Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) - Karen Rose Page 0,238

sagged, letting his forehead rest on the ground for five hard beats of his heart. Then he reached for Liza’s other ankle and began to tug.

Croft crawled to his side. “Let me help.”

Together they pulled Liza back to solid ground and then the three of them collapsed, breathing like they’d each run a marathon.

“Are you all right?” Liza finally asked.

Croft’s laugh was a little manic. “You’re asking us?”

“Well, yeah. I’m the medic.”

“We have vests,” Tom said. “But hell. They tell you that it’ll hurt, but . . .”

“They severely misrepresent the pain,” Croft said, then groaned. “I think I busted a rib.”

“But otherwise, you’re all right?” Liza pressed.

Tom shoved up on his elbows. “You’re covered in blood. Are you all right?” It was smeared on her thighs and he could see vague streaks that might have been from her fingers. Now that she was safe, he could think of everything else.

“It’s Kowalski’s. I’m fine.”

“Good.” Tom rolled to the side that didn’t hurt like hell and pulled her close. She put her arms around his neck and he held her for a long moment while she shuddered against him. “You scared the hell out of me,” he murmured. “Don’t ever do that again.”

She laughed, a slightly broken sound. “I wasn’t afraid of heights before, but I am now.”

“You’re entitled.” He tightened his arms, hissing in pain.

She scooted back, frowning. “You said you were all right.”

“I’ve had broken ribs before,” he assured her, “and this isn’t broken. It’s just bruised.”

“But it sucks,” Croft said woefully.

Grabbing her hand, Tom lowered himself back to his stomach, figuring he’d move later. He hadn’t broken a rib, but he hadn’t caught his breath yet, either. He kept seeing her sliding into a ravine and his breath would hitch all over again.

Liza sat up and ran her fingers though his hair. “I think the cavalry is here.”

The helicopter landed behind them, the blades slowing to a stop. Then boots hit the ground. “Anyone need us to call for a medic?” a man called out.

Liza laughed. “No. How are you, ma’am?”

“Better than you,” a familiar voice said dryly.

Tom rolled over to see Special Agent in Charge Molina striding toward them. He sat up, hiding his grimace. It was a point of pride. “Ma’am.”

Croft didn’t even bother, only managing to wave weakly.

“I thought you were recused, ma’am,” Tom said, then winced because it sounded accusatory when he hadn’t meant it to. “But I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Why?” Molina asked dryly. “You seem to have everything under control. Did you leave anything for us to do?”

Croft laughed, then moaned. “Hurts to laugh.”

Molina looked around. “Report, please.”

Tom exhaled. “We only know about Belmont. The others were already dead.”

“Miss Barkley?” Molina asked.

“DJ pulled over, I think to kill me and toss me over the edge. But then Kowalski showed up and he and DJ got into it. Kowalski had come for Pastor’s money.”

“As so many do,” Molina drawled. “Then?”

“I was in the back of the Jeep so I only heard them arguing. I assume DJ killed Kowalski first, then Pastor, but I didn’t witness that myself.”

“How did you end up holding a gun on DJ?” Croft asked, and Molina’s brows lifted.

“I used the blade in my shoe to cut the zip tie and ran and hid. DJ ran past me, so I doubled back to take one of the vehicles, but he found me. DJ tried to get me to walk to the edge on my own, but I stabbed him, got his gun, and then lost it again when I got distracted by the arrival of Agents Hunter and Croft.”

Molina was listening, a smile playing on her lips. “I see. And then?”

“Tom tried to negotiate with DJ, but he was a real dick. DJ. Not Tom.”

Molina swallowed a smile. “I see.”

“He was dragging her to the edge,” Tom explained, then relayed how they’d taken DJ down.

Molina nodded, then walked toward the edge, keeping far enough back to be safe. “Who’s this guy?” she called.

Tom exchanged a puzzled glance with Croft. “What guy?” he called back.

“Oh,” Liza said. “That must be Dominic the Suave.”

Tom snorted. “Who?”

Molina came back and crouched so that she was face level with Liza. “Dominic the Suave?”

“Kowalski’s assistant,” Liza said. “He thought I’d make a tasty snack and stuck me in the Jeep to save for later. That’s where I was when I cut the zip tie.”

Molina nodded again. “I see. Anything else?”

“Coleen is dead,” Liza said. “DJ killed her. Probably Nurse Innes, too.”

“We know,” Tom told her.