Page 73

SEVENTY-TWO

“Are you hurt, Mrs. Marsh?”

Victoria’s eyes open slowly, fearful of what she’ll see. She’s surprised to find herself still in the land of the living.

A man in his sixties is standing over the body of Duke holding a gun. He wears a sport coat and has dark, almost black hair.

“I’m Sergeant Mike Lucas, I’m here to help.”

She just stares at him unable to speak.

Lucas holsters his gun, then examines her quickly and moves on to Vinnie, checking for signs of life. Missy is lying in a pool of blood, two holes in the front of her blouse. She’s still alive, barely. Mumbling something, delirious.

Lucas glances at the other two briefly and decides he doesn’t need to spend any time checking for life signs. Duke isn’t moving. Len Thundercloud’s head has been destroyed.

Lucas helps Victoria to her feet. She is trembling and her legs don’t support her. He has to grab her before she falls.

“It’s okay now, ma’am. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

He gets her to her feet but she can’t stand on her own. He picks her up and carries her like a bride down a corridor, through an open door and outside into the fresh air. The sunlight is dazzling. She hasn’t seen anything but gloom and murk for days.

Lucas sits her down on the side of a wooden bench and lifts her face to his. “I’ll get you out of here. You’re safe now. Is anyone else here?”

She shudders but doesn’t answer.

A twig snaps and Lucas spins around, the gun already drawn. A man in overalls is standing twenty feet from them, his mouth gaping as he looks at the blood-covered woman with a missing hand.

“Jesus fucking Christ, what happened?”

Lucas takes out his badge and holds it up. “I’ve got this, go back to where you came from.”

The guy looks uncertain and then turns and beats a hasty retreat. Lucas turns back to Victoria.

“Deep breaths. Slowly. That’s it. You’re safe. I’m with the Whatcom County Sheriff’ Department. We’ve been looking for you, ma’am.”

She buries her head in his shoulder and exclaims, “Thank you. Oh, thank you. Oh my god. I’m alive.”

He pulls her tighter and comforts her. “No one can hurt you now.” He releases her and lifts her injured arm gently to look at where the hand was severed and the stump tied with a tourniquet. Then he examines her face.

“I’ll get an ambulance.” He jerks his head in the direction the man in overalls went. “That rubbernecker is probably calling it in right now. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

The tears come in a storm of relief. Lucas takes a few steps away and uses his portable radio.

“An ambulance is on its way. Do you think you can walk to my car?” She gives a shuddering breath and nods her head. He helps her stand and puts an arm around her waist. “Let’s get you in the car, Mrs. Marsh. Your husband and daughters are anxious to see you.”

A black SUV is parked facing away from the entrance. A blue Chevy Tahoe is parked nearby. Lucas opens the SUV’s door and helps her into the passenger seat. “I have to check on something in there. I’ll be right back. Just breathe. Slow breaths.”

“Please don’t leave me,” she pleads, and grips his arm.

He peels her hand free and says, “Just for a moment. You’re safe. Try to be calm.”

He goes back into the building. Victoria gingerly unwraps the bandana wrapped around her wrist and closes her eyes as it drops to the floor of the vehicle. She can’t look.

Then, from the building, three gunshots ring out.

Victoria freezes in the seat.