Page 58 of Rescuer
He nodded. “Yeah.” He pulled out his phone. “Great, I have full service here. I can call some friends.”
Jackson called the police first. He put the phone on speaker, and he and Mia spoke with the 911 dispatcher. She promised to send a couple of squad cars plus the coroner. He wanted to get a search and rescue team together, but first, he needed to convince the police that his brother was truly in danger and not just a runaway.
Jackson had never been one to wait patiently. As soon as he hung up with the 911 operator, he dialed Swanny.
“Doc, what’s up?”
“Hey, Swanny. I’ve got a request to make.” As quickly as he could, he described the situation and asked if Swanny and a couple of the guys would come to the woods and help search.
Swanny’s response came instantly. “We’ll be there. You can count on us.”
“I know I can. Thanks, buddy.”
He hung up the phone. Now they had to wait.
Mia was on the phone next to him. She was talking with someone named Kay.
Of course! How could he be so selfish? She had to be frantic about her aunt. From her expression, the conversation wasn’t going the way she wanted.
“Of course I understand why you can’t stay,” Mia reassured Kay. When the older woman had answered the phone, Mia had heard the panic in her voice. She explained part of what had happened. She didn’t tell her they’d been shot at, but she did tell her that Jackson had been injured and they’d needed to find shelter.
She also explained that they’d found where the boys had camped and were gathering a search team.
Kay had been very understanding, but she had relatives arriving and couldn’t stay.
Mia didn’t want to leave Jackson at this moment. She had the feeling he’d been left to handle things on his own way too often. She knew the feeling. But even if she were a cold-hearted woman who didn’t feel any sympathy, she was a witness to the crime scene and had to remain here, at least until the police told her she could go.
None of which she wanted Gus to hear about.
She disconnected the call and held her phone in her hand, knowing what she had to do but reluctant to do it. Finally, she gave in and dialed Jane’s number.
“What do you want?” Jane snarled in her ear. “Don’t you know civilized people don’t get up this early? I wasn’t scheduled to come over today.”
Really? Sure, she knew it was early-ish, but it was after nine. She ground her teeth. Jane always got her back up, but Mia had to be nice. She needed her. Even if Jane liked sensationalizing things.
“I need your help. I was hiking in the woods with a friend, and we found a body.”
Jackson’s head shot up. He sent her a glare hot enough to melt iron. She shook her head. I’ll explain in a minute, she mouthed.
He grunted. His gaze cooled, but he maintained a fierce frown. She was going to have to do some quick talking. She didn’t want him to think she was making light of his brother’s absence.
“Oooh, tell me more.”
Mia had known that would get Jane’s attention. Her gut twisted, and she tasted bile. It was really sick how much her cousin enjoyed other people’s pain and suffering.
“I can’t. We’re waiting for the police to show up. Listen. I know it’s early, but I need you to go and sit with Gus for a few. I’ll pay you.”
Recognition flashed across Jackson’s face so quick she doubted she’d seen it. Heat crawled up her neck. Her cheeks tingled. She turned away from him. After all they’d shared, she didn’t want to see his pity.
Jane grumbled, like Mia knew she would, but then she named her price. Mia winced. But what choice did she have?
She agreed, and Jane said she’d be at the house by ten. The phone went dead. No goodbye or closing comment. What kind of family did she have?
She turned and nearly bumped into Jackson. She jumped. “I didn’t hear you come over here.”
He ignored her comment. “What was that about? Finding a body is not a fun fact. I know you were trying to convince her, but why did you use that particular tactic?”
Sighing, she brushed her tangled hair away from her face. “Because my family is really dysfunctional. The only way I could get Jane to watch our aunt was to bribe her. Money wasn’t enough. But now she’ll be salivating to hear all the news. I won’t tell her about you or Dylan.” She held a hand out in supplication. “Nor will I tell her that we were shot at. Just what she might read in the newspaper tomorrow morning. I promise.”
