Page 25 of Cold Light of Day

Grier opened a packet and applied powder to the wound. “Celox granules clot blood. The main reason people die from gunshot wounds is that they lose too much blood.”

Grier’s grim expression didn’t offer much hope—had Ross already lost too much?

Autumn couldn’t think about it. She had to keep praying. Keep the faith. Hold on to hope.

“Should we move him into the cabin?” Hank asked.

“No.” Grier pulled out a shiny solar blanket and unfolded a tarp to protect Ross from the elements, and himself while he took care of him.

Where was that blasted helicopter? She wanted to search the skies and will the air ambulance to get here faster, but she couldn’t afford to let the prisoner out of her sight.

“I’m sorry, Chief.” Despondency surged in Hank’s eyes.

The cop shooter twitched, drawing her attention. He probably wanted a blanket too, but he could suffer in the rain with the rest of them. She held back her anger and would conduct herself professionally, but deep inside, she wanted to punch something.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you had just walked away like I said.” He coughed as if choking on rainwater.

His words surprised her. “What was so important that you had to shoot someone? Maybe you didn’t kill Hank’s dog, but the consequences of your actions today are far worse now.”

Andheractions? If she’d been in that cabin sooner, maybe she could have prevented this from happening, but she wouldn’t carry the weight of “what-ifs” as her father had. She’d seen what it had done to him. What it was doing to him.

God, please let Ross live.

“Chief,” Grier called from under the blanket, urgency in his tone. “The wound is a through and through. The front is the exit wound.”

Autumn took a few seconds to comprehend what that meant.

She jerked her gaze to Hank. “Was Ross facing the cabin when he was shot? Tell me what happened.”

“Ross stepped into the clearing to approach the cabin. He was heading forward. I reached down to grab my rifle. I heard the gunshot. When I looked up, Ross had collapsed.” His brows furrowed. “He was facing the cabin before the shot, as far as I know.”

“We could have another shooter. We need to take cover! Grier,” she said, “we need to move Ross.”

“Not happening. Butyoushould take cover.”

Man, she hated this.

“On your feet.”

Once again, her captive got to his feet, soaking wet, his face muddy. She ushered him to a tree trunk. “Slide down to sit.”

“What about the cabin?” the prisoner asked.

She didn’t answer as she took cover next to him. Though at this point, no telling where the shooter had changed position, but she wouldn’t leave Grier out here alone. Hank had hunkered down behind a nearby tree as well.

Autumn radioed dispatch again. “Tanya, have Angie andCraig search the woods for another shooter before coming in. We need to secure the whole area.”

Now was a moment they could really use that Alaska State Trooper they had lost due to budget cuts and lack of need. Right.

She blinked a few times to clear rain from her eyes. “So what’s your story? Why did you let me believe you shot my officer?”

Sitting against the tree, the man hung his head and said nothing.

“Maybe his buddy wanted to cause a distraction so he could get away, but it didn’t work out. Just a theory,” Hank said. “But we’ve been standing here long enough. He would have taken another shot already if he was still out there.”

“Too risky, Hank,” she said.

Ten more minutes ticked by.