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Kane wanted to agree but had a duty of care to Lyons. He turned away and dropped over the rock face. Moments later, he found Lyons battered and bruised but trying desperately to climb up. He got behind Lyons and pushed him up ahead of him. At the top, he forced him down on a boulder. He had to keep Webber’s involvement a secret and stared at Lyons. “Rest a while and then follow us with Webber. Take off and I’ll arrest both of you. Understand?”
He took Lyons’ nods as affirmative and turned to Wolfe. “Bring the rope. Webber, call 911 and get the paramedics here pronto, and then wait where we descend and direct the firefighters to our position when they arrive.” He gave Webber and Lyons a long look. “I’m trusting you to do the right thing. Lives are at risk—can I count on you?”
“Yes, sir.” Webber pulled out his phone. “We’ll do as you ask.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Lyons held his head.
Kane picked up Jenna’s jacket and weapon and then took off at a run with Wolfe close behind him. They charged down the trail, crashing through the bushes lining the edge of the ravine. The wall of the gorge fell away in layers, some with pines and juniper bushes growing among the boulders. The moss-covered rocks and damp vegetation made it slippery underfoot. He slowed, searching in all directions for Jenna and Emily.
“There.” Wolfe pointed to a huge boulder resting precariously on the edge of the rapids. “See them?”
Kane could just make out the arm hanging limply over a juniper bush. He pressed his mic. “Jenna. Jenna, do you copy?”
Nothing.
“Emily, Jenna!” Wolfe cupped his hands around his mouth. “Call out!”
Only the sound of rushing water came from below. Kane dropped Jenna’s things and then looked around wildly for a suitable tree. He grabbed Wolfe’s rope, tied it securely, and then tossed it down the ravine. “I’ll go first. Do you want me to carry the medical supplies?”
“No way.” Wolfe gave him a stare to freeze the rapids. “You’re wasting time.”
“Okay.” Kane dragged gloves from his jacket pocket and pulled them on. “I hope you have gloves.” He grabbed the rope and started backward down the ravine.
“I never leave home without them.” Wolfe stared after him. “I’ll be right behind you.”
As he made his way down, a feeling of dread fell over Kane. No cries of pain or pleas for help drifted up to him, only the roar of the falls. No sound came through his earpiece. Yeah, Jenna could’ve lost her com in the fall, but heck, she was tough and she’d call out if she’d seen them. Jenna had been close to death too many times this week and determined not to allow her to die, he dropped onto a ledge and crawled to the edge to peer over. “Oh, shit.”
Kane’s gut tightened in anguish at the sight of Jenna and Emily wedged between the rock face and a massive boulder hanging precariously above the fast-flowing water. On each side, the soil had eroded, leaving little support. He assessed the situation and turned as Wolfe moved to his side. “I know you want to go rushing down there but we can’t risk dislodging the rock; it’s hanging by a thread. We’ll have to split up and move in slow.” He scanned the area, taking into consideration each foothold. “We’ll head for the flat rock. That area appears stable, and if I can reach them, I should be able to pull them clear before the boulder falls into the rapids. If you take the right and use the saplings as handholds, I’ll go down the rocks to the left, it’s faster.”
“It’s almost a sheer drop.” Wolfe stared at him and then nodded. “Okay, I figure if anyone can climb down there and survive, you can.” He hoisted up his backpack and moved off at once.
Kane dropped over the edge of the ravine and, finding footholds in the rock face, moved down at a steady pace. He’d reach the women first and swallowed hard at the thought of finding them both dead. His heart raced and sweat beaded on his brow but fear had no place in a rescue mission. He dragged in a deep breath and dropped into the zone, pushing his emotions into the far reaches of his mind and only concentrating on the task ahead. To his right he could hear Wolfe calling out to Jenna and Emily every few minutes. From above he heard voices; the firefighters had arrived and one glance skyward confirmed they were getting organized to drop down stretchers.
Relieved help was at hand, he kept moving, ignoring the constant cold spray lashing him. The handholds moved unnervingly under his fingers and his boots slipped on the moss-covered rocks. He glanced down and, gripping the base of a juniper bush, slid down the last few feet to land on the flattened plateau five yards away from Jenna and Emily. Remaining cool and professional now could mean the difference between life and death for his friends. He examined the immediate area then moved forward, taking careful steps. The loose rocks beneath his boots shifted with each step and rushed down like birdshot to pelt Jenna’s back. Her arm moved and then her head. “Jenna, can you hear me? Don’t move.”
“Oh, shit.” Jenna turned her head toward him. “I think my arm’s broken. What happe
ned?”
“You’re suffocating me.” Emily’s muffled voice came from behind her.
Gut tightening with relief at hearing their voices, Kane shuffled closer and raised his voice. “Don’t move! You’re hanging just above the rapids. Wait for me and I’ll pull you clear.”
“Wait!” Wolfe came in from his right, crawling on all fours. “Don’t move them, they might have spinal injuries.”
“I’m sore all over but my back and neck seem okay.” Jenna turned her head to look at Emily. “You okay, Em?” Jenna looked back at Kane, her face filled with concern. “She has a head injury. She’s bleeding real bad.”
“I can move my fingers and toes. My ankle is hurting and I’ve got blood in my eyes.” Emily’s voice sounded surprisingly calm. “Sore lower back but everything seems okay, Dad.”
Kane edged closer and glanced over at Wolfe. His next move could send the women falling to their deaths. Directly in front of him, the rock face dipped slightly but had a ridge wide enough for him to stand. To get both women to safety, he’d have to drag them out at the same time and then roll back onto the flat rock, bringing them with him. He didn’t have time to explain, and the expression on Wolfe’s face told him he was fully aware of the danger. “Jenna, are you still tied together with the belts?”
“I can’t tell.” Jenna frowned. “I’m stuck tight against Em.”
“Okay.” Kane watched in horror as small rocks rained down on each side of Jenna as the underpinning of the boulder slipped away. “Emily, can you move real slow and wrap both arms around Jenna’s waist and hold on tight? Jenna, hang on to Emily. I’m going to have to pull you out. It’s going to be rough.”
Heart thundering, he waited for Jenna’s signal. “Okay, here we go. Hang on.”
Wind and icy spray pelted Kane as he stepped onto the narrow rock, spread his feet, and bent his knees. He took hold of Jenna’s belt with one hand and slid the other around her thigh. The boulder moved, slipping another inch toward the swirling rapids. It was now or never. He sucked in a deep breath and, using every ounce of strength, lifted the women out of the crevice. One step, two, and then three backward had them falling back onto the plateau in a tangle of bodies. He rolled Jenna toward him and grabbed Emily’s arm to prevent her slipping away. He winced at her blood-soaked young face blinking up at him. Wolfe dove in to help and they all sat on the plateau, breathing heavily. A grinding noise tore through the air like a chainsaw and the massive boulder shifted then rolled like an out-of-control bowling ball into the ravine. The almighty crash vibrated through the mountain, sending a shower of dust and pebbles over them. Kane looked down at Jenna and shook the dust from his head. “That was too close.”
