Page 47 of Burning Escape

Sheriff Starr took a sip before answering. “The guy who tried to abduct you is Wayne Osborne. Got him on camera slipping something into your drink. The rest of his crew doesn’t know much. One of them said Wayne mentioned being hired to do something illegal, but no one is fessing up if they know more. All that to say, we’re on the lookout for Osborne, but there’s a good possibility he’s not behind the delivery, just the abduction. He could’ve been hired to do someone else’s dirty work.”

“Is he with the militia that tried to shoot us down in the airplane? Since getting caught up in trying to help Logan save Jamie, it’s been one run-in after another with them.” And Orion was getting pretty tired of it. What was it going to take to bring these people in?

“It’s possible. Mostly he spends his days driving his truck, hunting, and drinking with his crew. He’s got a few misdemeanors, but nothing like this until yesterday. My guess is he fled the area and will lay low.”

“What about the flowers? Or the knife?” Tori wrapped both hands around her mug but didn’t drink it.

“No prints to be found. No one saw anything around your apartment. Nothing the local florist knows. The flowers didn’t come from her shop. Which makes me think that the real culprit is a lot smarter than Wayne. He’s no mastermind. Just desperate for money since he’s got a gambling problem.”

“And Razor? Any hint of him around?” Orion tried to keep the accusation out of his tone, but this was getting ridiculous. Copper Mountain was a small town, and they couldn’t find any witnesses? “Have you found anything?”

The sheriff stared him down. “This is a big county with a lot of wilderness to cover. Why do you think people like Razor come here to disappear? We are looking. We’re not going to back down.”

“I appreciate that.” Tori stood. “If there’s nothing else, I’ve got a lot of dishes to wash.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have more, but this isn’t finished yet. Be careful, and whatever you do, I suggest you don’t go anywhere alone.” The sheriff left.

Tori grabbed a half-empty plate and scraped the food into the big trash can. Her hand shook.

“Hey.” Orion took the plate from her, set it on the counter. He wrapped her in his arms. “We’re gonna get this guy. We will.”

She snuggled into his chest. “I know.”

Because he might not be able to fight a fire right now, but he would keep her safe if it was the last thing he did.

* * *

Tori spun the tracker ring on her finger—a brand new one Jade had given her—as the new airplane lifted them higher into the sky. She couldn’t catch a break.

Here she was, living the dream, accomplishing what she’d set out to do, and her life was still a mess. And poor Orion was the one paying the price. Even with all his own stuff, he was looking out for her, like the way he’d calmed her last night after the sheriff had left.

She looked across the aisle to where Hammer sat with his head leaning against the seat back. Eyes closed, completely at ease. Just a guy covering an open spot as a smokejumper so they’d have an even number.

It should be Orion there.

She shouldn’t hold it against Hammer that it wasn’t.

Not that she couldn’t do this just fine without Orion. But it didn’t feel right taking off to fight this fire without him.

And he wasn’t taking it well. The others may not have noticed that tightening of his lips when they were called out. The way he’d waved them on as he sat at one of the sewing machines, repairing a chute like he was too busy to look up. But she’d caught that clench in his jaw as they left.

He’d fought so hard to be on this team. It had to be torturing him to be stuck back at base camp, patching up parachutes and mowing the lawn around the base, which she knew was next on the list Tucker had given him. All because he’d saved her and messed up his shoulder. She was costing him his dream.

Logan, Skye, Cadee, and Vince all joked around.

Jade leaned closer to her. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. You’ve been shot at, almost abducted. But you need to put all that aside now and get your head in the game.” Jade’s eyes seemed to bore into her.

“I promise you, I’m good.” She threw her boss a grin that hopefully looked more convincing than it felt.

“Hammer is good too. I know you’re not used to jumping with him, but I wouldn’t have brought him on if I had any doubts.”

“I know.” Tori cinched her strap to tighten the reserve chute resting on her chest, ready to be done with this conversation.

“All right, everyone. Final checks. Let’s be ready.” Jade addressed the group, practically yelling to be heard over the roar of the engines. “Logan, you’re going first. Then Tori and on down the line.”

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