Page 18 of Last Chance

CHAPTER 6

SAWYER SQUEEZED JANIE’S hand. So close to dying and yet her life was spared. Although he was grateful, the question was why had Janie was left alive when the hijackers killed all the others? “I’m sorry, Janie.”

She swiped at her tears. “The other passengers. What happened to them, Sawyer? You promised to tell me the truth when we were safe. Please tell me now.”

Man, he hated this. He’d give anything to share good news instead of bad. This situation reminded him of some of his undercover operations as a cop. Sometimes when the gangs felt threatened, they murdered innocents, and as a law enforcement officer, he’d had to deliver the bad news to family and friends. “The only hostage we found alive in the compound was you.”

Sorrow filled Janie’s eyes. “Why would they do that? Why take us hostage if they planned to kill us, anyway?”

“I don’t know, but I will find out. You have my word.” He’d promise and do anything as long as she stopped crying. Her tears gutted him.

When Jesse pinched Sawyer’s shoulder in various places to check the progress of the lidocaine, Janie’s tears slowed as her attention shifted to Sawyer. If that’s what it took to distract Janie, he’d gladly submit to Jesse’s less than tender loving care.

Jesse grunted as he poked and prodded Sawyer’s shoulder. “This is more than a scratch, buddy. The injury is deep.”

Sawyer shrugged his uninjured shoulder. “Fix it so I’m operational.”

Janie’s gaze shifted to Sawyer’s face. “You sound as though you expect more trouble.”

“I do.”

She blinked. “Why?”

“You said it yourself. The hijackers kept you alive for a reason. They’ll try to put their hands on you again.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“So do I.” He paused. “I’m not. Scar Face and his buddies will come for you or send someone else to finish the job.”

Jesse murmured, “You’ll feel tugs. If you feel pain, don’t tough it out. Tell me.”

Sawyer nodded, his gaze locked on Janie. “Finish eating. In a few minutes, you’ll be sound asleep.”

She looked skeptical. “How do you know that?”

“Adrenaline dump plus an emotional shock means you’ll probably need a good nap,” Jesse said. “Some of us pace or run a few miles. One of my teammates lifts weights to handle an adrenaline dump. It’s common for people to cry or sleep. I’m betting you’re a sleeper.”

Sawyer squeezed her fingers again. “Based on what you said, I doubt you slept at all. Am I right?”

Janie nodded.

“After you eat, settle back and sleep. When you wake, we’ll be that much closer to the states.”

Jesse finished the stitches as Janie swallowed the last bite of her food. He handed Sawyer two packets of capsules. “The red and white capsules are an antibiotic, and the white capsules are for pain.” He handed Sawyer a bottle of water. “Take one pill from each bag and finish the water. I’ll want to check you again tomorrow, unless Sorenson keeps you two at the clinic for a day or two.”

Sawyer shuddered. Doc Sorenson was the best trauma surgeon around, but his bedside manner wasn’t anything to write home about. “No way.”

“You don’t have a choice. The boss will decide, along with the doctor.”

He scowled. “You know how Sorenson is. He’ll gripe at me the whole time, telling me the dogs and cats he treats are sicker than I am.”

“In this case, he’d be right. However, he might want to monitor you for a few hours. Janie, too.”

She set aside her plate. “Why would he want to watch over me? I’m not injured.”

Silence met her question. Finally, Sawyer said, “It’s a precaution. You’ve been through a lot in the past two days.” Then he played his ace card. “Brent will want Dr. Sorenson’s assessment of your health before he transports you to Nashville.”

Janie narrowed her eyes. “We’ll see how long he keeps me. I want to go home.”

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