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“Yes,” she said, her voice rough and raspy. “My baby, Hope. Is she alive?”
He smoothed Bailey’s tangled hair from her face. “Yes, she’s alive and she’s safe.” He handed Susa
Luke ran to his trunk for a first aid kit and Susa
Bailey grabbed Luke’s arm when he began to bandage the gash on her head that was still bleeding profusely. “Alex?” When Luke looked up the road the way Daniel had gone, Bailey’s eyes filled with new panic. “She was in that car that just went by?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“He’ll kill her. He has no reason not to. He killed them all. He killed them all.”
He killed them all. Susa
Luke squeezed Bailey’s chin. “Who? Bailey, listen to me. Who did this to you?” But the woman didn’t speak. She only rocked in a way that was terrifying to behold. “Bailey. Who did this to you?”
Daniel’s voicemail picked up and Susa
Luke stood, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “I can’t leave you here. It’ll be another ten minutes before Corchran gets here. Stay here with her,” he commanded. “I’m going to have him send as much local backup as he can muster.”
Susa
Bailey’s eyes fluttered open. “They have Alex.”
“Daniel’s with her,” Susa
Bailey’s nod was faint. “And Toby Granville.” Her lips twisted. “Dr. Granville.”
Toby Granville. The missing part of the surviving trio. Susa
Susa
Susa
The girl lay still as death. Susa
Susa
“Who… are you?” the girl choked out.
“My name is Susa
The girl fell back, gasping. “Vartanian. You came.” Then Susa
Susa
Think, Vartanian. You remember what to do. Pressure. She needed to put pressure on the wound. Quickly she stripped off her jacket, then her blouse, shivering when the cold air hit her skin. “What’s your name, honey?” she asked as she worked, but the girl said nothing, her eyes again closed.
Susa
She heard the footsteps behind her a second before his snarled curse. A look over her shoulder had her eyes widening at the gun in his hand.
“I told you to stay-Holy Mother of God.” His eyes flicked briefly to her lacy bra, then focused on the girl. “Do you know who she is?”
She dropped her eyes back to her hands, pressed to the girl’s side. “No. Bailey told me to help her while you were on the phone. She also said Granville and Mansfield were the ones holding her.”
“Granville.” He nodded. “The town doctor. I met him this week at one of the crime scenes. So he’s the third rapist.”
“I think so.”
“Did the girl say anything to you?”
Susa
She heard the whistle of his belt being drawn through his belt loops. “Put on your jacket,” he said, “and go wait with Bailey.”
“But-”
He dropped to one knee, briefly met her eyes. “I’ll take care of her. Whoever did this might still be around. I don’t want Bailey alone.” He hesitated. “Can you handle a gun?”
“Yes,” Susa
“Good.” He drew a pistol from an ankle holster. “Now run. I’ll carry her.”
Susa
“I know,” he said grimly, slipping his belt around the girl’s body. “Now go. I’ll follow.”
Chapter Three
Dutton, Friday, February 2, 3:45 p.m.
Luke was tightening the straps on his Kevlar vest when two Arcadia squad cars pulled up. A man got out, taking in the scene. “I’m Corchran. Where’s Vartanian?”
“Right here.” Susa
Corchran frowned. “En route. Who are you?”
“This is Susa
“So where is Daniel Vartanian?” Corchran asked.
Luke pointed. “He went that way and he’s not answering his cell or his radio.”
Corchran’s brows bunched in obvious concern. “Who are these two?”
“The woman is Bailey Crighton,” Luke said. “The girl’s a Jane Doe. Both are unconscious. I have a chopper coming to airlift them to Atlanta. It’s possible whoever did this is still holed up wherever these two women escaped from.” He drew an uneasy breath. “And I think Daniel’s in trouble. Now that you’re here, I’m going after him.”
Corchran pointed to the two officers from the second squad car. “Officers Larkin and DeWitt. I have six more officers plus another ambulance on the way and reinforcements standing by. Larkin and DeWitt can stay and direct the incoming vehicles. I’m with you.”
“Agent Pete Haywood will be here soon. When he gets here, send him after us.” He nodded to Corchran. “Let’s do this.”
“Agent Papadopoulos, wait.” Susa
She’d been calm and courageous and level-headed. When he had a chance to breathe, Luke knew he’d be impressed as hell, once again. And he knew he’d be mentally replaying how she looked kneeling in the forest in her bra. But now he needed to focus. Daniel’s life could depend on it.