He caught the trepidation in Ranger Simpson’s expression. Right before the ranger motioned for his companion to give them some space. “As the head of the law enforcement division, I’m supposed to say it would be better if you waited for the search team.”
“I’m not waiting.” He didn’t give a damn about rank or orders or anything else that might keep him from bringing Drennan and the baby back safely.
“You didn’t let me finish.” Simpson stepped in close, lowering his voice. “I said I’msupposedto say it would be better for you to wait for Search and Rescue and follow protocol. Except I know that look and the thoughts racing through your head. Knowing she’s out there, that she needs you, is going to drive you into near madness. Use it. You’re the best chance she has of surviving whatever that bastard has planned for her.”
Harvey didn’t know what to say to that. What to think. The division head of the law enforcement rangers was voluntarily overriding protocols put into place to keep rangers and hikers alike alive. Why? “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
Ranger Simpson glanced over Harvey’s head, as though expecting a whole new threat to come crashing through the trees on the other side of the trail. The unfocused blur in his gaze disappeared so fast Harvey wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it. “I am.”
Ranger Jordan returned, two black backpacks in hand. She tossed one to him, which he caught against his chest, keeping the second pack for herself. “Try to keep up. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time to do it in.” She cut herattention to her supervisor. “You ready for the hell that’s coming your way?”
“I’ll cover for you.” Simpson uncrossed his arms, facing off with Ranger Jordan, not in the least bit intimidating despite his size. Well, at least not toward the woman less than half his size. “Branch won’t know you’re going off the reservation, but don’t make me explain how you ended up dead. None of us will survive that. Check in every hour with your location. I’ll hold him off as long as possible. Channel four.”
She gave an exaggerated salute and headed for the trees. “Good luck.”
Harvey extended one hand in a peace offering meant to make up for the aggression still rolling through him. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.” Simpson took his hand. “I wouldn’t wish that madness on my worst enemy, but I wasn’t lying when I said it will give you the best chance of recovering Dr. Hawes. She’s obviously important to you. Use it.”
Harvey didn’t feel like explaining to the law enforcement ranger he’d spent the better part of his life doing just that. Using the poison in his blood to survive, to fight back and to carry out his orders had made it easier to call on it each time. Until he wasn’t sure he’d ever be rid of that demon he hated so much. And with Drennan… Damn it, Simpson was right. She’d become important, but Harvey never wanted her or the baby to see that part of him. Ever.
He followed in Ranger Jordan’s footsteps, nearly in a jog as they met up with the treads she’d identified earlier. Tree branches scratched at his face, neck and forearms as they ran deeper into the backcountry. No landscaped trails. No packed dirt to make the hike easier. Out here, every tree, rock and stream could kill them without warning. The sky remained a crystal clear blue and didn’t promise heavy rains that would wash the evidence of Drennan’s abduction out. They’d be able touse the tracks to hunt down the man who’d taken Drennan as far as they could. Maybe straight to her.
His blood hummed as they picked up the trail. He clung to the pack’s straps to keep it from bouncing, increasing his speed despite nature’s determination to slow him down. Drennan had been taken, but he’d get her back. Her and the baby. There was no other option.
His father had taken away everything. Choice, freedom, his sense of worthiness, hope. But the son of a bitch couldn’t take the one bright light in his life or the memories that came with it. He couldn’t take Drennan.
All Harvey had to do—when, not if, they brought her back—was reach out and claim her for himself. Claim their future. If he was brave enough to take the risk.
Chapter Fifteen
Fatigue was a real bitch.
Every muscle she’d forgotten she owned—all of which she’d memorized during years of medical school—screamed in protest with each step forward. Drennan had lost sight of any hint of a trail an hour ago, heading through miles and miles of tall trees, jagged rocks and the biggest mountains she’d ever seen. More than an hour? Time had no meaning out here in the middle of nowhere. She wasn’t sure which direction she’d run, how far or how long. At the time, all she’d been thinking about was escape.
Well, she’d done a hell of a job at that.
She was so turned around, not even a killer could find her out here.
But she didn’t dare stop. No matter how hard her stomach twisted with hunger, how blistered her feet or burned her scalp and face. How could she have been so blind? She was lost. In the middle of a national park with no food, no water, no supplies of any kind. She’d never been allowed to join the Girl Scouts or go camping with the other girls in her local church. She didn’t know the first thing about wilderness survival, except apparently what not to do.
Sweat had stopped beading at her hairline and the back of her neck and had now gotten trapped in her clothing and gear. Fall brought lower temperatures in most areas of the country. In Ohio this time of year, it’d be on the low end of forties, but Zion itself was so far south, it felt like she’d descended straight into hell.
Tendrils of scrub brush scraped against her waterproof bodysuit, slowing her down. Her gear was weighing her down, draining her of the last remnants of energy. And, thanks to the baby, she didn’t have that much to begin with. Not like she’d had any real choice. Running had been the only option. Otherwise, her body might’ve been the next Harvey found on the trail.
Drennan forced herself to take the next step. And the one after that. But her shoe slipped off the smooth surface of the rock underfoot and jutted to one side. Her whole ankle angled outward, taking her body weight, and she went down. The ground rushed up to meet her, and she threw her bound hands out, doing what she could to avoid face-planting. The impact jarred through her right side. Gravel and dirt embedded in her palms, and pain lightninged into her right hip. She’d managed to absorb most of the fall onto one side instead of her middle, but the agony refused to relent. Insects quieted at the sound of her gasp, throwing her into bone-chilling silence.
If the killer had been following her, he’d most likely heard it.
Peeling herself from the ground, Drennan spit the dirt that’d forced its way into her mouth. Her weight shifted enough to reignite the pain in her side. One of the jagged rocks she’d been trying to avoid had cut through her waterproof suit. No signs of blood. That was good. The chances of infection out here—without a first aid kit—were higher than she wanted to think about, but the injury would slow her down nonetheless.
Hell. She didn’t even know where she was going. Which direction she’d started running. She remembered one of the psychologists back in Ohio checking a patient for cognitive issues who’d taken a tumble down Mount Airy—the only real mountain hiking around Cincinnati—telling nurses about the brain’s tendency to walk in circles in open spaces. Even with use of all five senses and determination to walk a straight line, humans had a tendency to veer right or left, bringing themin circles. Was that what was happening now? Drennan didn’t think so, but it was impossible to tell which rocks she’d already passed, if that was the same tree she’d passed before or if she was putting herself back in range of a man determined to use her to get to his first victim.
She wished Harvey was here.
Dryness coated the back of her throat. The sinking sensation that came with that thought pulsed in time with the beat in her right hip. He’d know what to do. He’d have supplies to help. Because it was literally his job. He’d keep her focused, help her get back to civilization. He’d make her feel safe, as he had that night in the bar. She hadn’t told him, but she’d known he would’ve stepped in if she’d needed help warning off the guy who’d approached her. That was just the kind of man he was. Aware of others. Ready to take action if needed. He was a good man, even if he didn’t believe it himself. She didn’t know any abusers who would’ve taken her home to give her time to recover from passing out, and the ones she did would’ve ensured that a small price was paid later down the line, hanging that favor over her head for eternity. But that wasn’t Harvey. He hadn’t asked for anything from her in return or gone out of his way to remind her of what he’d done for her benefit, and she…wasn’t used to that. Being taken care of by someone else was new, but she liked it. She liked him.
Testing her weight on her ankle, Drennan nearly buckled a second time, catching herself against a tree. Rough bark cut into her palms along with the gravel and dirt already doing their job.
