Liar.
“Dispatch, I need an ambulance,” Nhiari called into her radio.
He shifted so he could monitor his mother. “If she keeps pressure on the wound, she shouldn’t bleed to death.” He nodded to the guns on the ground. “One of those is hers. She was going to shoot you.”
“Youshot me,” Nhiari said, her voice dull.
“To get you out of the way and stop her from flying the plane.” From his position he could see out of the cockpit where Sherlock had taken position behind the car door, but with his gun pointing at them.
Where was Lucas? Had he run?
“Are you injured?” Sam asked, nodding towards his shoulder.
“Caught a bullet Lucas sent my way.”
Nhiari’s eyes widened. “We need to get them both medical help.” She shoved her gun into her holster and pulled out her handcuffs. “Both of you come out of the cockpit. You first, Lee.”
He kicked the guns away from his mother and slowly moved into the cabin. Both Sam and Nhiari moved back to give him space, but not much. He glanced out of the door and saw Lucas lying face down in the dirt.
Dead.
He couldn’t bring himself to be sad about it.
“You shot a cop,” Sam said, but moved towards the cockpit to cover Lee’s mother.
“To save her,” Lee reiterated.
“I’m innocent,” his mother said, holding one hand up while the other pressed against the wound. She leaned forward as if in pain, but the hand from her wound slid down underneath her seat. The knife blade glinted in the cockpit lights as his mother flung the knife directly at Nhiari.
“Look out!” Lee lunged in front of Nhiari as the blade flew through the air. Shots rang out and his mother jerked as twin bullets hit her body.
Then the knife sank deep into the middle of his chest and pain exploded through him. He hit the ground, his head banging against a chair, bringing with it a wave of nausea. Pain spread throughout his entire chest and he clutched at the knife, fighting to stop the pain from knocking him out.
Where was Nhiari?
She stood above him, horror on her face, but in one piece. Safe. He smiled. “You’re OK.”
Then he let the pain take over.
Everything happened too fast for Nhiari to process. Lee’s mother slid off her chair onto the floor as Lee landed with a thud by Nhiari’s feet. Sam strode forward to check the woman. “Dead.” He gestured for Sherlock to come around.
Nhiari dropped to her knees next to Lee, who had a knife protruding from his chest. Her heart pounded as she pressed her hands against the blade, feeling his warm blood coating her hands. His breathing was shallow.
“What did you do that for?” she demanded. “I’m wearing Kevlar.”
His smile became a wince. “Instinct. I couldn’t let her hurt you.”
Idiot. She didn’t know what to think or to say. She pressed her radio. “Stab wound victim. What’s the ambulance ETA?”
“Sixty minutes.”
Shit. That was far too long.
Sherlock came up the stairs carrying a first aid kit.
“Can either of you fly this thing?” she asked as she moved aside.
“No.” Sherlock applied a bandage to the wound, keeping the knife in place.
