Liam backs away as I get closer to the river. West has been pushed downstream by the water, being dragged over the rocks at the edge. The river’s force is just rough and strong enough to keep him from getting his footing, his hands useless behind him. His head has popped up a few times, and I hope he caught his breath.
Keeping one eye on Liam and the other on West, I stumble on the slick rocks and scramble toward the boy, moving deeper into the water. After two misses I grab his upper arm and lift his head out of the water. He breathes deep and relief swamps me. But he’s too heavy for me to haul out of the water with one hand. I shove the gun in the waist of my jeans at my stomach.
A force plows into my back, and I’m thrust face-first into deeper water, losing my grip on West.
“No!” My mouth fills with water at my shout, and my chest slams riverbed rocks.
Liam.
He lands on my back, keeping my head and torso under the water, and his hand searches around my stomach for the gun. My arms flail as I try to reach back to push him off.
His hand continues to dig, scratching my ribs.
I can’t let him have the gun.
Where is West?
Water goes up my nose, and I open my eyes underwater. Bubbles from the thrashing water cross my vision. My lungs hurt, and my brain screams for oxygen. But I’m pinned.
I need air.
48
On their dash to the shed, Rowan and Evan encountered the returning SWAT team. Rowan panicked when she didn’t see Malcolm among them. “Sit,” she told Thor, knowing he’d want to greet each man.
“It’s empty,” Captain Vargas told them. “We’re going—”
“Malcolm is gone,” she gasped, catching her breath. “He’s armed, and I think he’s gone after West on his own. We thought he was headed to the shed, but he must have known another place Liam would take the boy.”
Captain Vargas turned to his men. “Pair off. We’ll set up a search grid.”
“That’ll take too long. We have to use Thor,” Rowan said in a low voice to Evan. “There’s no way Malcolm knows how to use that gun. Liam would never allow him to handle one. Someone is going to end up dead. Especially if Liam is armed too.”
Her mind sped ahead, already planning. “Captain! Thor can search. He can follow Malcolm’s trail from the other building.”
Captain Vargas frowned. “You sure? I don’t know if that would turn out to be faster. The guy used to live here. His scent will be everywhere.”
“Thor can pinpoint the most recent.”
“Okay . . . but I’m still going to have my guys work a grid.” He turned back to his men.
Rowan ignored him. She’d encountered plenty of distrust on searches. The best plan was simply to get to work and let the naysayers go their own way. Evan looked about ready to argue with the captain, and she touched his arm. “It’s okay. Less distraction for Thor.” Evan was armed, and Rowan had her little backpack of supplies she always took when she and Thor went into the woods.
“We’ll use the pillow from that place as a scent article.” She rubbed Thor’s head. “Ready to work?”
His tail swept a V in the dirt, his eyes eager.
play
Rowan watched her dog. He knew what they were about to do, and he loved the hunt. It was his favorite game. “Let’s go.” She started to jog back to the little house.
It’s not really a house. I don’t know what to call it.
“That place,” she mumbled.
“What?” asked Evan, running beside her.
“Nothing.”
Minutes later Thor sniffed the pillow and turned his excited gaze on Rowan. She’d decided to start at the destroyed front door, knowing Malcolm had been there recently. “Find it,” she ordered. He spun and started to smell along the ground, moving at a slow trot, his tail slightly raised. He stopped and lifted his head, his mouth opening the slightest bit to get more scent. Then he took off, headed in the opposite direction from the shed.
Rowan and Evan followed.
Thor moved at a confident pace, clearly in work mode. Rowan spotted an occasional footprint in the dry, dusty dirt and darker spots where pine needles had been recently disturbed.
“We’re going the right way,” she said to Evan.
“That’s a damn fine dog you have.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
Thor never stopped and searched for the scent, which told Rowan the trail was very recent. She wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Don’t do anything stupid, Malcolm.
She hoped her brother wouldn’t get hurt. A gun in the hands of a person with little experience was a dangerous thing. He could be quickly disarmed unless he was committed to shooting someone.
He hates Liam with all his being.
Rowan quickened her pace to catch up with Thor. She suspected Malcolm would fire if given the chance, no matter the consequences.
The crack of gunfire filled the forest.
Thor halted and looked back at Rowan. “Find it,” she told him as alarm shot through her limbs. She’d hesitated to give the command, not wanting to send her dog into a dangerous situation.
But West is out there.
“That shot wasn’t far off,” said Evan. He’d drawn his weapon, his gaze scanning the woods around them.
“But was it Malcolm or Liam?”
A minute later she recognized the rushing sound of a river. “I think I know approximately where we are,” she said.
Near Liam’s dumping ground.
Shouts reached their ears, and she commanded Thor to return. She hooked the leash to his harness and got a reproachful look for it. He wanted to finish the search.
“We’ll celebrate later, boy,” she whispered.
Evan moved in front, weapon leading, and she followed.
“Holy shit!” Evan started to run.
Rowan tried to see past him as she ran too. They broke out of the forest onto the flat banks of the river. Two people were fighting in the water, but she could only see the back of one man’s head as he held the other underwater. He had short hair.
That must be Liam.
He’s drowning Malcolm.
Cries drew her gaze farther downriver, and she saw West struggling. He came up for air but was flipped and dragged by the water hitting the rocks.
“Get West!” Evan shouted at her. He had his gun trained on the men in the water.
“That’s got to be Liam!” she yelled back, already running with Thor toward the boy. Rowan’s bad leg struggled with the big, slick rocks, unable to get a purchase. Thor pulled, and she let go of his leash.
He was a black blur, leaping over rocks, an arrow headed straight for his target. Thor crashed into the water and grabbed West’s shirt in his mouth. The water was too deep for Thor to stand, so he swam, pulling the boy to shallower water.
Got him!
West was crying and sputtering, and Rowan was furious when she realized his hands were tied behind his back. She planted both feet and scooped him up in her arms. “I’ve got you, West.” She sat on one of the bigger rocks and pulled at the fabric on his wrists. It came loose, and West lunged to wrap his arms around her neck, wailing.
“You’re safe now,” she said. “No one is going to hurt you.” Thor shook, showering them both with water, and then sat, his gaze meeting Rowan’s.
“Good boy, Thor. Best job ever.”
“Get off him! I will shoot!”
Rowan looked upriver. Evan stood in a foot of water; his weapon was trained on Liam, who was flailing in the water two yards away.
He’s still holding Malcolm underwater.
Evan yelled his warning two more times.
Clutching West, she got to her feet and carefully stepped from rock to rock, putting more distance between them and the struggling men. She reached the river’s bank and turned to watch.
Liam abruptly sat up and swung his arm toward Evan. Rowan saw the blur of black in Liam’s hand.
A gun.
He’s going to shoot Evan.
The crack of a shot filled the forest as Evan fired.
Liam jerked and fell to one side with a splash. Malcolm shot up from the water, coughing and gasping for air.
Thank God.
For a split second she’d believed she’d lose both Evan and Malcolm.
Evan grabbed one of Liam’s feet as he started to float downstream.
“Show me your hands!” Evan yelled at the man. “Show me your hands!”
Liam didn’t move.
“Stay back, Rowan!” Evan shouted. “He could still be armed.”
She stayed in place, balanced on two rocks. West was quiet but clung to her like a koala.