it out?”

“Who? Who figured out what?” Ryan spoke.

“Regan Simmons, reporter for Channel 5 in Portland, found the money trail that led from Whittenhall’s dirty pockets to an offshore account in Darrin’s name. She dug deeper and found a dozen prisoners who’d been moved to cushier prisons or released abnormally early. She’s got families willing to testify they paid Whittenhall to give their imprisoned relative all sorts of illegal breaks.