Chapter 8 #2
“Not this time. We want to keep the number of civilians on the search to a minimum. Once we get a lock on the suspect, it’s likely the SAR units will be pulled back, and we’ll bring in our own K9 team.”
She’d seen them yesterday. An impressive looking Malinois with a handler who looked like he’d stepped out of a Hollywood movie.
“An assistant is required to scout the terrain and help the handler move as fast and safely as possible.” Max spoke between gritted teeth.
“HRT will assist as necessary. Dogs remain on leashes. The last thing we want is an excited dog to alert the fugitive to our presence and possibly endanger the girl.”
Max’s cheeks flushed. “You can’t come in here and tell us how to do our jobs.”
Sebastian stood taller and looked down his long, straight nose at the SAR coordinator.
“You’re mistaken. In this case, I can, and I am.
It’s not that we’re not grateful for SAR assistance but the last thing we want is more potential victims, and that includes you and your animals.
If it wasn’t for the fact a nine-year-old is out there and time is at a premium before the next storm front moves in, I wouldn’t let any of you within an inch of this search. ”
Nora narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together. The guy didn’t have to be so heavy-handed. Her SAR friends deserved better than to be treated like brainless minions. “Well, at least if we die horrible deaths, we’ll know it’s our own fault.”
Susan giggled.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed just a fraction.
“Unfortunately, Operator Black is correct in this case.” She addressed her SAR colleagues.
“The suspect is armed and dangerous. As a NPS Ranger, I appreciate your help, but as a friend, I don’t want anyone to put themselves in jeopardy if they don’t have to.
It’s not as if there might not be callouts for assistance elsewhere.
We need to be prepared for all eventualities. ”
Several volunteers nodded.
People inevitably became lost.
“If we have four volunteers for what will be an unusual, intense, and possibly dangerous rescue, then we can help the FBI cover this vast area they need to search.” She put up her hand.
“Chance and I are available.” Her cheeks flushed when Sebastian’s eyes locked on hers.
“For the search. Use us as appropriate.”
Dammit. Her cheeks literally burned.
“I’m in.” Max sounded pissed. “If only to witness the op and recommend improvements. Someone else can be coordinator for this one.”
They quickly found another two volunteers, and Fern took over the coordinator’s duties, which would involve close work with HRT here in the barn.
Sebastian stood to one side, waiting impatiently.
She glanced at him, her throat tight. “I’m with you?”
He nodded curtly. Glanced at Max who watched them. Smirked. “To use as appropriate.”
Sebastian turned on his heel and walked away. What the hell was wrong with him? To say something suggestive like that, in a professional environment, to a woman who’d been sexually assaulted as a child?
Because some idiot—who might or might not be Nora’s boyfriend—had pissed him off with his attitude and proprietary touch?
Had he lost his mind?
He didn’t do jealousy, and even if he did, he had nothing to be jealous about. He had zero romantic interest in Nora Deacon. They’d only known one another for a day, and hopefully soon they’d each go back to their regular lives and never think of one another ever again.
He pushed outside as the new day’s weak, pink sunlight reflected off the pristine fields of snow. Alpha Squad waited at the edge of the barn, out of the wind, ready to deploy. He held the door, and Nora joined him.
“You’re ready to go now?”
He nodded.
“I have my gear in the truck, so I can follow you to the landing pad.” She stepped over to her vehicle. The exhaust ran and clouded the pristine air. Keeping the cab warm for her dog, he realized.
“Choppers gonna pick us up here. Leave the keys in the truck so Ryan’s family can move it if they need to for any reason.”
“Sounds good.” She turned off the engine.
Placed the keys in the flap of the mirror.
He spotted the excited face of her handsome Lab in the window.
She opened the passenger door and quickly secured protective booties over each of the dog’s paws.
Chance then jumped out and came over to say hello.
Sebastian leaned down and held his fingers out to the dog, who sniffed them experimentally.
“May I stroke him?”
Nora stared at him with a troubled expression. Nodded, then hauled a sled from the bed of the truck and strapped her pack to it, then the skis and snowshoes. She began double checking the zippers.
He wanted to offer to help. Stopped himself. She was a professional, and he needed to remember that. But every time he looked at her, he thought about the twelve-year-old girl she’d been.
Dammit.
He needed to get over himself.
He ran his fingers over the dog’s soft head, his heavy, velvet ears, and sank his fingers into the dog’s warm fur. Chance rubbed his head on Sebastian’s leg before he trotted off to the side of the barn to smell whatever critters had visited recently and leave his mark.
Nora straightened.
He eyed the sled. “That’s a lot of gear.”
“Supplies.” She gave him the side-eye. “I’m not asking you to pull it.”
“Noted.” He suppressed a smile. “I’m more worried about the helicopter being able to take off.”
Her lips twitched.
He was starting to figure out her sense of humor. Perhaps if he started to think of her as part of the team, he’d stop feeling like he had to baby her.
“It’s not that heavy, and we can attach it to the outside boards of the chopper if the pilot is okay with that. This way we have an emergency sled should anyone get injured or for if Summer—”