Page 3 of Lethal Danger

“Coming through!” Hawthorne Emerson barreled through the crowd to reach the Ferris wheel.

Screams and shouts fell from the cabins of the giant wheel like an echo of the cabin that had crashed to the earth two seconds before. Had anyone been inside?

Please, God, let no one be badly injured. Somehow.

He hadn’t noticed a long line for the wheel when he’d passed by ten minutes ago. Maybe it was early enough in the morning that some cabins were empty.

He broke through the bystanders gathering along the fence that bracketed the waiting line for the ride. Thanks to his security guard clearance, he didn’t have to weave through the maze to reach the wheel.

He unlatched the gated shortcut and dashed through, sprinting for the downed cabin.

The enclosed capsule lay on the pavement beneath the ride, not quite as cylindrical as it had been a moment ago. The lower half had smashed into the blacktop, bits of glass and metal pieces spread around the carcass like confetti.

Were any human bodies inside it?

He reached the door, now aimed toward heaven, and peered through the cracked window.

Couldn’t see anyone.

He yanked on the door.

The safety latch must still be in place. He flipped the latch and swung the door open.

“Is there anybody in there?” An anxious voice behind him drew Hawthorne’s gaze.

A young man, probably early twenties, watched from a few feet away. His name badge and terrified expression identified him as the ride operator.

Hawthorne stuck his head into the cabin to verify what he hoped was true.

It was empty.

“Thank you, Lord.” He breathed the prayer as he backed out and swung toward the operator. He pressed the button on his coms. “This is S4, I’m at scene. No casualties or injuries. The cabin was empty.” He glanced at the ride operator as one of the security dispatchers acknowledged his transmission.

The young guy stared at the crushed cabin without moving.

“Go back to the controls. We have to get the remaining people off.”

The operator’s gaze slowly drifted toward Hawthorne. “Okay.”

Movement by the secured access gate caught Hawthorne’s eye.

A tall woman with a leashed K-9 walked toward him at a quick clip. She seemed to scan him as she approached. Probably checking to make sure he should be there, similar to what he was doing with her.

She wore a gun holstered on her hip and a black T-shirt that had the word, Security, printed on the front. Her dog’s vest was labeled PK-9 Security. He’d met a team from the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency when he’d come on duty that morning. A shorter lady with a German shepherd. He assumed the back of this agent’s T-shirt would also read, Phoenix K-9.

“Any victims?” The woman stopped a few feet away, her attention skipping past Hawthorne toward the fallen cabin.

“None. It was empty.”

She gave him another long look, then nodded and glanced up at the Ferris wheel. “Let’s get these people down before another one drops.”

“You want me to do it?” The operator’s voice nearly squeaked as he stared at the new arrival.

Hawthorne considered pointing out the kid was the only one there at the moment who knew how to operate the ride, but the K-9 agent beat him to responding.

“That would be best, yes.” Was that a twitch at the corners of the woman’s mouth? Amusement?

“But slowly.” Hawthorne added the direction as he followed the operator to the controls. With how nervous the kid seemed, he might spin the wheel fast enough to produce more casualties.

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