“We’re going to get you out of there, I promise,” he said.
“The other cars. They must move the other cars. And it won’t stop raining.” Her voice wobbled.
Kyle frowned and stepped out of Kip’s office.
“Sweetheart, I’m going to stay on the phone with you.” Kip changed into a tactical uniform for the second time that day. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t know. I’m scared.” Her pitch rose.
“I know. It’s going to be okay.” Kip hoped it would.
“I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up when you get here,” she yawned.
“Harper, listen to me, I need you to stay awake, okay? Talk to me. I’m going to come to you. If we lose the connection, remember I’m coming,” Kip said.
When Kyle returned to him, Kip covered the receiver so Harper couldn’t hear him. “She’s halfway down the span, eastbound about eight feet high between the girders. The fire department is trying to stabilize the car and clear the span. They need to back up half the cars. Anytime anything rolls past her, the car shakes. The first call came in four hours ago.”
“Get me a full extrication setup. Cribbing, a strut system with lift capability. A crash kit and a hydraulic set. Also a rapid transport vehicle.” Kip directed Kyle before returning to Harper, “How you doing, sweetheart?
“I want to go home,” she cried.
Chapter 17
The rain blew in from the destroyed windows, and the cracked windshield soaked her to the core. Now puddles were forming at her feet.
“Hello, can you hear me?” a voice called from below.
“Yes. I’m stuck,” she called and again tried to shift her weight.
“I’m from the fire department. Miss, don’t move,” the firefighter called.
“Can you get me out?” she asked.
“We are working on it. What’s your name?”
“Harper.” She was shivering from the cold.
“Kip, the fire department is trying to get me out,” she said between gasps.
“While they are working, talk to me,” Kip said.
“You’re the big hospital guy. Does that mean you’re my boss?” Harper wondered.
“Hunt Montgomery is your boss. I’m the money guy.” He looked at the equipment being loaded into a Suburban.
“Opal says you are the real deal,” she giggled.
“Who’s Opal?” Kip watched Zayne and his squad, as well as Noah Paulsen and his squad, load up. He climbed into the passenger seat as Josh drove. Kyle rode in the vehicle behind his.
“Opal and I went to nursing school together. She helped convince me to stay every time my mother tried to make me quit. When I got past that, she decided I should marry a doctor. My mother, not Opal. The Sommerstones live three houses away. He’s Channy’s age. Oh, God, don’t tell Channy.”
“You can tell her when you’re safe and warm.” Kip watched out his window.
“Okay. Kip?” she called.
“I’m here. What, sweetheart?”
“Um, I’m sorry to be a pest. I guess I should leave you alone after this,” she worried.He’s never going to want me.
