Page 102 of Rescuer
“I hope the police found them,” Wynne said. “We heard shooting and then sirens.”
Jackson grimaced. “Someone discovered us. Those were the shots you heard. I had called the police before that happened.”
“Can we leave this cave?” Wynne asked, her voice quivering.
“Wynne has claustrophobia.” Dylan went to the girl and took her hand. Jackson nodded, trying to assess her as she took two steps toward them. She didn’t appear injured. Merely spooked.
“Stay between me and Mia,” Jackson ordered. “I’ll go first.”
The teenagers both agreed. Jackson caught Mia’s glance. He pulled out his phone and sent a simple text to Mark. Mia moved to the back of the line, effectively sandwiching the teens between them. It made him nervous. He knew she didn’t have her gun with her. They hadn’t exactly planned this when they went to the hospital. Which reminded him…
Jackson hesitated. There was something he needed to know. “You knew Reggie was dealing drugs?”
“I tried to talk him out of it.” Dylan hobbled after them. “His coach forced him into it. But while we were being held, I heard the men talking about someone named Roger being the leader. And something about having several people with influence on the payroll. Including a judge and some hoity-toity guy trying to get into politics.”
Jackson winced. That would be Blaine.
“Jack.”
“Yeah?”
“Mr. Reese was there.”
Jackson expelled a harsh breath. He had been suspicious when he’d heard how the foster parent had pushed Dylan to go to the camp. He’d hoped he was wrong.
“What about Mrs. Reese?”
“I don’t think she knew. But she should have. One of the guys asked him if the old lady had asked him any questions. He said she turned a blind eye as long as the money kept coming in.”
She’d never foster again if Jackson had anything to say about it. And her husband was going away for the rest of his life, hopefully.
“The police will want to talk with you both. You’re heroes.”
Jackson’s phone rang, and he glanced at it. Relief filled him at the familiar number. He swiped his finger across the screen to answer the call. “Mark?—”
“Jackson! We found six captives, most of them teenagers. Your brother?—”
“He’s with me. He and a girl named Wynne escaped this morning when their captors started fighting.”
“Good. Watch out, will you? We have two of the men in cuffs. A third is down—he’d been shot before we arrived. At least two more are on the loose.”
Jackson relayed what Dylan had said about the leaders.
“We know about Roger. He’s going down. I’ll send someone to arrest Reese. We’ve called for ambulances. They’ll be here in a few. You’ll have to bring the kids to us. The paramedics can’t drive into the woods. Come meet us, and we’ll get the kids to the hospital to get checked out.”
Jackson met Mia’s gaze. She nodded.
“On our way.”
Mia followed Jackson’s lead back toward where the police were helping the captives. The cover of trees that hid them from view slowly thinned, and the shadows lightened.
Up ahead, the sky opened up. They were coming to a clearing. Mia’s skin itched. As much as she loved the sunlight, heading toward the opening unsettled her. It made her feel vulnerable, like anyone could get to them. The closer they got, the louder the voices grew. The higher-pitched tones of frightened teenagers registered. She also heard a couple of adults murmuring comforting words.
Dylan seemed to be limping. She suspected he was hurt more than he’d let on. He’ll be on his way to the hospital soon.
Jackson kept giving her glances. At first, she didn’t get it, then it finally dawned on her. He was worried that if he went to help, she’d think he was abandoning her.
She smiled at him. “As soon as we get these two to safety, you should join the search. After all, that’s one of your gifts.”
