Page 23 of Rescued Duty

“Try around the corner.” Naya pointed down the trail to the right.

“I’ll be right back.” Ingram jogged off.

Naya stepped to the edge of the overlook and pulled out her phone to capture a few pictures of the scenery. A bird soared low over the valley, and she snapped a few more. The angle of the sun added the perfect exposure.

A few minutes later, heavy footsteps came up the trail.

“Did you get those tickets?” Naya laughed and turned, expecting to see Ingram.

Instead, another runner jogged toward her, his head bent low, phone in hand. A man’s build, athletic pants and a T-shirt. He sported a black ball cap with a crisscross emblem and wore sunglasses. She couldn’t see his face, but if he kept going, he would be in danger of falling over the edge.

“Excuse me.” Naya waved to get the guy’s attention. Did he realize how close he was to the edge of the cliff? Maybe he had earbuds in and couldn’t hear her.

Naya took a step to the side and went to pocket her phone. The runner barreled right into her, and Naya dropped her device. She bent to pick it up.

A hard shove to her back knocked her off-balance.

Naya reached for the person’s arm to steady herself, but it was too late. He stepped aside and Naya fell backward. Her foot caught on the edge of the cliff and slipped over the edge.

A scream erupted from her lips.

The air came up to meet her, and she tumbled over the side of the mountain.

EIGHT

Zack raced to the truck to grab the burn blanket in case a fire erupted from the car their victim was being extricated from. Given the gasoline leak, they couldn’t risk it. A group of onlookers hovered near the curb, pointing and gasping. Other cars were at a standstill, and Ramble redirected traffic down a side street. An older man talked with another officer nearby.

“Door’s removed,” Eddie yelled. He handed the rescue tool to Ridge before sliding the driver’s-side door out of the way.

“Let’s move it. No time to waste.” Fire truck lieutenant, Amelia, whistled.

Izan and Zoe, part of the fire engine crew, held the hoses, aimed and at the ready to keep a greater catastrophe from claiming the scene in front of them if the flicker of any flames surfaced.

“I need the spine board, stat,” Ridge yelled.

Trace and Kianna, the paramedics on duty, raced over to the patient’s side.

“Here.” Zack handed Trace the blanket.

“Leak contained so far.” Bryce nodded. A bucket captured the liquid before it had a chance to run down the pavement and come in contact with something flammable.

Zack grabbed some biohazard bags and worked with the rest of the crew to secure the scene from any debris and hazardous materials leftover.

“Patient out and being assessed.” The update came through Zack’s headgear, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d sealed one bag to put in the disposal receptacle when Bryce’s radio blared. “Rescue 5. Pine Crest Pinnacle. Victim trapped on boulders. Extent of injuries unknown from fall over edge of mountain.”

Zack gritted his teeth. He wished Eddie had been wrong about it being a long day, although they’d been able to stabilize one patient.

He prayed the same for this next call. God had already shown Himself strong in small ways every day since Zack had joined the fire department. He could remain confident that God would show up again.

“Copy. Rescue 5 en route. ETA twelve minutes.” Bryce relayed the information through their headsets. “Amelia, you got it from here?”

“Of course she does.” Eddie smirked.

Amelia gave Eddie a playful shove. “Yeah, yeah. Get to your job.” She turned back to her crew. “I want everything inspected and cleaned up right. No chance for mistakes.”

Ridge hopped in the driver’s side. Eddie and Bryce climbed in, and the tires of the rescue truck squealed the moment they peeled away from the street. Bryce turned on the sirens, and they headed toward the mountain top. The loud alert sent everyone else on the road parting for them.

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