“Yeah.”
This was the place. Ithadto be. Eric knew it as surely as he knew he loved the woman walking behind him.
What he didn’t know...what he was afraid to find out...was what they’d see when they opened the newer, nicer door.
Eric raised his fist as a signal for Riley to stop. He tilted his head toward the door, almost certain he’d heard something coming from the other side. It was almost like a scratching noise, and—
There it was again!
Swinging his gaze over his shoulder, he knew Riley had heard it, too.
With their training on their side, they got into position and prepared to enter the dreaded basement. Ignoring the musty, rotted wood stench, he drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly in an attempt to calm his thrumming heart.
Giving his partner one final glance, Eric reached for the door and shoved it wide open. The basement immediately became illuminated by some sort of automatic lighting system, and he and Riley had to squint their eyes at the unexpected visual intrusion.
Still on alert, the pair cleared every corner for any unforeseen threat. Once they confirmed there was none, Riley ran to the woman lying on the metal gurney positioned in the center of the room.
“Maggie!” She went to their friend.
Maggie’s wrists and ankles were cuffed to the table. Just like each of his other victims. She was fully dressed, which was a positive sign, but she was hooked up to an IV and her eyes were closed.
She wasn’t moving.
With a fearful look, Riley pressed her fingers to the woman’s neck and waited. Eric held his breath, praying they weren’t too late.
“I found a pulse!” Riley announced excitedly.
Thank you, God.
“We found Dr. Cartwright,” Eric relayed the good news through the coms attached to his vest. “She’s alive. We’re in the basement. No sign of the target.”
Luke responded first. “Perimeter’s clear, too.”
“So is the rest of the house,” Derek hollered as he and Noah joined them in the basement.
“Help me get her loose!” Riley yelled to no one in particular right before she yanked the IV catheter out of Maggi’s left arm.
Eric and the others went to work on the remaining three cuffs holding Maggie to the gurney. The damn thing looked like the ones he’d seen in the ME’s office, and Eric couldn’t help but wonder if that had been a purposeful move, or eerie coincidence.
“I don’t see any injuries.” Riley checked her over as best she could. “Wait. She’s got a knot on the back of her head.”
Eric’s jaw clenched. “That’s how he got to her. Bastard knocked her out, and then brought her here.”
Riley made a move like she was going to pick their friend up. “Help me lift her off the—”
Before anyone could argue, Noah was there. Sliding his solid arms beneath Maggie’s still form and lifting her off the table with ease.
“She needs an ambulance,” Riley spoke almost frantically.
Eric shook his head. “It’ll be faster if we just take her ourselves.”
“I’ll take her,” Noah started for the stairs.
“You sure?”
The big man stopped long enough to look at the woman in his arms and back to him. “Do what you need to do.” His expression was fierce. “I’ve got her.”
“Thanks.” Eric gave the other man a tip of his head. “Tell Luke to call it in. We’ll meet you at the hospital when we’re done here.”
