Page 35 of The Devoted Game

The beam suddenly stopped, then moved more slowly. Her heart did the same.

“Air holes have been drilled into the top,” McBride said over his shoulder, “all the way across the back.” Relief weighed heavy in his voice. “We have to get this damned thing open.” He inspected the gasket around the door, then pitched his flashlight to the ground and grabbed the handle with both hands.

A new rush of fear poured through Vivian, sending her pulse back into a frantic rhythm. If Katherine Jones was in there, was she still alive?

Instinct, or maybe desperation, taking over, Vivian pounded on the side of the freezer while McBride pulled at the door. “Mrs. Jones, can you hear me?”

“I don’t know what kind of glue he used,” McBride said as he put his full body weight behind the pull, “but it’s not coming loose.”

“Mrs. Jones,” Vivian shouted as she pounded some more, “answer me if you can!”

Vivian stilled, listened. She’d heard something.Had it come from inside the freezer?

Holding her breath, Vivian flattened her ear against the side and listened. Another sound reached out to her—soft like a moan, barely audible. Adrenaline ignited, rushing along her limbs and making her tremble. “We’re going to get you out of there,” Vivian shouted, hoping the sound would carry through the insulated wall.Don’t worry.She wasn’t sure if she had said that last part out loud. “She’s in there, McBride! I can hear her.”

They had found her.

They had found her!

How deep would the water be now?

“We have to hurry!”

Where was Pratt? Davis? Anyone?

She rejoined McBride’s efforts but the door just wouldn’t give.

Pratt, Davis, and the site manager arrived with the pry bars.

Thank God.

Pratt and McBride pried at the door while Davis cut the hose. Water spewed over them as the hose plopped to the ground.

Finally the door gave way.

Vivian directed the flashlight’s beam inside.

The interior space was empty save for Katherine Jones and the slowly building water that had reached her shoulders. Bound and gagged, the woman sat, knees to chest. She lifted her gaze to Vivian’s and moaned pitifully. Her mouth was duct taped shut. One word was written in black marker across her forehead:oblivious.

“Let’s get an ambulance out here,” Vivian said, with a glance back at Pratt.

“On its way,” he assured her.

McBride ushered Vivian aside. “I’m going to try and pull her out of there.” He reached inside, lifted and tugged at the woman’s shoulders until her head and upper torso were out the small door. Vivian pulled the cold, wet woman into her arms as McBride threaded her lower body free.

Too weak to stand, Katherine Jones crumpled to the ground, taking Vivian with her. McBride knelt down to get a better look at her condition. He slowly peeled the tape away from her mouth.

Vivian wanted to cry. She was so damned tired and relieved. Katherine Jones was alive!

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Jones,” she urged, “you’re going to be fine now.”

Mrs. Jones sobbed as McBride unbound her hands and feet. Vivian scrambled up onto her knees, peeled off her jacket, and draped it around the poor woman’s trembling shoulders.

Vivian’s phone vibrated, so she stepped aside to answer it. The drain of adrenaline had her sagging against the freezer for support. As she drew her phone from its holster, black lettering on the interior of the open door reached out and grabbed her attention. She peered at the letters, some of which were written very small while others were much larger.

T . . . w . . . O. Two. d . . . O . . . w . . . n. Down.

H . . . O . . . W. How. M . . . a . . . n . . . Y. Many.