Harper!” Heath yelled as he was forced to exit the theater with the rush of the crowd. He could only hope that Harper had found Emily and made it out.
Once he was outside, he moved out of the tidal wave of bodies. Police officers stood at the exit, herding terrified people away from the building. No way would they allow anyone back in. But if Harper was still inside, that’s exactly where he had to go.
“Harper!” He tried again.
Officers directed people as far as a block away. His heart sank. He didn’t think she was in this crowd, but how could he know? He kept searching and calling her name. She would be with Emily if she was here.
“Heath!”
Relief surged as he turned. Emily rushed forward, holding Dawson. “I think she’s still inside. James was injured, and she was going to help him out. But I don’t think she came out. She didn’t follow me out like she said she would.”
He gripped her arms. “Where is she?”
“She was making her way from a room beneath the stage where the bomb is. I can show you, but I need someone to watch Dawson.”
“That’s not happening. You take Dawson away and keep him safe.”
A few stragglers exited the theater. Law enforcement was creating a barrier—far from the potential explosion. The bomb squad was probably on the way, but they often didn’t make it before a bomb detonated. Heath fisted his hands. The bomb squad, law enforcement, they all did their best, but they were only human.
Heath was only human too, but he’d been through this scenario—losing someone he loved—and he wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing. He’d told Harper that the price for caring was high. And that he was willing to pay.
Maybe he was insane.
A woman stumbled at the side exit, and an officer assisted her. Heath rushed past, ignoring the officer calling after him.
He ran up the steps of the stage. “Harper! Where are you?”
He got lost in a maze of rooms and hallways. He didn’t know where he was. Emily had mentioned it was beneath the stage. How did he get there?