Page 89 of No Going Back

“The pull on the rope. We have signals. Max has unhooked himself. He’ll be scouting the situation out.”

Of course they would have signals for when electronics failed. No different from his own team. If Max had reached the bottom and was looking around, then the basement hadn’t completely caved in. His heart threatened to pound out of his chest and his palms were sweating as they all waited. He knew Max was the best man to be down there, but he’d give anything to be down there, too. He stood up and stared at the rope like everyone else, willing it to move.

An agonizing five minutes passed before it moved again. Rick had his hand on it, feeling the tugs. Had to be some kind of Morse code. Tyler and the rest of Raven waited.

“There are people alive,” Rick said.

“How many?” Tyler pushed.

“Don’t know,” Rick answered as he attached and lowered additional harnesses.

“Can we—”

“Tyler.” Tyler turned at Dex’s voice.

“There’s another two prisoners and two agents unaccounted for. Max may not have even gotten to Sam or Mira yet. You need to be patient, let them do their job.”

Tyler backed off, keeping quiet. He was not about to risk Dex dragging him away. Another tug on the rope and Rick began hoisting it up. Raven collectively held their breath, all eyes on the opening, waiting to see who came through. A male head came into view; Tyler cursed in frustration.

“Paramedic!” Dex called out. Then he was moving forward with Steve to help Rick unhook the man and lift him out. One of the agents. His badge was still attached to his pants. His arm looked dislocated, but he was conscious. Tyler went to speak to him, to ask if he’d seen anyone else, but Rick cut him off.

“Can you get him to the ambulance and see what he can tell us?” While he lowered the rope again, Rick aimed his question at Dex.

Dex nodded. He and Steve carried the agent down to the paramedics, who waited with a gurney. Tyler went to follow, wanting to hear what the man had to say, but Mackie stopped him.

“Stay here, Tyler. Dex will talk to him and tell us what he knows.”

Yeah, probably a good idea to keep some distance between him and Dex. He had screwed up things with him enough today.

Rick had fully lowered the rope, but no further movement came. Jesus, the wait was torture.

“He said his partner is dead. Max got him in the harness, then went looking for the others.” Dex returned.

“Did he tell you how things looked?” Rick asked.

“He’d been trapped, didn’t see or hear anyone else down there. By the sounds of it, he was to the east of the elevator. After the last collapse happened, he could see the elevator doors, but the dust is thick. He saw Max’s flashlight and called out. He’s in pretty bad shape.”

Tyler’s eyes remained fixed on the rope while he listened. Silently, he willed it to move and bring Mira out alive.

“That could be good,” Rick said.

“How?” Tyler asked in surprise.

“If the elevator’s still clear, the agent said the second collapse disrupted his side, the east side. The west side may not have been affected. Max knows your people’s location, if he’s gone to look, it means he can go to look.”

“See, they’re going to make it.” Mackie nudged Tyler at the same time the rope moved. Rick hit the button to start the slow hoist.

Please let it be Mira, please let it be Mira, please let it be Mira.

Tyler prayed over and over, his eyes glued to the rope as it slowly wound upwards. A glimpse of yellow, a bit more. The backboard. It was the backboard. Tyler leapt forward, Mackie and Dex grabbing him.

“Let them get her out, Tyler,” Mackie urged, restraining him.

Tyler didn’t resist, his heart racing. He was aware of voices around him. Someone called for another gurney. Steve and Donnie were helping Rick. It all barely registered as the backboard came more fully into view. There she was. Her eyes were closed, and her skin still had the gray tinge. He couldn’t tell if she was breathing. When her body came through the opening, his heart sank. The straw was gone, the open wound poured blood.

Tyler shrugged off his teammates, stepped forward and checked for a pulse as they lowered the board to the ground.

“Paramedics! Now! We need a chest tube and oxygen!” Tyler shouted. A paramedic was beside him in seconds.

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