Chapter Seventeen

CHANCE RACED UP LIMESTONE Mountain Road with Zeus, praying she would find Jax’s truck. There was only one thing on her mind, getting to Jax. Someone was threatening her happiness, and she wouldn’t let anyone take what she’d just gotten back. There had been no more texts from Lindsey pinpointing their location. All she knew was that they were on their way down the mountain, and someone was chasing them. Not just someone, possibly the same individuals who had vandalized her personal vehicle at the brewery.

“Comm Center to SD-1.”

Chance gripped the steering wheel with one hand and grabbed the mic. “This is SD-1, go ahead.”

“We had a 9-1-1 call from your half unit. We couldn’t make a connection, but we’ve triangulated the signal to Limestone Mountain Road.”

“I’m headed up the road now, I’ll advise as soon as I find them. What other units do you have coming this way?”

“State Police Unit 207 is en route from the Clover Run area.”

Zeus started to bark, and Chance squinted as she rounded a corner. Lights showing where there shouldn’t be any. Over the hill! She saw yaw marks on the blacktop and disturbed gravel at the roadway edge. Silencing the siren, she watched Zeus’ head turn in the direction of the embankment and heard him whine. She rolled down the window and heard a car horn. Short bursts followed by a long one, repeating over and over. “That’s our girl, Zeus.” She grabbed the mic and relayed information to the comm center to alert fire and EMS to her location. “Put the helicopter on standby, the vehicle is over the hill and is going to take some effort to reach.” Chance flipped her radio to act as a portable repeater for herself and incoming units. Communications in this area could be sketchy.

Zeus jumped across her and headed over the hill the second she opened his door. “Find Jax, Zeus. I’m right behind you.” She pulled on a rescue helmet and clicked on its bright headlamp before grabbing her trauma bag out of the back.

The horn continued to blast in intermediate bursts as she clambered down over the hill through brambles, laurel bushes, and trees. She could see the headlights below her and could smell gasoline and hot brakes. Heart pounding, she stumbled and felt her pants snag on the briars that impaled her knees and hands. Righting herself, she continued over the hill, making her way to the overturned vehicle. Zeus was already there and barking. The horn stopped.

“Chance!”

“I’m coming, Jax! Hang on!”

Chance fell again and felt the scrape of rough bark against her cheek. The overwhelming drive to get to Jax pushed her forward, as she gained her footing again and turned sideways to control her descent. Twenty more feet.

“Chance, Lindsey’s out cold!”

“I’m coming, baby. Almost there.” She climbed over several saplings that had been bent over as the truck rolled. Pieces and parts of the vehicle were strewn from the top to where the truck rested on its roof. Chance stumbled the last few feet and dropped to her knees at the side of the truck. She grabbed her knife from her side and cut away the airbag hanging limply in the doorframe, obstructing her view. Zeus was half in the vehicle and she gently pushed him aside. “Let me in, boy.” He whined but backed out and lay at the entrance. Her headlamp illuminated a terrifying sight. Jax’s left leg below the knee lay at an odd angle. When Jax’s face turned to her, there were tiny rivulets of blood on her face. “Your leg’s broken, Jax. Try not to move around. You could be more seriously injured. I’m coming around to Lindsey’s side to check on her. Sit still. Help is on the way.”

“Help Lindsey. I’m fine.” Jax grimaced as she tried to readjust her position.

“Like hell, you are. Sit still.” Chance scrambled around the vehicle and tried to work her way around the tree the truck was pinned against to get to Lindsey. She cut away the airbag but still couldn’t get access to Lindsey. The rear window was completely gone. The missing glass gave Chance ample room to scramble inside. She threw her bag inside and felt small pieces of the shattered window cutting through her uniform pants as she followed it in. Chance ordered Zeus not to follow her. “Blijf.” He whined, as she disappeared inside the cab.

“Chance, how are we going to get her down? She hasn’t done more than moan since we came to a stop.”

Chance could hear approaching sirens and prayed they’d get there soon. Her Suburban would mark the location for those incoming units. I’ve got to try and cradle her head and protect her spinal integrity. Let me grab a cervical collar out of my bag.” Chance felt around on the floor and found the light attached to the vehicle’s headliner. She also pushed the overheads near the windshield to illuminate the cab. Now that she could see, she could better assess both women and give a report. She felt for Lindsey’s carotid pulse, pounding but steady. There was a gash on the side of her face, along with a significant cut to her right arm.

Chance pulled the cervical collar from her trauma bag, deftly fitting it around Lindsey’s neck, as she assessed her breathing for rate and quality. “Lindsey, can you hear me?” Chance listened, as the young woman groaned but did not offer a response. With the collar in place, Chance looked over Lindsey’s body, trying to locate any other injuries. It was possible they were internal. Zeus barked, and Chance turned to see Harley in her olive-green uniform, the agony on her face clear.

“Chance, is she okay?” Harley clambered in beside Chance.

“Head wound, unresponsive to anything other than painful or verbal stimuli. If you think you can support her head and neck, I’ll cut her seatbelt so we can get her on the ground back here. Being upside down with a concussion has to be causing her pain.”

Tears streaked down Jax’s face. “Harley, I’m so sorry. I don’t know who ran us off the road.”

“Jax, this isn’t your fault. Whoever did this will be held accountable. Let’s concentrate on getting you two out of here and to the hospital. After that, Katy bar the door.”

Chance found a way to squeeze into the front cab between the bucket seats. She stopped for a few seconds to kiss Jax on the forehead. “It’s going to be okay. I’m going to get you out of here.”

Harley put her hands on Lindsey’s shoulders while using her forearms to cradle Lindsey’s head and the cervical collar. “I’m ready.”

Chance braced her shoulders up against Lindsey’s thighs and wrapped one arm around them in preparation to control her descent. “Here we go.” Chance used her knife to slice through the seatbelt that held Lindsey in the air. Once they’d guided Lindsey down, they used the lever to lay the seat back and maneuver her into the back seat. “Harley, you’re going to have to stay where you are and keep her neck in line. I need to give an update.”

Harley nodded. “I’m not going anywhere. I may not have given birth to her, but she’s as much my daughter as Meg is.”

“She knows that too. Keep talking to her.” Chance keyed her radio. “SD-1 to Comm Center.”

“SD-1, go ahead.”

“I’ve made access to the patients. There are two cruisers where the vehicle went over. Two patients, one with an obvious tib-fib fracture. Second victim has a facial laceration and is unconscious. Advise the incoming units they will need to set up a haul system to bring them up over the hill. Both patients will need to be carried up out of here in rescue baskets.”

“10-4, Sheriff. You have units from Thomas and Parsons coming your way along with SR-5 and an ambulance out of Thomas.”

“Thanks, Willa.”

“SR-5 to SD-1.”

A wash of relief flooded over Chance as Sarah’s voice came across the radio. Chance was so very grateful her best friend was coming on the rescue unit.

“Sarah, I’m probably thirty feet down a steep embankment. The terrain is rough. They aren’t trapped but getting them out of here is going to be a bear. Who do you have with you?”

Sarah rattled off names, further relieving Chance’s building anxiety. “Okay, bleeding is controlled on patient one. I’m going to splint patient two now.” Chance could hear sirens a bit closer. “Jax, can you describe anything about the bikes or riders?”

Jax gritted her teeth and nodded. “Dirt bikes. One of the guys had the same sweatshirt from the other night. I can’t give you much detail other than one of them had a hay hook.”

Chance leaned in and kissed her softly. “Hang in there. I’m going to get you out of here. Then cocoon you in bubble wrap and put you in my pocket until we get married.”

Jax somehow managed a smile. “I might just take you up on that. I was so scared I’d never see you again.”

Chance ran her fingertips over Jax’s jaw. “Not ever going to happen. Let’s get that leg stabilized. Sarah and the rest of the gang will be here soon.” Chance watched, as Jax closed her eyes.

 

***

 

Chance paced the hallway, Zeus at her heel. She tapped her cellphone against her chin, willing it to vibrate with a text from Taylor. Her deputies and several state troopers were out searching the area of the scene for the bike and riders that Jax described. Lindsey had regained consciousness in the emergency room, with Meg at her side. Harley had gone back out to lead the search with a promise to both her and Meg to find who did it.

Dr. Amy Halston stepped to her side. “Chance, we’re spending too much time together lately.”

“I really wish it was under different circumstances, though I am extremely grateful you are on duty. How is she?”

Amy put her hands in her lab coat. “The orthopedist is looking at the MRI now. If it’s a simple break, he’ll set it and put a cast on it. If it’s more complicated, it may require surgery. Fingers crossed.” She pulled her hand from her pocket and crossed her middle finger over her index.

“From your lips to God’s ears. I’m going to go check in with Marty and the moms-squared. How about the next time we catch a beer over in my neck of the woods instead? Redemption’s Road has great beer and music.”

Amy squinted and pointed at her. “Deal. I hope she’s okay; you guys have been through enough.”

“Thanks again, Amy.”

Chance made her way to the waiting room, Zeus following closely. Marty sat, rubbing his hands back and forth through what was left of his hair. Maggie patted the seat beside her, and Chance sat down between her mother and Marty. Dee leaned against the wall.

Maggie leaned in. “Did they tell you anything yet?”

Chance let out a slow breath. “Amy said the orthopedic doctor is taking a look now.”

Marty grinned at her. “Her mother and father are on their way, should be here in a few hours. I’d leave that bulletproof vest on if I were you.”

Chance groaned. “Let’s hope her dad is a little more understanding.”

“Mike St. Claire is a good man. The fact that he’s put up with my sister all these years is a testament to his character. I’ve never been a fan of the way he let Jacqueline treat Jax. It was one of the things that drove her to California.”

Chance ran her hands over her face. She was sure Mrs. St. Claire would put the blame squarely on her for Jax’s injuries. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing her after all these years. “Well, I’m certainly glad Jax didn’t let it stop her from coming back.”

Marty put a hand on Chance’s shoulder. “It wasn’t just my offer that brought her back, you know?”

Chance let a smile sneak through. “Thank God for that.”

Maggie pulled Chance’s hand into her own. “You let me head Jacqueline off. You concentrate on Jax and figuring out who did this. Have you gone down and talked with Megan?”

“Briefly, when she first got here. She’s a wreck. Whoever did this better hope Harley gets to them before Meg or I do. They’re already jumpy about the threats Leland Kur_.” Chance stopped abruptly and stood, grabbing her phone and scrolling her contacts.

Dee stood up and followed her. “What is it?”

“Leland Kurst. He used to race motocross. Something has been niggling at my brain since my tires got flattened. It was a long time ago, but he won some big championship up in Pennsylvania. He was almost disqualified because his backplate had something the officials considered vulgar, a skeletal hand with fire engulfing an extended middle finger, one that closely resembles the one that assailant from the brewery was wearing. Jax said the guy that ran her over the hill was wearing that same sweatshirt as the guy from the bar. It’s a longshot, but if Rick and Tess can pull up the old photo, I might have enough to get a warrant to go search their place. With the paperwork Lindsey and Jax filed, it would be one more piece of ammo to take to the judge.” She found the number she was looking for and called her friends who owned the newspaper.

Rick answered the phone. “Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

“Rick, I need a favor from you and Tess. Can you check your archives and find a story about Leland Kurst? It’s a motocross story and a near disqualification.”

Tess had joined the conversation. “I remember that. Something about an obscene sticker. We didn’t have anyone cover it, but I got some untouched photos from one of the freelance photographers from the area. It might take a while to look through the files, but we’ll start searching. We’ll send you anything we find. What’s this about?”

Chance rubbed her eyes. On one hand, she was asking them for help, on the other, they were the media. The good thing was they were media she trusted, and in the end, she’d give them the story. “Jax and her assistant were run off the road and over the hill tonight. Both were seriously injured. I have reason to believe Leland might be involved, and heaven help him if he is. That’s why I need those pictures. I can’t tell you how important this is, but if it plays out, I’ll have one hell of an exclusive for you.”

“We’d help you even without that, Chance. We’ve been friends for a long time. Tess and I are so happy to see you settle down with Jax. Give us some time and we’ll find everything we can and email it to you.”

“Thank you, both of you. I appreciate it. Jax’s doctor is coming. I’ll check in with you later.”

They disconnected the call, as a tall doctor in scrubs and a lab coat walked up to her.

“Are you the family with Jax St. Claire?”

Chance nodded. “I’m her fiancée, and this is her uncle, Marty Hendricks. How is she?”

“I’m Dr. Mason. She’s being prepped for surgery.”

Chance clenched her fist. “Her leg is that bad?”

“We’re going to set and cast the fracture. The surgery is to repair a meniscus tear discovered when we did the MRI. It’s bad enough it wouldn’t have healed on its own. She’ll require therapy afterward, and she’ll have a cast on that lower leg for at least three months.”

“Are there any other major injuries?” Chance knew there was a distinct possibility serious complications might exist.

“She has some severe bruising across her chest and lower abdomen from the seat belt. When we catheterized her for surgery, we noticed some blood in the urine, likely caused by the seatbelt and the rollover. She’ll be here for the next few days, so we can watch her for any other delayed injury presentations. She has a slight concussion, and we stitched up a laceration in her hairline. She’s very lucky. I’ll come back out after the surgery and give you an update.”

Chance felt as if her heart was suspended in time. The center of her world was undergoing surgery for injuries sustained by someone with a grudge. “Thank you, doctor. We’ll be here.” She needed to go down to Lindsey’s room and see if she felt up to answering a few questions. When Dr. Mason left, Chance felt incredibly antsy, near consumed with blinding anger. This is my fault. Zeus whined at her side. “I’m okay, boy. Jax is going to be fine. Mom, I need to go check in on Lindsey. Call me if they come back or Jax’s parents show up. I have to do something.”

Maggie placed her hands on the sides of Chance’s face. “You listen to me for one minute. I know you, and no matter what’s going through that thick skull of yours, this is not your fault. You will find who did this and bring them in. Jax needs you, don’t go off half-cocked. You hear me?”

Dee put a hand on Chance’s back. “She’s right. Jax needs you to be strong. Don’t make her worry about you while she’s trying to get better.”

“Thanks, moms-squared. You’ve always been the voice of reason for me.”

Maggie grinned and shook her head. “Not one you’ve always listened to, but you’ve come a long way, honey. Deep breath in before you charge out of here. Give Lindsey and Meg my love.”

Chance kissed both her mothers before leaving the waiting room with Zeus at her heels. With the phone in her hand, she pushed open the door to the stairs, she was too full of nervous energy to endure the elevator. She punched one of the contacts and spoke when the call was picked up. “Anything, Harley?”

“I’ve got a piece of plastic up on the road at what looks like a point of impact. It didn’t come from the truck. It’s flexible, something like a part of a motorcycle fender. It took two wreckers to get Jax’s truck up. Thank God it was a newer model, my friend, that’s all I’m going to say.”

“I was literally sick when my headlamp hit the scene. Jax ordered all the safety equipment she could on that truck. I’m guessing we’ll be going shopping again. Look, I’m on my way down to check in on Lindsey, but something that’s been tapping at the back of my brain finally made its way to the front.”

Chance proceeded to fill Harley in on the logo that she had her friends looking into. “We need enough evidence to get a warrant. If we can get it, the warrant will have to be pretty inclusive. The main things we’re looking for is a bike that’s missing a piece of its fender, a hay hook, and a black hoodie with that logo. I know in my gut it’s Leland, Harley. He threatened both of them, and I’ll bet my ass he’s dealing the drugs that have flooded our area. He moved back home from Baltimore and has ties to a gang there. I’ve got a few contacts I want to get in touch with, see if they have any footage or photos of him wearing a hoodie like that.”

“Damn, if we could deliver the news to Jax and Lindsey that we’ve nailed his ass, I couldn’t think of a better get-well present. How’s Jax doing?”

Chance relayed an update and pushed through a door, running directly into Faith. “I’ve got to go, Harley, if I hear anything from my sources, I’ll call. Stay safe.” Chance disconnected and pointed a finger at her ex. “I don’t have the time or patience, Faith. I’m not kidding, step out of the way.”

Faith crossed her arms and scowled. “I didn’t think you could be a bigger ass, but you surprise me all the time. I was coming to tell you they’ve moved Lindsey to room 307.”

Chance turned and started back through the stairway door when Faith spoke again.

“How’s Jax?”

Chance turned slowly, trying to determine the sincerity of the question or an underlying mask of intention. “She’s headed to surgery. Don’t try to act like you give a damn about Jax.”

“My God, Chance. Drop the hostility. I’m a doctor, you know, it’s part of my job to give a damn. Is there anything I can do?” Faith reached out a hand and placed it on Chance’s forearm.

Chance looked down at the chilly fingers encircling her arm. “No but thank you. I’ve got to go.”

“Chance, dammit.”

“Faith, I mean it. We have nothing to talk about. I appreciate your concern, but we aren’t friends or anything else. Period. You burned that bridge. You deal with being stuck on the wrong side.” Chance turned and took the stairs two at a time, Zeus bounding in front of her as if it required no effort at all, until they both reached the third floor. Her phone rang, and the display indicated an incoming call from FBI Agent John Harris.

“Agent, this is Sheriff Fitzsimmons. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I wanted to pass on some information in reference to your inquiry about a Leland Kurst.”

Chance stopped in the stairwell before opening the door, wanting privacy for the conversation. “Thanks. Anything I can use to nail this jackass would be appreciated.”

“We’ve had him on our radar for a few years, as part of the government corruption case and RICO investigation into the Murdaland group. I’m aware that you’ve spoken with DEA Agent Andy Treeland. We know Leland is neck deep in midlevel trafficking and racketeering for the gang and had been watching him when he was in this area. If we can nail him on what I assume will be attempted homicide charges, then we might be able to leverage information out of him on the Murdaland gang.”

Chance’s frustration nearly boiled over. “He’s not walking on these charges as a bargaining chip.”

“Not what I meant, Sheriff. He can bargain to be closer to home for his incarceration, better facilities, visitation and the like. He’ll also need protection if he rolls. Those are the carrots on the stick that we can use. Even if he doesn’t talk, Murdaland will assume he did when we put him somewhere a little too nice for his convictions. So, you can see why it would be beneficial for him to cut a deal without us ever giving anything up.”

“Leland Kurst has been harassing my fiancée’s assistant since they were in high school together. Less than a month ago, he showed up at the clinic and verbally harassed both of them in the presence of my chief deputy. Tonight, he nearly killed both of them. He’s going to jail if it takes my last breath to make it happen. What I need now is enough solid evidence to get a search warrant issued.”

Zeus shuffled nervously at Chance’s feet at her raised voice. Chance knew she was a jumble of nerves and needed to find the inner strength to calm herself. She stroked his head and made a conscious effort to bring it down a notch.

“Sheriff, I’m willing to give you as much information as I can so that we can both accomplish our goals. Leland isn’t high enough in the chain to have intricate details. What he will have is names and small pieces of information that help us fill in the blanks leading us to the next string to pull.”

“Anything that you can provide will be appreciated. I’m sorry if I’m short-tempered. I think he’s connected to several overdoses we had recently, one of which was a small child who accidentally got into a stash. I want this trash out of my county.”

“Then let’s work together. I’ll email you a link to any of our unclassified information.”

“Thank you, John. I’ll get back to you with anything we come across.”

After disconnecting the call, she pushed through the large, steel door leading out of the stairwell and into the hallway of the third floor. Chance and Zeus strode into Lindsey’s room, where Megan lay in the hospital bed holding her. Meg started to sit up, and Chance waved her back down.

“Stay where you are. If Lindsey’s anything like Jax, she’s freezing and scared. You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Has she remembered anything else about what happened?”

Megan ran a hand through her hair. “The only other thing else she said was that whoever they were, they busted out Jax’s taillights with the hay hook. She couldn’t see their faces through the motorcycle helmets they wore. You and I both suspect we know who did this.”

“As a police officer, you know we have to have more than just a suspicion. That’s why we are gathering evidence. Your mom is out on the scene doing just that, and I’m working sources to corroborate the suspicions we have. We’ll get them, Meg, it’s just going to take time. How’s she doing?”

“She got sick from the head injury, they gave her some meds to settle her stomach and manage the pain. She was shivering so bad, I couldn’t stand it, so I crawled in bed to hold her. She finally settled down about ten minutes ago. I wish I could be out there looking for that asshole. It’s taking all I have not to go after him.”

Chance put a hand on Megan’s arm. “I’m right there with you, but remember this, you’re getting ready to start a life together. Don’t let blind rage jeopardize that. I’m trying to remember to take my own advice, and it’s hard as hell. Let’s do this the right way and give that slimy bastard nowhere to run and no loophole to slither out of. Deal?”

Megan lay there for a moment, and Chance watched as Lindsey snuggled closer, tightening the hold she had on Megan’s shirt.

“You’ve got a deal, Sheriff. I make no promises if he comes after either of them again before we make that happen.”

Chance nodded. “You won’t be alone. Now, the two of you get some rest.”