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She kissed him before she answered, a lingering embrace full of relief and promise. “It was slow going, which is why we’re so late. A quick stop to get me, and we found the clearing after a few trials and errors. I couldn’t drop a pin here since I didn’t have service, so I had to use the compass and my memory.” She turned to follow the paramedics into the armory. “How’s Sarah?”
“I think she’s a little worse. She may need surgery to relieve a brain bleed, but we need to run some tests and see what’s happening in her brain. We should go to Houghton. She’ll need a good neurologist.”
Annie nodded and peered over to the man tending to her sister. Sarah was out, and she wasn’t rousing as the paramedics took her vitals and inserted anIV. Annie tensed as she watched the scene unfold. Jon wished he could have had Sarah awake and smiling, but he was growing more worried by the minute.
Michelle was going to have a black eye to go with the goose egg on her forehead, but her color had improved all through the afternoon. Jon thought she’d be fine with some rest. He dropped his arm around Annie and pulled her out of the way as the men finished with Sarah and loaded her on the litter. Michelle got aboard on her own power.
“Mason will be here soon to take custody of the men. Where is Max? I’d like to talk to him.”
“In a cell.” He paused to tell a paramedic there were injuredmen in the cell block too. “Their conditions are stable, and I don’t think the sheriff will want you taking them out of here without guards. They’re dangerous.”
The paramedic glanced up briefly. “We’ll be with these women for a bit. I’ll check the men when I can.”
Jon took Annie’s hand to walk with her to the cell block. “Max and the other hunters are in individual cells. Good luck. He hasn’t been exactly talkative.”
“I’d like to know how this started—and how we might find the remains of the people he’s killed. I’m sure their families would like closure.”
He doubted Max would tell her anything. He’d keep his mouth shut and demand an attorney. But Annie had a way with people, so maybe she’d make more headway than Jon had.
They entered the dim coolness of the block building, and Jon blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The two closest hunters sat up on their cots and started demanding to be let out. Jon blocked out their voices and pointed. “He’s in the cell across from the hunters’ bunk space.” He led her down the hall and stopped at Max’s cell.
Max looked worse than when Jon had brought him in. His skin was pasty, and blood still leaked from the wound on his head. Bruises had sprouted on his arms and face, but his brown eyes stared impassively out of his swollen eyes.
“So you won, Annie. I underestimated you. I should have killed you as soon as we took you.”
Annie laced her fingers into the steel cell grate. “Where are the bodies, Max? Give the families closure and tell me where to find them.”
He smiled, and the expression was hideous with his swollenfeatures and bloody lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ranger Pederson. I have no bodies. In fact, the only charge you can bring against me is abduction.”
“Oh, I’m sure the sheriff can come up with a few more. Attempted murder for one. We all heard what you planned for us. The sheriff will layer on enough to make sure you never see the outside of a cell again.”
Max’s eyes sparked with malice. “I have the best attorney money can buy.”
“Your money won’t save you, Max. Neither will your attorney. And what about Anu? Don’t you care how this will hurt her?”
He shrugged. “She already told me our relationship is over. I am too closed off for her liking. I don’t think she would have appreciated getting to know me better.” His chuckle held no real mirth.
Jon took Annie’s hand. “I hear ATVs. I think Mason and the state police are here. Let them handle this scum.”
***
Annie’s beloved U.P. was safe from the human predators who had stalked this pristine wilderness. The breakfast aromas in the Suomi Café were soothing and familiar. She picked at the omelet Molly had brought her and looked out onto the dim sunrise over Rock Harbor. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around everything that had happened.
Jon reached across the booth table to take her hand. “You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep much last night.” They’d gotten to her cottage at three. It had taken hours to tell law enforcement everythingand to ride an ATV back to Jon’s car to drive out of the forest. It was only five now, and though she’d laid down and closed her eyes briefly, her thoughts wouldn’t turn off. “I texted Anu and asked her to meet me here. She had heard I was missing but didn’t ask any questions. Mason may not have had a chance to tell her what’s happened yet. I suspect he may still be out at Max’s compound.”
Jon’s strong hold on her hand brought comfort. He’d been a rock through all of this, and she’d been uncertain any of them would survive.
Jon gave a final squeeze of her fingers and picked up his fork. “I’m famished. Oh, and I checked on Sarah and Michelle this morning. Michelle was released a few minutes ago, but Sarah was admitted for observation. Her concussion has improved, though, so I suspect you may be able to spring her later in the day. Once that right pupil shrinks back to normal, they’ll let her go home to recover.”
“Thank the Lord,” Annie said. “She didn’t look good when they loaded her in the chopper. I’m going to take her to my cottage. I’ve been aloof from her for too long. She proved herself all through our ordeal.”
Jon’s gaze went over her shoulder. “Here comes Anu.”
Annie turned and waved to the older woman, who nodded. Anu was smiling, so Annie suspected Mason hadn’t dropped the bombshell about Max yet. It was going to be up to her to deliver the blow as gently as possible. If only Bree had returned, but she wasn’t due back until right after lunch.
Anu’s smile faded when her gaze swept over Annie’s face as Annie rose to hug her. The older woman didn’t release Annie’s shoulders after the hug. “My, Annie, you are exhausted. Youshould have gone to bed instead of meeting me this morning. Though I will say, I was most happy to hear of your rescue. And I have good news about my cancer—there was no spread. So it is over. No more treatment will be necessary.”
