Page 58 of The Heat is On
He listened, then turned to Stevie. “It’s one of the other marshals. He says he has the fugitives in custody.”
Skye leaned up from the back seat just as Stevie pumped the brakes. “Tell him we’ll be back.”
“But Rio’s not—”
“We’ll sort it out when we get there.” Stevie executed a U-ie that left a little rubber on the pavement and headed back to the hospital.
Breathe. Because…maybe she hadn’t actually seen Buttles. Maybe he hadn’t a clue where Rio was. Which meant she’d followed her heart and had wasted precious time that they could be using to fight a fire.
“We need to get back to the fire, Skye,” Tucker said. “I’m going to call Barry and see if he can come get us and drop us in.
“Not until I see Rio,” Skye said.
Tucker said nothing but pulled out his radio.
Barry Kingston came over the line.
Tucker relayed their situation, their position.
“Sorry, Tucker. All the pilots are busy with bomber drops. And Larke—she left with Riley, your injured smokejumper, to check on one of her patients who went into labor. I’m fresh out of pilots.”
“If we get back, can you chopper us in?”
“I’m just leaving to fly the bucket brigade.”
“Can you wait for us?”
Skye reached forward and grabbed Tucker’s arm. “Not until we see Rio.”
Tucker’s mouth closed in a tight line. “Listen. The Denali Clinic has a chopper pad. Can you pick us up? And we’ll need fresh gear—grab a couple extra PG bags, okay?”
Barry confirmed, and when Tucker clicked off, he turned to her. “Listen, Skye. I get that you want to check in with Rio, but we have a job to do—”
“I just need to say goodbye, okay? Five minutes.” And she didn’t mean to put that much pleading in her voice, but…well, she couldn’t leave without telling him…
Oh.
Uh. Well, maybe that he’d made her feel brave and capable and that maybe she didn’t have to be overwhelmed. That she believed him—that God would give her everything she needed.
After all, He’d given her Rio when she most needed protection.
And what if…what if after this was all over…
Tucker glanced at Stevie, then back to Skye, and maybe he got it because he nodded.
They pulled up to the clinic beside a Jeep. Skye barreled out of the SUV and ran into the clinic.
The bigger of the two US marshals, the beefy linebacker, sat in a chair beside a door. The other paced the hallway, looking up as they entered.
“Where is he?” Skye demanded.
The pacer frowned—she remembered his name from the ride over. Kennedy. He put his hand up, but she wasn’t slowing. She headed for the door next to the other marshal. “Is he in here?”
“Ma’am—”
“He’s not a fugitive. He’s a federal agent, just like you!” She went to slam her way into the room, but Beefy got up, blocking her path.
“Let her in, Warner. She’s telling the truth. And if you have him cuffed in there, let him go.” Stevie’s voice emerged from the down the hall. “Has my dad been transported yet?”