"Just keep pulling!"Lawson's voice was strained with effort.His arms shook from holding Bennett's weight against the constant upward pull."She's still drugged, and I can't get her out of the harness by myself."
Miles reached them and grabbed onto Bennett's legs, adding his weight to Lawson's.The balloons sagged slightly as the additional mass overcame their lift capacity.Miles could feel the harness straps cutting into Bennett's body as they pulled her toward the ground.
"The clips are on her shoulders and waist," Lawson gasped."We need to release them or she'll just float away again when we let go."
Miles worked his way up Bennett's body until he could reach the first clip on her left shoulder.The mechanism was designed to be difficult to release accidentally, which meant it required deliberate pressure in exactly the right spot.His fingers found the release tab and squeezed.The clip popped open and one of the balloon clusters separated from the harness.
The remaining balloons pulled harder, trying to compensate for the lost lift.Keeping them down, even with the anchor of Bennett, was much harder than he'd assumed it would be.Lawson adjusted his grip as Bennett's body shifted in his arms.
Over by the black van, Vic had reached the killer.She grabbed his wrist as he tried to press the button on the remote, forcing his arm away from his body."Drop it!"
The killer twisted in her grip with surprising strength.His free hand came up and caught Vic in the shoulder, not hard enough to seriously hurt her but enough to throw off her balance.They struggled for control of the remote, both of them fighting for leverage.Watching it, it took everything within Miles not to rush over and assist.
Instead, he released the second clip on Bennett's shoulder.More balloons separated from the harness and floated away.The remaining lift decreased significantly and Lawson was able to lower Bennett closer to the ground.
"One more," Miles said, reaching for the clip at her waist.This one was harder to access with Lawson's arms wrapped around that exact spot."You need to adjust your grip."
Lawson shifted his hold slightly, giving Miles just enough room to work.Miles found the final clip and pressed the release tab.The mechanism resisted for a second, then popped open with a satisfying click.The remaining balloons separated from the harness and immediately shot upward, freed from the weight that had been holding them down.They rose into the clear desert sky and drifted east on the morning breeze.
Over by the van, the man Miles was assuming was their killer let out a howl of anger.
Bennett collapsed completely as soon as the lift was gone.Lawson caught her and lowered her carefully to the ground."Vivian?Can you hear me?You're safe now.Please…"
Bennett's eyes focused on Lawson's face.Her mouth moved but no sound came out at first.Then, weakly, "Don?"
Miles stood up and, satisfied that Bennett was safe and well attended to, turned toward where Vic was still struggling with the killer.The man had broken free from her grip and was running toward the black van.Vic chased after him, closing the distance fast.Her gun was still drawn but Miles knew she was well-trained and would only fire if she had no other choice.
The killer reached the van and yanked open the back doors.Miles could see that the interior was packed with equipment—more weather balloons, coils of rope, empty helium tanks.Everything needed for his horrific launch system.When he reached inside for something, Miles drew his gun, ready to fire if Vic hesitated to do so.
Vic was almost on him when the killer grabbed a helium tank.In one maniacal motion, he wheeled around as if he were doing a strange exercise, the tank in both hands, held up at chest height.And then he swung it at her.The metal cylinder connected with the side of Vic's head with a sickening thud.She went down hard, hitting the ground and not moving.
"Vic!"Miles ran faster toward the van, his finger on the trigger."Stop!FBI!"
The killer turned to face him, and Miles saw that he was holding something in his other hand.A small pistol, probably a .22 or .25 caliber from the size.It was the kind of gun that was easy to conceal but still deadly at close range.
Miles stopped running and aimed his weapon at the killer's center mass."Drop the gun!Drop it now!"
But the killer did not drop the gun.Instead, he turned slightly and aimed at the helium tank he had just thrown at Vic.The tank was lying on the ground about ten feet from where Vic had fallen, its valve and gauge still visible.
Miles realized what was about to happen a split second before it happened.He reacted the only way he knew how; he pulled the trigger at the same time the killer did.
Miles knew his bullet went wide; he’d only intended to get the bastard to freeze.But the killer’s aim was true.The bullet hit the tank's valve assembly and the compressed gas inside found a path of escape.The tank exploded with a massive blast that sent a shockwave through the desert air.The force of the explosion lifted the heavy metal cylinder and sent it spinning through the air like a missile.
Miles was thrown backward by the shockwave, his feet leaving the ground.He hit the dirt hard and rolled, his weapon flying from his hand.His ears rang from the noise and his vision blurred from the impact.He was also quite sure he heard a piece of the fragmented tank go whistling by his head, missing him by mere inches.
He pushed himself up on his elbows, trying to see what had happened.Through the dust and debris settling in the air, he could see Lawson covering Bennett's body with his own, shielding her from the explosion.Vic was still on the ground where she had fallen…and she was not moving.
And the killer was running toward the white pickup truck.
Miles forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain in his back and shoulders.His weapon was somewhere in the dirt behind him but there was no time to search for it.He stumbled forward, his balance still affected by the blast.His full attention was on Vic, fearing the absolute worst.With his eyes on his partner, he was just barely aware of the killer rushing to the white pickup.He yanked the door open and the engine roared to life right away.
“Shit!”Miles screamed in frustration.He couldn’t let him get away, he couldn’t—
He spotted his gun, about ten feet away.He stumbled for it and finally grabbed it up.But by the time he was turned and had the truck somewhat in his sights, it had lurched forward, tires spinning in the loose desert sand before finding traction.The cloud of dust made it hard to see anything clearly…not the tires for a shot, and not the license plate number to call in to LAPD.
Miles hurried back to Vic; as far as he was concerned, she was more important than chasing the suspect.He dropped to his knees beside her and checked her pulse.His heart surged with relief when he found it, strong and steady.She was breathing normally despite being unconscious.
"Vic, can you hear me?"He gently turned her head to assess the injury.There was already a massive bruise forming where the helium tank had hit her, and blood was seeping from a cut along her hairline.But her pupils responded to light when Miles checked them, which meant the injury was probably not life-threatening.
