Amazed at the number of officials who now surrounded us, I touched McCann’s sleeve. “I want to thank that young man. He was great. Can you get his number for me?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“What about Annie, the other girl?”
“One of the choppers is airlifting her, as we speak. She flagged down a trucker on Route 30 but they got stuck down in traffic because of that overturned tractor-trailer. She’s safe.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. “In spite of the hair-brained dangerous things you tried, you did good, young lady. Really good.”
Young lady? I love it. Better than ma’am any day.
“I didn’t do much except get captured. I thought I could free all of them.” I leaned against him, feeling woozy. “But it kind of backfired.” With a sudden wave of guilt, I grabbed at his sleeve. “Wait. Copper. Her surgery. Did she make it?”
He grimaced. “I spoke with Callie a few minutes ago. It was touch and go. But Copper’s holding her own and is out of surgery, resting comfortably. She’s a fighter, that one.”
“Thank God.” Another wave of dizziness hit me and I swayed.
He steered me toward a rocker on the porch. “Sit.”
I dropped into the chair, trying to stop the world from spinning. “Oh. I don’t know why…”
“You okay?” He squatted down beside me. “Just breathe,” he said. “You’ve had a rough coupla days.”
With a commanding wave, he summoned an EMT. “Can you give her a look, Charlie?”
While Charlie poked and prodded and asked me questions, McCann stuck by my side, occasionally having to answer questions from his own men, or redirect their efforts. Charlie recommended I go to the hospital, and for once, I didn’t argue. Everyone I knew was there, anyway.
I thanked the medic when he turned to help his colleagues carry Ginny out on a stretcher. Her broken leg was wrapped in a temporary cast fastened with thick Velcro straps to hold it still during the transport.
They were in the process of brushing past McCann and me, but Ginny made them stop. “Wait!” She reached for my hand, tears in her eyes. “They told me Aria’s at the hospital, thanks to you.”
“I’m so glad.” I scooted over to peck her cheek. “She’s one brave girl.”
“You’re our hero, Marcella.” She pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. “Now I know why Sky’s so in love with you.”
With a start, I straightened. “Um. Thanks, I guess.”
She settled back on the stretcher. “I’ll never forget what you did for us. Never.”
“You were pretty brave yourself, lady. And if your daughter hadn’t climbed down that hill for help, we never would’ve known where you were. She’s amazing. You should be so proud of her.”
“Oh, I am.” She flashed a half smile and wiggled her fingers goodbye.
The medics wheeled her out to the waiting entourage of helping hands.
When she was gone, I leaned back against the wooden rocker, trying to assimilate all that had happened. “I still can’t believe it. Congressman Troy was about to kill us, Gordon. I don’t know how, or where. But he basically said we had to die because we knew too much. He was taking us somewhere on foot, because his snowmobile wouldn’t have fit all three of us, especially with Ginny’s broken leg.” I glanced at the walking stick I’d used to smack his skull. “I was supposed to help her limp along. To wherever he was marching us.”
“I wonder.” McCann looked thoughtful. “I believe there’s a really steep cliff not far from here. Just over there.” He gestured in the distance.
I glanced through the trees, picturing the scene. “You think he would have pushed us over it?” I felt my skin pale.
“I don’t know. Obviously he had a devious mind, setting up Valentino as the serial killer to stage a scenario where Ginny and Aria just happened to be among the victims.” He scratched his head. “If he could set up your deaths to look like an accident, especial
Tall Pines Mysteries: A Mystery/Suspense Boxed Set Page 88
