Page 28 of Thin Ice

“We’re here.” Abby rushed to the back of the chopper to close the hatch. Gunfire exploded all around them. She ducked out of sight, then managed to get the hatch closed amidst the blasts. “Go!” Abby returned to the front.

The pilot didn’t hesitate. He lifted off and banked hard toward the trees amongst heavy gunfire.

“He needs a hospital,” The medic assisting Hannah said with a glance at Abby.

She’d give anything to take Brookes to the hospital, but it would be the end of them all. “We can’t.”

“Luckily, we brought plenty of supplies. I’m a medic as well,” the other man said.

Abby dropped to the floor of the chopper. All she could think about was the man who appeared so pale. She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to Brookes. “Don’t let him die,” she said with tears streaming down her face.

Hannah held her gaze. Compassion replaced the fear there. “I’m going to do everything I can. Pray.”

Abby put her head in her hands and prayed with all her heart. “Please don’t let him die. Please.” The broken prayer tore from deep down inside. She opened her eyes and found the man who drove Hannah watching her.

He slipped down beside her. “People call me Snake. I know what it’s like to almost lose someone you care about.”

Abby focused on his face covered in a snake tattoo. He looked so young. She had no doubt he was one of the young men Hannah had mentioned dealing drugs. “Then why do you do it?” she asked because she really wanted to know. It seemed such a waste of life when it was so precious. Especially now.

Snake hung his head. “In the past, it was all about the money. I made plenty of it. Now—with everything that’s happening in the world—I don’t know anymore.”

“Well, Snake, like it or not, you’re in the fight for freedom. There’s no turning back now. They’ll know who you are in no time. You’re one of us now.”

For a tough drug dealer, Snake’s face lost all its color.

He watched Hannah and the medic work on Brookes while the second medic examined Kinsley’s injury.

It dawned on Abby that she had no idea where they were going. She slipped past Snake and dropped into the seat beside the pilot.

“Abby Temple,” she introduced herself. “Where are we going? They have choppers all over the place. It won’t take them long to come after us.”

“Zeke Regan. Most of the choppers belong to the police department. This is the Bell Boeing V22 Osprey. It comes equipped with the ability to cloak itself from any form of radar, including military if engaged. It had sixteen tanks onboard and can hold over three thousand gallons of fuel. It comes with an M240 Machine gun on the rear loading ramp. For now, I’d say we have the advantage. I’m ready to fly you wherever you need to go. It’s an honor to be serving the real president of the United States.

???

Hours passed and yet he still wasn’t waking up. Abby couldn’t remember ever being so worried before.

“We’re approaching our fueling location,” Zeke told her. She rousted herself from her worried thoughts and nodded.

She’d spoken to a person who arranged for a safe location. They’d covered almost five hundred miles and were somewhere outside of Chicago. The location was a small rural airport. The person who manned the airport was friendly to their cause.

Hannah came over to check on her brother. “He’s lost so much blood. I’m grateful to these men for helping. Without their medical supplies and training, he wouldn’t have a chance.”

Abby rubbed her hand across her forehead. “He didn’t deserve this. None of us deserve what’s happening to us—to our country.”

Hannah squeezed her arm. “He’s strong, and more than that, he’s stubborn. Brookes has a fighting chance.”

Not exactly the news she wanted to hear, but she’d take it.

“It’s a long way to Alberta,” Hannah told her. “I sure hope we make it.” Hannah glanced out the window as the chopper reached its target location and descended.

“Me, too. Stay inside with Brookes and Kinsley. I’m going to make sure there’s no problems with the refueling.”

The pilot touched down close to the fueling station.

“Don’t kill the engines,” Abby told him. She slipped into the copilot seat. “I don’t see anyone. Where is our guy? I’m calling James.”

She started the call when the pilot said, “There. Someone’s coming.”

---