Page 85 of Twilight Tactics

“I’m okay,” Gowen said. “First bullet got me. Second one missed, but I’m all right.”

Sully snorted. “No, you’re not. You have a bullet in you.”

“Didn’t hit anything major, I don’t think.”

A deputy hovered and Elena looked at him. “Can you transport him to the hospital?”

The man nodded. “I got him.” He and Sully helped Chris to his feet. The agent groaned but stayed upright and soon was in the back of the cruiser. “My car’s two miles from the wreck. I tracked them from there.”

“We’ll get it sorted. I’ll be by to check on you soon, man,” Sully said. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” came Chris’s strained reply.

They pulled away, and Sully rejoined her. “You all showed up just in time,” he told the sheriff.

“The patrol was sweeping the eastern perimeter when we heard gunshots,” Sheriff Donovan explained, holstering his weapon as his deputies led the handcuffed surviving kidnapper to a cruiser. “Gideon said she’d probably be headed this way and we were trying to meet her like your friend was.” He motioned to the man on the ground. “Someone get the coroner out here.”

“I’ll take care of it as soon as I can backtrack and get a signal,” a deputy said.

“Head out and do that, please.” The sheriff turned to another deputy. “Stay here, secure the scene.”

“Yes, sir.”

“It’s Piper,” Ollie blurted out, walking back to slide her arms around Elena’s waist. She buried her face in Elena’s chest. “Piper’s working with them,” she mumbled.

Sully’s audible gasp echoed hers. “What? Ollie, why would you say that?” he asked.

Ollie looked up but didn’t let go of Elena. “I heard her on the phone with someone at the jail. She even admitted she stole my medication. She’s helping Rhino.” She pointed to the man now in cuffs. “That’s Rhino. I don’t know his real name, but Piper is working with them.”

Sully stared at the girl, and Elena’s heart hurt for the betrayal shining in his gaze. But he believed Ollie.

Ollie looked at him. “She was talking to someone about Hannah being safe if she did what they wanted.”

“Hannah?” Elena asked.

“Her daughter,” Sully said, his expression darkening further. “She has a sixteen-year-old daughter.”

Sheriff Donovan stepped closer. “Let’s get everyone back to safety, then sort this out. It’s too blasted cold to stand around in these woods yakking. Jammers are still active, but I’ve got guys looking for them.”

“The bombs?” Elena asked.

“All clear, according to the bomb squad.”

“Good. That’s good.” She gave Ollie another hug, still processing this new information. “Let’s go see what Piper has to say for herself.”

The journey back to the ranch passed in tense silence. Elena kept an arm around Ollie’s shoulders, the girl’s revelation about Piper turning over and over in her mind. The betrayal cut deep, even though Elena had only known the agent for a short time. If she felt like this, she couldn’t imagine how Sully felt. His hard features divulged nothing of histhoughts, but she kind of felt sorry for Piper in a strange way. Facing Sully was going to be terrifying for her.

At the big house, Maya took charge, wrapping Ollie in blankets and pressing hot chocolate into her hands. Piper was sitting on the sofa, pale, hands clasped between her knees, eyes on the floor.

“Why?” Sully asked her once Ollie was settled.

Piper looked up and found Ollie’s accusing stare, and her face crumpled. “You weren’t supposed to run,” she said, her voice barely audible.

“You stole my medication,” Ollie shot back. “You were going to let me die.”

“No! I just needed you in the hospital. I needed time.”

Sully stepped forward, positioning himself between Piper and Ollie. “Time for what, Piper? To betray your oath? To get a witness killed?”