Page 122 of The Rescuer

As a black shroud descended over her, she knew she would never see her love, her life again.

Chapter 33

Dark Timber

Reece prayed the cellreception gods would help him out and keep him in a protected service bubble. He hit redial, and Shane picked up on the first ring.

“Shane, what kind of vehicle does Dr. Bunting drive?”

Background noise told him his buddy was on the road, hopefully headed his way. “Got it right here. It’s a dark green Subaru Forester. I’ll text you the license plates. Have you seen anything?”

“Not yet. How about the rest of the team?” They’d fanned out like spokes from a wheel’s hub, but still, they were searching for one small woman in a harsh, vast wilderness that was bracing itself for a winter storm and growing darker as evening raced in. “Can you get that information out to the restof the team?”

“Already done.” The sheriffs and SAR’s satellite communication gear didn’t have the same limitations as common devices like cell phones. Reece had always appreciated Shane’s partnership, but even more so now. He was damn glad for it.

“Shane, that car Neve and I saw hightailing it out of town the night we spooked the person we thought might be breaking into the clinic? That could have been a Forester. Same size, same boxy shape. And it was dark in color.”

“I had the same thought.”

“Shit! We thought it might have been a kid. What if it was awoman?”

“We’re on the same wavelength. I followed up with Bunting’s office again.”

“Have they heard from her?”

“Not a peep. But that wasn’t why I contacted them. I had them check some of her pharmaceuticals, starting with the ketamine—for obvious reasons—and they sent me lot numbers.”

Reece’s pitch rose. “And?”

Shane’s sharp intake of air gave Reece his answer. “I’ve only received one batch so far, but a couple of them—”

“Match the ones missing from Neve’s clinic!”

“Yep.”

Reece slammed his palm against the steering wheel. “Christ, I had a—”

“Hunch,” Shane finished for him.

“You think Bunting is behind all of this?”

“Kinda looks that way, though I don’t know what her motive would be. Also have no way to tell if she’s acting alone or if she has help. You be careful, buddy.”

“Always.”

Neve was out there, and Reece had to find her so he could tell her he loved her more than life itself. And he absolutely did love that woman more than life itself. He would sacrifice anything to see her safe.

An unwieldy knot wedged behind his breastbone, making it difficult to breathe. “Come on, sweetheart,” he gritted out. “Show me where you are. Help me find you.”

Beside him, Pearl let out a mournful howl.

Consciousness pulled at Neve,and she woke with a start. The penlight lay in her open hand, reflecting Lark Bunting’s lifeless stare, its feeble beam turning her face more ghoulish somehow. The sight jarred Neve, and her reality came flooding back to her, bringing with it a swirl of confusion and a wave of nausea. How long had she been out?

Couldn’t have been that long.

Dizzying memories tiled together in a haphazard array: Neve whirling in her clinic to face a ninja with a syringe. Grappling with the ninja beside her Tahoe and hearing the clink of something dropping to the gravel. Lark Bunting’s mask riding up her chin as she shoved Neve into the back of her vehicle. Neve grabbing at the mask, pleading, asking her why. Lark’s return snarl. “You tried to ruin me! You’re telling lies about me!”

The images whisked themselves from Neve’s brain as quickly as they had appeared. She tried gripping the light, but her fingers were numb with cold. Her entire body was numb, except her wounded arm. Like a trapped animal gnawing at its own limb, the pain was relentless and pulsed with unbearable fire. More survival tips bobbed in her brain, like not falling asleep in the cold—she’d never wake up again. Maybe the unbearable throbbing in her arm would help her stay conscious.

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