Gabe leaned down to his brother. “Do you hear those sirens, bro? The ambulance is almost here, so hang in there, okay?”
Brad suddenly opened his eyes. “Lucy,” he said and tried to rise up but fell back. “Safe place by the water.”
“What? What are you saying?” Gabe blinked at his brother and looked like he wanted to shake him, but Brad drifted off.
“Safe place by the water,” Gabe repeated as he locked gazes with El. “This must be what he was trying to tell us when the shooting started. We need to get Hayden looking into any properties owned by New Tide, Safe Harbor, or Jonas Trent and near water.”
“I’ll go call him while you let a medic properly bandage your arm and clear you.”
“I’ll get a bandage, but if Hayden finds the location, I don’t care if I’m cleared. I’m going in and no one is going to stop me.”
She had no doubt Gabe meant it. He wouldn’t be stopped by anyone. Maybe only by a bullet.
26
Backed up by the Mina-led SWAT team, and with Gabe at her side, El focused her binoculars on the decommissioned boathouse on the far side of Lost Lake. Hayden had easily located the dilapidated structure owned by Trent. The building looked like it might fall down at any time. El imagined Lucy being held captive inside, and her stomach clenched.
“I thought housing her in that cabin was bad, but this…” El lowered her binoculars and shook her head. “Can’t see anything inside. I need to get closer.”
“You mean we,” Gabe said, his tone insistent.
“Only one person should approach the building for recon. Lessens the chance of being seen.” She met his gaze. “We’re lucky Mina didn’t have SWAT take over and you and I are still taking lead. Let’s not give her a reason to force us out.”
“That makes sense, but if Lucy’s in there, I’m going in. SWAT or no SWAT. Mina’s approval or not. I won’t do anything to jeopardize the potential prosecution of this creep, but I won’t hang back either.”
“Understood,” she said as she knew this was the best she could hope for with Gabe’s surging adrenaline and desire to findLucy. “As long as it’s something we can successfully carry out ourselves. If I think SWAT needs to handle it, then we both stay back.”
He opened his mouth to argue.
She lifted a hand. “I need you to respect my decisions, Gabe. No matter how much you want to be the one to rescue her, we have to do what’s right to ensure nothing bad happens to her.”
He released a long breath. “I can’t argue with that. Make sure you stay in our line of sight at all times. Remember, we have a future planned together, and I don’t want you risking your life.”
“And here I thought I was the one who would have to tell you that.” She squeezed his arm then scooted to Mina to share her plan, which she quickly approved.
“It’s go-time,” El whispered as she slipped past Gabe.
She drew her weapon and crept forward, staying low behind tall grasses swaying in the stiff breeze. This property was so different from the hilly forest where they’d just been. Flat land. A sharp April breeze blowing off the water. The smell devoid of pine but saturated by a strong fishy odor.
She slipped behind a nearby tree, the thick trunk giving her cover as she lifted her binoculars to scan the area. She’d already spotted the boat at the end of a crumbling dock. No one in it. Likely the boat Lucy’s captor had brought her in, but El had to remain aware of it in case she was wrong.
She scanned one more time. No movement. No sound. No light. The way was clear.
The last ten feet were paved with an old crumbling brick patio. She wanted to rush over it, but couldn’t risk losing her footing, so she inched up to the building. A small cracked window could give her the insight they needed.
She took a moment to catch her breath from the adrenaline rush, then raised up. Took a quick glance. Darkness, illuminatedonly by a shadowy light in the corner of the dry end. The only sound was water lapping against the building.
She dropped back down. Gulped in air. Rose up for a longer look. There, near the light. A shape. She squinted to make it out. A child. Red hair.
Lucy. Curled up on a small cot.
El’s heart soared. She wanted to revel in it. Revel in how happy Gabe would be. But she was on a mission and had to focus. She continued scanning the space. Found a gruff-looking man but one who didn’t fit Nurse Armstrong’s description, lying on top of a sleeping bag on the floor. They must’ve changed her guard after the cabin.
He was staring at the ceiling, and Lucy was sound asleep. He’d placed his rifle under Lucy’s cot. It would take a moment for him to reach the weapon. Enough time for them to gain control of him without a shootout? Maybe.
She had a decision to make. A big one. Did they go forward to free Lucy, potentially risking her life? To send in SWAT, who in their tactical gear could scare her even more than the terrible trial she’d already endured, and still risk her life?
El searched the rest of the shadowy room, looking for other people and a less dangerous option to rescue Lucy. The boathouse was empty, and the nearby door was the best entrance, but she didn’t have to send in the SWAT team to scare Lucy.
