The pain was so intense Denver nearly blacked out. He squeezed harder, fighting Cobb, until finally the sheriff went limp.
“One more time. Where is Noni?” Denver ground out.
Cobb shuddered. “Long gone—already in Coeur d’Alene. The soldiers took them to meet Isobel, and I was supposed to be there, but I came here.” He snorted, the sound slurred. “She wouldn’t have waited for me and is now long gone. You’re too late.”
“That’s okay with you?”
Cobb coughed. “It’s what we have. A constant battle, and when I win, it’s really good.”
What a nutjob. Denver choked him again until Cobb fell into unconsciousness. Blood—Denver’s blood—covered them both.
God. Denver shoved him to the side and searched his pockets. No key. Figured the asshole wouldn’t have a key.
Denver grabbed the bar and swung his other arm to the floor, patting for the knife. There it was. He lifted it and made quick work of the handcuff lock. It sprang free, and he shoved from the bed. His knees wobbled, but he managed to hold himself upright.
He turned, flipped Cobb around, and used the handcuff on him. “Wake up.” He slapped the cop hard.
Cobb didn’t wake up. His chest moved, so he was still breathing, but the psychopath was out cold.
Denver yanked off his hospital gown and pressed it to the gash along his side. Then he searched Cobb, finding a phone.
The door opened, and Denver pivoted to see the deputy walk in. The guy’s eyes widened.
Denver leaped for him, taking him down in a surprise move. He grabbed the cop’s big ears and smashed his head into the tile floor. Those blue eyes hazed and then his eyelids fluttered shut. “Sorry,” Denver muttered, his body heaving. He dragged the cop over to the bed and used his handcuffs to secure him as well.
Time was way too short. Everything in him—everything—wanted to kill Cobb right then and there. He punched the wall, and plaster flew. Pain detonated in his hand.
Kill. He had to end the fucking monster.
But he might not be able to find Noni. And if he killed Cobb, he’d either have to kill the seemingly innocent deputy or have a cop know he’d committed cold-blooded murder. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t run forever.
He quickly divested the deputy of his uniform. “Sorry about this too.” It hurt like hell, but he forced himself into it. The boots were a perfect fit.
Then he lurched toward the door and took one last look at the former cop on the bed. “We’re not done,” Denver ground out. He’d deal with Cobb later and under the radar. “I promise.”
CHAPTER
28
Noni tried to keep calm as she faced the crazy doctor. “No way will Denver go down easy. In fact, if I had to bet, I’d say your man is the one bleeding out right now.”
“They’re both my men,” Madison said, her voice cultured and smooth.
Bile rose in Noni’s throat, and she swallowed it down, the burn sharpening her focus.
The soldier returned and moved into the room to place what looked like a doctor’s bag in front of Madison. “I want to recheck the perimeter,” he said, quickly exiting.
“Where are we?” Noni whispered.
Madison looked around the small office. “Because of the snowstorm, we had to drive to the Coeur d’Alene Airport. You were out for the entire drive through the pass.”
Noni opened her mouth to scream for help.
“It’s a small county airport,” Madison said, forestalling her. “There’s nobody else around for miles. In fact, I’m having a crew plow the runway before we can even take off, and none will be the wiser.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Get my daughter. Now.” Noni tried to listen for anybody out there. The world was silent.
Madison opened her bag. “You know, unlike Elton, I’m not one for torture.”
