“Yes. Everything he’s telling you is true, even if it does sound totally bizarre.”
The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, grime caking the wrinkles around his mouth.
“We’re trying to get to the evac zone via Silver Canyon trail,” Cullen said, “but we didn’t figure on running into any personnel so soon.”
“Shouldn’t be any here to run into. I got an alert there was a woman spotted a couple hours from here, so I checked it out. Then I helped a guy with a broken-down truck full of goats. He’s back in action, and now I’m headed out of here.”
Kit froze. “Where was the woman seen?”
“Juncture of Pine Hollow and Mountain Valley Roads. I didn’t find her. Only a wrecked rig.”
“That’s mine.” Her voice wobbled for a moment. “Did you have a description of the woman?”
“Small, young, wearing a pink coat.”
The memory sizzled through her, a woman in pink fleece that dripped with moisture, waving desperately for her to stop. She’d geared down her engine, halting right there in the middle of the road. “I remember.”
Cullen bent toward her. “You remember meeting Annette?”
She nodded. “She startled me, stepped out into the road wearing a pink coat and ratty sneakers. She was shivering, holding a bundle, but I didn’t realize at first it was a baby.” She rubbed her forehead. “I can’t remember anything else right now.”
Cullen nodded. “Kit gave Annette and her baby a ride. Annette was running from that guy.” He gestured to the ATV. “His name’s Nico Phillips. He showed up to retrieve his ‘property’ while we were sheltering in Grandlake, and we got the upper hand.”
Tot’s cries grew louder. “Are they still looking for Annette, sir?” Kit pressed.
“John. Call me John.” He slid his weapon into the holster.
Kit and Cullen let down their hands.
“Search has been suspended.”
“No,” Kit said. “You can’t stop looking. She could still be alive.”
“The report ... Did it say she was injured?” Cullen asked.
“Possibly. She was spotted waving at a helicopter. Pilot said she was crouched over, holding her side.”
Kit’s gut clenched. But injured definitely trumped dead.
“A vent erupted and the helicopter lost visual. When they circled back, they found no sign of her.” John unclipped a radio from his pocket. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t find any clue to her whereabouts either.”
Kit’s heart squeezed. “She’s got to be there somewhere. You have to call the helicopter back or bring search dogs.”
John shook his head, frowning. “We can’t risk any more people. I volunteered to stay for one more shift, but the agreement was I’d pull out by 8:00 a.m. No one should be anywhere on this mountain. It’s going to blow. Soon.”
His face was lined with fatigue. Probably the guy had been pulling double shifts. He’d volunteered, chosen to risk his own safety to return to a volatile zone to locate Annette, and it was likely not the first time since the volcano had rumbled to life. He was one of the good guys, one of the people who ran in when everyone else ran out. Like Cullen had done in his career.And still does.Folks who put their lives at risk to save others.
Annette had to be terrified, hunted, and now left to die? That fuzzy pink jacket ... those frightened blue eyes. She fought a swirl of dizziness.
“John,” she said. “Please. Take the men and the baby to the evac zone, and I’ll go.”
Cullen swung a look at her, mouth open. “Go where?”
“I’ll take the ATV and look for Annette.”
Cullen glowered. “That cannot happen, Kit. There’s no way.”
“She’ll die if we don’t get to her before the mountain or Simon does.” Kit glared at him.
