Page 63 of Riding Danger

Less than twenty minutes later, six of us were aboard the military grade helicopter. I heard Owen mention the make and model, but I was too keyed up to pay attention. The only thing that mattered was that it got us where we needed to go. No one spoke as we sped along the most southern part of California. All things considered, it was surprisingly easy to fly from Americanto Mexican airspace. Hunter would stay on board and be ready to ensure we got back out as quick as possible.

I frowned over at Lilly, but it was Owen who answered. “We’re flying too low for anyone to find us. There are not many dead areas in terms of radar. There is only a cellphone tower. Also, the area is abandoned and desolate and close to the border crossing.”

We’d already had nearly everything planned. If we had to choose, we would let the unsub go and look for Ryder. A pure rescue mission would keep us out of trouble. As it was, we had no jurisdiction. So, we needed to be careful. No. What we needed was for her to get back into the States. We had planned for that as well.

The helicopter landed on top of the building and Owen and Holden were out first. Their job was to tag the unsub’s vehicle with a tracker and then come inside back to help. Instead of entering the building, they rappelled down the outside. Each of us would take a different entrance. We were not to touch her. But we could imply mistaken identity and get close to her. She would believe we were looking for a man who attacked their friend. They’d place the bug on her and let the authorities handle it once we were back in the US.

While the guys went and found the car, Harry, Lilly, and I, each found our entrance to enter the building. Slowly we made our way down, despite my instinct to rush in and find Ryder. We reached the first floor and did the mandatory inspection.

In turn we each held up our hand as we cleared the building

Then we reached the ground floor. Boxes and containers of all sizes filled the space. Judging by some of the dusty machines, the space was once a factory of some kind. My heart sped up at the thought that she had so easily gotten rid of Ryder’s body.

Lilly flipped a light switch, illuminating the room. “Place has got power. Which means she could have a freezer in here.”

At first, I wasn’t sure if we were in the right place, until I saw a blood-stained gurney. A small table with a single scalpel was next to it. Most importantly, all the blood looked fresh. We were in the right spot.

I pushed back the tears which threatened. I couldn’t break down.

According to the ME, the human body took three days to freeze completely. But she never said anything about how long a human could survive in the freezer. Provided he was still alive.

No.I was not going to think like that. Ryder was alive. He would heal and I would be there for him every step of the way.

As I purposefully stepped from one room to another, I finally spotted it. Stained and rusted, it looked like it was a relic from an eighties tv show, but it was definitely a chest freezer. “Guys, over here.”

I jogged across the room, nearly tripping over a lever in the ground. I opened the freezer and there he was. Pale and lifeless with white ice sticking to his hair.

“No baby, please be alive.” The first thing I did was feel for a pulse but I could not find one. I prayed it was more a case of my anxiety and his circumstances.

Harry was the first to reach me. “Here let me.”

My father pulled Ryder up by his armpit and dragged him out that godforsaken box. With tears streaming down my face, I tried to help by pulling his legs out. Once he was on the floor, Harry felt for a pulse once more. “Pulse is weak, but it's there and he’s breathing.”

He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Ryder, who started groaning. Owen and Holden ran in. Owen pulled off his pants, revealing his basketball shorts underneath.

He smiled at me. “It pays to be prepared.”

Holden also took off his jacket to wrap around Ryder, before hoisting him over his shoulder fireman style.

Ryder groaned and I rushed to catch up with him, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I’m here Ry, you’re safe. We got you.”

His groan was low and weak. “Bitch was hiding in the garage.” I didn’t say anything and I was sure he was unconscious again, when his voice was little more than a whisper. “Could’ve been Ethan.”

Holden shook his head. “Doubt it. I was in the garage just moments before. It's clear she was after a specific target.”

Harry turned to me. “Sweetheart, we'll get him to the hospital. When we get to Salinger you need to track that woman. Whoever she is.”

“I don’t want to leave him.”

“I know, sweetie.” He followed Holden. “Owen will go with you but you’re the one with the badge.”

The flight back was even quicker. Something about wind, or whatever. Hunter had piloted us in and out before anyone could find out.

As soon as I got to my car, I called my captain and Agent Newton. I opened the app that Cat installed to track the unsub’s vehicle. She was just on the northern edge of Marina De Ferrier.

I shared my location with the two men I called and raced after her. By the time I had her in sight, sirens blared behind me.

Police vehicles were ahead of us as well. A barricade was formed and the car ahead of me came to halt. By the time I stopped my vehicle and climbed out, two uniformed officers were pulling the woman from the car.

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