Stone Cold Heart (Tracers #13)(90)

“Sara!” His voice was hoarse from shouting her name.

Sweat streamed down his back, soaking through his shirt. He kept a steady pace along the road, searching the trees.

A flash of movement. Nolan’s heart missed a beat as Sara emerged from the bushes.

He broke into a run. She staggered toward him. Her shoulders were cut and bleeding, her eyes wide with shock. Nolan caught her around the waist.

“Are you okay? Christ, you’re bleeding.”

She slumped against him. Scratches covered her arms, and he realized she wasn’t wearing anything but a black sports bra and torn yoga pants.

“Sit down. I got you.” He tried to lower her, but she pulled away.

“We have to go. She’s here.”

“What?”

“She’s here. She has a twisted ankle, but she untied my hands, and I gave her my shirt and—”

“Who’s here?”

“Grace. Nolan, she’s alive.”





CHAPTER 28


Dust swirled like a tornado as Sara watched the helicopter from the back of the police car. She had the door open, her feet out, and she shielded her eyes from the grit as a pair of paramedics loaded Grace’s stretcher into the chopper. After Grace came a second stretcher with Elaine Hansen strapped to it. The woman had suffered a serious head injury at the hands of her grandson.

Despite the powerful downdrafts, Sara couldn’t tear her eyes from the spectacle as the helicopter lifted into the air and then swooped east toward San Marcos.

A shadow fell over her. “Ten more minutes, I promise.”

She looked at Nolan. “There’s no rush.”

But she knew it was futile to protest. He’d been insisting for the past half hour that she needed medical attention. He’d wanted her to go in the chopper. But Sara had balked, and they’d ended up in an argument in front of half the Springville Police Department.

His phone buzzed, and he gave her a long look before stepping away to take the call.

The moment his back was turned, Sara slumped against the vinyl seat. She ached everywhere. Even her teeth ached. And for the past five minutes, she’d been battling the urge to puke.

“It sucks, I know,” Talia said, stepping over. “We went through it in training.” When Sara didn’t respond, she frowned. “He stun-gunned you, right? That’s what Nolan said.”

Sara nodded.

“Takes about a day to wear off.” Talia crouched beside her. “I haven’t had a chance to thank you.”

“Why?”

“We wouldn’t be here without your help.” She glanced up at the sky. “I doubt Grace would be alive.”

Sara’s chest tightened at the thought of her. She’d been in terrible shape. Sara’s cursory examination had revealed a fractured clavicle and a sprained ankle. She had contusions on her arms and legs, suggesting sexual assault, and she showed signs of severe dehydration. All that was in addition to her emotional wounds, which were unfathomable.

And yet she’d rescued Sara. She’d hobbled over to her and untied her bindings and helped her to her feet, before nearly collapsing herself from dehydration. Sara had thought she was dreaming when she saw Grace’s dirt-smudged face looming over her.

“You sure you’re okay?” Talia asked.

“I’m fine.”

Talia stood up. “No need to be a hero, you know, Sara. Every last one of us is ready to kiss your feet. Nolan included, even though he’s being an ass.”

Sara forced a smile. “Really, I’m okay.”

“Hey!”

Talia turned to look at Bryce Gaines, still seated cross-legged on the side of the road near Sara’s wrecked Explorer. His arms were cuffed awkwardly behind him, and he had to crane his neck to look at them.

Talia glanced at Sara. “Excuse me.” She walked over and glared down at the captive.

“You guys sat me in a fucking ant bed.”

Talia put a sympathetic look on her face. She knelt down and said something, and Sara wished she could have heard it, because his face went slack. Talia stood up and sauntered off, leaving him sweltering in the dirt.

An unmarked police car pulled up to the scene, and a man the size of a refrigerator got out. This would have to be Dax Harper from APD, the only task force member Sara hadn’t met yet. Talia strode over, and they were joined by Nolan. The three huddled together, and Sara leaned her head back against the seat as a new surge of nausea gripped her.

CSIs buzzed around the scene, collecting evidence. Besides the newly discovered cave complex, the sprawling crime scene included Sara’s SUV and Nolan’s truck. The front of the Explorer looked like an accordion, and Sara doubted she’d ever drive it again. Not that she wanted to. She watched with detachment as a photographer leaned into the cargo space and snapped a picture of the bloody carpet.

Suddenly, Sara’s stomach churned, and her mouth filled with saliva. She clutched her middle and tried to breathe through it.

Nolan glanced at her and did a double take. He walked over.

“We’re about to head in.” He leaned his hand on the top of the police car and bent down. “You okay?”

“Yes.”

“Let me get the prisoner loaded, then I’ll be right back.”

“Aren’t you taking him in?”