Harper looked at Julian. “I will not let go of hope. And neither should you.”
“I’ll check in with you soon.” Julian leaned down and kissed her head. “You need anything, just ask.”
As soon as he left, Harper wrapped her arms around herself and cried silent tears. “My Big Security Guy, stay strong. I need to tell you how I feel,” she mumbled under her breath.
Tuck walked into the nursery area. “Chantal’s doing well. We stopped the bleeding, and Hunt managed to save her uterus. We’re going to keep her on the vent and heavily sedated. The CT scan shows diffuse brain inflammation, but her blood pressure is down. With the rest, we’re optimistic she’ll make a complete recovery. How’s Baby Girl Rousselle?” He smiled.
“She’s breathing on her own and keeping up her oxygen levels, but she’s having an issue maintaining her temp. Seth said age will help,” Harper said.
“And who are these three?” Tuck asked.
“You didn’t hear?” Harper’s tears started again. Through shaking sobs, she explained what happened.
Tuck pulled her against him and held her. “Darlin’, come with me. You need to get some rest. I’ll let you stay near Chantal.”
* * *
Thursday,August 30th
Hurricane Greta T+1 days
Julian staredout into the darkness. The wind rattled against the penthouse windows. Wes, Kyle, Bruce, and Rich sat watching the reports on the TV. The only views they had were from their own cameras.
“The windspeeds are dropping down to a Cat 3, but Greta’s not moving,” Rich said. “We’re almost to daybreak.”
Julian’s phone rang. “Boss? I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Wingnuts. A crew of a MH–60T Jayhawk helicopter is going to do a damage flyover. They will keep an eye out for his beacon and see if they can pick up his transponder. There’s a pilot, co-pilot, an avionics technician, and a rescue swimmer on board. They’re taking off any minute.
“Dupart, under no circumstances are you to begin your own search and rescue operation until you check on all the assets we have in New Orleans,” Kieran said.
“Boss, his transponder is down,” Rich reported.
“The one we gave him is down. Is he wearing his watch? The Breitling has a transponder in it,” Kieran advised them.
“Merde. We will check all assets. Dupart out.” Hearing the Coast Guard was looking and learning his watch had a transponder gave the group a fresh burst of energy.
“I’ll put out the orders,” Kyle said.
“I’ll double-check the equipment,” Bruce said.
“I want Holland to go,” Rich added. Tim Holland was a former Air Force parajumper.
Thirty minutes later, two boats took off from the building searching for Kip.
Chapter 36
Devastation took over the city. Flooding reached twenty feet deep in spots. No part of the city was left unscathed. The cries for help filled the radio waves. It was demoralizing to hear the dispatchers telling people no help could get to them. A woman saying her husband was stuck in the attic, and the water was rising. Another saying they couldn’t swim. More saying their family member was gone.
Julian and Kyle worked the command center. “Rich checked out the team’s transponders. All failed to send a signal after three minutes, not only Kip’s,” Kyle said.
“Sabotage or bad circuitry?” Julian wondered. “Merde, I’ve got pictures coming in from the first warehouse. The water is up to the rafters. Can we confirm a levee break? This looks like more than an overtopping.”
Their technical analysis operator pulled up a grainy image. “Looks like a break to me, sir. Do you want me to notify the emergency management people?”
“Please,” Julian said. “How’s Chantal?”
“Her pressure is higher than they’d like. They’re watching her. It’s Harper I’m worried about. She’s putting on this brave face. I think she’s holding on by a thread, but the babies are keeping her going. She’s given nicknames to all of them,” Kyle worried.
