Page 56 of Bound By Truth (An Island Bound Novel)

“You’ll be safe here. The Sergeant will be over soon to talk to you. He’ll take you back to town.” Then the whole family could be reunited. The father and older daughter were waiting back at their accommodation. She only nodded her understanding, too busy whispering softly in Jessica’s ear. The little girl kept her head hidden in the curve of her mother’s shoulder, not looking up, burrowing in as close as she could. Reed didn’t blame her, in fact almost envied the little girl’s position, safe and secure once more.

But at last, Reed was free to go and help look for Sierra. If only he knew she was safe and secure, too. He strode in the direction he’d heard the gunshot go off. He could see movement just inside the first row of trees at the edge of the clearing off to his left, a dark blue uniform flashing through the gaps in the branches—it might be Eric—warily searching as he probed deeper into the scrub. Reed veered to the right and dived straight into the undergrowth. This was all natural, uncleared bush, left to grow thick and luxuriant, and Sierra and Evan could be anywhere in here. But something pulled Reed in this direction. A strange sense he’d never felt before, but nonetheless didn’t question.

A faint kangaroo trail threaded its way through the long grass in front of him, and he followed it. “Sierra.” Her name formed on his lips before he could stop it. He shouldn’t call out. If Evan was still out there somewhere, he might make himself a target. “Sierra, where are you?” Protocol and his own safety be damned. He called her name again, longer and louder this time. “Sierra.” Oh God, please let her be alive. He wanted to run, but the branches cut across his path, whacked him in the face and pulled at his ankles. It would do neither of them any good if he fell over and hurt himself. He forced his legs to slow to a walk. As quickly as he could manage, as he battled his way through the thick undergrowth.

“Sierra.” His voice carried high into the surrounding bush, mixing with the leaves of the tall trees and running down the slope of the hill until it got caught in the stocky bulk of a small tree. A bird called quietly from a branch above him and he glanced up as it flew away. Was he even going the right way? He’d followed some sort of inner intuition leading him in this direction, but he wasn’t even sure why now.

“Sierra.” Could she hear him? How far into this blasted bush had she led the maniac pedophile? They could be searching out here for days. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, even with the cold, winter air pooling around him.

There was a sound. Was it the bird again?

His feet stopped moving even before he was aware they’d done so, and he tried to calm his breathing so he could hear better.

A noise that wasn’t a bird echoed off the tree trunks around him. A voice. A woman’s voice. Faint. But dead ahead of him. He kept going, this time running as best he could.

“Sierra.” He stopped, craning his neck to hear a response.

“Reed. Help.” It was her. She was calling for him.

“I’m coming. I’m coming. Keep calling, Sierra, so I can find you.” He slowed his headlong rush, listening for her calls, which got louder as he worked his way between two large tree trunks and down a small incline.

Then he saw her. Sitting on a fallen log a hundred feet or so ahead. Her face and the front of her hoodie were covered in blood. But as he raced toward her, she looked up and caught his gaze, and he thought his pounding heart might explode. She was alive, and she was the most wonderous thing he’d ever seen. Even though blood spattered her face, and ran down over her lip, and streaks of mud covered her cheeks. Even though her hair was a mess of tangles and leaves and dirt. Even though her dark eyes were wide and haunted. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

He wanted to scoop her up into his arms and never let her go.

But then he saw her face up close, and it was wracked with pain. Her left leg was stuck out straight in front of her, her foot at an odd angle. So instead, he knelt down next to her, put a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank God, Sierra. Thank God.” They were the only words he trusted himself with at that moment.

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