Page 64 of High Seduction
“There’s someone,” Erin pointed.
“Two someones. We’ve got room for how many?”
“Twelve if they need room to spread out, sixteen if it’s a short flight, but that size of plane shouldn’t have had more than six on her.”
He nodded. “I’m going down.”
It was only a twenty-foot drop, not long enough to get any kind of adrenaline flowing, but he already had plenty of that, stepping into the unknown.
The drop was long enough to look over his shoulder at the couple of men approaching his landing spot. Thick winter coats, snowshoes—they weren’t unprepared for the conditions.
He landed on the lower level, detached his rope, and locked the lines in place to use on the upward journey.
“Hello.”
Tim turned and lifted a hand in response to the shout. “I’m Tim—paramedic with Lifeline Search and Rescue. You need some help?”
The men exchanged glances. “Search and rescue? Damn, you got here fast.”
“You just went down?”
“Two hours ago—we think our pilot had a heart attack. We’ve done what we could, but he’s passed out inside the plane.”
Shit. “Okay, let me take a look at him. Anyone else hurt?”
“No. Can you take us out of here?”
“How many are there of you?” Tim asked, stomping forward to examine the plane. “And how is the engine? Any leaks or other dangers to worry about?”
“Except for she’s not sitting on a runway, and we have no one to fly her, I think the plane is fine. There are four of us.”
Erin’s radio crackled in his ear. “Tim? Can I come down yet?”
He responded softly. “One more minute to clear.”
“Roger.”
Tim stomped up to the plane, eyeing the men who had moved to stand on either side of him. “I didn’t catch your names.”
“John and Ken.” The shorter of the two gestured. “I’m Ken.”
“I want to check you guys out as well,” Tim commented, “but first, show me where your pilot is.”
He ditched his snowshoes outside the door, then willing hands pulled him onboard as another face was added to the mix. This guy was a lot bigger than the other two, and Tim made sure to put on his least scary expression. “Paramedic. Where’s the pilot?”
The man pointed, and Tim hauled his way down the narrow path to where they had the man supported in a nearly reclined chair. He went to work, but first he called Erin.
“Leave your supplies at the chopper and exchange them for a stretcher. Shove it over the cliff, then come on down. We’ve got three able-bodied and one not so good. Their pilot.”
“Got it,” Erin responded immediately. “Time for me to check the radio for a response from emergency?”
“Matt? Has the radio up there made any noise?”
A short pause—Matt was probably trying to remember how to use his radio. “Oh, no. Nothing but you guys.”
“There’s your answer, Erin. The authorities know where we’re at, that’s all we need right now.”
Tim worked steadily, but one fear had faded after he’d entered the plane. The distinct lack of boxes and bags meant at least they hadn’t stumbled upon a group of smugglers. Because getting mixed up in a drug transport situation couldn’t end well.
