Chapter Seven
Hutton
Navigating the dark with a dying flashlight beside Matt, I’m almost compelled to tell him who might be after Eden. The problem with that is I know that at least one of the FBI agents is working with them.
Is it Agent Scholl?
I picked up on it after the first day with my protective detail. The hint he’s hiding things. It would make sense that the agent closest to her is also the one in a position to hurt her.
“Can’t you get a better location on your prototype?”
Matt is currently staring at his phone screen following the tracking device. “Seems like bad tech for a federal agency if the accuracy is this lousy.” I stand to the back of him within reach.
I could knock him out with my flashlight and find her myself. I consider it. He turns to face me before I make up my mind.
“Could you and your smartass mouth take a break?” He sounds worried. “It’s doubling back and I’m trying to determine if the device is working properly. Stay behind me, we don’t know who has her and if they’re ready for an ambush.”
“Lead the way.” I nod my head for him to proceed. I’ll gladly stay behind him. If my instinct dictates it, I’ll take him out. I don’t even need the flashlight.
I’m no stranger to dark woods.
I feel at home here much more so than in any building with four walls.
Nature has a certain predictability. When I wasn’t hiding in the parking ramp, I found places in the forest wrapping around Camp Carroll.
She rarely ventured into the woods to look for me.
If I’d known what was coming, I could easily have run after stopping them.
The slaughter could have been avoided.
“I heard something,” Matt loudly whispers over his shoulder. “About three hundred yards to the northwest.” We’ve been tromping around in this wildlife preserve for twenty minutes.
Taking off at a run, I match his speed to run alongside him. “Cut your light.” He hisses at me. Whoever has Eden is trying to be quiet and not draw attention.
Wouldn’t Eden be calling out for help? If she is able? I’ll tear whoever hurt her limb from limb. Any mastery I have over my anger is dismantled when it comes to Eden. My heart is and has been hers for most of my life.
Two bodies slumped near a tree come into view. Matt pulls out his phone and makes a call. “We need an ambulance… I just sent my coordinates.” Then he disconnects. He must have called one of his fellow agents.
“Fucking hell.” Matt drops down next to Eden and I recognize Caleb as the one lying next to her holding her hand.
Both have injuries. She’s tied to something. Matt starts to tear at the rope binding her to a rusty piece of chain link fence.
“Eden, baby.” He pulls her summer dress up and the bullet wound on her upper thigh makes him swear a storm under his breath. “Eden?”
Forgetting my facade, I drop down on the other side of her and clean away the blood from the wound. Matt looks at me in surprise but doesn’t say anything about me touching her.
“Check on Caleb,” I tell Matt as I push down on the skin next to the bullet entry. Eden stirs and groans under my touch. I feel tears start to form in my eyes.
The way I’m feeling is foreign and… uncomfortable. A fresh swell of rage fills me towards the people responsible for her current condition.
Matt lays Caleb flat before pulling his shirt away from the bullet wound in his shoulder. He starts to do CPR. For the first time, I worry about someone other than Eden. Worry that one or both are going to die. Shoving Matt back, I take over compressions.
“You know how to do CPR?” Matt’s mouth drops open. “Okay, okay…” We switch off and when I’m not doing compressions, I lean over Eden to talk to her. Caressing her cheek. Telling her she’s going to make it. Because she has to.
I can’t lose her.
Time freezes as we wait for help to arrive. Two ATVs with floodlights and emergency medical personnel arrive after we’ve managed to get Caleb back. He’s still not conscious and neither is Eden.
I look down at the blood on my hands and arms. My throat starts to close. As Matt watches I rub my arms on the grass at my feet.
“You good?” I can’t speak so I choose to ignore him. Blood carries so many pathogens. The tests, the embarrassing ‘procedures,’ Dr. Wells, and the drill.
I get to my feet keeping my hands tucked into my jean’s pockets. We get a lift out of the preserve in the back of the wagon carrying Eden. Wherever she goes, I go. I’m not losing sight of her again.