Page 23 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

D ekker blasted into Blaire’s room, his heartbeat pounding. Her scream had woken him from a dead sleep. He halted at the sight before him.

A dark figure hovered over top of her, choking her with a rope.

A tingling sensation prickled the hairs on Dekker’s arms as fear clamped a vice on his heart, cementing him in place.

“No!” Adrenaline kicked in, and Dekker leaped onto the bed. He barreled into the individual, severing his hold on Blaire.

The man grunted and fell to the floor, but popped back up, holding a knife. He charged at Dekker, waving the blade.

Dekker shifted to the right to avoid being stabbed.

The suspect pivoted and once again lunged.

Dekker blocked his arm, the knife clattering to the floor.

The man muttered whispered curses and took another swing.

Dekker ducked, ramming his shoulder into the man.

The suspect stumbled to the right.

Blaire moaned, regaining consciousness.

Dekker turned, and it was enough of a distraction for the assailant to grab a nearby lamp and crash it over Dekker’s head.

Dekker staggered backward, momentarily stunned.

The figure dashed from the room.

Dekker rubbed his head, willing the fogginess from the blow to subside.

Moments later, Justin appeared at the entrance. “What happened?”

Dekker pointed. “Suspect. Gone. Chase after him.” His broken words barely made sense.

Justin ran into the hallway, pursuing the man.

“Dekker, what happened?” Blaire’s soft question revealed her state of mind.

He hurried to the bed and sat, removing the rope from her neck. “Are you okay?”

“Throat hurts.” She eased up.

Dekker switched on the light and sucked in a breath. Red ligature marks lined her neck. He cringed at the thought of not arriving in time to save her. Thank You, Lord. “Someone tried to strangle you, but I fought him off.”

Justin returned, puffing out quick breaths and holding a flashlight. “I found the front door jimmied open. The perp disappeared into the night.”

“Is Kari safe?” Dekker asked.

“Yes, I just checked on her.”

Dekker rubbed his head where the suspect had clocked him with the lamp. “We need to get to Jayla’s cabin. Maybe Herc can catch the perp’s scent.”

“Help me up.” Blaire shifted on the bed.

“No, not you.” Dekker eased her back onto her pillow. “Justin, can you keep watch? I need to get to Jayla.” He pointed to the knife on the floor. “Call 911 and get the constables here. The suspect wore gloves, but they may find previous prints.”

“On it.” He handed Dekker the flashlight and brought out his cell phone, calling 911. He positioned himself beside Blaire and explained the situation to the operator.

Blaire grabbed Dekker’s arm. “You’re bleeding. You need paramedics.”

“I’m fine. Stay here with Justin.” Dekker didn’t wait for an answer but picked up the lamp and sped from her room, down the stairs and out the back entrance, holding the flashlight as a weapon.

The storm had subsided. The moon’s rays peeked through the dispersing clouds. Thankful they didn’t have to fight the weather, Dekker crossed the wide backyard and raced to Jayla’s cabin at the property’s edge. He pounded on the door. “Jayla, open up.”

Hercules barked.

Dekker pounded again.

The door opened, revealing his sleepy-eyed sister. “Dek, what’s going on?”

“What’s happened?” Bryson joined his wife with Hercules at his side.

“Blaire was attacked. I fought the suspect off.” Dekker rubbed his head. “He smacked a lamp over my head.” He wasn’t making any sense. Ugh! Another failure to add to his growing list.

Jayla’s jaw dropped. “Are you both okay?”

“We will be. Suspect was strangling Blaire. Perp got away but couldn’t have gotten far.” He tipped his head in Hercules’s direction. “We need to see if Herc can find him. Hopefully he can catch a scent from this.” Dekker raised the lamp.

Bryson stepped outside. “Jayla, get back inside. I’ll get Herc searching.” He took the lamp from Dekker.

Jayla snatched her housecoat. “I’m going to Blaire. She requires a woman’s presence.” She sprinted across the lawn and slipped inside the house.

“Your sister is stubborn.”

“Don’t tell me you’re just finding that out.”

“Hardly.” Bryson turned to Herc. “Hercules, come.”

The trio moved deeper into the backyard. Bryson held the lampshade under Hercules’s nose and gave him the seek command.

The K-9 sniffed the air, turned in the opposite direction and raised his snout before running toward the side of the property.

Bryson and Dekker followed, the light from Dekker’s flashlight bouncing across the yard.

Hercules stopped at the road’s edge. Once again, he sniffed the air, then glanced back at them.

Bryson approached and patted the dog. “He’s lost the scent. I’m guessing this is where the suspect parked.”

Dekker shone the light toward the ditch, examining the broken weeds. “Agreed.” He positioned the beam onto the back country road. “He’s gone.”

Sirens pierced into the night’s stillness.

“Let’s head back to the house. I need to ensure Blaire’s okay.”

Bryson slapped him on the back. “You like her, don’t you?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

They headed toward the back door. “No, I mean you like like her. You look at her the way I looked at Jayla when I knew I wanted to be more than friends.”

“It’s not like that.” Dekker turned off his flashlight and opened the door.

“Dek, it’s written all over your face. Stop denying it.” Bryson tilted his head. “Take it from me, don’t wait. We have to take advantage of the time we have.”

“Thanks for the pep talk, but I don’t think she’s interested.” Even if she was, could Dekker open his heart?

“Have you told her how you feel?”

Hercules barked and scampered around them, bolting up the steps.

“Nothing to tell, Bryson.” He pointed to the K-9. “What’s he on about?”

“He hears Jayla’s agitated voice and wants to protect her.”

Sirens grew louder as flashing lights illuminated across the grounds.

Bryson nodded toward the front door. “You check on the girls. I’ll let the paramedics and police in.”

Dekker bounded up the stairs and turned right, colliding with Reed.

“Whoa! Watch it, Dekker.”

Suspicion snaked up Dekker’s spine. “Where have you been?”

He wiped his eyes. “Um. Sleeping. What do you think? Was just on my way to the bathroom. Why?”

Dekker pushed Reed against the wall. “Did you try to strangle Blaire tonight?”

The man’s eyes bulged. “What are you talking about?”

“She was attacked, and you don’t come to help? Maybe you’re the perp, and you snuck back in, trying to look sleepy.” Dekker squeezed his arm tighter. “Tell me the truth!”

His eyes bulged. “Wasn’t me, man. I didn’t hear anything.”

“That’s hard to believe.”

Multiple voices sounded below. The constables arrived.

“It’s the truth.” He brought an item out of his pajama bottoms. “I wear earbuds and listen to white noise. Loudly.”

Dekker tightened his grip. “You’re lying. Something isn’t quite right with your explanation.”

“Dekker, let him go.” White darted up the steps and reached the landing at the top.

Dekker released Reed.

The pipsqueak of a man rushed toward the bathroom, his shoulder-length curls bouncing.

“I don’t trust Reed, Constable White. Start your interrogations with him.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Dekker gave him an abridged version of what he knew. “The suspect is gone.”

“Constable Hudson and I will check the perimeter to be sure. I’ll get the paramedics in here.” He radioed for them to enter. “I’m going to help Hudson.” He plodded down the stairs.

Seconds later, the paramedics, Travis and Chuck, stepped into the hallway below.

Dekker leaned over the railing. “This way, guys.” He beckoned them upward. “I’m surprised you’re back to work already.”

They barreled up the stairs.

“We’re short-staffed,” Travis said. “Lead the way.”

The trio filed into Blaire’s room, one after the other.

Dekker approached her side. “How are you feeling?”

She sipped on a tumbler of water. “Like I swallowed shards of glass.” Her raspy sentence could barely be heard.

Travis leaned closer. “That’s a nasty mark on your neck. What happened?”

Blaire recounted the story as the paramedics examined her. When they finished, she pointed to Dekker. “He needs attention too. He’s been hit in the head one too many times over the past couple of days.”

Dekker raised his hands. “I’m fine.”

Chuck pointed to Dekker’s forehead. “Your cut needs to be cleaned up. What hit you?”

“A lamp.”

“Ouch.” The man dabbed at the cut.

Dekker flinched but remained silent. No need to announce how much the gash hurt.

After cleaning the wound, Chuck attached a butterfly bandage on Dekker’s forehead.

He removed his penlight from his bag and raised his index finger.

“Follow my finger.” Chuck moved his finger left and right, then up and down.

“You’re all set. It’s a good thing you haven’t gotten a concussion with everything you’ve been through.

I suggest pain meds because if you don’t have a whopping headache now, you will soon. ”

“No meds.” His harsh tone came out of his mouth before Dekker could stop it.

The room silenced, and everyone stared at him.

Way to go, Dekker. Now you need to explain yourself.

His cell phone buzzed, and he fished it from his pocket. The saying “saved by the bell” rang through his mind. He swiped the screen and read the text message.

You both survived this one, but your nine lives are about to run out. And so will your dad’s.

Dekker drew in a loud, ragged breath. How did PCK get his new number? Once again, the killer reminded Dekker of the ticking time bomb.

And it was about to explode.

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.