Read Online Deep Freeze: Protocol One, Book 2 (Protocol One Saga) by Jacqueline Druga - Free Book Online

happened?” Larry asked hard.
    “I didn’t mean … I was coming to get Gina. I didn’t mean to. I swear to God, I didn’t mean to. I hit a slick spot when I turned. I lost control. I didn’t mean to.” Immediately his head dropped farther and he started to cry.
    “Didn’t mean to do what?” Larry questioned.
    I was scared of the answer, I truly was. My ears rushed with blood and heart raced.
    Then he said, “I hit them.”
    My eyes closed instinctively and I reached for the Humvee for support.
    Mike continued, “The man was with her. Holding her arm. I saw them, I couldn’t stop.”
    Grasping his coat, Larry slammed his again. “Where are they?”
    Slowly and shaking, he raised his arm and pointed behind me.
    Oh my God, I had tripped over something and never bothered to see what it was. I ran back to the spot, clearly marked by the scuffed snow and saw it. When I tripped, my boot removed snow from the mound, exposing a small black spot. I dropped to my knees scared to death to uncover the mound. It was hard and solid. One sweep of my glove over the snow, exposed an arm, then a hand.
    I knew by the fingers it wasn’t Tony, it couldn’t be. The blue gloves were partially off, the hand was dainty. Diligently, I removed more snow and saw the white and frost covered face of a young woman. Her eyes were wide open, lacking color, it seemed as if frozen blood laced her skin. Her cap was like a Popsicle, icy, red, it was glued by the elements to the left side of her head. It was obviously she suffered a horrible head injury.
    I looked over my shoulder. “It must be Gina.”
    Larry was angry, I could hear it. See it. Immediately, I started searching for another mound. I just wanted to cry and scream.
    “You just left her there?” Larry yelled.
    “I had to. I had to get him help.”
    Stop.
    I stood and looked at Mike.
    “He was still alive. Hurt. He was hurt bad. But still alive. I knew Gina wasn’t. I had to get him help.” Mike said. “I took him to Tim’s. He was unconscious. I had to carry him. I had to leave her.”
    “Tim’s?” I questioned.
    “Right there. The M Station,” Larry replied.
    We had taken only a few steps to go there, when Mike stopped us.
    “He’s not there. That’s why I’m out here,” Mike said. “When he woke up he left. They sent me after him.”
    “Did he say anything?” I asked.
    “Just said he had to find her,” Mike replied. “He’s still sick. He’s still bleeding. I lost the trail of blood. The snow covered it.”
    Larry asked. “How long ago?”
    “Half hour maybe. That’s all.”
    Larry spun to me. “Bet he went back to the Casino.  The Humvee doesn’t look stuck. This is our best bet to look for him.”
    “It’s not stuck,” Mike said. “I just stopped it.”
    I raced back to the Humvee and to the open river’s door. Larry ran around and got in the passenger’s side, as I slid it.
    “But it won’t start!” Mike yelled. “It’s broken. I...”
    I punched in the four digit code, and turned the ignition. It started with ease and I shut the door. I didn’t hear what Mike said and failed to pay any more attention. After adjusting the seat, I back it up, turned the wheel, and after making sure I was clear of not hitting Gina’s remains, I cautiously pulled forward.
    We headed to the casino as our first stop. If he wasn’t there, he was somewhere en route. We would find him.
     
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    Just as we passed the stadium, Larry suggested that I stop and drop him off. It was obvious we missed or crossed paths with Tony. He was on foot and injured, it was possible that Carver’s people spotted him or, God forbid, Tony had collapsed.
    We didn’t know what injuries he had, we assumed a head injury because he was unconscious, other than that we were in the dark. As soon as we located him, Larry said he’d get Gail. She was the best bet for medical attention and the area’s go to person for help. I felt better about the fact we found the Humvee, if