Page 73 of Little Child Gone

Before Liam could answer, one of the Pine County deputies shouted for Caden as he pushed through the deep snow. He half slid down the riverbank and hurried to join them at the edge of the dock.

“How did someone fall in? The river’s frozen. Who was it?”

“Jared.” Nikki pointed to the ice auger lying in the snow. “It was here when I followed him. He’d cut the hole ahead of time, and it’s good sized.”

The deputy’s bright pink cheeks paled. “Jesus. What happened?”

“Jared panicked when he saw Caden and slipped,” Liam said. “You’ll need a dive team.”

They all knew the rushing currents of the St. Croix would win the battle.

The grim-faced deputy nodded, still trying to catch his breath. “Agents, for what it’s worth, I tried to talk the sheriff out of it. But he really doesn’t like Agent Hunt.”

“It’s not my fault his uncle was corrupt and retired in disgrace.”

The deputy shined his light onto the frozen water. “You guys take care of the kids,” the deputy said. “I’ll call the dive team.”

Nikki and Liam gingerly stood, careful not to step too close to the edge. Caden had retreated to the end of the dock, clutching his little sister, Nikki’s coat still wrapped around her.

Someone had given Caden a Pine County trooper’s jacket, but he was still shivering and pale. Penny grabbed his cheeks to make him look at her. “Where is Melia?”

“She’s with Sheriff Miller,” Caden said. “I made sure she was safe before I came for you.”

Sheriff Landry arrived with more deputies and directed them to search the shore. He marched through the thick snow towards them.

“Dive team’s on the way,” he huffed, his face bright red from the exertion. He glared at Nikki. “You’re coming back to help, right?”

“It’s your jurisdiction, Sheriff,” Nikki said.

“It’s your case,” he snapped back. “Isn’t that what you said?”

Nikki pointed to Caden and Penny. “They were my case. Recovery is on you.”

“I already told the deputy what happened. Get your brief from him.” Liam turned his back on the sheriff and handed Nikki the long rifle, ignoring the complaints coming from Landry.

Liam shimmied out of his coat. “I knew this coat having two layers would come in handy someday.” He unzipped the warmer coat from the interior. “Put it on and don’t argue.”

“No problem.” Nikki zipped it to her chin and approached the two siblings.

“So that’s it? You show up and someone falls into the water, and you leave?” Landry demanded. “I thought you were supposed to be the great Nikki Hunt.”

“Sheriff, you created this situation,” Nikki said. “You know damn well a review is going to show that you acted with malice in order to avenge your uncle you think I wronged. It won’t look good on your record, and it will follow you to any other job, I promise.”

She could tell by his purple face that he understood her meaning. While Landry sputtered, she and Liam joined the siblings at the edge of the dock.

Caden still looked shell-shocked. Nikki couldn’t imagine what he’d been through. The next several months, if not years, would likely be rough for Caden. She would make sure the family had counseling options, and she hoped that Christy would take advantage of the programs offered for victims.

“Did Penny tell you?” Nikki asked.

“Tell me what?”

She smiled at Caden. “Taylor came home. He’s at the hospital with your mom.”

“Is she…”

“The last I heard, in surgery.” Nikki squeezed his shoulder. “You guys go first. We’ll follow.”

Caden nodded, his eyes on Liam. “Agent Wilson, am I in trouble?”

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