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Liam let go of him. “We’ve had two kidnappings today, and now this. How many people were in there?”
“Three guys. One dead, two critical already on their way to the hospital.”
“And the woman who was in there?” Liam’s stomach clenched. Where was Roxie?
The firefighter shook his head. “No female. Now back up and let us work.”
Gage slapped a hand on his shoulder. “On me.”
“What is it?” Liam spun as he asked the question.
“Neighbor reports that the woman went to the house before the SUV exploded. A car left shortly after.” Gage pointed at the Obolensky family home. “She then asked us to make sure the street was completely cleaned because she’s having a dinner party tonight.”
Liam blinked.
“Let’s go.” Gage led the way, and they all jogged to the house, away from the first responders. The door to the house stood open. “On me.”
They stacked up on the door, off to the side. Liam right behind Gage. Blake behind him. Jasper at the back. Gage stepped inside. Liam went right behind him and turned the other direction. They cleared the entryway. “Search the house.”
Jasper went with Liam since they alternated. Just the way things played out. “Hey, I’m sorry about that comment about your mom and Bob. It was out of line.”
Liam kept moving through the house. They headed upstairs. Gage and Blake would take the first floor. Liam scanned what he could see. Listened. Watched for any indication there was someone here, or that someone had been here—and what had happened. A million things, most of which was instinct that had been trained into him over and over again.
Liam said, “Let’s just find them.”
“We will. Don’t worry about that, Sarge.”
He wasn’t. It was more about what condition he would find them in.
“I just need to say this.”
He felt more than heard Jasper behind him.
Jasper spoke again. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what’s up with me, and this isn’t the time for it all to start leaking out.”
“You’ve had a rough year.” His friend had been strong-armed by his family into dumping his fiancée. Now what did he have except SWAT? Jasper’s parents barely spoke to him. Too busy with state senate business and dinner parties in houses that looked a lot like this one. “We’re good, Jas.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
They cleared a couple of bedrooms and found a locked door. “Bathroom, you think?”
Jasper glanced around. “Or the closet.”
In a house like this, it probably led through to an ornate bathroom. Liam lifted his foot and kicked the door open.
“You never let me do the cool stuff.”
Liam snorted and stepped into the bathroom, which led to a closet. In the center of the tile floor, Karina lay curled up on the rug. Liam crouched to feel for a pulse and felt a faint thump. Her face had been smashed by a fist, and the person wore a ring, judging by the cuts on her face.Got yourself in over your head.
“Karina.” He gently shook her shoulder.
“We’ll have to get another bus. She needs a hospital.”
Liam nodded. “Karina, can you hear me?”
She moaned. Her lips parted, and she let out a puff of air.
“It’s Liam. We’re going to get you some medical help.”
