Page 71 of One Last Shot

“Trying!”

He looked over, and lights beamed from the bridge overhead. State troopers. Maybe he should wait?—

The van rocked, and the back end started to move. Only then did he realize that the van’s undercarriage balanced on a submerged rock.

“Can you climb out?”

She dove out the window, launching for him. He held on to his perch as she clamped her arms around his neck, nearly dislodging him. As it was, the force of her loosed his grip on the sliding-door latch, swung him around. He fought for his hold on the mirror.

“Don’t let me go. Don’t let me go!” She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him.

He steeled an arm around her, his hand still viced to the mirror, the river an icy cauldron, fighting to wrench her from his grip. From the wedge in the wheel well, hisfoot loosened.

He gritted his teeth, his legs nearly numb, and found a submerged rock to brace his other foot against.

If the van pitched, loosened, or rolled, he’d be swept downriver.

A couple state troopers had worked their way down the cliffside. Boo ran to meet them—no, wait. She ran to meet the Air One team, all dressed in their red jumpsuits, London carrying a rope, Shep and Axel, an extension ladder. Moose came down with a massive floodlight.

“Just hang on to me. It’ll be okay.”

Okay, so maybe this had been stupid, because?—

The van rocked, started to edge off its balance.

“We’re coming, Oak!” This from Moose, flashing his light on the river while Shep and Axel extended the ladder.

London was setting up some anchors in the tumble of rocks, working with the state troopers who’d come with the team.

“Get us out of here. Please, please,” said the woman.

“Hang on. My team is coming for us.” He scrambled for ideas. If the van cast off the rock, he’d have to let go, but then what? Maybe he should hold on to the van like a buoy?

The vehicle rocked again, the weight of it pitching to the driver’s side.

The movement tore his grip away.

The woman screamed as the river grabbed them.

His hand found the bumper. “Get on my back! I need both hands!”

For a second, she didn’t move.

“Listen, lady?—”

“It’s Ashley. My name’s Ashley?—”

“Ashley, you can do this! Get on my back!”

She unlatched her hands, then quickly moved one under his arm, then released her legs and ducked her head.

In a second, she’d transferred to his back, nearly choking off his breath, but at least now he haduse of both hands.

“Hurry up!” he shouted.

Moose had passed off his light and now helped Shep hold the ladder as London and the troopers secured the far end to the rocks. Axel stood onshore, dressed in a dry suit, clipping rescue and belay ropes to his harness.

The team angled the ladder toward the van, across the water. It fell into the foam, the light glinting off the metal.