Page 41 of Fatal Intent

She left the room without looking back at the trio. Whatever Will wanted to discuss with Jake, she hoped the problem wasn’t as bad as she feared. The children wouldn’t be able to keep up on a fast-paced run out of the rainforest, which meant the operatives had to carry them as well as aid their parents.

Rayne checked the back door first to be sure it was still locked. Check. Next, she walked to the front of the building, ignoring the guard’s body as she tested the doorknob and found it secure as well. Following a sweep through the other rooms, she returned to the children’s room.

When she walked in, Will seemed more at ease. Thank goodness. Hopefully, Will and Jenna would consider her and Jake their protectors.

Jake turned as she approached the cot. “I need to look at Jenna’s ankle, then we can tell the others we’re ready.”

“Hurry. Seth is right. Something is going on out there. The whole place is lit up with people scurrying everywhere.”

The medic circled to the other side of the cot and crouched beside Jenna. “Hi, I’m Jake. Will said you hurt your ankle. Will you let me look at it for a minute?”

After a glance at her brother, Jenna nodded.

“Which foot, Jenna?”

She pointed to her right one.

“I’m going to roll up your pant leg so I can see better, all right?”

When Jenna agreed, Jake said, “Got your flashlight handy, Rayne? I need more light.”

She reached into a pocket of her vest, grabbed her penlight, and aimed the beam at the girl’s ankle. It looked like a mini-football.

After a cursory examination of her foot, Jake unzipped his mike bag and grabbed a vacuum splint.

“What’s that?” Will asked.

“It’s called a vacuum splint. This will hold Jenna’s ankle steady so she can’t accidentally make her foot injury worse. It should also reduce her pain.” He showed Jenna the contraption and explained in simple terms how the splint worked. “What do you say, Jenna? Will you let me use this to protect your ankle?”

The girl looked back at her brother.

“Let him do it,” Will urged. “The splint will help.”

Jenna glanced at Jake and nodded.

Without waiting, the medic splinted Jenna’s ankle, then tapped his comm device. “Children are secure and ready to go.”

“Copy,” Seth murmured. “Hold position until I give you the go.”

“Roger that.”

“Will, are you able to walk or run until we’re outside the compound?”

The boy nodded.

“Jenna, will you allow Rayne to carry you?”

The girl looked at Rayne for a beat, then nodded. “Where are you going?” she asked.

“I’ll be in front of you, Will and Rayne. The bad guys don’t want us to leave. My friends and I will have you out of here and back home before you know it.”

“What about Mommy and Daddy?” she whispered. “They have to come too.”

“Our friends are working on freeing them. They’ll meet us in the rainforest.”

Through the comm device, Seth said, “Jake, two minutes.”

“Copy that.” He smiled at the children. “Almost time to go. Rayne, you and the kids stay behind me. We’re leaving soon.”