“Where is Lani?”
“Wh-who?”
“Elaine. What the hell have you done with her?”
“I-I d-don’t know who you’re t-talking about.”
“Shoot him in the leg, Cubby,” Noah said. “Now!”
“Seems wrong though, seeing as I’m an officer of the law, but if you insist.”
“What! No, wait!” Barnaby said as Cubby pressed his revolver into the man’s thigh.
“Where is she?” Noah roared again.
“Don’t know! She ran, I lost her!”
Noah released him and stood. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted her name, but she didn’t reply.
“Find her, Buddy. Find Lani.” The dog ran a few feet then stopped. He then looked down the bank.
“Lani, it’s Noah!” She didn’t answer.
He went down the bank on his butt, hitting the water at the bottom. Tex dropped down more and lit the area
“Lani!”
He heard a splash from his right. Kicking off his shoes, he removed his suit pants and got into the water.
“Stay, Buddy.”The dog whined but did as he was told.
He kept his eyes on the water as he swam.
“Lani!”
“Noah!”
He swam faster, and then there she was. His girl, huddled against a branch.
“I got you now.” He moved in beside her and pulled her into his arms. “Safe now, baby. I have you.” She clung to him like a limpet.
“He’s here, Noah. B-Barnaby.”
“We have him, Lani, it’s okay.”
She was shivering hard, her body shaking. “I-I hate him.”
“Me too. We need to get you warm now, Lani. So I’m taking you back.”
“’K-kay.”
Noah swam with one arm around her, and they made it slowly back. Buddy was ecstatic and pressed his wiggling body into Lani’s after he’d lifted her onto the bank.
“H-hey, b-boy.”
“He found you. God, Lani, I was so scared when I heard that shot.”
“M-me too.” She burrowed into him, holding him tight. Noah didn’t think he’d ever let her go.
