“Why would you help me?”
“Because so far, you’re just an extortionist asshole. Do you intend to up the ante? If not, put the goddamn gun down.”
The two men eyed each other for a long moment.
Becker swallowed. “I’ve got grandkids.”
“Sounds like you’re not ready to die.”
Law held out his hand.
“It’s my leg. I think it’s crushed.”
“Not a problem. I’m an expert at being a gimp. Teach you all the ropes.”
Becker let go of the gun.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Ahhh. Ahhh. It hurts like a—”
“No sympathy here, Becker. You threatened to shoot me.” Law had loosened the tourniquet a bit to make certain blood was still flowing.
Satisfied, he retightened the strips of cloth. “I don’t think Jori is feeling very friendly toward you, either.”
Law winked at Jori, who was huddled with them under the truck bed while he worked on Becker.
She didn’t smile but he couldn’t blame her. It was snowing now, soft flakes that turned the world into a winter wonderland. Gorgeous, but dangerously cold for three people who were not prepared for the exposure.
With Jori’s assistance, he’d cut Becker loose. Not having his prosthesis meant he’d had to ask her to help him shift a few things around when he would have preferred she stay dry and huddled out of the wind. But once he’d gotten Becker on the ground, he’d dragged himself and the trooper under the shelter of the truck bed where he could work on him. Jori assisted him with the things he needed from the first-aid kit. But he’d rather she’d taken shelter in the cab. There wasn’t enough room for all three of them in there but she refused to leave him.
The tourniquet was tight enough to stop most of the bleeding. To do more without knowing the extent of the injury might cost The Pecker his leg.
Once he’d gotten the man’s bleeding under control, he’d butt-scooted back over to the cab and torn out the seats. With Jori’s assistance he erected a wall around them. The fortress didn’t stop all the wind, but every little bit helped.
Help, Law thought grimly. They needed help to come. Soon. For Jori.
“How far do you think Sam had to go for help?” Jori was looking at him, her lips pale as she huddled in the blanket he’d found behind one of the seats when he tore it out.
“Not far.”
“Maybe she gave up and took shelter.”
Her voice wobbled. It twisted his gut. But he couldn’t let himself dwell on any of the things he’d been thinking about for a long time, until they got out of this mess. He hardened his heart.
“I can’t believe I said to send her out in this storm.” Jori was genuinely worried.
“Not your choice. Hers. Either way, she’ll be fine.” His voice was steeled with certainty, but he didn’t glance at her again.
For a police officer, lying to get the needed response to keep a gnarly situation under control was practically mandatory. But he wasn’t certain he could keep the truth out of his eyes. They were in a significant amount of trouble. And Sam, bless her, wasn’t likely to be their salvation.
“You’re right. Sam’s smart. She will be fine.”
Poor Sam. Law felt a beat of guilt about the way he’d treated that curly-haired rust bucket today. She was a faithful dog. A good companion. A help when he didn’t know he needed her. But she was a lover, not a fighter. He hoped she was holed up somewhere warm. Unlike Jori, he wasn’t at all confident of that, either.
*
Law adjusted the tourniquet he’d applied to Becker’s leg again. The accident had gouged a hole in his right calf and probably nicked an artery. The ground behind them had grown slick with blood before he’d been able to get the tourniquet from the K-9 first-aid kit in place.
Law glanced up from the wound he was watching to his own empty pant leg. The bastard had choked him out and taken his leg before he could regain consciousness.
But he was an officer of the law. Had taken a vow to protect and defend. That meant saving a life. Becker was a shithead but he was a human, and he didn’t want that life on his conscience.
“Do you hear a siren?” Jori was suddenly alert.
Law listened. “Yes.” But that didn’t necessarily mean anything. As a trooper he knew law enforcement was out in full force, prepared to take care of many accidents and other problems associated with the winter storm.
But the siren was coming their way.
“Stay put.”
Law scooted to the edge of the overturned truck, grabbed the edge, and pulled himself to his foot with a biceps flex.
“I’m coming, too.”
He made eye contact with Jori, worried about the smile blooming on her face as she scrambled toward him. “No. This may be nothing. Either way, I want you safe. Don’t move until someone comes to you. Got it?”