Page 87 of Doyle

Declan motioned to a tent set up on the beach, and Tia noticed Dr. Julia moving between a couple cots along with Anita, her dark hair held back in a scarf. She kneeled in front of a child, examining a scrape across his chin.

“Where did all this medical equipment come from?”

“I had it brought over from St. Kitts,” Declan said.

“We’ll see what we can do,” said Doyle. “In the meantime, the US team can bring in a couple handheld units. When are they due to arrive?”

“Later today,” Declan said and gestured to a cot.

“Tia first,” said Doyle.

Um,she’d seen his hands now that they’d emerged from the ocean. Deep wounds, the skin scraped clean, raw. “No?—”

“Yes,” Doyle said. “I need to find Stein and see what we can do to form a search for the kids.” He raised an eyebrow and pointed to the cot.

“Fine. But you have to also find me some pants.”

He offered a slim smile, nodded.

She sat, and perhaps she did need help because another cough wracked her lungs.

Dr. Julia came over, stethoscope in hand. “What’s going on?”

“She spent the night in the ocean after escaping the mountain. Check for sulfur poisoning.” This from Doyle.

Dr. Julia’s eyes widened, and she crouched next to Tia. “Let’s take a listen.”

As she pressed the stethoscope to Tia’s chest, Austen stepped up to Doyle.

Despite her low tone, Tia heard her words.

“Stein is missing.”

Tia glanced over at Doyle, who took the news with a frown.

“He went back to Declan’s house last night, but when the landslide happened, he wasn’t in his room. Or even, as far as we can tell, on the premises. Zeus said Stein went to check a possible security breach but he just... vanished.”

Doyle stared at her, as if trying to assimilate the information. “Did you try calling him?”

“Cell towers are down, and he’s not answering any calls out on the walkies.”

He hung a hand around his neck, glanced at Tia.

“Cough for me,” Dr. Julia said.

Tia coughed, her gaze still on Doyle.

“I’m sure he’s okay, sis,” he finally said. Sighed. “But we need to regroup and find the kids.”

Austen nodded. “I might have an idea for that?—”

“Lie down, Tia. I’d like to see if you have any internal bleeding.”

Tia obliged, watching Doyle follow Austen across the medical tent, then out into the crowd.

Shoot—“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” said Dr. Julia. “Any nausea?”

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