Page 120 of The Girl in the River

Kincaid slowed and Derrick hung back. But the road only led one direction, and two miles in, she saw him turn into a clearing. Then the warehouse slipped into view. Kincaid came to a stop and climbed out. A white cargo van sat near the doorway. Cord’s truck wasn’t in sight, but with his tracking instincts, he would have parked in the woods so as not to be seen.

As Derrick cut his lights, they pulled weapons and eased from the vehicle, maneuvering through the woods and keeping cover. Suddenly a noise drew her attention and she saw an injured Cord being dragged to the river.

Kincaid walked toward the van.

Ellie motioned to Derrick that she’d go after Cord and for him to track Kincaid, keeping an eye on the warehouse.

He signaled agreement and she gripped her weapon, slipped through the forest along the river and saw Ronnie nearing the edge of the riverbank with Cord. Cold fear clenched her insides, and she darted through the woods until she reached them.

His hands were tied, his feet bound, a bloody gash on his head. Ellie was so incensed she saw red and charged.

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE

As Ronnie shoved Cord into the river, Ellie stormed over. She lunged at the heavy-set woman but Ronnie fired a shot at her. Ellie dodged it, ducking sideways and rolling, using her feet to launch into a kick that sent Ronnie staggering backwards.

Terrified for Cord, she aimed her weapon at Ronnie, but the woman was as strong as an ox. Ronnie knocked it from her hand then grabbed her around the throat and began to choke her. She shook Ellie so hard her teeth rattled and she lost feeling in her limbs as the air was strangled from her lungs. A beefy slap to the face and her head snapped back, then Ronnie grabbed her like she was nothing but a sack of potatoes, hauling her into the barrel. Ellie struggled to fight her way out but the lid slammed on top. Then she heard a hammer pounding it.

She screamed and kicked with all her might. The wood cracked and she kicked again and again, then felt the barrel being thrown to its side and rolled. Claustrophobia and panic threatened to overcome her but she kicked again and again, using her anger to fuel her energy. She had to save Cord.

Finally, the wood splintered then she heard water splash as the barrel tumbled into the river. Fearing Cord was drowning, she pried at the splintered top, fingers bleeding as she pummeled it with her fist until the wood crashed and she managed to break the lid enough to escape.

Holding her breath, she dragged herself through, water pulsing around her as she fought its force and searched for Cord. She didn’t see him anywhere. The sound of a motor rumbling, blades chopping through the river cut through the woods. Dammit, Ronnie was escaping.

But she had to get to Cord.

She took another deep breath then dove below the water’s surface. She swam in circles, searching, then plunged deeper until she spotted him floating toward the bottom. She paddled faster, fighting the current until she reached him, then grabbed his arm and dragged him, forcing her aching legs to keep moving until she broke the surface. Holding Cord around the neck, she side-crawled to the dock and treaded water for a minute.

“Cord, Cord, hang in there,” she said desperately through ragged breaths.

She swam, dragging him to the shallow side so she could stand, then pushed him onto the dock. A second later, she crawled on top of him, leaning close to listen for his breathing.

Painful seconds passed as she checked his pulse. God, she couldn’t find one. Linking her hands, she started CPR and pressed against his chest, counting as she did compressions. One two, three… Her mind raced back to training. One hundred compressions per minute. “Come on Cord, breathe dammit.” She pressed again, river water running down her face and into her eyes. Sweat beaded her skin. “Don’t you dare give up, Cord,” she ordered.

Seconds later, finally his body jerked. Coughing, he spit out water and opened his eyes.

She didn’t realize she was crying until she laid her head against his and hugged him. “God, Cord, you freaking scared me to death. I thought you were going to die on me.”

He lifted one hand and stroked her hair. “No… wouldn’t leave… you.”

Ellie lifted her head up and tried to compose herself but all she could do was soak in the fact that he was alive.

“You okay?” he said as he coughed.

“I will be once I catch that woman.”

“Then get her,” he ground out.

Ellie nodded. “I will.”

“The warehouse… Go there first, Ellie. I’m fine. There are girls… They need you.”

“What girls?” Ellie asked.

“Don’t know, just heard Ronnie’s boys talking. Hurry before they move them somewhere else.”

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO

When Ellie caught up with Derrick, he was still surveilling the warehouse from a distance. As they hunkered in the bushes, he gestured to the right where Ellie spotted a guy holding a shotgun, standing guard. She filled Derrick in on the fact that Ronnie escaped but Cord was safe, then relayed what Cord had said about the girls.

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