Nathan ran to the Coulter's house, pounding on the door. The heat from the fire was scorching, but he had to get them out of there. "Lee! Rosemary!" He called their names over and over, then rammed his body into the door, rocking it on its hinges. Another couple of body rams got the door open, and he choked on the thick smoke pouring out of the house. He ran blindly in the direction of the twins' room.
"Jesse! Clara!"
"Uncle Nathan!" Jesse's terrified cry pierced Nathan's heart. "Help!"
Barreling into the room, Nathan saw the twins huddled together, coughing and terrified. He scooped one up under each arm and bolted into the living room in time to see Rosemary hurrying toward the twins' room with Lucas. "I've got them," he hollered. "Get outside! Now!"
Rosemary was sobbing, and when Nathan got them outside, he looked around wildly. "Where's Lee?"
"He...wouldn't...wake...up," Rosemary cried.
Cold fear coursed through Nathan, and he ran back into the house, barely hearing Elizabeth's voice crying, "No!" Part of the ceiling collapsed in front of him. Without breaking stride, Nathan leaped over it and bolted into Lee and Rosemary's room. His friend was still on the bed, unmoving as flames made their way ever closer. Nathan heard the wail of sirens in the distance, but he didn't pause. Hoisting Lee over his shoulder, he made his way through the burning house. The smoke choked him and the fire singed his body with its heat. He made it through the door just as the entire house collapsed in a heap of flames.
He laid Lee on the ground as the fire trucks showed up, rolling to the side and coughing, the smoke affecting his lungs. He felt Elizabeth wrap her arms around him tightly, her hot tears soaking into his shirt. The firefighters got to work on extinguishing the flames, but the house was beyond saving. Nathan looked over as the EMTs placed Lee on a gurney, administering oxygen as he remained unresponsive. Other EMTs brought Rosemary and the children to another waiting vehicle, checking to make sure there was no immediate danger to their health. He waved one away as they tried to check on him. He would let them check him later. Right now his wife was crying hysterically in his arms, and he needed to comfort her.
"Elizabeth," he whispered. He was shocked by her response.
She slammed her hands into his chest, pushing him backwards. "What were you thinking?" she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "You could have been killed!"
Nathan froze as she banged her fists against his chest. Catching them in his hands, he tried to pull her to him. "Elizabeth, they could have died…"
"You could have died," she railed, struggling against him. "Let me go!"
"No!" Nathan said, fighting the temptation to get angry himself. "Elizabeth, you're not yourself. Lee would have died if I hadn't gotten him out of there. I couldn't leave my partner behind!"
That got her attention, and the anger drained from her. She sagged against him, and started crying again. She burrowed against him, trying to get as close as she possibly could, her hands clutching his back as she tried to pull him closer. Nathan held her tightly in his embrace, feeling the momentary fight drain from her. Her sobs pulled at his heart. "I thought I was going to lose you," she whispered through her tears.
Nathan lifted her face to his, kissing her gently. "Not if I can help it," he whispered back.
Elizabeth pulled his face back to hers and kissed him passionately. He could feel her fear and relief in the kiss as it lengthened on. Finally, she pulled away and looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't you leave me, you hear? You are not allowed to die."
Nathan smiled. "Duly noted." He kissed her again, feeling her relax against him. When he pulled back, he framed her face in his hands. "You know I'll do whatever it takes to come home to you, Elizabeth. Always."
Her throat constricted, but she nodded. "I know you will."
One of the EMTs walked over to them, discreetly clearing his throat. "Excuse me, I thought you'd like to know Mr. Coulter is awake. He wants to see you."
Nathan put an arm around Elizabeth, and they walked to the vehicle together. Before they reached it, Elizabeth said softly, "I'm sorry for getting angry, Nathan. I'm glad you saved Lee and the children." She smiled, leaning against him. "I know you'd do anything for your friends. And to be honest, if you hadn't tried to save Lee, I would have been disappointed in you."
Dropping a kiss on her head, Nathan simply said, "I know, sweetheart." They approached Lee, who looked at Nathan with a wry smile. "You look awful."
Nathan laughed. "You don't look so good yourself, pal."
"Thank you," Lee rasped. "Thank you for getting my children to safety, and for getting me out of there. I would have been a goner without you."
"Don't mention it," Nathan said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We've both done our fair share of saving each other over the years. That's what we do."
As the ambulance took the Coulter family to the hospital for check ups, Nathan and Elizabeth walked back to their house. Once inside, Nathan kissed Elizabeth quickly. "Go back to bed, sweetheart. I'm going to shower to get this grime off." She nodded, and Nathas showered, thankful to wash away the ash and soot and smell of smoke. By the time he slid back into the bed, he expected Elizabeth to be asleep, but she immediately latched onto him, holding him tight. She started kissing him, her kisses urgent and her intention clear.
Nathan pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes in surprise. "Now?" he asked. "Are you sure?"
She nodded, pressing her lips to his neck. "I need you right now, Nathan," she whispered. "Please. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, and right now, I just need you to love me."
"Alright, sweetheart" he said softly, and Elizabeth's lips found his again.
"Grant! Coulter! My office, now!"
At Bill's gruff bark, Nathan and Lee glanced at each other, then headed to Bill's office. Lee had been discharged from the hospital after a couple hours, and he had insisted on coming into work the next day. Now, a week later, he was showing no adverse effects from his smoke inhalation.
"Close the door," Bill said, glancing around. Nathan did as he asked, and both men stood at attention in front of his desk.
"What is it, Chief?" Nathan asked, seeing the serious look on Bill's face.
"You remember the fire last week?" Bill asked.
Lee raised a brow. "It sounds vaguely familiar," he said dryly. Bill shot him a look, then got back to business.
"Hickam was driving by your house that night and right before the fire, he saw Wyatt lurking, and he followed him. He lost him for a time, but after some tracking this week, we've located his base."
Nathan's brows shot up. "What? We know where Wyatt is hiding?"
Bill nodded. "It's a cabin, deep in the woods but with relatively easy access to town. It's an out of the way place that we probably never would have thought to find." His eyes hardened. "This man has been a fugitive from justice long enough. Tonight, we are going in." He looked at both of them. "You boys be careful tonight. We all know how dangerous Wyatt can be. Be on your guard, and don't do anything stupid. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," they said in unison.
Bill nodded and then waved a hand, dismissing them. Lee chuckled as they returned to their desks, rubbing his hands together. "This is the best news we've had all day. I pray this whole mess is finally over tonight."
"You and me both," Nathan said, but his eyes took on a thoughtful look.
"Uh oh," Lee said, staring at Nathan. "I know that look. What are you thinking?"
Nathan bit his lip. He hated to say it, but something was off. "Don't you think we found him a little too easily?"
Lee's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, this man escaped a maximum security prison, somehow got on a plane to Kauai without being recognized, and has stayed out of our sight since being here...and just like that, we find him?" He tapped his long fingers on his desk. "Something just doesn't feel right."
"All criminals slip up sooner or later, Nathan. You know that," Lee said.
Nathan sighed. "You're probably right. And I'm not seeing clearly where Wyatt is concerned. This is hitting too close to home."
"Tell me about it," Lee said. "I'll be glad when this man is back in prison where he belongs."
"Detective Grant," Hickam said, appearing with a manila envelope and placing it on Nathan's desk. "This just came for you."
"Thanks, Hickam," Nathan said, opening the envelope and pulling out the contents. His blood drained from his face.
Pictures of Elizabeth were spread before him. At the hospital. At the cafe. He felt a shiver run down his spine. Even in their home. A note fell onto the table as he looked at the photos, and he hesitantly picked it up.
SHE'S NEXT.
Nathan felt a rage build inside that he'd never felt before. He scooped up the pictures and the note, stomping into Bill's office, slapping them on his desk. "We go get Wyatt now," he said, his voice deadly calm.
Bill looked at the pictures, then looked up at Nathan. "Grant, he's trying to goad you into making a mistake. You can't let him win. He wants to get a reaction out of you." He pressed his lips together. "We stick to the plan."
Nathan felt a helplessness wash over him. "Bill, she's my wife. What if…"
"Nathan," Bill said, his voice gentler than Nathan could ever remember it being. "We'll send officers to patrol the hospital. She's working right now, right?"
Nathan nodded. "She gets off at 5:00."
"And our sting operation is at 7:00," Bill said, looking Nathan straight in the eye. "We'll get him."
Nathan walked slowly back to his desk, feeling the helplessness expand. Running his hands through his hair, he called Elizabeth, praying she would pick up.
"Hi, Nathan," she said, a smile in her voice.
"Sweetheart," he breathed. "You're alright."
"Of course I'm alright," she said with a chuckle. "Carson watches over me like a hawk lately."
"Good," Nathan said. "Please tell him to be doubly careful when he walks you to your car tonight, okay?"
"Okay," she said, confusion sounding in her voice. "What's going on?"
"I can't say," he told her. "But if all goes well, we won't have to worry about Wyatt after tonight."
Elizabeth paused, hearing what he wasn't saying. "Be safe, Nathan," she said softly.
"Always, sweetheart."
"Carson, can you walk me to my car now?" Elizabeth asked, juggling her purse and her books. "Sorry that I'm running behind."
"No problem," Carson said easily. "Happy to do so."
Both of them were aware of their surroundings as they walked to the car. Nathan had sounded so concerned on the phone, she felt hyper vigilant. They got to her car without problem, and Elizabeth smiled at Carson. "Thanks."
"Anytime," he said as she unlocked her car door. All at once, Elizabeth heard a sickening thud, and she whirled around in horror to see Carson slump to the ground. A man she recognized from a picture Nathan showed her stood there, baseball bat in hand.
Ray Wyatt.
Elizabeth's heart started pounding, and she screamed and turned to run, but he grabbed her and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, no you don't," he sneered. "We're going to take a little trip." Elizabeth fought him as hard as she could. His hand left her mouth, and for a brief moment she thought she would break free. Then he held a white cloth over her nose and mouth.
Chloroform. No!
She tried not to breathe, but eventually had to. The drug started taking effect, and Elizabeth felt herself losing consciousness, until everything went black.
