by Angi Morgan
She was genuinely confused.
Mack’s dark eyes, which she’d memorized the moment he’d raised his fist to hit her, went dead again. He was filled with blackness that looked so empty...so soulless. “I didn’t.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Tenoreno asked.
Tracey saw the concerned look on Aiden’s face and knew it was mirrored on Josh’s. She squeezed back in next to Jackson, dabbing some of the sweat off his forehead. There was nothing for her to give him. No juice, no water—nothing. All she could do was hope.
It wasn’t long before the pilot circled an even smaller runway from where they’d left. The engines ebbed and surged as he lined up to set the plane on the ground.
“This isn’t going to be pretty, people.” The pilot gained everyone’s attention. “Those gunshots must have hit something important and the controls aren’t handling like they should. So grab something steady. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Aiden, handcuffed to the seat belt, settled more firmly into his chair and braced a long leg on the seat across the short aisle. Josh couldn’t brace himself at all, not manacled to the floor.
“Can’t you unlock his feet?”
“Dammit, Mack. Let her have a seat belt.”
Tracey’s heart raced. Good or bad. It shouldn’t matter what side you were on when a plane was about to crash. Mack didn’t acknowledge them. He fingered the phone, then put it in his pocket.
There was nothing to grab. She sank between the seats and braced herself between the bulkhead and the closet. As she did, Mack noticed and didn’t make a move to stop her or let her move to the open seat in front of him. Jackson was unconscious. None of the shouting woke him up. At least he wouldn’t be scared out of his mind like she was.
“I love you,” Josh said as the plane dipped and shot back to gain altitude. He didn’t have to say anything. She’d known he loved her as soon as he’d held her hand in the bodyguards’ rental car. That moment had changed everything for her.
Seconds later the plane bounced against pavement and was airborne again. She kept her eyes glued to Jackson.
It wouldn’t be long. Sage was safe. At least there was that.
“Hold on tight, baby.” Only Jackson could have heard her, but she said the words for Josh, too.
Chapter Twenty
Josh braced himself as best he could. Mack was finally sitting straight in his seat and not watching his every move. There hadn’t been an unobserved moment to retrieve the handcuff key from where he’d hidden it—between his cheek and teeth.
Once on the ground, they’d need the weapons that should be stored in the small closet next to Tracey. He couldn’t give Mack time to recover from the rough ride or realize what was happening. He had to be ready. He had to be fast.
Spitting the handcuff key into his hands, he twisted his wrists until he could reach the latch. Key inserted, turned, one hand was free. The plane’s power surged, trying to gain altitude, pressing his body into the seat. He fought gravity and leaned forward to release his ankles from the manacles.
“This is it!” Bart shouted, cursing like a sailor.
Josh sat up. There was no time to grab and hold Tracey like he wanted. Then it was apparent that Bart didn’t have control. The plane was on its way to the ground. Crashing.
“Hold on, Tracey. We’re going to be okay. Just hold on.” He could see her boots in the aisle next to him. He wanted to comfort his son. There was just no way to be heard.
Nothing was fake about what the plane was doing. There was a radical shimmy when the wheels touched down again.
Noise from every direction assaulted him. At first there were huge vibrations, bounces and slams. He thought that was bad until the plane made a sharp pull to the right, tipped, and he knew they were flipping. His neck felt like it snapped in two from the concussion of hitting the ground.
Stunned. He hung upside down, unable to see around him. Then he realized he couldn’t really see his hand heading to his face, either. Stuff was floating in the air. Smoke or steam—he couldn’t tell.
“Josh! Josh! You still conscious?” Aiden called.
“Yeah, I’m... I’m okay.” His ears were still ringing.
Mack seemed to be unconscious next to him. His arms were hanging about his head.
“Tracey? Jackson?” No sound from either of them.
“The kid’s still buckled. The girl looks like she’s out cold.”
Pulling his heavy arms back to his chest, Josh stretched his legs so he could push his feet against Aiden’s seat.
“Hold on, Josh!” Aiden yelled. “I’m pinned in here just as tight as a bean in a burrito. My leg’s busted up and caught between these things. Can you get out the door? Or see the machine pistol?”
“Give me a sec.”
Bent in half and still a bit disoriented, his mind refused to adjust and accept that the plane was upside down and not just him. He managed to unclip his seat belt. There wasn’t room to fall. It was just a jolt. The windows had shattered and the space around him had shrunk.
“Tracey? Jackson? Can you hear me?” He could finally see her, boots pointed toward him, lying on the ceiling. He shook her legs as much as he dared. He couldn’t get his shoulders through to the area behind him. His seat was wedged in the way.
“Josh, you need to get the gun, son.”
“Yeah.” He did know that he needed to find the weapon. Logic told him that. But his heart wanted to free Tracey and Jackson first. They were both hurt, or worse.
Mack was hanging from his waist, seat belt still in place, arms swaying with each move that Josh made. He looked around on the ceiling—no weapons.
A pounding at the front of the plane made him jerk around. He hit his head on something fixed to the floor. There was a small triangle of space left where he could see the instrument panel. He carefully got closer, trying not to cause Aiden more pain.
The pilot was strapped in but it looked like his injuries were severe. Tenoreno kicked his door and it was almost open. Josh saw the gun. The strap was caught and it hung just out of his reach near the pilot.
Tenoreno stared at him and followed the direction he was reaching. An evil grin dominated his face. He moved like he was no longer in a rush. He casually lifted the machine pistol, moved the radio cord farther from the opening, then kicked the door a final time.
It sprang open and Tenoreno escaped. Josh pushed on the seat back until beads of sweat stung his eyes. It wasn’t budging.
“Josh?” Aiden spoke softly, as if he were in pain. “Try the other door, son.”
Crouching, he checked Tracey, giving her a little shake. He reached up and felt a pulse at Mack’s throat. Then he checked the door next to his seat. Jammed. Their side of the plane had settled mostly in the field.
His head was beginning to clear a bit. His vision along with it. He checked Aiden, who had passed out. He had lost the handcuff key in the crash, but could get Aiden free with a knife. To get to Tracey and Jackson, he’d need a crowbar or tools to release the seat back. And to get either of those things he needed out of the plane.
“Hello?” a voice from the outside called. Knocks on the outside of the plane. More voices. And light. Lots of light as the door opened.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine but there are injured people and a child. Have you got a knife?” Josh asked the man who was at the door on the far side of Mack. Josh’s ears were ringing badly and making it difficult to hear. He was catching every other word or so and letting his mind fill in the rest of the answer.
As much as he wanted to sit and let someone else take care of things, his son needed him. Tracey needed him. He wouldn’t quit.
“My daughter, Jeannie... Hand me the knife. I think we can get everyone out. Paramedics are on their way.”
“Let me get inside here.” The man kept the knife.
Without too many words, they worked together and released Mack. The rescuer climbed out and Josh passed Mack through the door to him.
“Make sure you use these.” Josh tossed the handcuffs that had been around his wrists a few minutes earlier. “Anchor him to something so he can’t get away.”
“You can come out,” the man helping said. “I can free them.”
“Not leaving until they do. You’ll need me in here.” Josh began moving debris, trying to get to Jackson and Tracey.
The stranger had seen what tools they needed to release the others, retrieved them and they went to work. “Start moving the dirt from the pilot’s window,” the man instructed someone who had just arrived.
This time another teen jumped in with him, rocking the plane just a bit.
“Where are the rescue crews?” Josh asked.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere here,” the teenager answered.
“They’re probably another fifteen minutes out.” The man moved carefully to Aiden. “Your friend has a broken leg, let’s get this wreckage off him.”
“The boy first,” Aiden said.
“Boy?”
“My son’s in the back along with Tracey. He has diabetes. They’re both unconscious.”
The man didn’t need more of an explanation. He went to work removing the seat blocking Tracey. It was a tight fit and Josh felt in the way until they got some of the bolts removed and the seat needed to be held in place. His shoulder kept the seat on the ceiling while they finished and moved it in front of the door.
“Tracey?”
Josh needed to be in two places at once. But he let their rescuer check Tracey while he released his son.
“How long have I been out?” Her voice was breathy and tired. “Where’s Jackson?”
“He’s okay.” Josh looked at his watch. “It’s been seven minutes since the crash.”
“It might be the diabetes keeping him knocked out.”
The man called to someone outside the door to come get Jackson. Josh handed him to another stranger and leaned down to get Tracey. Her eyes opened.
“I didn’t find anything broken,” their rescuer said. “Can you climb out of here?”
“Is it over?” she asked, looking at Josh.
“Tenoreno’s out there somewhere,” Aiden answered behind him. “Watch yourself.”
Josh looked at the Ranger Captain. “I’ll be back to help. Just let me check on Jackson.”
“You stay with your boy. These guys can handle me.”
Josh helped Tracey through the door. She was already at Jackson’s side by the time he was halfway out.
“Do you think it’s too high or too low?” Agent Barlow asked, running around the tail of the plane.
“He hasn’t eaten today, but he’s been getting the basal dose so that should—” She turned Jackson on his side, checked where his insulin port should be. “The cannula is still here but no tubing and no insulin pump. So now there’s a chance it can be clogged. The ambulance may have one.”
Tracey took the information a lot more calmly than he did. He was feeling that intense uncertainty again. But watching Tracey thoroughly check his son brought him stability and reassured him. “He’s going to be okay. They’ve called an ambulance. They’ll have what we need.”
“Jackson.” She shook his shoulder. “Can you hear me? Wake up, baby.” Tracey pulled up one eyelid and then the other to check his response. Jackson moaned.
“His skin is clammy to the touch,” Josh said, knowing that they didn’t have much time. “Where’s the ambulance? They can test his level and will have a glucagon shot. That should bounce him back.”
“We can’t wait on the ambulance. We need honey.” Tracey searched the people. “Does anybody have honey in their car!” she called out. “He needs his blood sugar brought up fast.”
A woman ran from the other side of the plane. “I have what you need at the house. Our grandson is diabetic. I sent someone to fetch it.”
Josh had been absorbed in helping his son and hadn’t noticed that there was a small group of buildings about a football field away. Sky High Skydiving was written on the side in big bold letters.
“No! Wait!” Out of breath, a teenager stumbled into Josh. All he could do was shove a bottle of honey and a blood testing kit at Josh’s chest. “This will work faster.”
Josh popped off the top to open a honey bottle and handed it to Tracey. She squeezed the honey onto the tip of her finger and rubbed Jackson’s gums, tongue and the inside of his cheeks.
The people who had gathered around were being moved back. Agent McCaffrey’s voice was in the background giving instructions to another agent.
“Don’t be too low...don’t be too low,” Tracey chanted.
Tracey went through all the steps they’d done several times a day in the last year. When this all began Friday afternoon, he couldn’t remember the date he’d been to the hospital with Jackson. He knew it had happened, but his mind had just gone blank.
The memories and feelings came rushing back like a jet taking off. His son had looked a lot like he did now. Tracey had held him in her arms. He’d had a hard time talking and staying awake.
Everything a year ago had happened so damn quick. Jackson had gone from a healthy little boy to almost dying. He was an amazing kid who bounced back and took it all in stride. Diabetes was a part of his life—their lives—and he never let it stand in his way.
The details crowded his thoughts, trying to block out everything else. Four days in the ICU while the doctors slowly, carefully brought Jackson’s electrolytes, potassium and blood sugar into balance. If they did it too fast, he’d die. If they did it too slow, he’d die.
The memory recreated the raw fright of that drive to the hospital emergency. His heart was pounding faster now than it had throughout the past two days.
He’ll be okay. He has to be.
“What’s she doing?” an onlooker asked.
“Trying to get his blood sugar up.” Kendall Barlow answered for them, then knelt next to Josh and Tracey. “I wanted you to know that Sage is safe. We took her to a hospital near Hearne. She’s a brave little girl and is talking up a storm about what happened. If you’re uncomfortable with that...”
“You’re sure she’s okay?” Josh asked.
Agent Barlow patted him on the shoulder. “No reason to worry. Rangers arrived to escort her home. Bryce Johnson said he won’t be leaving her side. I’ll call and have him bring her to Round Rock.”
“Round Rock?”
“It’s the closest hospital. Agent McCaffrey gave the order for our helicopter to evacuate you guys.” The agent stood and withdrew her weapon. “Can he be moved?”
Josh saw the weapon out of the corner of his eye. He scanned the area around them and saw Mack being loaded and handcuffed into the back of a truck. He didn’t want to move Jackson until the digital reading came up, but they were about to be sitting ducks.
“What’s going on?” Tracey asked from the ground. “His reading is only at forty. I’d like to see if we could get some juice. I’d hate to be in the air if he doesn’t bounce back.”
“We should take cover. Tenoreno escaped when we crashed. He grabbed the machine pistol before he got out of the plane.”
“Does Jackson need juice or is he stable to make a twenty-minute flight to the hospital?” Kendall asked. “Or do we need to take him to the house?”
“No, we can’t risk it. Not unless we can get him to drink something, get his levels a bit higher. This kit doesn’t have glucagon.” Tracey stood with Jackson in her arms. Josh reached for him but she shook her head. “Tenoreno is out there, isn’t he? Do you think he’ll try something?”
She�
�d lowered her voice so none of those watching or helping get Aiden and the pilot out of the plane could hear.
“Agent Barlow, I don’t suppose you have an extra weapon for Josh? He’s a better shot than I am.”
Kendall reached down to her leg, unstrapped her backup pistol and handed it to him.
He nodded his thanks. His mind suddenly became clear, remembering something that had bothered him about their landing. “How did our pilot know where he was heading?”
“What are you saying?” Kendall turned in a defensive circle, keeping her back to Josh. “Like they meant to come here all along? This rough landing strip is a legitimate skydiving school. You sure? Why land at a field with no planes that could get fugitives to Mexico?”
“Dammit. Not Tenoreno. It’s Mack who knew where he was heading. He was hired to bring Daddy to the vindictive son. Not set him free.”
Josh searched the perimeter of the field again and nodded as they headed toward the buildings to the west. Tenoreno was out there—both father and son. The plane crash had been less than ten minutes ago and a man could get a long way on foot in that length of time. But Josh’s gut told him that their escaped prisoner was close.
“So you think Xander Tenoreno wants his father dead?” Kendall seemed as surprised as he’d felt earlier. “And he’s here waiting to kill him?”
“Is it such a far-fetched idea that the son would want revenge for his mother’s murder? Or even to keep the power he’s had since Paul was locked up?” He kept Tracey and his son close between him and the agent leading the way. “Maybe we should see if Mack’s awake and find out.”
Josh trusted Tracey’s judgement about his son. He also trusted his own again. He shook off the insecure blanket he’d draped around his shoulders for letting these events happen. Jackson stirred a little, still displaying symptoms of low sugar, but he was a strong kid. He’d make it.
And Josh was a Texas Ranger because he was good at his job. He’d seen the hatred Mack—or Vince Deegan—had for Paul Tenoreno. It was possible Xander could hate him that much, too.
Chapter Twenty-One