Page 49 of Sutton's Shadow

Gah. She hated this. Hated feeling like she was back in high school, crushing after the unattainable. But wait... she’d never been like that in high school. She’d been too focused on her photography to fret about attracting a boy. It was like she was making up for it now. And she was being ridiculous.

David had asked her to come in to take a few photos of the group training, wanting to update the Nighthawk website. Wearing her old photojournalist uniform of cargo pants, hoodie, and hiking boots, she slung her camera bag over her shoulder as she climbed out of her car. David met her in the parking lot to begin her tour of the impressive complex.

As they made their way to the urban search and rescue training area, David explained the purpose of the buildings they passed. The large rectangular building near the parking lot held the Nighthawk offices and the classrooms where they taught some of their seminars and certification classes.

Behind the offices was the barracks. A four-story building housing dorm-style living quarters with a dining hall on the bottom level. The groups that came from out of town stayed in the barracks instead of wasting taxpayer money on hotel rooms. Sutton was impressed that the Whitakers had thought to offer those accommodations.

Next came the Nighthawk gym and indoor climbing wall. They skipped that building and headed behind it to where the outdoor climbing facilities were located. Emma was there with Logan Cain, Annika’s fiancé, and Evan Cole, a former Chicago police officer.

Emma was hanging from the climbing wall, instructing a group of men on the proper knots and techniques to use with the large human-sized basket they were working with. David explained the lesson was about rescuing a victim in difficult to reach areas.

She pulled her Nikon out of the bag, fitted the lens she wanted, and went to work. She watched them momentarily, learning the best angles and positions for the photographs she wanted to frame. As she snapped away, she was in awe of the technical aspects of a rescue. The teamwork required was remarkable, let alone the strength and concentration.

Emma’s skill fascinated her. She made hanging twenty feet in the air with just her fingertips, clutching a tiny ridge, look like child’s play. But Sutton knew it was anything but. It took mastery and fortitude, something Sutton felt she’d been sorely lacking. She needed to find her way back to the grit and determination that had once ruled her. Having been so lost since losing Liam, she wasn’t sure where to begin.

Her phone distracted her from her spiraling thoughts. It was Dylan, and she began shouting to her when she answered.

“Where are you?” Dylan barked.

“I’m working a gig for the Nighthawks. Why?”

“Good, I need you to find Wyatt. He’s not answering his phone.”

Her heart stopped. “What’s happened?”

“They found her.” With those words, her heart began pumping her lifeblood again. She blew out the breath she’d been holding. “Find Wyatt and get him to the Sheriff’s office immediately,” ordered Dylan.

Sutton was packing away her camera before she’d even hung up the phone. She waved for David’s attention, unable to contain her grin. After David gave her Wyatt’s whereabouts, she dashed across the grounds to the main office building. Whipping the door open, she tore down the hall toward the classrooms, following the voices. Spotting Wyatt through the glass in the door, she waved to get his attention. He excused himself from the class, motioning for Finch to take his place.

The concern on his face nearly stole her breath away as he stepped into the hall with her. “What’s wrong, Sutton?” he asked, gently touching her arm.

“Dylan called,” she gasped, not realizing how out of breath her mad dash across the campus had made her. She grasped his arms, trying to steady herself to get the words out. “They’ve been trying to reach you.”

His muscles tensed under her fingers. “I always turn my phone off when teaching,” he explained while pulling it out and powering it on. Dozens of notifications pinged as it powered up. He hit play on a voice message and listened to it on speaker. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Graham step out of his office.

“We’ve got her,” Ian said in the message. “She’s with me at the sheriff’s office. She’s fine, but eager to see you. Get here as soon as you get this message.”

Wyatt froze, staring down at his phone as if he couldn’t quite comprehend the words Ian had said. Her heart went out to him. Placing her hand over his phone, Sutton pulled his attention back and declared, “She’s safe, Wyatt.”

“She’s safe,” he repeated, now staring at the back of her hand. Slowly, realization sank in as the words penetrated. He grabbed her hand with his other one, repeating, “She’s safe.” She squeezed his hand and grinned, and his own smile broke out across his face. He grabbed her up in a hug, sweeping her off her feet as he spun, unable to contain his joy.

Laughing, she bracketed his face with her hands after he allowed her feet to hit the ground again. “She’s safe,” she assured, unable to restrain her happiness for him.

“Well, go get her,” Graham ordered.

“Shit, right.” He slipped his phone into his pocket and paused. “Shit, I don’t have my car. I hitched a ride with Logan today.”

“I can drive you,” Sutton offered.

He hesitated, glancing back into the classroom, before Graham urged, “Go. We’ve got the class covered. Go give Bethany a big hug from all of us. Jolene’s to celebrate later?”

“Absolutely,” Wyatt answered with an enormous grin. The energy now pulsing off him was contagious. Sutton couldn’t help but feel the joy and relief herself. The siblings deserved a happy ending.

“Let’s go,” exclaimed Wyatt. With her hand clutched in his, they raced down the hall and out into the parking lot.

Ithadbeenawhirlwind of an afternoon, but Wyatt couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt more joy. Sutton had made the forty-minute trip to the sheriff’s office in just under thirty. He’d raced through the front door, only to skid to a stop. There she was, sitting at the dispatcher’s desk, watching as the woman worked the radio. She’d looked up, her eyes shining. Before he knew it, she was in his arms.

He hugged her so tightly she squeaked, but he didn’t care. She was safe. His baby sister was alive and well. After the initial hug, he held her away from him to eye her from head to foot, assuring himself she was indeed unharmed. She swore she was okay, but he needed to see it for himself. She appeared healthy and whole, if a little tired. There were dark circles under her eyes, which he was sure matched his own. It had only been twenty-five days, but those twenty-five days felt like twenty-five years. But she was safe.

---