Page 13 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

F lames erupted in the downed helicopter. Instinct took over, and Dekker bolted toward the crash, unleashing his sidearm. Jayla cried out behind him, and shouts from the others told him they followed.

Chase hollered commands into his radio, requesting additional backup and paramedics to their location.

Dekker reached the site at the same time as Chase. “Approach carefully. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

“Bryson, you and Dekker check for life. I’m going to scour the tree line for movement. That RPG came from there.” Chase raised his weapon, pointing it toward the forest’s edge.

Hercules barked. Jayla whimpered.

Dekker knew how close she was to the pilot. Lord, if You’re listening, please help everyone be alive.

He holstered his weapon and approached with Bryson at his side. The heat increased, but Dekker ignored beads of sweat forming on his forehead. They had to get everyone out before the chopper blew. “I’ll check the back. You get to Jeff.”

Bryson circled around the front and to the pilot’s side.

Dekker shielded his face from the flames and opened the back. Paramedic Travis stirred in his seat.

“Jeff’s alive!” Bryson yelled from the front.

Dekker unbuckled Travis’s seat belt and dragged him out of the wreckage, away from the fire. “Blaire, help him. I gotta get Chuck and Clara.”

“Be careful.” She dropped beside the paramedic.

Dekker scrambled to the chopper, catching a glimpse of Bryson hauling Jeff to Jayla. More flames erupted and intensified the heat.

“Dekker, it’s gonna blow!”

Dekker barely heard Bryson’s cry over the roar of the fire but caught his message. He didn’t have much time. He placed his fingers on Clara’s neck. She was gone.

He hung his head. Their only lead didn’t survive. Dekker coughed from the pungent smoke. He checked the other paramedic. Weak pulse. Dekker unsnapped his belt and mustered strength, hauling the man from the crash. He brought him to the other paramedic’s side.

Dekker once again observed the chopper. The flames clawed higher, circling around the helicopter.

An explosion echoed in the small clearing. Dekker pivoted to shield himself from the heat.

“Clara! No.” Blaire bounded toward the flames.

He raced to her, yanking her back. “She was already gone, Blaire. I’m so sorry.”

The roar of engines interrupted his condolences, and Dekker whipped out his 9 mm, pointing it toward the tree line.

Two ATVs emerged from the trail. Constables White and Hudson. Help had arrived. Chase jogged toward the vehicles.

Dekker holstered his gun and checked for injuries. Both paramedics were alert but moving slowly. Jeff had a large gouge on his forehead where he’d probably crashed into the cockpit’s glass. He was still unconscious.

Travis sat up. “I need to help the others.”

Dekker eased him back down. “Help is coming.”

“There’s no sign of the suspect.” Chase gestured toward the two constables. “White and Hudson scoured the area, but whoever launched the RPG is long gone. I’m guessing they had transportation waiting.”

Hercules pranced around Jayla and Bryson, clearly agitated from the attack.

Tears streamed down Jayla’s face as Bryson tried to console his wife. “Why would anyone take down a chopper full of innocent people?”

“Because Clara didn’t die from his attack, and PCK had to eliminate her.” Blaire’s whispered voice held sorrow. “I believe she saw his face and could identify him.”

“Agreed. We’ve lost our only lead to catching this guy.” Chase motioned toward the woods. “Can you show me where you found her? CSI and other emergency response workers should be here soon.”

Two hours later, after the paramedics and Jeff were taken to the hospital, Dekker followed Blaire into the park’s station.

Both Travis and Chuck sustained only minor injuries.

Unfortunately, Jeff was another story. Jayla and Bryson had left to check on him.

She’d hated to leave the search for their father but had to contact Jeff’s family. They’d return as soon as possible.

Dekker understood. Her team was like family, and she wouldn’t abandon them. “Dad would understand,” she had said before they left.

Blaire and Dekker had returned to the station to regroup and gather more provisions. Blaire also wanted to check in with Sergeant Mullins.

“You can use the lunchroom.” Dekker pointed to the left hallway. “Second door on the right. I’m going to get an update from Nicols.”

“Sounds good. I’ll log into our system and load these photos.” She shuffled down the hall.

It was only noon, and clearly the day had already taken its toll on them both. Dekker knocked on his supervisor’s door.

“Come in.”

Dekker entered the small office and plunked into the chair facing his leader’s desk. “We’re back from Clara’s crime scene and the crash.”

“How are you and Blaire faring?” The man closed his laptop.

“It’s been an emotional and physically exhausting morning. I’m okay, but Blaire took Clara’s death hard. She wanted so badly to save her. I’m not sure she would have survived PCK’s attack anyway, but he had to silence her just in case.”

“I understand she woke for a brief period. Can you tell me what happened?”

“It’s the strangest thing. Blaire asked her if she could tell us who attacked her. She said ‘him’ and pointed to me.” Dekker slumped in the chair. “I can’t figure that one out, other than maybe PCK has dark hair like me.”

“Or young like you? Or has a stubbled chin? Could be anything.”

“Blaire will figure it out. She’s good at profiling.” Dekker stood and ran his fingers along the spines on the bookshelf. “Please tell me you have some good news about my father’s abduction. What have the search teams reported?”

Nicols pushed back from his desk and gestured toward the map mounted behind a pane of glass on a rolling easel. “I was just about to mark off where they’ve searched.” He snatched an erasable marker from his desk.

Dekker abandoned the bookshelf and moved to study the map, raking his fingers through his hair.

Yukon encompassed both territorial and national parks.

Frustration coursed through his veins at how little his leader had crossed off the map.

Clovercross National Park covered 5,500 square kilometers, consisting of mountainous terrain, glaciers, ice fields, caves, lakes and dense wilderness regions.

They had lots of land to search and only a small portion had been completed.

Nicols crossed off two more sections. “I know what you’re thinking. We haven’t ruled out much, but you know how large our park is.”

“We need more help. Can we bring in other search parties, wardens and park officers?”

“I’ve already put in the request.”

Dekker stared at the map then picked up the red marker.

“Wait, the picture of Dad showed him leaning against a rock in a cave. We need to concentrate on those.” He circled all the known caves and stood back.

“This is going to take forever, and who knows how many hours we have. PCK seems to be adjusting his timeline as he goes.” Dekker slammed the marker on the table.

The older supervisor placed his hand on Dekker’s shoulder. “Listen, son, I realize you’re frustrated, but we’re doing everything possible to find him. Thankfully, we have lots of daylight this time of year.”

Dekker plunked back in the chair, regretting his childlike tantrum. “I know and I’m sorry.”

Nicols snatched his radio from his desk. “I’m going to check in—”

A bloodcurdling scream pierced through the station.

Dekker sprang upright. “That’s Blaire!”

He whisked out of the office, holding his breath at what he’d find.

***

Thundering stomps resonated on the park station floors, sending Blaire’s attacker fleeing out the back entrance.

Blood rushed in her ears and she sat up, leaning against the wall.

She held her throbbing head and willed air into her lungs.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Where had the suspect come from?

She’d been concentrating on the information Sergeant Mullins had provided and went to find Dekker.

How could PCK be so brazen to attack her here in broad daylight?

“Blaire!” Dekker flew around the corner and skidded to a stop, dropping to the floor next to her. “What happened?”

Supervisor Nicols approached with Manny at his heels, both of their foreheads holding concerned worry lines.

Blaire inhaled another deep breath, hissing it out on the exhale. “I was coming from the lunchroom after speaking to Sergeant Mullins, and a masked person dressed in black came out of nowhere. He shoved me into the wall.”

Manny picked up a discarded jackknife. “This yours, Blaire?”

“No, it’s his. After he shoved me, I elbowed him in the gut. I guess he dropped it.”

“Good for you for defending yourself,” Supervisor Nicols said. “He might have stabbed you.”

“I guess all my father’s self-defense classes paid off.” Izzy would be proud of Blaire, but that didn’t stop the pounding headache surfacing.

Supervisor Nicols raised his radio. “I’m going to get the constables here. We need to search the perimeter for the suspect.”

Manny nodded. “I’ll gather those not out on the search and help.” The duo hustled down the hallway.

“Are you okay?” Dekker asked.

“Yes, but the commotion jarred my neck and head. I’m getting a headache. I need my backpack.”

Dekker helped her to her feet and guided her back into the lunchroom.

Blaire eyed the table where she’d left her belongings and halted. “No!”

“What is it?”

“My camera is gone. He must have stolen it on his hasty departure out the back.” She searched her pack, lifting out her laptop. “At least he didn’t take this.”

“I’m sorry. All your pictures are lost.”

She shook her head. “Nope. I just sent them to the cloud. Jokes on him.”

“Smart girl.” Dekker pulled out a chair and sat. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Blaire noted his expression had clouded. “How are you? You appear to be out of sorts.”