“I also know whoever the two jumpers are, they know exactly what to do. They’ll find a safe spot to hunker down.”
“While the fire rolls over them.”
He sighed, frustrated I’d learned enough. “The shelters have proven to save lives.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better. And please don’t tell me to have faith. I’m all out.”
Before he could retort, someone from the crowd surrounding the televisions whistled.
“There’s some breaking news.”
I sprinted closer, my heart in my throat.
The captain was still on the screen. Where he’d tried to maintain a slightly upbeat expression before, even from where I was standing, I noticed the way his jaw was suddenly clenched. He turned his head, rubbing his jaw and I was certain he was going to shut down the interview.
“Captain Daughtry,” the female reporter pushed. “Have you received new information that might provide some clarity?”
He didn’t seem inclined to answer. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Landen moving slightly in front of me. I’d never seen him so out of sorts in my entire life.
The captain cleared his throat. “We’ve finally accounted for our teams in the field. I’m happy to report that there have been no deaths and every hiker was rescued.”
“What about the report there were two missing smokejumpers?” The reporter knew better than to push too hard.
It was apparent the man wasn’t used to dealing with loss of his team.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, finally looking directly into the camera. “The two missing Zullies have been identified as Stephen Beckett and Rory Locke, otherwise known as Axe and Viper.”
The collective gasps within the bar drowned out what else the captain was saying. I turned around, my eyes completely unfocused. I could tell I was stumbling forward, trying to keep upright.
I lurched away, my hand pressed against my mouth. Echoes pounded in my ears. No. No. No! Gasping for air, I turned in a circle, needing air.
“Grace, come sit down.” Darlene’s voice sounded as if in a vacuum.
“I’m fine.”
“How about some water?” Cassie asked.
All I could do was wave her off, still trying to catch my breath.
Landen’s presence was more electric than before, comforting yet terrifying since he knew what was happening better than I did. “Listen to me.”
“I can’t. Not right now.”
The man had always been respectful when stern, a wise man with a heart of gold, but his bark was worse than his bite. He spun me around, keeping his fingers tightly wrapped around my arm so I couldn’t escape.
“You are going to listen to me. Here’s what will happen. Yes, they were trapped behind a wall of fire. From what the captain just said, although he is not going to say a damn thing to a reporter, we now know the approximate area of where they hunkered down.”
“Why approximate?”
“We know the coordinates of where the last fire devil roared through.”
“But you can’t be certain they’re there. What if they’re already dead?”
“Grace, stop. Stop.”
Just then I heard a voice I recognized and whimpered, once again pushing away from him.
“Base. Rock. This is Viper. We are now four point two miles from the summit. If the GPS is correct, we are southwest from the M. But I can’t be certain. We’re hunkering down. There is no other choice. See you on the flip side of hell.”
