Chapter 21

21

The spearhead broke through the cord, and Dev jerked his wrists free. His arms had been tied behind his back too long and pain radiated through his muscles, but he didn't care. He didn't care about the pain in his hip either. He was going to Kinsley's rescue at all costs.

If she was still alive. He had no idea how long he'd been unconscious. For all he knew the assailant had already gotten to her and fled the property.

Dev lurched to his feet, the smoke darker and thicker now. His phone was set to receive wildfire evacuation alerts, but he hadn't gotten one. But maybe his phone wasn't working, or one was issued while he was out of it. He patted his pocket. His phone probably wouldn't work because it was wet. No matter. It wasn't in his pocket. His assailant had to have taken it. A smart move on his part, keeping Dev from alerting anyone to the assailant's presence.

Alert or not the bad air quality said the fire was moving closer. Now, not only did he have to fear for Kinsley's life, but for everyone's lives with the fire advancing on them. He had to take action, and he had to do it quickly. But first, he needed to get his shoes so he could move even faster.

He started out at a fast clip, but his pain made him slow. Still, he fought through the pain to retrieve them from near the lake and put them on.

He turned to go.

He didn't know what he was facing. He had no weapon. He had no plan. He had no help. Would it be better to head to their armory to get a gun, maybe some NVGs, so he could surprise the guy, or would it be better to barrel ahead and make sure Kinsley wasn't in grave danger?

Protect innocent life at all costs. His mantra from his time as a deputy sounded like a warning bell in his brain. He couldn't protect her if he wasn't near her. He had to believe that she needed him right now and go to her. Believe that God would provide what he needed.

But did Dev believe that? After all, why had God allowed him to be choked nearly to death and knocked out? How could that be good in any way?

He took off for his cabin, limping from the excruciating pain, breathing deep to ignore it. He felt much like he did that day Hailey walked out and left him alone to deal with his family and friends. Hers too. Only the stakes were far higher here.

But if Dev had married Hailey, he wouldn't be free now to pursue Kinsley. So what at the time seemed devastating was a blessing in disguise. Could he believe the same thing here? That being detained by the assailant would work out for the best?

He had to. The alternative was too painful.

The cabin came into view, and he stopped to take a long look through the gritty smoke clinging to the porch. Hayden was down on the floor. Was he dead or just incapacitated? Dev had to believe he wasn't dead as the assailant didn't seem to be a killer. Or at least he didn't want to kill Dev. Just restrain him.

If Dev could get to the porch, he could get Hayden's weapon, if the attacker had left it in his holster. Dev crept forward, but his bum leg dragged, and his foot rustled fallen leaves. He had to hope he wasn't making enough noise to be heard inside the cabin.

He moved forward as fast as he could, soon reaching the porch and sneaking up on the side. To avoid being seen from within the family room, he got down on his knees and nearly screamed from the pain. He bit his lip until the pain receded, then crawled along the worn porch boards.

At the window, he peeked inside. No one visible in the family room or dining room.

His heart sank. Had the attacker taken them all hostage and driven somewhere? Or were they in a bedroom?

Bedroom. They had to be there. If not…

He had to check them out, but first grab the gun from Hayden's hip. A syringe protruded from his neck, and Dev felt for a pulse. He was alive and breathing.

Thank you!

Dev checked Hayden's cargo pocket for his phone, turned it to silent, and shoved it in his pocket, then made his way around the back of the cabin to Colin's bedroom. He peaked into the window. Colin sat on his bed with his laptop on his knees, his noise-canceling headphones on his ears.

How was Dev going to get Colin's attention without alerting the assailant if he was still in the house?

He tapped lightly on the window. No luck.

He waved his arms. No response.

He jumped up and down, frantically now, his leg threatening to buckle under him, his forehead perspiring from the pain.

Colin looked up. Blinked a few times, then set down his computer and came to open the window. "What's going on? Why the stealth arrival?"

Dev caught his breath from the pain and explained everything that had happened.

"That's a lot of blood on your pants." Colin frowned. "Are you sure you should even be on your feet?"

"I'm good." Dev worked hard to hide the strain he was feeling. "You have any idea what's going on with Kinsley?"

Colin lifted his gaze from Dev's hip. "I haven't heard a thing."

"I'm going to look in Jada and Kinsley's bedroom window. Stay here. Be right back."

Dev crept along the back of the house making sure to lift his bum leg even though the pain brought those dreaded stars back. The bedroom window had been cracked open about an inch, and he risked a glance inside. His heart nearly stopped.

Jada lay on the bed, a gag in her mouth and her arms and legs tied, fear permeating her eyes. Dev swallowed the words he wanted to shout.

The assailant, who he had to assume was the guy from the lake, had his back to Dev and pressed his gun against Kinsley's head. He was motioning toward the door to the living area. "We'll walk down the drive and out the gate to my car. It's parked on an old logging trail just across the road."

"Security cameras are going to record you," Kinsley said, sounding strong and in control.

"Then it's a good thing I took them out on my way in." He cackled.

Dev gritted his teeth, wishing the guy would turn so he could see his face and figure out which suspect had his gun at Kinsley's temple. But more importantly, whoever he was, he was going to leave and take her with him.

Dev curled his fingers into fists. Everything in him encouraged him to burst through the window and rescue her. To pull out his gun and fire a shot into the assailant's back. He wouldn't. Of course not. Killing someone was a last resort. Besides, the guy's muscles could twitch, and he could accidentally squeeze the trigger on his gun before he dropped from Dev's bullet.

He had to find a better way to save Kinsley, and he had to find it fast.

The last thing Kinsley wanted to do was let this man get her outside the house. Hopefully, if she stayed there, Colin would discover their situation and rescue them. But if she left the house, Jada was the only one he could discover, and by the time they caught up to Kinsley and Yapp, she might be dead.

Her heart lurched at the thought, and it kicked up speed. She had to find a way to stall. But what?

"Wait a minute," she said, an idea exploding in her brain like fireworks in a July sky. "We can't go out the gate. It's always locked, and I don't know the code to open it."

"You expect me to believe that?" He pressed the gun harder. "Stop stalling, and let's go."

"I'm not lying. I don't know the code. I've only been through it once, and I didn't see the numbers that Dev tapped into the keypad."

He studied her face. "Then let's ask your friend here. We'll go over there together."

They turned back to the bed, his gun never leaving her head.

"Do you know the code?" he asked Jada.

She nodded.

"Remove the gag," he said to Kinsley. "Once she gives us the number, retie it."

Kinsley took the beautiful scarf Jada had given her for her eighteenth birthday out of Jada's mouth.

She coughed and looked into Kinsley's eyes. "Don't try to be a hero. He means business with that gun. He's proven that."

"She's right," Yapp said. "Now tell us the gate code."

She rattled off a six-digit code. Kinsley repeated it to her to be sure she had the right number.

"Thank you, sweetie, and sorry about the gag. At least if you have to be gagged, it's with the beautiful scarf you gave me."

"It's okay. I'll be praying for you nonstop." Jada smiled, but it was weak and wobbly.

Kinsley forced a smile and picked up the scarf. She gagged her best friend and kept silently repeating the gate number so she didn't forget.

She tied the last knot.

"Let's move," Yapp said. "The longer we stay here the greater the risk of being discovered."

Exactly what she was thinking, but from a far different perspective. She could only hope when they stepped out that door that Hayden or Dev had woken up or one of their other teammates was out and about and would see Yapp take her away from the property, a gun rammed against her head.

Plan in mind, Dev raced for Colin's window, but his speed was hampered by his injury. Buck up. You can do this. Have to do this.

He gritted his teeth until he could clutch the windowsill to take the weight off his hip. "An assailant has Kinsley at gunpoint. He's getting ready to leave and take her with him as a hostage. Have any idea who the guy is?"

Colin shrugged. "Could be the guy Russ said matched the drone prints."

"His name?"

"Harry Yapp. He stayed in the Bluebird Cabin back in the nineties. Jada and Kinsley played a few pranks on him. That's the only relationship to them that we know about."

"Seriously?" Dev stared at his brother. "You don't think he's here to kill Kinsley and Jada because they played pranks on him when they were kids?"

Colin shook his head. "I figure he has another motive, but we won't know what until we find him. I was writing algorithms for the internet to locate information on him, and Russ is looking into him at his office." He paused. "We should call Russ."

"He would come barreling in here, lights blazing, and who knows what this guy would do to Kinsley then."

"We could ask him to run silently. He's a good cop and would do the right thing."

"Yeah, then take over and tell us to stand down. Kinsley's safety is my responsibility, and I won't back down unless I'm incapacitated." He turned to look through the smoky air that seemed to be getting even more dense and darker in color. "I need to get over the fence before he reaches it."

"What do you want me to do?" Colin asked.

"Get to a vehicle and wait until this guy exits the front gate. Give him time to cross the road to his car. It's parked on Beeker's old logging road. I'll keep an eye on him until he gets in the car. Maybe there'll be an opportunity to separate Kinsley from him. If not, you'll find me on the logging road. Untie Jada then pick me up, and we'll tail him."

Colin arched an eyebrow. "Pretty risky for him to go back to the same place he operated the drone."

"Seems like he's got nothing to lose." Dev swallowed hard, his throat dry from the smoke. "I have to go. I've got Hayden's phone. Stay in touch."

He bolted down the path in the woods leading to the fence, the thick and caustic air irritating his lungs. Then he had to slow for his hip again. No matter how much he gritted his teeth, it threatened to take him down. At least his path was a much more direct route than the driveway, and even with his bum hip, he should be able to shimmy over the fence before the assailant reached them.

God willing. With the pain nearly bringing him to a standstill, he didn't know what would happen once he got to the fence.

Don't think that way. Picture Kinsley with that gun at her head and let adrenaline take over. Give it your all. Even give up your life to save hers because it's meaningless without her.