Page 68 of Saving Noah

Zach didn’t wait. He reached over and yanked Connor’s gun out of his hand, unlocked the safety, tugged Denala out of the way, and opened fire on the locking mechanism of the door. After eight rounds, his ears were ringing and the kid was screaming, but the doorknob and security locks were a mangled mess. He handed the gun back to Connor, told him to reload it, and kicked the door open. Denala raced in ahead of him, ran down the hallway, and stopped in front of another door. She turned to Zach and barked.

“Your friend’s a badass,” the teen whispered to Connor, loud enough for Zach to hear the awe in his voice. “Can I see your gun?”

“No, you can’t see my gun,” Connor barked. “Call 911. Now!”

Zach heard the sounds of doors, the residents no doubt peeking out to investigate the noise. “Call 911,” Connor yelled again as he entered the apartment. He was probably ready to punch Zach, worried he was going to get himself killed.

“Shit! This place is a wreck,” Conn said. “Zach! Where the hell are you? It stinks in here, but that’s rotten food. Don’t panic. I know the smell.”

“End of the hall,” Zach answered. Zach and Denala stood at the end of the hall, Zach with his hand resting on the wall and Denala in resting position for her search and rescue training.

“What is it, Zach?” Connor asked as he walked down the hall, stopping to check behind each door to ensure they were indeed alone.

When he finally got to his side, Zach whispered, “Buried alive.”

“Shit,” Connor muttered as he eyed the blocked door in front of him.

Boards were nailed in layers in front of the entrance. Zach looked around, eyed the rolls of carpet, and realized they’d probably been used for sound-proofing the room.

“Let me find something to tear these boards away, Zach. Stay calm. It’s not too late.”

Zach placed his hand on the wood in front of him, knowing Noah was on the other side of the door but not knowing what kind of shape he was in. Eighty-six, no, eighty-seven hours wasn’t too long, but he could feel the heat radiating from the wood. He didn’t have to be inside the room to know the conditions were bad. Eighty-seven hours in the heat…

While Connor dug through the gear left behind in search of something to rip the boards away, Zach pulled out his cell phone and called the hospital. He didn’t have the authority to do what he was about to do, but he hoped he could rely on the friendships he’d made in the short time he’d been working there. When they answered, he said, “This is Doctor Meadows. Can you please connect me to Tracey Parks?”

“Got it! This will work,” Connor yelled as he came barreling back down the hallway carrying something resembling a crowbar. “Let me work awhile and then you’ll take over. Got it?” He told Zach as he started trying to rip the boards away.

Zach nodded in agreement but only because he had to talk to Tracey first.

“Tracey Parks,” a chipper voice answered. “What can I do for you, Doctor Meadows? They told me you had taken some time off. I hope everything is all right.”

“I need a huge favor,” he said. “I need some things brought over to my apartment building right away. It's an emergency, Tracey. I need it here as quickly as possible.”

She paused but then answered. “Whatever you say, sir. Give me the list. I’ll bring it over myself.”

He gave her the list of the medications he would need and the address to the apartment were Dante Moretti had hidden Noah…right under his fucking nose. The bastard had done this on purpose, just another way to hurt everyone involved. Zach was certain Dante had gotten huge laughs out of thinking Zach and Connor were searching everywhere for Noah while he was slowly dying only one floor beneath them.

As soon as he finished his call, he took the metal bar out of Connor’s hand and started ripping the boards away. Connor shook his head but stepped aside to let Zach do things his way. Zach watched out of the corner of his eye as Connor got on his cell phone and started tapping away. He knew his best friend was letting Wayne know what they’d found and then he’d probably alert the police. Zach also knew he didn’t have time to worry about whether he trusted Wayne or not. Noah was on the other side of this door, either dying or already dead.

It couldn’t have taken more than several minutes, but it felt like a lifetime to Zach—a lifetime before the last piece of wood blocking the door was ripped away. Heavy locks on the door required they use the gun again but he was finally able to shove the heavy wooden door aside. The heat in the room escaped as soon as the door opened, causing Zach and Connor to gasp as it took their breaths away. Inside the room was dark but not dark enough to keep Zach from seeing the lifeless body sprawled on a mattress in the corner. There was no movement, no acknowledgement Noah heard them tearing the walls down to get to him.

There wasnothing.

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