Page 118 of One Last Promise

Another check, then he started the prop, and in a moment they were airborne.

Twenty minutes later, Moose was glad for the terrible roar of the motor, the focus on landing safely rather than the roaring deep in his heart.

Please, God, rescue Tillie.

Axel was on his phone, texting, Anchorage in sight below.

The sun had risen high now, shining on the Knik Arm, on the seaplanes in the water near Merrill Field. Moose called in to the tower, and by the time he landed, he spotted Shep and London standing near the Tooth, London’s arms folded over her chest, looking like she and Shep were in a discussion.

Or a fight.

Boo’s Rogue was parked next to London’s orange Subaru Crosstrek in front.

He taxied toward their Quonset hut.

Axel glanced at Moose. “Boo called a friend in the ER. The social worker—her name is Donna—just arrived. Dawson is on his way.”

As Moose shut down the plane, Axel got out.

Shep came up. “I’ll get the plane sorted and tied down.”

Moose climbed down from the cockpit. “I’m going to the hospital with Flynn and Tillie.”

London had walked up to Tillie, was talking with her. Tillie wouldn’t look at him.

“Axel said that Tillie toldFlynn to arrest her.”

“Yep.” He still couldn’t get that out of his head.

“Not a bad idea, considering.”

Moose stared at him.

“How else is she going to get to Florida? There’s a warrant out for her arrest—she’s not getting on a plane or across the border. And don’t tell me you weren’t thinking of doing something crazy like driving—or flying—her down there to get Hazel.”

Moose ran a hand behind his neck.

“Yep, that’s what I thought.” Shep shook his head. “You might want to consider that you’re not the only one who has something at stake here with Air One.”

Oh.

Shep put a hand on his shoulder. “We’re with you. But—and I never thought I’d have to tell you this, Moose—be smart.”

Shep walked over to the plane just as Flynn and Tillie got into Axel’s Yukon.

Again, Tillie didn’t look at him.

Moose went inside and grabbed his truck keys, and by the time he got out, Shep and London were pushing the plane into the hangar to sit beside the chopper.

He called Ridge on the way to the hospital to give him an update.

“I know,” Ridge said. “I talked with our family law department, and we’re working on a recommendation to the court for suspended custody.”

“What are my options regarding Tillie’s bail?” Moose pulled into the ER parking lot.

A beat.

“Right. I reviewed the lawsuit documents. The plaintiff asked the court to freeze your assets so you can’t sell before the judgment is rendered. If you take out a lien against those to post bail, that might red-flag the courts to allow the injunction. They could shut you down while you wait for thecase to be heard.”

---