Page 81 of Twilight Tactics

The old blue pickup was tilted sideways in the ditch, front end crumpled against a tree. Glass sparkled across the asphalt in the headlights.

“Charlie!” She scrambled down the embankment, ignoring her protesting knee. The windshield had spiderwebbed but hadn’t shattered completely. “Bring the first aid kit!”

Charlie’s weathered face appeared in the gap where the driver’s window had been, his features barely visible in the darkness. Blood trickled from a jagged cut on his forehead, trailing down his temple and cheek. His pain-filled eyes found her face in the beam of light that spilled from Gideon’s vehicle.

“That you, Elena?” he rasped, his voice strained and gravelly. He tried to shift position but winced, trapped by the steering wheel. “Thought I might be seeing things. Head’s not working right.”

“Yes, it’s me. Help is here. Don’t move.” She reached through the window and gently touched his forearm. “We’ll get you out.”

Sully appeared at her side, flashlight beam sweeping the interior of the cab. He held the first aid kit in the other hand. “Is Ollie with you?”

“She’s gone.” Charlie coughed. “Two men in a black sedan ran us off the road about ten minutes ago. Came up behind us fast, hit us hard.”

Piper and Gideon joined them.

“What happened to Ollie?” Piper asked.

“I told her to run. At first she didn’t want to, but I convinced her right quick. She climbed out that way.” He pointed to the open passenger window. “As soon as she landed on the ground, they tried to grab her.” Charlie winced as Elena touched his shoulder, trying not to hurt him but also needing to see the damage done before they attempted to move him. “But that girl—she did a sweet move. One minute this fella had her by the arm, next minute he was on the ground hollering. She took off into the woods.” He gestured with his eyes toward the tree line. “Headed that way.”

Elena couldn’t help the short smile of satisfaction at those words. “She used what I taught her.”

“She asked me to take her to the ranch,” Charlie added. “Said she needed to warn you about something.”

“Warn us?” Sully frowned and looked at Piper. “About what? What happened at the jail?”

“Nothing.” Piper shook her head. “It was just the three of us and the night shift guard. Chris said she came into the kitchen for a minute, then went back to her cell. I was on thephone when Chris checked on her, then I did my check thirty minutes later and she was gone.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she pressed her hands to her lips while she gathered herself. “I don’t believe this,” she whispered.

Elena looked up from examining Charlie, her fingers carefully probing around his shoulder area where the most obvious swelling had formed. He had on a tank top—who wore a tank top in weather like this?—and the skin was already mottled with purple-and-red bruising. Her left wrist ached in sympathy as she worked, a quick reminder of her own encounter with an airbag.

“His collarbone’s broken,” she finally said, keeping her voice steady despite the concern constricting her chest. “I’m going to move the seat back, Charlie, so we can ease the pressure from the steering wheel. It’s going to hurt.”

“Just do it. I’ll manage.”

“Sully, can you hold him steady? Don’t let him flop forward or backward.”

“Got it.”

As Sully steadied the man, she raised the lever and gradually moved the seat backward. Charlie sucked in a harsh breath but stayed conscious. “Okay, lean him back.” Sully did so. “Gently, easy.” Charlie let out a low groan and panted from the pain. “Sorry, Charlie.”

The man chuckled in spite of everything. “It’s okay. I can’t believe you can say that with a straight face.”

“Can’t laugh while you’re in pain.” She looked up at the others. “He’s stable for now. The break seems clean—no obvious displacement that would threaten surrounding tissue or blood vessels, but he’s going to need an MRI, most likely.”

Elena pulled off her jacket and carefully folded it into a makeshift support. She positioned it to immobilize his shoulder as best she could. Her right knee protested as she shifted her weight, the banged-up joint sending sharp reminders thatshe was pushing it too hard. Again, she ignored the discomfort. “Charlie, you’re going to need to keep still until proper medical help arrives,” she added, her eyes meeting Sully’s.

“I’ll go after Ollie,” Piper said, pulling out her flashlight.

“No,” Sully said. “You need to take the car and drive until you get cell service. Call for backup and an ambulance for Charlie.”

Piper hesitated. “But—”

Sully straightened. “I’ll find Ollie. We need emergency services and backup. Ollie and Elena connected. I honestly think she’ll trust her before she trusts either of us at this point. And who can blame her? We’ve failed her.”

“Fine.” Piper’s jaw flexed. “I’ll head back toward town until I have a signal.”

“I’ll take you,” Gideon said. “Then we’ll return to the ranch and let Maya and the others know what’s going on and keep an eye out in case Ollie shows up there.”

“Perfect.” Elena turned to Sully. “Ready?”