Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

a short bark, the hair on his body standing up, ears coming forward. A chil slid down El e’s spine and she instinctively took a smal step to put her body in front of both Jonas and Jackson. She scanned the crowd of firemen and volunteers under the bright lights they’d set up, seeing familiar faces. Her heart jumped when she saw burly Jeff Dockins. He’d been in the grocery store. Who else? Clyde Darden was there, standing on the edge of the crowd, peering below with binoculars. She silently cursed him under her breath for being so nosy.
    Trudy Garrett busily handed out coffee to the volunteers. Reginald Mars helped her, along with Drew Madison. They moved in and out of the crowd, Trudy closer to the cliffs as she gave coffee to the firefighters and paramedics. El e glanced down again at Bomber and then fol owed his focused gaze.
    Her heart jumped. In the boulders ringing the smal picket fence warning people away from the edge, she glimpsed a dark shadow moving slowly, skulking from one rock to the next, his head covered with a hood and a cape flowing around his body.
    Death slunk along the ground, a shadow among the other shadows, weaving in and out of the crowd so that she caught a glimpse of him and then he’d be hidden again. His head was thrown back, although his hood covered him, and he sniffed the air like a bloodhound, searching for something unseen.
    El e stepped away from Jackson and Jonas, intent on protecting the townspeople. Jackson caught her arm and stopped her.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing?†he demanded.
    â€œDeath is here,†she said. “He’s searching for a life. He’s chosen someone.â€
    â€œIt’s not going to be you, El e. You damn wel aren’t sacrificing your life because you couldn’t stop RJ or anyone like him from hurting a child.â€
    â€œWhat use am I if I can’t help anyone?†She jerked her arm away from him.
    Jonas hemmed her in from the other side. “Tel us what to do to help, El e.â€
    She shook her head. “Not you, Jonas. I’m not risking you, and Jackson was in that store. Death could have his scent.â€
    Jackson actual y pul ed her body against his, bringing her up on her toes, his gaze fierce. “You were in that store as wel . You’re. Not. Doing.
    This.†He bit out each word, enunciating them between his teeth.
    El e stared into his dark, implacable eyes and felt his iron wil pressed against hers in her mind. There was no arguing with him. She wasn’t going to win. She had to think of something else. “Fine,†she capitulated. “Jonas, get Trudy away from the cliff. I don’t care what excuse you give her, you have to get her away from there. Drew, Reginald and Mr. Darden should be moved into a safer zone.â€
    â€œWe don’t see what you’re seeing, but obviously Bomber does,†Jackson said, fol owing the dog’s gaze. “We’l try to shield the others as best we can, but you stay right with us.â€
    The sound of the helicopter could be heard moving toward them in the distance. The Huey was flying over the mountain, emerging just above the trees and heading toward the cliffs.
    â€œJonas! Ty is on that helicopter. He pul ed a double shift.†El e was stricken. “Has he done a rescue since he fel ?â€
    â€œMandatory recertification is required every ninety days, El e, you know that,†Jonas assured her. “He’s very experienced.â€
    â€œTy wasn’t in the store,†Jackson said gently, knowing what she was worried about.
    â€œHe cheated death before,†El e said. “Or rather Libby did. What if he’s come back for Ty?†She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead.
    The helicopter flew overhead and headed out to sea to assess the situation. The captain had given them the information and now it was up to the helicopter rescue crew to decide whether or not they were wil ing to try a rescue. Over water, short-haul rescue was one of the most dangerous maneuvers and each crew member would have to agree the rescue was justified in order to save a life and they could perform it safely or they would return back to base and the victims were lost.
    The helicopter settled in a nearby field to conserve fuel while the crew talked it over and planned a strategy. Jonas, with Jackson holding firmly to El e’s hand, used the distraction