Chapter 43

Hawthorne strained to see through the pouring rain that pooled on his windshield as he turned into the north parking lot by the fairgrounds.

Going through the front gate wouldn't be a good idea since he couldn't possibly convince the guard on duty there that his supervisor was a violent criminal. At least he couldn't do so in a few seconds, which were all he would be able to afford before searching the grounds for Rebekah.

He looked at the massive fairgrounds. "Lord, where do I start? She could be anywhere."

A flash of lightning illuminated the sky.

Movement caught his attention. A vertical, dark shape climbed upward. It looked like the outline of a dragon.

The Flying Dragon ride was running?

He leaned toward the windshield, the wipers clearing a portion of glass for him to see through. But with the lightning gone, he couldn't see that far, and the ride's usually green and orange lights weren't lit.

Nothing should be operating this time of night.

Hawthorne's jaw clenched. He had no idea if or how the ride could be connected to Rebekah's whereabouts, but it was an anomaly, and that's what he had to look for.

The Flying Dragon was on the east side of the fairgrounds. He could drive all the way around to the east parking lot and entrance. But getting out and running, taking some of the shortcuts he'd found while on patrol, would probably get him there quicker. And it would enable him to keep his eyes peeled for Rebekah and Butch as he went.

Not wasting another second on deliberation, he jumped from his car and dashed through the rain to the north entrance. It didn't usually have a posted guard at night but was covered by cameras and locked.

Using his keycard, he got through the unmanned gate quickly and jogged up the narrow path that connected to the main one.

Rebekah didn't know the fair well. From what she had said, she'd never been there in her life. So it wasn't likely she would have deviated from the main thoroughfare.

Unless someone had forced her to.

The thought spurred his feet faster, and he picked up speed, scanning the rides and booths on both sides of the path.

If he hadn't seen the Flying Dragon in motion, he'd head straight for the Logboat Adventure ride. That's likely where Rebekah would have thought to go first, looking for clues about Sam's death.

But the Flying Dragon shouldn't be operating. And his gut said there was something very wrong in the fact that it was.

Sweat broke out on his forehead as he pushed faster, reaching the east side of the grounds.

Another lightning streak brightened the sky. He stopped and looked up, trying to spot the Flying Dragon above the food stands in front of him.

The same dark dragon rose high in the air.

Wait. Something small and white toward the top of the gondola caught his eye before the sky went dark.

Was that a person? Rebekah?

Adrenaline surged through his limbs. He took off at a sprint, praying all the way.

Jazz clenched her muscles, bracing for the upward movement of the dragon to carry them past vertical until they were upside down. And fell to their deaths.

A muffled scream came from the girl beside her.

If only Jazz wasn't tied, she could reach over and comfort her. But if she were free, she could save them, too.

At least Jazz wasn't afraid anymore. Not of dying alone or living alone. Because either way, she had God now. She belonged to Him, her Father. Forever.

The gondola climbed higher.

She held her breath.

It stopped climbing.

Jazz's insides froze. Was it malfunctioning? That would probably only kill them in a different way. Unless they managed to survive with injuries instead of tasting death.

It reversed, dropping quickly down like it had after the other swings, surging Jazz's stomach up toward her chest with the fall.

She stared straight ahead, trying to prepare for the next swing and imminent death.

But the dragon settled at the bottom. Slowing…stopping.

"Welcome back." The female voice jerked Jazz's gaze to the loading platform on the right.

Sofia?

Jazz stared at the woman's beaming smile that shone in the darkness, the hood of her black rain jacket covering most of her wavy hair.

"I'd ask if you enjoyed the ride, but it's probably more fun if you can yell and all that." Only Sof, and maybe Nevaeh, could joke at a time like this. But if Jazz's hands weren't tied right now, she might just hug the woman for it.

Sof leaned over to remove the duct tape from the closer girl's mouth first and untie her hands.

Just as well. With the mix of shock and joy tumbling through her, Jazz was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to talk anyway.

"Jazz?"

The sound of Nev's voice instantly sprang tears to Jazz's eyes.

Jazz searched for her best friend, looking past Sof as she helped the girl from the compartment and off the loading platform.

Nev's black curls were visible first before she sprang around Sof and clambered into the compartment next to Jazz.

Nev ripped the tape off Jazz's mouth, glistening tears falling from her eyes to join the sprinkles of rain on her cheeks.

Jazz barely noticed the sting of the tape, her gaze locked on the love and forgiveness in her precious friend's eyes. "Nev." Her dry throat croaked on the word. She swallowed quickly and kept going. "I'm so sor—"

Her apology was lost in the tightest hug Nev had ever given her. And Nev was known for her breath-sucking hugs.

Jazz's tied arms yearned to hug her back. But she savored the hug anyway. The love behind it.

This was belonging, too. How had she lost sight of that?

"I am so thankful you're okay." Nev spoke the words next to Jazz's ear, still not letting her go.

More tears flooded Jazz's eyes. "Thank you." She managed to get the whisper out past the lump growing in her throat.

"Hate to break this up." Bristol's voice came from somewhere behind Nev, but Jazz couldn't see her past Nev's cloud of curls. "Now that Nev stopped this monster, we've gotta get the other ones."

Uncle Pierce.

Jazz jerked back. "Quick. Untie me." She twisted toward Bris as her phrasing fully registered. "Did you say ones?"

Nev spoke before Bris could as she started to undo the knots. "I can't believe Butch was the one behind the sabotage. And your own uncle was trying to kill you. I knew Pierce was a rotten dude, but I—"

"Wait. You know?"

Nev glanced up as she worked on the knots. "Just since Cora told us when she said to get over here."

So that's what had brought the PK-9 team there, just in the nick of time like always.

Amazement filtered through Jazz's exhausted system as her wrists split apart, finally free. "I don't know how Cora or Phoenix figured it out. But I'm glad."

"Are both monsters here?"

Jazz pulled her legs out from the compartment and grabbed the knife at her ankle. "Butch is dead and Uncle Pierce is getting away."

"Dead?" Shock lifted Nev's tone.

"No time to explain. We have to catch Uncle Pierce." Jazz sliced through the rope around her ankles and stood up quickly.

Too quickly.

Nev reached an arm around Jazz's back to steady her as she wobbled, her legs numb and tingly. "Do you know where your uncle went?"

"I assume the east gate where he came in. He must've parked his car over there. Maybe not close to avoid any trace he was here."

Nev still held an arm around Jazz but twisted her head to see behind. "Bris, tell Phoenix Butch is dead, and Pierce is fleeing the scene by the east gate."

"Roger." Bris jumped down from the loading dock.

"Phoenix is here?"

"Sure." Nev gave Jazz one of her you-crazy looks. "We all came. As soon as Cora got the intel on the sus past your uncle shared with your dad, she hacked the GPS on Pierce's car. She found it near the fairgrounds, so we knew he was here. Phoenix figured you'd be, too."

Uncle Pierce and Jazz's dad had a suspicious—

Another rumble of thunder shook the air, but a bark cut through it, darting straight to Jazz's heart.

Flash.

"Is Flash here?" Jazz shifted her legs, and Nev let go, climbing out of the gondola so Jazz could follow. Her circulation working again, Jazz scooted past Nev to see her boy, looking up at her from the ground below.

The handsome Malinois let out another excited bark as he watched her from Cora's side.

"Flash!" Jazz hurried down the steps from the loading dock and dropped to her knees in front of her partner. She rubbed his ears and neck, the warmth of his fur caressing her wet hands. "I really needed you here, bud."

"He let us know you were here as soon as we arrived." The smile in Cora's voice drew Jazz's gaze up to her. "He was barking nonstop in your SUV."

"Good boy." Jazz scratched his ears again. "You knew I shouldn't have left you behind."

"Praise the Lord you're safe. I was praying for you." Cora's blue eyes held nothing but grace and compassion, even after Jazz had put in her notice.

"How did you know I was in danger?"

Cora's lips curved in a gentle, closed smile. "There are different kinds of danger. I was praying for the spiritual one."

Wow. Had God been watching out for her even before she'd believed in Him? A smile found Jazz's face. "It worked."

Cora's eyes widened and her eyebrows lifted.

"Hey." Nev grabbed Jazz's shoulder from behind and leaned in, interrupting Jazz's chance to tell Cora what had happened with God. "Phoenix sent Sof and Bris on the main path to cover from here to the east gate. If Pierce is somewhere along the way, they'll find him."

"What if he's already at the gate or outside of it? I don't know how long we were in the dragon after he left."

"That's our job." Nev glanced behind her, and Jazz turned to see Phoenix and Dag.

The boss seemed to look at Jazz, but it was hard to be sure through the extra darkness cast over her eyes by the bill of her cap. She hadn't bothered to put up the hood of her black rain jacket.

Jazz's stomach clenched. Would Phoenix blast her for quitting? For getting into this jam?

"You know the fair best." Her deep voice was steady and emotionless as always. "Get us to the gate before he reaches it."

No scolding. No anger. Just empowerment. Maybe Nev was right about Phoenix, too.

Jazz nodded. "Yes, ma'am." She grabbed Flash's leash and threw Nev a glance. "Follow me, team."

She took off around the side of the Flying Dragon, running onto the hidden path that wound behind and under rides and would cut minutes off the race to the gate.

If Pierce had already gotten through, she and Flash would keep going, beyond the fair and as long and far as it took to catch him.