Cody wanted another look inside, but Gretchen gestured for Arthur to take Jordan to the car. Together they placed him onto the backseat and he barely stirred.
Gretchen’s eyes welled with tears, and he hugged her. “It’s all right. He’s safe now.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for.”
“Yes, there is.” She pulled away. “You taught my son how to protect himself. He freed himself because of you. He wasn’t in danger for long.”
Arthur smiled. “He wanted to learn.” He shifted back and winced as his prosthesis rubbed.
“Your leg. Does it hurt?”
He hesitated and then nodded. “It’s a bit raw.”
She opened the front door and pressed him to sit. “Let me have a look.”
She took off his prosthesis, her hands gentle, but firm. She hissed when she saw the red, inflamed rash. “You should have said something.”
“There was nothing you could do. I had to walk back, and I wasn’t stopping until I found Jordan.”
She cupped his cheek. “I love you.”
He smiled. “And I love you.”
Sam strode over, still carrying Cody, but his expression was dark. “We’ve got a problem.”
Arthur reached for his leg. “What is it?”
“Lee’s taken Nhiari.” He placed Cody on the ground and opened the passenger side door so he could get into the car.
Arthur frowned. “Nhiari had him handcuffed.” He’d recognised a trained operative in Lee, but hadn’t thought him a threat.
Sam nodded. “He left a note in the cave.”
Georgie and Matt joined them, Matt’s face a thundercloud. “He’s taken my sister,” Matt growled. “I’m going in after her.”
“You can’t,” Georgie said. “Lee’s had months living in those caves. He knows how to avoid you. He says he just needs a little more time.”
“This is bullshit,” Matt said. “I’m not leaving her behind.”
“He saved our lives, Matt,” Georgie said. “He says she’ll be safe.”
“Why take her then?”
“Because she’d go after him,” Georgie replied. “She’s been trying to find him for months. Now that she knows where he is, she’d keep at him.”
Arthur glanced at Sam. “Thoughts?”
“I don’t like it, but if he’s trying to stop Stonefish, we need him to do what he needs to do.”
Matt swore. “She’s my sister. I’m not abandoning her.”
“She’s extremely competent,” Sam countered. “She’s likely to free herself and arrest Lee before we get back to town.”
“Those tunnels are a maze,” Georgie added. “No one’s mapped them completely. Without the right gear, we’d get lost.”
“You’re not coming with me.”
