Page 40 of High Value Target

“Is she free?”

“I got her out. Just get them up here. Now!” Grady knelt at Tinsley’s feet. “Are you hurt? Burned?”

She shook her head and clutched tightly to his hands. “Thank you.”

Her voice was raspy, and the emotion in it tightened his throat. “You scared the crap out of me. What happened?”

“I don’t know. I came out of the stall and the room was filling with smoke. I think it was coming from the trash, but it was hard to see. I tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. You saved my life, Grady.”

It only took a moment for a half dozen firefighters to come charging up the grand staircase, oxygen tanks on their backs, masks on their faces, and axes in their hands. Grady waved one over. “She was trapped. Smoke inhalation.”

The fireman knelt and pulled his mask off, putting it to Tinsley’s face. “Breathe deep, miss. Are you burned?”

She coughed and shook her head.

The ballroom was emptying, people running for the stairs. JD, Loretta, and Palmer rushed over while everyone else followed directions to the exit.

“My God. Tinsley,” JD shouted. “Is she okay? What happened?”

“She was trapped in the bathroom. It was filling with smoke.”

“Trapped? What the hell do you mean, trapped?”

Palmer knelt by Tinsley’s feet and played the concerned boyfriend, while Grady grabbed JD’s arm and pulled him a few feet away, not wanting to alarm her. When he had his full attention, he told him what he found. “A piece of metal was wedged in the top of the doorframe. Do you understand what I’m saying, sir? Someone trapped her in there on purpose.”

“My God.” JD went white.

“Listen to me. That someone could still be in this building. Plan A didn’t work out. He’ll be pissed, maybe enough to try plan B, whatever the hell that might be. I want to get everyone back to the estate. Immediately. We make no stops unless it’s to take her to the hospital. Understand?”

JD nodded. “You’re right. Absolutely. Let’s move out.”

“The car might be difficult. It could be blocked in.”

“I don’t give a damn about the car. We’ll take a cab if we have to.”

The paramedics hustled up the stairs and knelt at Tinsley’s feet, taking over.

JD waved a Fire Marshall over. “I’m JD Wyatt. Do you know what started it?”

“Sir, you all need to move downstairs and out the exit. Immediately.”

“My daughter—”

“They’ll carry her out. Go.”

Grady stayed by Tinsley’s side as the two paramedics loaded her on a stretcher. Two firefighters helped them carry her down the stairs. She reached out her hand and grabbed Grady’s, squeezing hard.

Their eyes connected. Hers, big and worried over the top of the oxygen mask.

He felt the overwhelming need to comfort her. “You’re going to be fine, Miss Wyatt.”

She rolled her eyes at his calling her that, and then he knew she was okay. The corner of his mouth pulled up, and he winked.

Palmer pushed him out of the way and took Tinsley’s hand. “I’m here, darling.”

Once they had her outside, the security team converged, and Grady began snapping orders.

“Thomas, can Reggie get the car out, or is he blocked?”

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