Fear froze her to the spot, making her limbs so heavy she couldn’t move.
A man carried a woman over his shoulders. Not just any man…a deputy.
What the hell?
Her fingers tightened around the pistol. Every part of her wanted to run out there and train her weapon on the guy, demand he let the woman go. But he had a weapon too. And she hadn’t been shooting for long. If she shot from a distance, she could hit the woman. In a close-range shootout, he’d win.
Dammit.
As they grew closer, she crept farther behind the tree. She waited until their footsteps passed before leaning her head out again. That’s when the woman liftedherhead.
Raven’s stomach dropped.
Polly.
Shit. She needed to call for help. But who? She couldn’t call the station; this guy was wearing a uniform. All his friends worked there. Heck, more people from the station could be in on it.
Her mind moved at a million miles an hour. Then it hit her…
Quickly, she pulled out her cell and searched for the number.
Deep River Search and Rescue.
It was the after-hours number. She hit call.
Come on. Come on. Pick up. You need to pick up.
“Connor Blackwood speaking, Deep River Search and Rescue.”
Air whooshed from her lungs. “Thank God,” she whispered. “I need help.”
“Can you tell me your name?”
“Raven Price.”
There was a small pause. “Raven? Where are you? Are you in trouble?”
“Not me.” She inched forward, trying to be silent while also needing to keep Polly and the deputy in her sights. “I’m in the forest near the interstate. I don’t know my exact location, but I just saw a man in a deputy uniform carrying Polly Mack over his shoulder.”
“You saw Polly?”
“Yes. Her head was bleeding. He’s carrying a gun.” She took three small steps forward.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes. But I’m following them. I don’t want to lose them.”
“I need you to send me a pin of your location, then leave and get to safety.”
She shook her head, even though Connor couldn’t see her. “No. I’m armed. I’m not going to lose her.”
“Raven—”
“I’ll send you my location now and keep updating you until you get here. I’ll only act if I need to.”
“No, wait?—”
She hung up and sent her location. Every second counted, and shecould notlet Polly die.
