Rescued Duty (Last Chance Fire and Rescue #5)

Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

N aya’s nerves tingled and her heart raced like she’d just downed a cup of coffee. She sat in the passenger seat of Zack’s rental car on their way up to the pinnacle. They’d already alerted the police to their findings, and Wilcox had said she and Basuto would meet them at the river.

She sent a quick text to Ingram to let her know what they’d discovered and instructed her not to go anywhere near Sylvia. This woman could very well be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and Naya didn’t want to envision what a confrontation with her would entail. Had anyone else from the environmental group grown suspicious of Sylvia? Or were there more people working undercover to throw off the trail?

She couldn’t believe they were chasing this lead. Given her decision to stop pursuing and writing this story for the Tribune, she almost wanted to laugh at the situation. She and Zack were doing what could very well bring about more trouble. But this time, the police were on the way and, she prayed, one step ahead of Sylvia. And Zack was close by.

Naya peeked over at Zack. His jaw was taut, his eyes glued to the road. On his right arm, the red bracelet was woven around his wrist.

This man had fought for her. And continued to fight for her.

Her own experiences and fears had clouded her judgement of Zack for so long. He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, but he did it with gentleness and grace. And he’d stayed—even when it hadn’t looked exactly like she’d envisioned.

She needed to take time to pray and discern her emotions with the Lord’s guidance.

One thing she did know for sure. When they weren’t fighting to survive to the next day, Naya hoped Zack would initiate an official date. Because she wanted the privilege of saying yes.

“What are you thinking?” Zack broke the silence, and heat crept up Naya’s neck.

How had she been so rude to him the first day their paths had crossed again at the bridge, when he’d helped her get the old man to safety?

“Just remembering that day when the bridge collapsed.”

“That feels like eons ago.” He sighed.

She shuddered at the thought of plunging into the river and wading through the debris to get out. “They were there that day too.” Naya turned in her seat.

“Who were?”

“Not who—what. There were sandbags in the water. I assumed they were from a temporary dam someone had put up.”

Zack snapped his fingers. “What if that’s one way they got away with it? People would assume a barrier had been created to prevent unwanted water flow, when it could have really been about disposing of contaminated waste.”

“That is a genius idea. Too bad it’s not being used for a good cause.”

Zack pulled into the gravel parking lot at the base of the mountain, not far from the service road where his car had almost exploded with them in it. Naya pinched her eyes shut, then opened them. That wouldn’t happen again today. No one had followed them here, and with police presence shortly, it would be foolish for someone to make a move.

“You ready?” Zack opened the passenger door for her.

“I suppose so.” Naya stepped out and zippered her jacket. The sun shone, and no breeze swirled through the air, but Naya still had the chills.

Zack opened up the map, and they headed for the trees. A paved gravel path wove through the wooded area, which made it easier to navigate despite the brush, rocks, and tall pine trees.

“If the drop-off location is marked by this X, it looks like it’s on the east side of the river over here.” Zack pointed off in the distance to boulders that lay in a haphazard pile several yards from the riverbank.

They hiked down the trail, and the tree covering blocked out the sun, which made the surrounding area more ominous. But as they got closer to the bank, the sound of trickling water worked to calm Naya’s nerves. On an average day, this spot would beckon Naya to come with her hammock to find solitude and enjoy nature.

“I thought Wilcox was on her way.” Naya glanced at her watch. Ten minutes had already passed.

“They should be here soon.” Zack stopped walking and turned to her with a smile. “They know where to meet us.”

Naya appreciated his effort to offer consolation.

They crossed over a bridge and came to a clearing. “Look.” Naya pointed. “There’s a hut.”

Zack quickened his steps, and Naya took long strides to stick close behind him.

Zack peered in the side window of the wooden shack. “It’s abandoned. Nothing but empty space.”

Naya walked around to the back of the makeshift shelter and froze. “Zack, come look at this.” Sandbags were stacked up against the hut like firewood. Brown pine needles created a coating over the area. A few feet away lay an overturned, unmarked white truck.

“This has to be the spot.” Zack blew out a breath and tucked the map into his pocket.

The burlap bags appeared identical to the one found in the brush last week.

Zack moved around the area, snapping pictures, and Naya headed toward the truck.

A gunshot pierced the air.

Naya dove for the ground. A choked scream left her lips. Another pop sounded, and a bullet whizzed past her, kicking up the dirt. Her ears rang, and her eyes didn’t want to cooperate or focus on her surroundings.

Where was Zack?

“Don’t shoot! It’s Zack and Naya.” Zack’s voice echoed through the woods.

Another round of bullets sprayed the air and pinged off the truck.

Now was not the time to freeze. Naya pulled in a shaky breath and army-crawled closer to the covering of the hut, where Zack’s voice had come from. Footsteps sounded in front of her, and Naya froze.

Zack barreled around the corner and dropped to the ground next to her. “Are you okay?” His eyes widened, and he gripped her arm. “Naya?”

She fought through the panic. “I’m okay.”

He glanced over his shoulder once more before turning his attention back to her. “Stay here.”

Naya gulped. “That is definitely not the police.”

“I’m going to see who it is.” Zack pulled a handgun from an ankle holster.

She stared at him, her mouth open. “You brought a gun?”

Zack let go of her arm. “Didn’t know what we’d encounter. Thought it was better to be safe than sorry.”

“You can’t confront them!”

Zack stood up. “Call 9-1-1. I’ll be back.” He kept his body flush against the hut, then disappeared around the corner.

No more gunshots rang out for the moment, but Naya didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing. She held down her phone’s side buttons to activate emergency services.

“9-1-1, where’s your emergency?”

“Pine Crest Pinnacle.” Naya tried to whisper, but her voice sounded too loud in her own ears. “Someone’s shooting down by the river.” She slowly inched back against the shack and kept her gaze roaming.

“Is anyone hurt, ma’am?” the man asked.

“Not yet.” Naya curled her toes. Keep us safe, God. Put an end to this evil before someone else gets hurt.

“Officers and medics are en route.”

A gunshot ricocheted through the stillness, and a few birds burst out of the trees and flew away. Naya squeezed her eyes shut and curled into a ball. She opened one eye but didn’t see any bullets nearby.

“Ma’am, are you still there?” The dispatcher’s voice echoed once more.

“I need to go make sure my friend is okay.” Naya disconnected the call and pocketed the device.

A motorcycle engine roared to life, and Naya’s chest tightened. Had they hurt Zack? She couldn’t just sit here if he needed her help. He’d been the one to come to her aid more times than she could count.

Out of love.

Love.

Yeah, she was going after him. She wasn’t about to lose him for good.

Naya crouched and shimmied her way to the side of the building. She scanned the expanse in front of her, studying the trees for any movement.

Sirens rang through the air, now coupled with the revving of the motorcycle.

The threat didn’t appear to be near her anymore, so Naya darted from her covering to the bridge. She ducked by the base of the crossing along some boulders so that her knees almost touched the muddy dirt by the water’s edge.

Her breath came in pants, and she strained to listen. No other footsteps followed. She stood up and tore across the bridge and up the incline toward the parking lot. She wove in and out of the trees, following a zigzag pattern, and stayed off the main trail.

Another gunshot boomed, and Naya froze.

“Police. Drop the weapon.” Shouts ensued.

Naya peered around the tree trunk and spotted Zack fifty yards away, near the parking lot, hands held high in the air.

She made her way up to the main entrance in the lot, mindful to keep her hands in front of her. Basuto stood next to Wilcox, who had a tight rein on someone she was handcuffing.

A motorcycle lay on the ground near the three of them, and when Wilcox turned around with the suspect, Naya gasped.

“Sylvia.” Naya balled her hands into fists by her sides. “You could’ve killed us!”

Wilcox began reading the woman her rights.

Sylvia glared at Naya and Zack. “Don’t think for a minute I’m going to talk.”

“Let’s go.” Wilcox escorted her to the back of the patrol car.

“Are you okay?” Naya hurried over to Zack’s side and wrapped him in a hug.

“If you’re safe, that’s all that matters,” he whispered into her ear.

She pulled back and examined his face for any sign of injuries.

“I’m fine. Really. You’re shaking.” Zack rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Do you need a blanket?”

Naya shook her head. Her teeth chattered, but she clamped down on her lips. How was this man so selfless? Even in the face of danger, he continued to look out for her needs first. The gesture made her want to reciprocate.

Basuto walked over to them. “Do either of you need medical assistance?”

“We’re good.” Naya didn’t want a big fuss right now. Not when she wanted to find out what was in that truck.

“You guys came in the nick of time,” Zack said.

“All right.” Basuto radioed in to cancel the ambo. “I’m going to need to take your statements.”

Zack relayed the information, then Naya filled in her parts of the story. “There’s also an overturned truck down there by the pile of sandbags.”

The three of them headed back down the path while Wilcox stayed with Sylvia.

They crossed the bridge and came to the truck’s tailgate. “My hunch says the back is loaded with sandbags,” Naya said. “There is also a stack by that shed.”

“We think the bags are where they’re hiding the chemicals that are causing the runoff in the water,” Zack said.

The lock was already open, so Basuto pushed up on the rolling door. Sure enough, mounds of burlap bags were piled into the bed of the truck. Basuto’s radio squawked.

The police lieutenant grabbed his radio and replied, “Bring the forensics crew down to the river base.”

Basuto walked around to the passenger side door and opened it. A body lay slumped in the seat. Gray peppered the brown locks, and fine lines etched the forehead.

Naya stepped closer to get a better look.

“And bring the coroner,” Basuto radioed and let out a sigh. “We’ve got…”

Naya tuned out Basuto’s conversation. Her eyes were plastered to the man in the front seat. His face was pale, but his clean clothing indicated he hadn’t been here long. “No, no. Oh, God. No,” she mumbled.

It couldn’t be. She must be hallucinating.

“This can’t be real.” Naya squeezed the skin on her forearm between her fingernails. The pain that followed told her she wasn’t dreaming.

“It’s all my fault.” She went to take a step forward, but her legs wouldn’t move.

“Nay.” Zack’s voice echoed somewhere in the recesses of her mind, and strong arms wrapped around her.

Former fire chief Ricky Powells stared back at her with lifeless eyes.