She gave herself a mental shake. There wasn’t time to ruminate about her heartbreak. There wasn’t anything she could do to help Reed beyond pray. Right now, her focus needed to be on keeping Molly safe and that started with moving the girl farther into the cave.
Using a flashlight wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to alert the shooter to their new hiding spot. Without it, however, she couldn’t see well. Emma had a momentary fear of disturbing a bear or some other animal. That would be just the icing on the cake. But of course, Reed had gone in and come back out just fine.
“Molly, how are you doing?” Emma asked, keeping one eye on the cave’s entrance as she bent down next to the girl. Sadie greeted her with a small lick to the shoulder. “How’s your head?”
“It hurts.”
The wound had stopped bleeding, but a large lump had formed next to her temple. Emma touched Molly’s hands and found them ice-cold. Shock? She wouldn’t be surprised. It only made their situation more dire. The need for medical attention was increasing with every minute.
“Let’s move back a little.” Emma helped the girl up and together they maneuvered farther into the shadows. Molly was already covered with one blanket, but Emma pulled out a second one. She wrapped Molly in it. “Keep your hands on Sadie. She’s as good as a furnace.”
The dog settled between them, her ears perked. Sadie seemed to sense Emma’s tension and unease. She was guarding without being told.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my dad was going to shoot at you.” Molly’s voice was slightly slurred. It only ratcheted up Emma’s anxiety.
“Don’t worry, honey. This isn’t your fault.”
“No, it is. It is.” She took a shuddering breath. “I told him I was mad at my mom... I shouldn’t have... And he made a deal with someone. He said it was the only way we could be together...”
An icy chill raced down her spine. Emma bent down and held the girl’s chin in her hand. Her eyes were nothing but deep shadows in her face. “Molly, is your dad out there with someone else?”
A twig snapped. Sadie stood, her body leaning forward.
Emma whirled. She peered through the darkness but saw nothing except shadows and shifting branches.
There. A flashlight moving through the forest.
Heading in their direction.
SEVEN
Reed moved through the forest like a shadow. Every step made his back ache, but he smothered the pain behind a wall of steel, along with the self doubt about his decision to leave Molly and Emma behind in the cave. He’d mitigated the danger by hiding them in a second location, but still, it was risky. The deciding factor hadn’t been just about helping Austin—although that was huge—it was getting in contact with Dispatch. Reed couldn’t protect them all on his own. He needed help.
Wind rustled the leaves. Reed paused, holding his breath. A sliver of moonlight slipped out from behind a cloud, catching on the edge of a black boot. His heart skittered. He lifted his weapon and edged closer.
The boot turned into a shape. The moonlight glinted off the barrel of a gun.
“Police. Don’t take one more step.”
Reed sucked in a breath and lowered his weapon. “Austin, it’s me.”
He stepped out of the shadows and his cousin’s eyes widened. Austin was sprawled across the forest floor. Leaves and pine needles covered his clothes. Reed crouched down next to him. “Where are you hurt?”
“Forget about me.” Austin gripped his arm. “Your instincts were right, Reed. Emma’s the target. Molly was just an excuse to get her out here. Backup is on the way, but you need to get back to Emma. Hurry!”
Reed took off. His boots skidded against the pine needles and branches tugged at his clothes as he raced through the woods. The mouth of the cave came into view. Reed tightened his hold on his weapon and whispered Emma’s name.
The cave was empty.
The muzzle of a gun touched the back of his head. Reed froze.
“Got ya.” A pair of night vision goggles landed on the ground. “Okay, Sheriff, this is how it’s going to be. Put your gun on the ground real slow and no one will get hurt.”
Was it Molly’s dad, Vernon? Had to be. Reed twisted his head, catching a glimpse of the handlebar mustache out of the corner of his eye.
“No one has gotten hurt so far, Vernon.” Reed kept his voice even, no hint of his inner turmoil bleeding through. “Let’s keep it that way. Why don’t you put the gun down and we can talk?”
“We are way beyond talking, but I could be persuaded to let you live. Where is Emma?”
Thank you, Lord. Vernon didn’t have her. “Why?”
“What do you care?” He applied more pressure to the rifle, the cold steel digging into Reed’s skin. “You’re going to put your gun down and you’re going to show me where she’s hiding. Along with my daughter.”
Not a chance. “Okay, sure, Vernon. I’m going to put the gun down now.”
“Yeah. Nice and slow.”
Reed started lowering himself down to one knee. One...two...
He whirled up, grabbing the muzzle of the rifle.
Vernon stumbled. The gun went off, the sound like an explosion in the close confines of the cave. Reed kneed Vernon in the stomach and wrenched the weapon out of his hands.
A furry object flew past him and slammed right into Vernon. Sadie. Together the dog and criminal toppled over. Something whacked against the side of the cave, and Vernon yelped. Sadie held him trapped, snarling and barking.
Emma emerged from the rear of the cave. Breathing heavy, his back aching, Reed handed the rifle to her. He pulled out his handcuffs. “Call her off.”
Once the dog backed away, Reed flipped Vernon around. He slapped the handcuffs on him and quickly read him his rights.
Outside, voices called out their names. Emma ran to the mouth of the cave,
