Read Online Deliver Us from Evil by Robin Caroll - Free Book Online

red flames licked up at the pilot’s feet. He screamed, the agony chasing away every other sound.
    Friday, 8:25 p.m.
    Congressman McGovern’s Office
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    â€œCONGRESSMAN, YOU NEED TO see this.” Kevin passed him a single sheet of paper.
    Warren scanned the information and ground his teeth.
    RCM986 with GSMNPS has picked up an emergency Mayday call from 121MCE.
    Warren’s pulse spiked. He glanced at his aide. “Is that Mayday call from the helicopter transporting the heart?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Warren continued reading down the page.
    121MCE is down. RCM986 GSMNPS search-and-rescue team dispatched.
    Warren glanced again at Kevin. “Who’s heading up the search and rescue?”
    â€œFrom the ATC conversation I’ve been monitoring, a ranger-pilot from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sir.”
    â€œSo they’re going to find the helicopter?”
    â€œAs I understand it, this National Park Service pilot has been in communication with the Bell pilot for some time and is already on her way to intercept.”
    â€œHer?”
    â€œThe ranger-pilot is a woman.”
    Long minutes ticked by, as if peanut butter had crept into Father Time’s clock.
    A woman pilot? How absurd. The heart needed to be recovered, and they were entrusting a woman to do the rescuing?
    â€œAnything else, sir?”
    â€œDid you hear when the search-and-rescue unit should arrive at the crash site?”
    â€œThe land crew should be there within thirty minutes.”
    â€œAnd the ranger woman?”
    â€œShould be there any moment, sir, if not already. I’ll continue monitoring.”
    â€œVery good, Kevin. Keep me updated.”
    The young man rushed from the room.
    Sitting back in his leather chair, Warren peered out the window into the dark void. Swirls of pristine snow danced around, but he paid little attention. His mind tripped over tidbits of information. Shifting in his seat, he reached into his Armani jacket pocket, pulled out his private cell phone, and pressed speed dial number six.
    The situation had escalated. Now Warren had to act.

SIX
    Friday, 8:26 p.m.
    Suburb South of Townsend, Tennessee
    THE SMALL BUILDING HUMMED with activity—music blaring, girls giggling, and doors slamming. The perfume Madam Nancy doused them in mixed with the stench of body sweat and liquor, hanging in the air like heavy clouds. As Friday night arrived, so did the men willing to brave the foul weather and long distance to make a visit.
    Mai had vomited after Milt’s call, enraging Madam Nancy to the point where she had been beaten, but at least she was excused from “entertaining” for several hours. Huddled in the corner of her room, Mai rested her head against the rough wall. She had to find a way out. But how? She was smart but in unfamiliar territory.
    The office door slammed, causing the thin wall to rattle and shake. Mai lifted her head, then pressed it back against the chipped paint when she heard voices.
    â€œI don’t know what we’re going to do, Bucky. Milton says they’re closing down operations for a while,” Madam Nancy’s voice screeched.
    â€œWhat’s going on with them? They’ve never been behind schedule before.” Mai didn’t recognize the man’s voice.
    â€œI don’t know. He just said there was a glitch in their system and they’re working to straighten it all out.” A cabinet banged, then glasses rattled. “I don’t know what to do. I was ready to ship this current group off to Colorado when the new ones arrived.” Madam Nancy’s words echoed against the wall. “I swear this throws our whole system out of whack.”
    Creaks of wooden chairs came from the office. Mai hugged her legs tighter to her chest.
    â€œSounds to me like something’s seriously wrong, Nancy. If I were you, I’d check it out.” The man’s belch vibrated the wall, making