Page 16 of Mountain Captive

“I’m at the hospital in Junction. Is there someone else you can call to stay with you?”

“No, I’m okay. I have Harley. He let me know Jedediah was here before he even got to the door.”

“What happened?” Rand asked. “What did he say to you?”

“He told me the Exalted wants to see me. I told him I didn’t have anything to say to him, and then I said I was going to call the sheriff. He left. It’s almost funny, really, that he thought I would meekly come with him. As if I was still nine years old.”

“If he comes back, don’t waste time talking to him,” Rand said. “Dial 911 right away.”

“I will. I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll see you at the training tonight.”

“I’ll pick you up, and we can go together,” he said.

She started to protest, then imagined parking in that alley in the dark. It would be so easy for Jedediah and others to grab her. “All right,” she said. “Thanks.”

She ended the call and stood. Harley followed her to the desk in the corner, where Chris opened her laptop. She would write down everything she knew about the Vine and do some research online to learn whatever she could. Some people said knowledge was power. She would need every advantage to defeat someone like the Exalted, who was so accustomed to getting his own way.

RANDCHANGEDOUTof his scrubs and made a quick stop at his house before he drove to pick up Chris. He removed his Sig Sauer M17 from the safe, loaded it and slipped it into his pocket. He didn’t trust the members of the Vine not to come after Chris again, and he wanted to be prepared.

He parked in the alley next to Chris’s Subaru and waited a moment after he shut off the engine, searching the darkness outside the circle of light cast by the single bulb over the door leading to the stairs to Chris’s apartment. Nothing moved within those shadows, so he pulled out his phone and texted Chris.On my way up.

She met him at the door, her dog by her side. Harley eyed him warily but made no sound as Rand said hello, then offered the back of his hand for a sniff. “Good dog,” Chris praised, rubbing behind the ridgeback’s ear. “I’m ready to go,” she said, and picked up her keys.

He waited while she locked her door, then preceded her down the steps, pausing to check the alley before he stepped out in it. He was a little surprised at how easily he slipped back into this mode of being on patrol, as if he was back in Afghanistan, where something as simple as walking to the latrine could make you a target.

Chris said nothing as she stood close behind him, then hurried after him to his car, head down. Harley followed, and hopped into the back seat of Rand’s SUV. “I couldn’t leave him,” she said of the dog. “I’m too afraid Jedediah or someone else might try to hurt him.”

“No problem,” Rand said. “I like dogs.”

She remained silent all the way to search and rescue headquarters. The brightness of the room and the hum of conversation was jarring after the tension in his car, but he felt her relax as she sank into the end of the sofa and took out a notebook and pen. He sat beside her and did the same but couldn’t shed his wariness as easily.

“Hey, Chris, how are you doing?”

“Everything okay, Chris?”

“Hey, Chris. You good?”

One by one, the gathered volunteers made a point to stop by and say hello. Those who hadn’t been at the call-out for the fire would have heard about Chris’s encounter with the members of the Vine. None of them asked any questions, though Rand read the curiosity in their eyes.

Chris accepted the attention calmly. “I’m good, thanks,” she told anyone who inquired.

An elfin young woman with a cloud of dark curls approached. “Hey, Chris, how are you doing?” she asked. “I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I love your hair. And your tattoos.” She glanced at her own bare arms. “I’ve been thinking of getting a tattoo myself, but my mom would probably have a heart attack if I did, and my three brothers would lose their minds.” She grinned, deep dimples forming on either side of her mouth. “Which is kind of why I want to do it.”

“Bethany, this is Rand,” Chris said.

“Hey, Rand.” Bethany offered her hand. “I’m glad you joined the group. For one thing, it means I’m no longer the newest rookie.” She bent and patted Harley. “I miss my dog,” she said. “But when I moved here my parents wouldn’t let me take Charlie with me. I think they thought if they said that, I wouldn’t leave, but they were wrong about that.”

“Where are you from?” Rand asked, as much to spare Chris from the steady stream of chatter as out of genuine curiosity.

“Waterbury, Vermont. I’m one of four and the only girl. To say that my parents and brothers are overprotective is an understatement. I practically had an armed guard with me everywhere I went. Living here, by myself, is a whole new experience.”

Sheri Stevens took her place at the front of the room. “I better get to my seat,” Bethany said. “I just wanted to say hi. Maybe we can get together for coffee or a drink sometime.”

Before Chris could answer, she was gone.

“She’s certainly friendly,” Rand said.

“She’s a little overwhelming,” Chris said.

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