Page 63 of Raven

I didn’t stop. “Where is she?” I asked, voice tight.

Mark exhaled. “She’s not here. She went to County General. There was… an incident. Kidnapping. Two kids. We rescued them a few hours ago.”

Kidnapping?

My gut twisted.

“Is she okay?” I demanded.

“She’s fine. Just exhausted. She insisted on staying with the kids at the hospital. Didn’t want to leave their side.”

He added lower, “One of the kidnappers got away. Cops are searching. We’re all on edge.”

Every muscle in my body went taut.

A kidnapper on the loose—and Beatrice with the only witnesses?

“I’m heading there now.”

Mark gave a firm nod. “Go. She’ll be glad you’re back.”

* * *

The driveto County General blurred past in streaks of light and blood in my ears.

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles ached.

She’s safe. She’s not alone. Tag and Gage are there. But still…

The thought of a desperate man lurking in the shadows, waiting to grab those kids, his only witness.

No.

Not on my watch.

* * *

I parked crookedin front of the hospital, engine still rumbling, and leapt out.

Tag and Gage were sitting outside a room near the pediatric wing. Both stood as soon as they saw me.

“She inside?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Tag nodded. “With Mandy and the kids. She wouldn’t leave. Said they’d be scared without her.”

“How’d she get Mandy in here?”

“Told them she was a rescue dog. Said she saved the kids. They let her stay, as long as she stays in that room.”

Gage added, “The guy who got away—we think he’ll try to get to the kids. They’re the only ones who saw his face.”

* * *

I turnedtoward the glass door.

Beatrice stood at the bedside of two small children.

Her back to me. Her hair messy, half-unraveled from a braid. A soot smear across her cheek.

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