Page 48 of Ranger Bravery

TWENTY-SIX

Jackson held still while the plastic surgeon stitched the gash on his cheek. The mud slide had carried him several feet before he was pushed to the side. It was a miracle he survived. Since arriving at the hospital, he’d gotten a full work-up. MRI scan, blood work, and a dose of IV antibiotics. Apparently, open wounds and mud didn’t go well together.

Jackson’s injuries were thankfully minor, but the entire process had taken hours. His cell phone was somewhere at the bottom of the valley in a heap of mud. Calling Piper was impossible. To make matters worse, the emergency room was packed. No one from the ranger team was allowed in Jackson’s curtained-off area. He prayed someone—like Derek or Grady—had the foresight to call and let Piper know he was all right. Otherwise, she’d be frantic.

“Almost done.” The doctor spread ointment and then added a bandage.

Jackson barely felt any of it. His cheek was numb from the local anesthetic. He listened as the doctor gave care instructions. The wound wouldn’t scar, not that Jackson cared much, and he’d need oral antibiotics for the next week. Then the nurse came in with his discharge papers.

With a sigh of relief, Jackson strolled out of the curtained area into the hall. His borrowed clothes—Daniel had given them to a nurse—were a touch too tight, the pants an inch too short, but at least they were clean. He was eager to call Piper. Cole was keeping an eye on her, and he knew his colleague would keep her safe, but Jackson would feel much better after hearing her voice.

He rounded the corner to the exit. Daniel and Lieutenant Rodriguez were coming from the opposite direction and nearly plowed into him. Jackson screeched to a stop, quickly registering the worry in their expressions. If a doctor or nurse had allowed them past the main doors to the emergency room, something was very wrong. His heart skittered. “What is it?”

“Piper was kidnapped from the hospital parking lot.” Lieutenant Rodriguez’s voice was blunt, but her expression held sympathy. “She was hit by a truck, and while injured, taken by a masked man.”

Jackson nearly bowled over at the news. He didn’t know which part was worse. “She was hit?” He swallowed hard. “What was she doing here?”

“Apparently, she learned you’d been injured. She dodged Cole’s attempt to stop her, jumped in her vehicle, and raced over. Piper had a police escort to the hospital but dismissed the deputy once she arrived in the parking lot. She probably figured with the cameras and so many people around, she was safe.”

She’d been coming for him. Jackson had known she would. Piper loved deeply, and whenever someone she cared about needed her, she raced right to their side. It was one of the many reasons he loved her.

“As she was crossing the lot, a truck pulled right out of a parking space,” Vikki continued. “Piper had no time to react.”

Daniel nodded in agreement with their boss. “The truck belongs to Wally and although the man was masked, we believe it’s Todd Hutchinson.”

Of course. Who else could it be?

Jackson gritted his teeth against the rising sense of panic. Had Todd taken her in an attempt to save his brother? Or was Piper in the hands of a killer? Both options were horrific, and his mind filled with frightening images. Jackson pushed them away. He needed to focus on the one thing that mattered: saving the love of his life. “I want to interview Wally. Where is he?”

“He’s conferring with counsel, but so far, we’ve been unable to convince his attorney to let him talk to us.” Lieutenant Rodriguez pegged him with a look. “His lawyer is Shawn. I know you have a personal relationship with him and that could work to our advantage. But do you think you can handle being in the same room with Wally and keep your cool?”

Jackson didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Piper’s life depends on it.”

Vikki eyed him for another moment as if gauging his sincerity. He met her gaze straight on. After several beats, she nodded. “Take Daniel with you. I’m going to continue coordinating the search efforts. Let me know immediately if you learn anything that can help.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jackson followed Daniel to the elevators. The doors swished closed, and for a moment, he was transported back to the talk he’d had with Piper right here in this very cabin. His words haunted him. “I told Piper about Company A. About how nearly everyone met their significant other under dangerous circumstances. That every one of those women nearly died. I explained the odds weren’t with us. Sometime, someone in Company A was going to be on the losing end of this equation and…” His voice grew thick. “I didn’t want it to be me.”

Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder in brotherly solidarity. “Have faith, man. None of us are giving up on finding Piper, and you shouldn’t either. Screw the odds. Piper is strong. She’s survived things that would break other people. If anyone can get through this, it’s her.”

Jackson sucked in a deep breath to settle his runaway emotions. “You’re right. I just…”

“Needed a moment. Yeah, I get it.” Daniel squeezed his shoulder and then released it. “What you and Piper have is special. It’s obvious to anyone who sees you two together. If my ex-wife and I had loved each other like that, we wouldn’t have gotten divorced.”

Daniel rarely spoke about his divorce. Jackson only knew it’d happened a long time ago. Whatever the cause, it’d scarred his colleague. Daniel never dated or expressed a romantic interest in anyone. It was as if that part of his life was over.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Deputies were stationed outside Wally’s hospital room. Jackson greeted them with a flash of his badge. “Is his attorney still here?” Since he’d invoked his right to counsel, law enforcement couldn’t question Wally without his attorney present. A deputy confirmed Shawn was inside the hospital room. Jackson knocked and then entered.

Shock rippled through him as Shawn’s wife, Melanie, turned to face him. Wally was seated behind her, wearing a hospital gown. Both of his hands were cuffed to the bed, and a sneer formed on his lips at the sight of Jackson.

Jackson ignored him, focusing on Melanie. “Where’s Shawn?”

“He was called away for an urgent matter. You can deal with me. I’m a partner with Kingston Law Firm now.”

Shock was then followed quickly by suspicion. It burned bright and hot. Piper was kidnapped, and Shawn suddenly disappeared. This case had revolved around Elena and Shawn’s affair from the beginning. But then why would Shawn send them to the cabin?

Jackson’s stomach twisted as a horrible thought bubbled up in his mind. What if Wally was supposed to blow up the cabin with a bunch of law enforcement officers inside it? People would be injured. Even if Jackson wasn’t, Piper knew many of the members of the team. She’d come to the hospital to show support.

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