Cody’s gut-wrenching cry filled the cab as he stood on the brakes. He watched in horror as the truck carrying Jilly flew through the air before it disappeared over the side of the cliff. The sound of screeching tires drew his attention, but his vehicle was stopped.
He glanced in the rear view mirror in time to see the county cruiser heading toward him at an alarming speed. He switched his foot to the accelerator pedal and flattened it. Tires squealed as the FJ Cruiser lurched forward.
He pulled past the broken guardrail. The black and white SUV skidded to a stop a hair’s breadth short of his bumper. He jumped out and stood with his feet shoulder width apart, ready to kill them both.
The dipshits exited their vehicle and jogged toward him.
Cody put his hands out. It was all he could do to tamp down his fury. If either one opened their mouth, he was certain to lose his shit all over their asses.
“I’ll deal with you fucktards later. Call fire and rescue. Get an ambulance. Have them use the old logging road below.”
They stared at him.
“Now!” he screamed with all the ferocity he felt.
Finally, the men scattered like ants in a frying pan.
The gray sky had turned hot pink. Cody stepped to the edge of the road and peered down the sheer drop. He searched for the truck, but was hard-pressed to find it. He lifted his gaze further out.
Cody’s heart stopped.
The truck was sinking headfirst into the lake.
He dashed to the back of his rig and yanked open the hatch.
Cody snatched the duffel containing his climbing gear. His hands shook. In his haste, the zipper got stuck and he had to force the bag open. Items flew as he rummaged through the equipment until he located his longest rope.
He dropped to a squat and attached it to the trailer hitch behind his vehicle. He tested the knot. He slipped on a pair of gloves and tested the knot once more before he threaded it between his legs. He leaned back over the side.
“Backup’s on the way,” yelled Deputy Dumb Shit.
“Wait, where are going?” Deputy Dumber Than Shit asked.
Cody glanced from one to the other. It took everything in him not to shoot them where they stood. Instead, he jumped over the side, thankful he no longer had to look at their idiotic faces.
With one hand holding the rope above and the other holding the rope between his legs, he pushed himself off the rock face as he rappelled down the cliff.
The second his feet touched solid ground, he did a one-eighty. He searched the surface of the lake and spotted the truck just as the tailgate slipped from sight. For a moment, fear had him frozen in place. The loud squawk of a blue jay overhead broke him out of his reverie.
He sprinted through the woods, jumping over rocks and roots. He wove in and out of trees. By the time he reached the water’s edge, the only sign of the vehicle was a tiny splash in the otherwise placid lake. He toed off his boots and dove in.
When he came up, the cold water made him gasp. He raced toward the ripple and got there before the water settled. The sun now peeked above the tree line. The truck’s silver paint glistened in its rays.
The average depth of the lake was a mere eight feet. Cody dove and swam toward the sinking vehicle. He reached out and clasped the door handle on the passenger’s side. Jilly’s frightened face met his as she pounded on the window. Her panicked screams were muffled by the glass.
He stared past her and noticed an unconscious woman slumped over the wheel. The airbag had failed to deploy. Water rushed up from the bottom of the cab. Cody stared into Jilly’s wide eyes. He had to control his emotions if they were going to get out of this alive.
He made a rolling motion with his hand and she shook her head. Dammit, the windows must be electric. He tried the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge. Jilly nodded and searched the armrest. Her legs now floated behind her with the rising tide.
Cody put up a finger as if to say just a minute and fled toward the surface. He greedily gulped fresh air before he dove once more. This time when he clasped the handle, the door unlatched. He pulled with both hands against the weight of the water. A wave rushed in and pushed Jilly back, her body did a somersault.
As she spun away from him, he kicked hard and snatched her hand. He tugged. Once outside of the vehicle, he pushed off the side of the truck and headed for the surface. All at once he felt himself being dragged in the opposite direction.
He glanced past Jilly and found the woman had latched onto her ankle. With the cab now completely flooded, the woman’s hair waved around her head like the snakes of Medusa.
Cody focused on her face.
Delilah stared back with crazed eyes, her body trapped by the seat belt. Jilly jerked and kicked back in an effort to loosen the woman’s ironclad grip. Air bubbles floated from her mouth. If he didn’t act quick, Jilly would drown.
Cody let go of her hand and pulled himself along her body toward Delilah. His lungs were burning; he didn’t know how much longer he could hold his breath. He yanked back on a couple of Delilah’s fingers with enough force to break them.
She screamed.
Large bubbles floated toward his face. Delilah’s hand loosened enough to get Jilly’s foot out of reach.
He snatched Jilly under her arms and rushed toward the surface. They breached like twin whales, gasping for air. Choking coughs followed. He cradled her head above the water and swam toward the shore.
Two EMTs wadded out into the lake and took her from him. He stood knee-deep in the water, breathing heavily. They laid her on a stretcher and applied an oxygen mask.
Cody forced himself to swim back out. Although feeling the effects of exhaustion taking hold, his body still held enough adrenaline to finish his task. By his guesstimate, he should be around the area where the truck had gone down.
He took a deep breath and dove. He didn’t hold much hope that Delilah was still alive, but he had to make sure. No matter what she’d done, he couldn’t live with himself if he’d just let her die.
He brought himself level with the door and peered in. Delilah was dead.
Her eyes wide open.
Her mouth frozen in a silent scream.
Her hair floated around her head like sea grass.
In essence, she resembled her victims.
By the time he got to shore, they were loading Jilly in the back of an ambulance. He crawled in next to her.
An EMT climbed in and handed him a blanket.
“Thanks.” Cody wrapped it around his shoulders. He took Jilly’s hand in both of his. Her eyes opened.
Cody smiled down at her. “Damn, girl, you sure do go to a lot of trouble for a little attention.”
“Payback’s a bitch,” she croaked, and her eyes closed.
Cody leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Yes, it is.”