The Rescuer (33 page)

"Let me work on the slats."

"Sure." He looked away to get his thoughts back to the work at hand. "Sanding. You'l need more sandpaper."

"I love it when you're flustered."

He glanced over at her. "It's nice to have your smile back."

"It's hard to stay sad around you. Thanks, Stephen.

Today meant a lot."

"You're very welcome."

He set her up at the workbench and then moved to pick up the first repair project. He'd brought her damaged piano bench

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back with him to the workshop to tighten the legs and remove the wobble. He turned it upside down on the worktable and got out the wood glue, working with smal shims to tighten the joints. The fabric was worn through around the staples and had begun to tear. He studied the fabric and realized the original staples had been inserted over a double fold of material. He could move the staples and give the bench another few yeafs of life.

He found a pair of needle-nose pliers and tugged up the staples.

The wood underneath the staples shifted. He stopped.

If he removed these staples the bench was so old it might come apart. Better to fix it than have it give way on Meghan someday. He pul ed up the staples and rather than a solid piece of wood supporting the seat cushion found a flat piece of wood covering a hol ow space.

Intrigued, he pul ed the wood back. "Meghan, set down what you're doing and come over here. I just found something."

He tugged out a backgammon-sized case secured inside the bench.

Meghan joined him.

"Inside the piano bench there was a slim compartment and a case." He used a knife to force the clasp open.

"Oh, my."

"What is it?"

He reached inside the box. "It's not everything we've been searching for, but it's quite a sight. Three pieces-emerald earrings and a diamond-and-emerald bracelet and necklace. Assuming these are real, compared to the pieces you had appraised, these would be in the exceptional category."

"I doubt Neil would hide fakes." Meghan reached out and Stephen took her hand, showed her the pieces. "Is it too late to cal Kate?"

"For this she'l appreciate a cal . I'l get my phone."

The pager he wore went off.

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"There's been an accident caused by the storm,"

Meghan predicted. He squeezed her hand as he dialed the dispatch center instead of his sister. It was a car wreck on the highway, police were responding, but he was the only one available for EMS. He confirmed he was on his way and closed the phone. "The jewels have been here for a long time; they can wait a little longer. Come with me. I can drop you at the clinic." He didn't want to leave her here alone.

"Why don't I take the case and you can drop me at the store on the way to the clinic to get the ambulance.

This barn doesn't have a good track record for storing valuables and the wind here is scary."

The store was brick and original y built to be a bank. It was a better place on a stormy night than this barn.

"Agreed." He closed the box clasp. "I'm afraid you're about to get somewhat wet."

She snapped her fingers for Blackie. "I won't melt, and I can run. Let's go."

Stephen stepped on the truck brakes as his headlights picked out a huge limb of a fal en tree. It stretched across the road. Meghan tightened her arms draped around her dog sitting on the seat between them, and Stephen reached over to steady him too.

"What is it?"

"The road's blocked." There was not enough clearance around either end to drive around the fal en tree. "This is going to be a longer trip than I planned." He backed up and found a place he could turn the truck around. "I'l have to get to the accident scene the long way around.

I'm sorry, Meghan. You'l have to come with me."

"Do it. Blackie and I wil survive."

Stephen cal ed the dispatcher to find out if Joseph could get

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through to Silverton to bring the ambulance and to ask if there was any chance of fire and rescue being available. He didn't want to think about having to transport victims in the back of a police car. Wind pummeled the truck. Lightning snapped overhead and the thunder sounded like it was right over them.

Meghan flinched. "The worst has to pass over us soon," Stephen reassured. If not for the jewels in the case at her feet, he would have left her at his house.

"I'd say there is a bit of hail in that rain."

"I think you could be right."

Stephen final y saw the flashing lights ahead in the rain.

"At least one cop car has made it here. Stay in the truck, Meg. If I can use your help, I'l send someone to get you." He parked off the side of the road as far as he could get and wished there were at least a few drivers out tonight who might stop and render assistance. He wanted Meghan to stay with someone rather than sit here on her own.

Til be fine. Go do your job."

Stephen squeezed her hand, grabbed his powerful torchlight, his EMS jacket, and slipped out of the truck.

The rain beat at him, the wind tried to blow him over, and Meghan had been right about the hail. He was getting a few strikes harder than just rain.

Two cars had clipped each other in an off-center head-on col ision. "Over here!" The cop shouted from the car off the west side of the road.

The officer came around the back of the car to meet him. "This driver is trapped with a broken left leg; the driver of the other car looks more like straight shock and a broken wrist when the air bag went off. I moved him over here to keep him dry and watch him since I couldn't be two places at the same time."

"Good thinking. Trees are down; the ambulance may not be able to get here, and fire and rescue is currently committed to

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other accidents. For now it's just us. Lets get this driver freed, then we can transport one in my truck and one in your car. My date has some medical training, so she can ride with you."

"Fine. Anything is better than drowning out here."

Stephen circled the wreck. With a broken leg, they needed options that didn't involve twisting the driver around. "While I check their conditions, head back to your squad car and get on the radio. See if you can raise another driver, a semi truck, anybody out on the roads to give us a hand. Once we get the injured moved, we need to push these cars off the highway.

And I need a tire iron, a jack, and whatever you might have in your squad car that won't bend when we use it as a wedge to force that metal."

"I'l get on it."

Stephen opened the driver-side door and slid in to check the conditions of one of the two drivers. Both drivers were now his responsibility.

Meghan hunched in the front seat of the truck, using the length of the seat to stretch out her legs and give Blackie room to lie down. He stil whined when thunder rumbled and about exhausted himself shaking.

God, I know You made the lightning, thunder, rain, and hail, but this is awful. Please tone it down.

Stephen had been gone half an hour-in this weather it seemed like an eternity. The wreck and the injuries must be bad or he would have been back by now. She wished she could go offer to help without being in his way.

She jerked as a brisk rap on the window behind her seized her breathing and scared a decade off her life.

"Meghan! I'm parked nearby and the ambulance is arriving behind me. Let's get you out of here!"

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Relieved to hear a familiar voice, she turned and opened the door.

Stephen headed back down the road to get Meghan, fighting the wind and rubbing a bruised wrist, relieved to have Joseph here with the ambulance. His two patients were loaded and ready to head to the hospital. She could ride in the passenger seat of the ambulance with Blackie while he rode in back.

The truck passenger door was open, the overhead light on, and the dashboard chime was dinging a warning for an open door with the truck running.

The vehicle was empty. "Meghan!" He turned in a ful circle, only to see nothing but night. "Meghan!" The wind blew his shout back to him. Where had she gone? Why? How long had she been gone? He leaned into the door of the truck and found the seat wet but that told him little. Blackie was gone and she'd taken the jewelry case with her.

He looked around for any other cars that had stopped, anyone else she might have gone to help. The wreck had blocked both lanes of traffic. A car was completing a three-point turn on the road in order to turn around and go back the way they had come; another car pul ed to the side, the driver waiting his turn to make the same maneuver. Stephen hurried toward it.

The girl on the passenger side lowered the window. "Is the wreck bad?"

"The ambulance crew has it covered. Have you seen a lady walking this direction with a col ie?"

"We haven't seen anything but the cop lights ahead and the cars turning around. The ambulance came around us, but everyone else has been turning around."

"Did you see anyone get out of a car, walk around, go to see the wreck?"

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She shook her head. "Sorry. Nothing."

Stephen stepped back from the car and went to ask the next driver. He couldn't believe Meghan would leave the scene to go back to town with another driver without coming to let him know.

No one had seen Meghan or Blackie. Stephen walked back toward his truck and the accident scene, his torch sweeping both sides of the road. She'd left the door open. Had Blackie darted out ahead of her when she intended to slip on his harness? "Meghan!" The dog was having a rough time in the storm, maybe that was it.

Maybe she'd heard something? Thought someone else needed help?

He reached his truck and searched it again, looking to see what was missing-her jacket, and a cursory look under the seats and in the glove box didn't turn up the jewelry case. He headed toward the accident scene.

She got worried and must have left the truck to come and help him. He shone his light back and forth to both sides of the road searching as he headed toward the wreck. The noise would have been enough to help her go the right direction. "Meghan!"

She couldn't have just disappeared.

Blackie appeared through the rain running toward him, barking ferociously.

"What's going on?"

"An accident of some sort." Dave slowed the car.

Traffic wasn't getting past. "That looks like a county cop car and ambulance lights." He pul ed to the shoulder and activated the hazard lights. "I'l go see if they need help."

"I'd help but..."

Dave squeezed her hand. "Eight-month pregnant ladies can

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leave helping at accidents to their husbands. I love you.

Stay put."

"Go."

Dave grabbed his jacket and climbed out into the wind and rain.

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What do you mean Meghan's missing?" Kate demanded as Dave leaned in the passenger window of their car. "Exactly that. She was in Stephens truck; now she's missing. Blackie bolted, she went after the dog and got lost off the side of the road or in the field.

Something." Dave reached in past her and opened the glove box and pul ed out the extra package of batteries and the flashlight inside.

Kate reached around to the backseat for her jacket.

The ambulance doing a point-by-point turn shone lights into her eyes. "Help me out of the car."

"Just a minute," Dave said. "As soon as the ambulance clears I'l drive us up next to Stephen's truck. The cop is going to drive the ambulance while Joseph rides in back with the two patients, so Stephen and I can set up a search to find Meghan."

"We need more help."

"It's coming, but we're in the middle of nowhere and trees are down. Getting here isn't easy. Sit tight, Kate.

I'l be right back."

Dave disappeared back into the rain.

Meghan was missing. Kate fought the nausea that now came in overwhelming speed when she was under stress. Jesus, I don't know what's going on, but Meghan... Please help us find her quickly.

The radio broke in with another weather alert: a severe storm

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warning with heavy rain, hail, and tornado watch continuing until 11 p.m.

We need lightning, Lord, as much of it as You can send. We need to be able to see.

The driver's door pul ed open and Dave slid into the seat. He drove the car forward to beside Stephen's truck.

The rear driver's side door opened and Stephen tossed a blanket on the seat and lifted in Meghan's wet and shivering dog. Kate leaned over to help hold Blackie.

"Stephen, get in too, please." Kate caught his wet sleeve and tugged him in. "You're as wet as Blackie is." She spent her life negotiating her way through emotional y charged situations, and one glance told her Stephen needed her skil s. "So many people are coming there wil be an army here soon to help," she promised, knowing Dave would cal in favors to make it happen. If he didn't calm down soon, he wouldn't be thinking clearly and might leave out details that would make the difference between their finding Meghan or not.

"She's been gone at least an hour now."

"Tel me what happened."

"I left her in the truck with Blackie and went to help the cop at the wreck. I told her I would send someone back if I needed her. The ambulance arrived about a half hour later. I went back to get Meghan." Stephen took a deep breath. "The passenger side door was open, the truck was stil running, the seat was wet. Meghan and Blackie were gone. Blackie came running from the direction of the wreck, barking furiously. There's no sign of Meghan, Kate."

"The likely reality is she opened the truck door, Blackie bolted, she went after him and got farther than she realized, and is sitting waiting for someone to find her.

She may have even sent Blackie back to get us. She'l be okay, Stephen." Kate held his gaze until she saw him accept that and relax just a bit. "We'l start 305

a systematic search outward from your truck as soon as enough help arrives."

They needed ideas for how to direct the search. "Or a second possibility: She went with someone back to town and she left a note for you. Someone else coming onto the scene found the truck abandoned, opened the door, and the note was blown away by the wind. For that matter, maybe they decided to steal the truck and got interrupted."