Page 107 of The Fragile Ones
“Not yet,” Lizzy replied.
Let’s get you inside,” said Chad, as he helped Katie to her feet.
The three of them made their way back to the building to meet up with the others and decide what they were going to do next. There was Ty’s body, where to hold Officer Mason, and locating Maggie’s parents. It was important that they find medical assistance for both Katie and Maggie. They were stranded in Rock Creek for at least another day and needed to take precautions. They were all exhausted and there was still much to be done.
Katie glanced over in the parking lot to where her Jeep was parked—but it wasn’t there.
“Where’s my Jeep?” she said. “Did someone take it?” But how could they have? she thought, because she had the keys.
“Cisco…Cisco…” she said suddenly, and began running toward the end of the parking lot, which was just above a fast rising creek —barely feeling the discomfort of her shoulder.
From the continuous and heavy rainfall running across the parking lot, the vehicle had run off the edge, taking large sections of the soil with it—including Katie’s Jeep.
“No! Cisco!” She ran up to the edge and peered down, seeing her Jeep on its side about twenty feet down.
“Katie!” Chad yelled, trying to catch up. “Wait! Katie, wait!”
She had to save Cisco before the rush of the creek below took the entire vehicle, with her beloved companion trapped inside.
Katie disappeared over the edge.
Chapter Forty-Two
Wednesday 1845 hours
Katie slid down the muddy waterfall that had formed out of rocks, gravel, part of a grassy area, and pieces of the asphalt parking lot. Sliding was more painful than she had anticipated; when she hit solid ground it jarred her teeth and rattled her ribcage as she dropped down to the Jeep.
“Cisco!” she yelled.
She put her hands on the Jeep as it lay on its side. The side window was open an inch. Smearing the mud, she could see inside but it was dark. She didn’t see Cisco. Her heart broke. But then she saw him lying on the opposite interior door, and cried with relief. He perked up when he saw her and came to the window, pushing his nose and barking.
“It’s okay, buddy. Hang in there.” She frantically tried the doors as he continued to bark at her, but they were all locked. Eyeing the rising water, she knew she had maybe five minutes before the car would be washed away. She patted down her pockets, but realized her keys were gone.
Katie looked around desperately for something to smash the window. There were two fist-size pieces of asphalt, and she grabbed one.
“Cisco, back…back…” she instructed, to keep him away from the glass.
Katie kept battering the window until eventually it started to crack.
“Need some help?” said Chad, as he appeared, breathless, next to her. “Let me try.” He hammered the asphalt until the glass finally gave way.
Cisco immediately hurdled through the window to get to Katie—he was a black flash of joy.
“Oh, Cisco,” she said, petting and hugging him. “Good boy…I’m never going to leave you…never…”
Suddenly there was a bright beam shining down on them like an angelic light. John and McGaven were at the top of the hill, giving them some light to see by. Lizzy held Maggie as they looked down.
The rain tapered off a bit, helping Katie and Chad with their ascent back up to the parking lot—Cisco scrabbling in tow. With many misses and slides, they managed to climb the hill from the side where there still were bushes and shrubs capable of holding their weight. Hand over hand, fist over fist, they kept climbing. The pain from her shoulder had gone from excruciating to numb, but she managed to keep most of her strength through her good side to scale the hillside.
Katie made it to the top first as Chad followed with Cisco between them.
“Let’s get inside,” said McGaven. “C’mon, we need to get out of the storm.”
“I’ve lost another car,” said Katie.
“Join the club,” said Chad. He hugged her close. “But I didn’t lose you.”
Just as the group was about to enter the building to escape the storm, they heard the grinding engine of a large vehicle approaching. A large black truck crept up to the top and drove into the parking lot. It slammed the brakes, the driver’s door swung open, as Officer McKinney jumped out with his gun drawn targeted at them.
