Chapter 51 MERCY

Chapter 51

MERCY

Mercy's eyes burned from the smoke, sweat dripped inside her mask, and she wished she could ditch the heavy, hot tactical vest. But she was thankful that Bree was prepared for the emergency. The sheriff's stash in the back of her SUV had rivaled Mercy's survival bags in her personal vehicles back home. She held her weapon in both hands, breathing hard, and nodded to Bree on the other side of the cabin door.

"Randolph County Sheriff!"

Bree didn't wait for an answer and kicked in the door. They entered, covering each side of the big room. The cabin was dim and quiet. They quickly cleared the main room, bedroom, and bath.

"I don't think he came inside," said Mercy, pulling down her N95 and sucking in the cleaner air of the cabin. "There're no bags in the bedroom or personal things on the bathroom counter. The kitchen is bare."

"He's around here somewhere. He can't get far if he tries to leave," Bree said, a grim look in her eyes.

Because we can't get far either.

Mercy glanced at her phone. No signal. Bree's radio had been their only source of communication for the last half hour. "I'd hoped Paige would be here," she said softly.

"Same. Let's check for outbuildings," said Bree. "Maybe that's where Don is too."

Mercy nodded and replaced her mask. The women stepped out of the cabin, where the dustings of ash swirled through the air. They scanned the area. Fire flamed in treetops not too far away, and the hot wind blew directly in their faces. The cabin was surrounded by tall trees and dry brush. No one had ever preventatively cleared the perimeter. It was ripe to burn.

The fire is blowing straight at us.

"If there aren't any outbuildings, we need to get to the river," said Mercy, brushing ash off her face. "We'll have to swim if there's no boat nearby." She raised a brow at Bree.

"I'm a good swimmer," said the sheriff, who plucked at her tactical vest. "But this won't help." She lifted a booted foot. "These will have to go too."

They abruptly stilled, gazes locked.

"Did you hear that?" asked Mercy. It'd sounded like faint screams. Female screams.

"Yes." Bree was already moving.

Mercy followed her around the corner of the cabin, her weapon gripped in both hands. The sheriff passed Don's car and headed for a trail between the trees. The screams turned to shouts, and it sounded as if the woman were cursing. The trail was short and opened up to a clearing, giving a wide view of the river. And the dock where Don wrestled with a woman.

Paige?

The woman was on her back, kicking at Don with her feet and shrieking at the top of her lungs. Her hands were clasped in front of her in zip tie cuffs. He stepped aside and yanked her by her hair and shoulder to a sitting position, and then dragged her down the dock toward the water.

Mercy and Bree darted down the embankment to the first boards of the dock, weapons trained on the man who'd shot Mercy and Bree's deputy.

"I don't have it," said Bree, and Mercy knew she meant she didn't have a shot. With Don bent over behind the woman, it was too risky.

"There's no boat," said Mercy. "What's he planning to do?"

"Nothing good," said Bree as they stepped forward on the wood dock. "Randolph County Sheriff! Let her go, Don!"

Don and the woman looked up, startled by the newcomers fifty feet away.

"That's Paige." Mercy's knees went rubber for a split second as she realized the girl was still alive.

She made it.

Don crouched lower behind Paige's back. He kept his grip on her hair, but drew a gun and held it against her temple.

"Shoot him!" Paige shrieked.

"I still can't," whispered Bree.

Mercy glanced down at the boards of the dock. Don and Paige's struggle had created an uneven path through the light ash layer, but there was something smeared on the wood. Mercy sucked in a breath and squinted at Paige. Her feet were bloody and dark clumps of wet ash stuck to the bottoms. She was also bleeding from her knees and a split lip, where he'd probably hit her.

But she continued to fight.

"Let her go!" Bree shouted again as she and Mercy slowly moved forward.

We have no cover.

The former cop could most likely shoot them from this distance, but his right hand was twisted in Paige's hair, and her struggling made it impossible to keep his left hand still.

Please be right-handed.

"I'll put a bullet in her brain unless you leave," Don shouted.

"What if we don't?" Mercy yelled back. "Then you'll go for a swim?" The crackle of fire grew louder behind them, and its heat was hot on the back of her head. Their time on the dock was ticking down. "Let her go! You haven't done anything irreversible yet. The consequences aren't as bleak as you think!"

Don shouted with laughter. "You think I don't recognize that line from every police negotiator's handbook? Next step is to grant me a small request to try to gain my trust. I know the drill." He shook his head. "Fucking idiots."

Bree spoke into her mic. "Suspect is in sight. Has hostage. We are on the dock at location."

"Understood," said dispatch. "Fire is nearly to the river. Can you cross?" Concern filled the dispatcher's usually calm voice.

"We're aware of the fire," Bree answered ruefully. "Not sure what will happen."

"Leave!" Don yelled.

"No one's leaving!" shouted Mercy. "The fire has blocked all roads out. It's just you and us."

As if on cue, a large gust blew heavy ash over the four of them, sending Don and Paige into coughing fits.

Did he really think we could all leave?

"I've got another mask," yelled Bree over the sounds of the fire. "Let her go and it's yours."

He shook his head and dragged Paige backward toward the edge of the dock.

"Her fucking wrists are bound." Mercy feared what he'd do.

Will he throw her in the water?

"He knows we'll go in after her," Bree says. "He thinks he can get away if we're too busy saving her."

"If Paige goes in, let me get her." Mercy put a hand in her pocket, checking for the Leatherman tool she'd stashed. "I can cut her—"

"Go!" shouted Bree as Don lunged backward off the deck with Paige. The girl's scream was cut off as both of them hit the water.

Mercy sprinted to the edge. Don had vanished. Paige thrashed, fighting to keep her head above water with her useless arms. At the dock the river was deep, and panic filled the girl's eyes. Mercy holstered her gun, ripped her mask from her face, and her fingers scrambled to unlace her heavy boots.

"Where is he?" yelled Bree, her weapon pointed at the water as she scanned.

For an instant after ditching the boots, Mercy considered ripping off her vest. He's armed. Instead she grabbed her Leatherman, opened a blade, and jumped in.

Cold water shocked her, stealing her breath. The current had carried Paige several yards, and Mercy lit out after her with strong strokes. She reached the panicking girl and grabbed her bound arms, turning Paige away and wrapping an arm around her chest as she treaded water. It was harder than expected, and Mercy's head dipped underwater several times.

I should have taken off my vest.

Mercy spit water. "Hold still! I'm going to cut your ties." Paige stopped thrashing her arms, her breaths loud and fast, her back against Mercy's chest. They both treaded water, unavoidably kicking each other, trying to keep their heads out of the water while upright. Mercy's vest and clothes continued to pull her down. She had to paddle with her free hand holding the Leatherman to stay above water.

This won't work.

"Paige! I need you to float on your back. I'll be right beside you. I know it's hard but relax!"

The young woman stopped kicking, tilted her head back, and raised her legs as Mercy removed her arm from Paige's chest but kept her close with a grip on her tank top. Mercy kicked and paddled to stay afloat.

"Good! Lift your hands."

They were moving farther and farther from the dock. The river appeared calm on the surface, but Mercy felt its strong current against her legs. Twice her feet had banged against huge rocks hidden below the surface.

Several gunshots sounded, and from the corner of her eye, she saw that a barefoot Bree had fired into the water. Now she pointed past them, yelling something Mercy couldn't understand. Mercy scanned the river for Don.

He must be swimming underwater, and Bree fired when he came up for air.

His head suddenly popped up, facing Mercy from several yards away. He paused for a second as they made eye contact and then went under again.

I think Bree's shots missed.