A Taste of Tragedy (25 page)

Devyn slowed her pace in order to move more quietly and to avoid some of the thorns and other hazards which had already shredded her bare feet. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she tracked her prey, but not enough to block out the pain.

The thought of finally getting some answers forced her to plan each step carefully. Rushing blindly into the unknown had taken her as far as it could. Now, she needed stealth and cunning, and within moments, she was rewarded for her patience.

A light flickered on and then quickly disappeared. The act was brief, but helped her zero in on her quarry. As she neared where she thought the light had flashed, she knelt down and spotted several dark spots in the soil. Rubbing a pinch of the black dirt between her fingers, she deduced it was moisture. Blood.

She slid down into the arroyo. Behind a shelter of rocks, she found a large deposit of blood, indicating Aaron’s wound was severe. She contemplated his next move. He had likely parked a vehicle somewhere near the paved road. Being injured and without shoes like her, she had no doubt he would follow the smoother surface of the dry creek bed to the road. It was strewn with small rounded pebbles, but at least the prickly vegetation was absent.

Compromising silence for speed, she picked up the pace. If Aaron made it to the road, he would be much more difficult to find. She had no intention of letting that happen. Here, in response to the break-in, she was well within her rights to act. Once he left the area, the Phoenix Field office would take over, forcing her to operate in the background.

The night was surprisingly cool. Devyn wore only light-weight shorts and a t-shirt, but sweat still trickled down her back as she ran. It was awkward running with her gun in hand, but she really didn’t have any place to stow it in her current attire.

As she rounded a bend in the creek, she saw a flash of something dark. She stopped and took in her surroundings.

Had he heard her gaining on him? If so, and she darted around the blind corner, he’d likely be waiting and be able to get a bead on her.

Devyn scrambled out of the gully and cut across the raised ground above the bend in the creek. Inching out toward the edge, she peered over and spotted her target. His back was to her. She had a clean shot, but this time, she was determined to get answers. Dead men couldn’t talk.

She quietly set her gun on a rock where she knew she could find it quickly. Stepping closer, she leapt.

Her aim was perfect. She landed square on Aaron’s back from twelve feet above him, knocking him flat to the ground. His fist remained clenched on the butt of his gun as he screamed out in pain. He writhed violently under her in an attempt to flip over. She couldn’t reach his wrist to dislodge his gun while straddling his back.

There was nowhere to land a punch in order to diminish his struggle. Devyn wiggled up higher on his back until she was able to pin the lowered arm of his injured shoulder under her knee. The position made him scream louder and buck harder.

Needing to end this, since it wasn’t feasible to stay locked in this position indefinitely, she lunged forward. The maneuver removed her weight from his back, but allowed her to grab his shooting hand. Before he could react, she slammed his fist to the ground, releasing his grasp on his gun. The weapon skidded away, concealed in the darkness.

Both scrambled to their feet. Devyn had used boxing for years in her fitness training routine. She tried several moves to penetrate inside his reach and was promptly blocked with his good arm. He was too injured to take the offensive, but his defensive tactics proved the man had serious skills.

She knew the blood loss was affecting him since the longer she sparred with him, the sloppier his moves became. Patience, Devyn, patience,
she told herself as she continued to circle like a cat closing in on its prey.

Devyn bobbed back and forth, side-stepping and shrinking the distance between them, positioning herself within reach to land a punch. He dodged her fist and kicked out, trying to trip her. His move missed her legs and he landed off balance, but he was able to keep his footing.

Slowly stepping back out of arm’s reach, Devyn waited. He moved toward her and stumbled. Before he could regain his equilibrium, she charged. Colliding with his chest, she knocked him to the ground on his back.

Devyn lifted her fist to throw the punches she was now in position to land, but Aaron was still. She ran her hand behind his head and felt a sharp rock. Withdrawing her hand, she saw it was covered with blood. She quickly checked his pulse and let out a sigh of relief. He was breathing. He was still alive to question.

Even though he was currently unconscious, she pulled his belt from its loops and secured his hands in case he woke up. She checked his pockets for other weapons, but found only the small flashlight and a cell phone.

Scrambling out of the arroyo, she retrieved her gun. Her chest heaved from the exertion as she stood on the edge looking down at the still body bathed in moonlight. The drop was higher than she remembered. No wonder her ribs throbbed with every heavy intake of breath. Landing front first on Aaron’s back from this height probably hadn’t been a good idea in retrospect.

As her breathing slowed, she contemplated what to do next. She got this far from the house on pure adrenaline, but as it waned, the agony in her feet and aching in her ribs threatened her ability to think straight.

When the sound of a motor caught her ear, she nearly sagged with relief. Devyn crawled on top of the tallest rock she could manage. She flashed the small light she’d just taken from Aaron in the direction of the headlights bobbing cross-country over the scrub.

Before long, Morgan’s Jeep skidded to a halt. The doors flew open and two people jumped out and rushed toward her.

“Did you get him?” Nick asked.

“Down there.” Devyn pointed over her shoulder.

“Oh, my, your feet,” Morgan gasped. “Let me see if I have my spare hikers in the Jeep.”

“Don’t bother. I think I’m going to have to pull a lot of things out before I put anything on. Besides, your feet look a size or two smaller than mine.”

Morgan and Nick exchanged looks of concern and then he disappeared over the ledge in the direction Devyn had indicated.

*
 
*
 
*

“Here, let me help you,” Morgan said as she draped Devyn’s arm around her shoulders.

Morgan tried to relieve as much weight as she could from Devyn as she helped her hobble to the waiting vehicle. Once Devyn was seated in the cramped back seat, Morgan dug out her emergency supply bag. She handed Devyn a blanket and a bottle of water. “I have a first aid kit, but I think you need something a little more than a bandage.”

“It’s just a few scratches. I’ll live.”

Morgan could see why Nick trusted Devyn with his back. As she looked at the battered and bruised woman who had taken off into the desert in the middle of the night in bare feet to prevent a criminal from getting away, she had to admire her. Devyn had to be in extreme pain, yet not a complaint escaped her lips.

“Make room in the back,” Nick huffed.

Morgan looked up to see Nick trudging toward her with an inert Aaron slung over his shoulder. She raced to the tiny back cargo area and moved a few items around so Nick could squeeze the body in the vehicle.

“Is he dead?” Morgan whispered.

“Not quite, but we need to get him medical help A.S.A.P. The bullet didn’t hit any vital organs, but I’m not sure how much damage he suffered from the knock to the head.”

Morgan watched as Nick set the man down in the vehicle, and then she joined Devyn in the back seat. Turning around and kneeling, she was able to lean over the seat and assess Aaron’s injuries. She folded up a handkerchief and placed it over Aaron’s gunshot wound and applied pressure. She wasn’t sure which was bleeding more, the bullet hole or the bump and cut to the head, but she had to try to slow the blood loss any way she could.

“That’s all we can do for now,” Nick said. “Just keep the pressure on the best you can.”

Morgan nodded as Nick secured the back and then got behind the wheel.

“You okay?” Nick asked as he turned to face Devyn.

“I’ve had better days, but sadly, I’ve had worse.”

Morgan hoped Devyn was kidding, but as Nick started the vehicle, placed it in gear, executed a wide turn through the scrub, and headed toward the road, she decided maybe she’d rather not know.

By the time they reached Morgan’s turn off, approaching sirens shattered the silence of a desert night. Before they left the house to find Devyn, Nick had called his boss, requested an ambulance, and asked local law enforcement to block the road in case Aaron made it to his car. He had also put in a call to Agent Tanner with the Phoenix FBI field office and asked him to pick up Preston Hoyle for questioning.

Considering her locked gate, they thought it would be more expedient to meet the ambulance at the road. Nick parked the vehicle and turned on the hazard lights to alert the ambulance of their location. Devyn stayed in the Jeep while Morgan and Nick attempted to make Aaron more comfortable and get him ready for transport.

Morgan was relieved when the ambulance arrived moments later. After Nick introduced himself to the lead EMT and showed the woman his badge, he and Morgan stepped back and let the medics take over.

Three local police cars joined the cacophony at Morgan’s turnoff. Again, she watched Nick show his credentials. He briefed the officers on the situation and rejoined Morgan as the officers returned to their patrol vehicles, likely to verify his story with the Phoenix FBI.

“How are you holding up?” Nick asked.

“I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t shaken me up, but I’ll be okay,” Morgan replied.

“Good. I’ll just be a second. I need to call my boss again and let him know what’s going on.”

Morgan nodded but felt very alone and vulnerable without Nick by her side. She stared at his back and had to fight the urge to go to him and hold him. After several minutes, he turned back toward her and their eyes met. She didn’t care that he had caught her watching him, nor did she bristle when he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Excuse me.” The sound of the lead EMT’s voice forced Morgan to let go and step back. “The patient is ready for transport. I assume you’ll be riding along in case he regains consciousness. We had to remove the restraints around his wrists to get the IV going.”

Nick glanced at Morgan, hesitant to leave her even though he trusted Devyn with his own life.

“I’ll go,” Devyn stated as she crawled out of the Jeep and walked gingerly toward the group.

The EMT eyed Devyn skeptically.

“Special Agent Devyn Nash. Obviously, she left the house without her badge…well, and her shoes,” Nick responded.

“No matter to me, we just need to get moving, there’s a chopper
en
route. The patient is critical. We’ll take him to the helipad where he’ll be
medevaced
to a hospital in
Phoenix
that’s better equipped to deal with his injuries.”

“Are you sure, Devyn? Maybe you should go back to the house with Morgan, wash up, get your stuff, and meet us in
Phoenix
,” Nick said.

“No, I’ll go. If there’s anyone else out there, I’m in no shape to take on a conscious criminal right now.” She smiled.

“Okay. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Is that necessary?” The EMT asked, eying Devyn’s gun.

“Probably not. Even if he wakes up and is uncooperative, I’m pretty sure I can take him down again. Besides, I really don’t have anywhere to stow it,” she replied, glancing down at her sparse wardrobe.

“Wait,” Morgan said, as she dashed back to the vehicle and rummaged around in the back. After a minute, Morgan returned. “Here’s a sweatshirt and a pair of flip flops. You can’t walk through a hospital in bare feet.”

“Thanks,” Devyn replied as she handed Nick her weapon and then climbed into the back of the ambulance.

Nick and Morgan watched until the lights disappeared into the darkness.

“I guess we better get going,” Nick stated as he draped his arm around Morgan’s shoulders and ushered her back to the vehicle.

“Is she always like that?” Morgan asked.

“Like what?”

“No concern for her own safety. She’s got to be in a lot of pain, but she didn’t show it.”

“She’s like a dog with a bone. If there’s something she wants, she’ll hold on to the death if necessary. Devyn suspected that a number of accidents in the past five or so years weren’t just unfortunate mishaps. None of the incidents were in our jurisdiction until all heck broke loose last winter. Before that incident, which spanned from
Utah
to
Wyoming
, no one would admit any crimes had been committed and she was ordered not to pursue any of the connections. Our boss even got a little political pressure to make her back off.”

“I admire her tenacity and dedication to getting the job done, but it makes me nervous thinking about you working with someone who, shall I say…seems a bit reckless.”

Nick chuckled. “She may appear that way, but she’d never put me or anyone else in any avoidable danger.”

“I hope not. You know your job always made me nervous. I couldn’t sleep at night when you didn’t come home. I would make myself sick to my stomach with worry. You had a regular schedule, so if something kept you out, I knew it was likely a dangerous situation. Tonight did nothing to squelch that fear.”

“You never told me you couldn’t sleep at night or that the worry made you ill.”

“Would it have changed things?”

Nick was silent for a moment, thinking back over their marriage and assessing his career. “Probably not,” he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.