Page 25 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

B laire’s chilling scream propelled Dekker from his cursory check of the cabin, and he bolted outside. But she was nowhere to be seen. He followed her whimpering sounds into the trees. “Where are you?”

“Over here.”

Blaire’s weakened voice came from his right. He flew forward and ducked between two trees, his weapon raised.

She sat clutching her ankle, blood flowing from where a bear trap dug deep into her flesh. Tears poured down her face. “Get it off! Now!”

Not as easy as it sounded, but he’d keep that thought to himself.

Thankfully, he’d been trained by the best in Canada’s national parks—his father.

Dekker holstered his weapon and dropped to his knees, fishing around for a small twig.

Finding one, he dusted off the dirt and handed it to Blaire.

“Bite down. It will help with the pain.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, revealing her panicked mode. He had to act quickly, or this situation would get ten times worse.

Dekker rubbed her arm. “Stay calm. Deep breaths, Blaire. Breathe with me.” He inhaled then exhaled slowly.

She obeyed.

“Again.” He repeated the procedure, studying the bear trap. “Dad trained me on how to get out of one of these, but I have to see what we’re dealing with. Okay?”

She nodded, biting harder on the branch as tears streamed down her face.

He wiped one away before the droplet dripped from her chin. “It’s gonna be okay. I’ve got you.”

Dekker ran hands along the steel, examining each groove.

His index finger stopped at the spring release on both sides of her entrapped ankle.

He inched closer for a more thorough examination and grimaced.

He had to get this right, or he may cause more damage to Blaire’s ankle.

Thankfully, the trap didn’t have the ragged edges like some, but that realization wouldn’t eliminate the pain he guessed was traveling through Blaire’s leg.

She mumbled from beneath the branch, her eyes widening. More fresh tears. Her pain was increasing.

He had to act fast. “Okay, I found the springs. When I push down, the clamp should spring open. Remove your foot as quick as you can. Not gonna lie. It will hurt. Can you do that?”

She dipped her head in agreement.

“Here we go.” Dekker placed his hands on both springs and pushed hard. Seconds later, the trap sprang open. “Now!”

Blaire cried out and lifted her foot. She gripped both hands around her ankle. “Thanks. Hurts. Bad.” Her broken words betrayed the intense pain.

He had to get her back to the station, but how?

“Keep breathing deeply, Blaire. I’m going to wrap your ankle, okay?”

Once again, she nodded.

Dekker pulled at the bear trap, exposing what lay beneath the broken branches and leaves. A chain anchored the trap to a tree. It was how most hunters caught their prey, but the question running through Dekker’s head sent tremors prickling the hairs on his arms.

Was this trap meant for a bear or us?

He discarded the question and rummaged through his back pack for his first aid pouch. He dropped it beside Blaire and unzipped the bag. “Tell me what happened. What made you go back into the forest? I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“It’s not your fault, Dek.” Blaire drew in a breath, exhaling slowly. “Heard a noise. Went to investigate. Pushed into trap.”

Dekker sprang to his feet. “Wait—what? Someone pushed you?” He drew out his weapon, scanning the area.

“Gone. Came out of nowhere.”

“Didn’t you say criminals like to watch the crime scene?”

“Sometimes.”

Dekker kneeled and pointed his gun through a window of low-lying branches. He peered between them.

The area remained quiet, only nature sounds and Blaire’s soft whimpering filled the forest. Dekker tucked his gun away and moved back to her side.

“Okay, let’s get your ankle wrapped. You still have those painkillers?

” He hated to even suggest the pills because of what happened to his best friend, but right now, he didn’t have a choice.

He had to get her off the mountain, and the medication would help ease her pain.

“Yes. Front pouch.”

He took out two pills and handed them to her, along with her water. “This will help.”

She crinkled up her nose. “So it’s okay for me to take them, but not you?” She washed them down with a swig of water.

Dekker ignored her question and took out the disinfectant. “Can you take off your hiking boot? I need to clean the wound.”

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

“Not now, Blaire.” He hated the harshness in his voice, but he required her to focus.

“Fine.” She untied the lace, unhooking it from the snaps. Blaire removed the boot and inhaled a ragged breath. “Man, that smarts.” She peeled off her sock, fully exposing her bloody ankle.

Dekker cleaned the cuts and gently examined the wound. “Thankfully, the trap didn’t have claws, so the cut isn’t deep. Your ankle doesn’t appear to be broken. You’d be in more pain. Let me wrap it, and we’ll see how you feel once you stand.”

She pursed her lips but nodded.

He had annoyed her by avoiding her question.

Tell her.

Not now.

Tell her.

Dekker bit the inside of his mouth, silencing the battle going on in his head. She’d hate him if she knew the truth, and he couldn’t bear that.

No, he’d keep his secret. Right now, he had more important things to do.

Dekker finished wrapping her ankle five minutes later. “Okay, try putting your boot back on.”

She put on her sock and eased her foot inside. She winced. “It’s swollen now.” Blaire pushed down harder and yelled.

Dekker stuffed the first aid pouch back into his bag, securing the backpack over his shoulders.

Blaire snapped her laces onto the hooks then tied them. “It hurts, but it’s done.”

“Okay, let me help you get up. Don’t put any weight on your foot yet.” He placed his hand under her armpit, helping her stand. “Gently step down.”

She complied but latched on to Dekker, steadying herself. “Not good.”

“I was afraid of that.” He racked his brain for a solution.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “How do I get her back to the station with a bummed ankle?”

“You’re too good at your job.”

Her brow wrinkled. “If that’s the case, we’d have finalized PCK’s profile by now, and maybe Kolby wouldn’t have died.”

He waggled his finger at her. “Don’t do that. None of this is your fault.” Why did they both continually blame themselves?

She opened her mouth but then clamped it shut.

“I’m guessing that bear trap wasn’t meant for a bear, especially since someone pushed you. Probably PCK.”

“Whoever it was disappeared fast, so that tells me they know your park well.”

“Wait, you think PCK is one of this park’s employees?” Dekker put his hat back on.

“Not saying that.” She rolled her shoulders back. “Okay, I need to try again. Oh, did you find anything in the cabin?”

“Only the two chairs Dad and the other vic were sitting on. Looks like PCK moved them again.” He clenched his jaw. “There was blood on the floor too, so we’ll have to get Chase and his team here. Why does PCK keep moving them?”

“That’s obvious.” She winced and grabbed her ankle, hissing out a breath. “He’s taunting you. You’re right, though. We need forensics here.”

“First things first.” He unclipped his radio, praying for clear reception. “I’m going to get Manny here. I need help getting you back to the station, and I’m not leaving you alone again.” He pointed. “Let me help you to that tree.”

She leaned into him, and he gently guided her to the aspen. “Rest here.”

He pressed the radio button. “Manny, you there?”

The airwaves crackled, but no response.

Dekker shifted positions and tried again. “Come in, Manny or anyone. Need help near the old Devil’s Falls cabin site.”

“Dek, Manny here. Talk to me.”

He gave his fellow park warden a quick update. “Her ankle is in rough shape. You close by?”

“Negative, but I believe there’s a search party within fifteen minutes of your location. Constable Hudson and Huck are with them.”

Relief released Dekker’s tight shoulder muscles. “Good. Send them and inform Nicols of the situation. Have paramedics standing by at the station.”

“Copy that. I’ll get that team to your location.”

Blaire’s observation regarding PCK knowing the area whizzed into his head, along with a question.

Could Blaire’s attacker have been a search team member?

Trepidation once again tensed his shoulders.

He couldn’t trust anyone.

***

Blaire winced at Travis’s touch. Thankfully, Dekker’s quick action of wrapping her ankle had stopped the bleeding, but it had taken them forty-five minutes to get back to the ATV.

Dekker and Huck had both been patient with her having to rest every few minutes due to the pain.

It then took another thirty minutes before they arrived at the station. “Is my ankle broken?”

Travis shook his head. “And the cut isn’t deep, so it should heal nicely. Try to stay off it as much as possible.”

Like that would happen. She had a profile to deliver and a serial killer to catch.

Travis closed his bag, nodding to his partner. “We’re done here, Chuck. Ms. Tremblay, you’ll want to keep ahead of the pain, so take your meds regularly, or it will get worse.”

“Thank you. Sorry for keeping you guys so busy lately.”

They both tipped their chins in acknowledgement and left the station.

Quinton brushed by them and hurried to Blaire’s side. “You okay? I heard what happened.”

“It hurts, but could be a lot worse.” She fisted her hands as anger bubbled. “I’m more annoyed than anything. Do you think the trap was set for me? Someone pushed me in the direction like they shoved Dekker into that hole.”

“I do. Forensics is heading to the cabin now to do a thorough examination. I’ll know more later.” He beckoned Dekker over. “I have more news.”

Dekker sidestepped the growing crowd of law enforcement officers and approached. “What’s going on?”