Page 48 of Beyond Her Reach (Bree Taggert #10)

Matt’s heart stuttered. He yelled into the space where Todd had been standing two seconds before. “Todd!”

No answer.

Matt shined his light downward. Todd lay on his side on the packed dirt floor. Debris from the stairs covered the lower half of his body. Fear clogged Matt’s throat. He called out again. “Todd!”

Nothing.

Matt’s flashlight beam settled on saw marks on the frame of the steps. “This was intentional. A booby trap. I’m going down.” He slung the rifle onto his back.

Bree shined her flashlight onto the remains of the basement stair frame, and Matt climbed down.

Behind him, Matt heard her calling for EMTs, an ambulance, and backup from surrounding state and local law enforcement.

She also warned the other members of the team to watch for potential booby traps.

He jumped off a wooden beam, landing next to Todd.

Matt scanned the space with his light. The basement was empty except for some shelves full of boxes and a few pieces of random junk. No killer with a razor-sharp chef’s knife. Matt took an intentional breath. “Clear.”

The ceiling was low. Todd had only fallen about eight feet. Matt pointed the light at Todd’s face. Blood smeared his forehead. “Looks like he hit his head on the way down.”

Matt pressed two fingers to Todd’s neck. Relief flooded him when he felt the steady rap of a pulse. “He’s alive.”

“ETA on EMS is thirteen minutes,” Bree said. “I’ll grab the first aid kit.” She disappeared.

With his rifle on his back, Matt pulled a flashlight from his cargo pocket and set it on the ground, illuminating the debris pile.

Then he started clearing wood treads and risers from Todd’s legs.

Matt grabbed a section of several steps and lifted with his legs.

Muscles straining, he hoisted it to the side.

Then he did the same with another piece.

As he moved the last section, he heard steps overhead.

He swung the rifle into position, ready to defend Todd.

Aiming the weapon to the open door above, he stood in front of Todd’s still body and waited.

“It’s me.” Bree’s face popped into the beam of his light. “I have a first aid kit and a blanket.” She tossed them down.

Matt caught them. “I’ll stay with Todd. You go. Find Claudia.” He hated to separate—he always wanted to have her back—but their team was already down two. Bree’s deputies needed her.

She mouthed, “Love you” before she turned away.

Matt covered Todd with the blanket and began feeling for broken bones. He couldn’t let anything happen to Todd, not with Cady so close to delivering their child. Damn it. She and Todd deserved to be happy.

He should have gone first. He shouldn’t have let Todd take point.

Matt’s pocket vibrated silently. As he pulled out his phone, he knew exactly what he would see. He tapped the screen, and a text from his sister appeared.

In labor. Headed to the hospital.

Fuck.

Matt returned the phone to his pocket and tapped Todd on the cheek. “Hey, man. You have to wake up.”