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visual?
Mac turned to Paula who was staring at the speakers as if
she were trying to see through them to Felicia and the others.
“Felicia, this is Stark. We have debris from two
vesselsno
survivors identified.
“Thermal scans? Felicia asked sharply.
“Nothing, Mac said, “but if Valeries in the water, shes
probably too cold already.
“We have two in the water. Do you read?
Two. “Who? Paula inquired urgently.
Blair didnt need to hear the answer. She already knew.
* * * * *
Cam didnt have the energy to fight. The cold in her bones
had dissipated, and so had the pain. Her body was strangely
heavy, yet weightless at the same time. She couldnt see, but the
sharp smoky sting in the air was gone. She wasnt in the
air. She was underwater.
She was underwater, and Valerie was with her. Valerie
wasnt moving. What had Blair said to her? Shed made her
promise something. Cam was so tired and it was so hard to think.
Promise me. Promise me you wont sacrifice yourself for
her.
Thats right. She had promised Blair. Promised her not to die
for
Valerie.
A surge of adrenaline shot through Cam, electrifying her.
Shed promised not to die for Valerie, but she hadnt promised to
let her die. What had she said? No one was going to die. She
tightened her grip on Valerie and kicked. The surface seemed very
far away.
And then she felt itValerie was kicking too. Neither one of
them was going to give up without a fight.
* * * * *
“Macs got a thermal body pattern in the water, Felicia announced,
hurrying from the cabin to join Savard on deck.
Renée strained to see through the smoke, arcing the floodlights
back and forth. “Over theretwo in the water, twenty yards off
to the right. Help me lower the life raft.
“Im coming with you. Donaldson can handle the
boat.
Renée nodded and between the two of them they unlashed the life
raft from its deck moorings, disengaged the lock on the pul ey,
and swung the small boat out over the water. Felicia hit the
switch for the motor and as the inflatable raft lowered
automatical y, she grabbed two PFDs from a nearby locker. She
tossed one to Renée and pul ed hers on.
“There are two more clipped inside the raft for them.
Felicia swung her leg up and over the railing. “Lets get them the
hell out of the water.
“Great idea, Renée shouted and fol owed her over the side
and down the ladder.
Felicia started the motor and propel ed the boat toward the area
of the last sighting. “Do you have them?
“No! Renée leaned as far over the front of the raft as she
dared, gripping the handholds. “Head further to your right.
There wait.
Yes! There!
“Be careful, Felicia shouted as Renée braced her legs against
the side of the raft, released the handholds, and leaned over the
side. Felicia set the motor to idle and clambered forward, joining
Renée. Together, they grabbed for Cam, whose head and
shoulders were just visible above the water next to the raft.
Even in the flickering red light from the scattered fires still
burning amongst the debris, her face looked deathly pale.
“Commander, Renée shouted as she reached down with
both arms. “Can you grab on to me?
“No, Cam gasped. She pushed Valerie forward. “Take her first.
Felicia and Renée grasped Valeries inert body under the arms
and
pulled her into the raft. She wasnt moving and appeared
unresponsive. When Renée looked back into the water she
saw Cam go under. She dove in, grabbed Cam around the
waist and pul ed her back to the surface. Shaking water from
her eyes, she saw Felicia leaning down and pushed Cam into her
arms. Then she fumbled for the rope around the edge of the
raft and final y managed to hold onto it. Together she and
Felicia pushed and pul ed Cam into the raft. Final y, Felicia
grabbed Renées arm and Renée managed to lever herself up
and onto the floor of the life raft.
“Commander, Renée gasped. Cam lay curled up against
the opposite side of the raft. Valerie was stretched out between
them.
“The commanders conscious, but I dont think Valeries
breathing, Felicia shouted, hurrying back to rev the engine. “We
need to get them to the boat.
Renée scarcely noticed as the smal , crowded raft tossed and
spun from crest to trough and back up again. Kneeling beside
Valerie, she opened her blouse and pressed an ear to Valeries
breast. She heard a distant heartbeat but she couldnt detect any
movement of her chest. Cupping Valeries chin, she tilted her head
back, covered her nose with her opposite hand, and sealed her
mouth to Valeries. As she blew into her lungs, all she could think
was that Valerie was cold. Cold as ice. Cold as death.
“Come on, Valerie. Come on. Renée blew another
breath. “Breathe. Goddamn it. Breathe. She felt the barest
flicker as Valeries chest rose beneath her hand and she hurriedly
pressed her cheek to Valeries breast again. This time the
heartbeat was slow and even fainter than before. Far slower
than it should be. Frantical y, she yel ed over her shoulder,
“Shes breathing, but Im not sure for how long. Hurry up or were
going to lose her!
* * * * *
“This is Staff Sergeant Donaldson reporting, Donaldsons
voice announced through the speakers.
Paula straightened up abruptly. “Where is everyone
else?
“The agents are engaged with resuscitation efforts, maam. I
have the conn, and we are returning to base.
“Status? Paula snapped.
“Two casualties.
“Put that launch right up on the beach below our location. Do
you copy?
“Loud and clear.
Paula signaled to Mac as she spoke and he nodded, murmuring
instructions into his radio. “DonaldsonETA?
“Ten minutes.
“How badly are they hurt? Blair said, standing so close to
Stark she could hear her rapid breathing. “Are they burned?
Behind her, she heard Diane groan softly.
“Whats their condition? Paula asked.
“Major hypothermia. Thats all I can tell you, maam.
“Roger that. Bring them home, Donaldson.
“Yes maam. Ill be pleased to do
that.
As Paula instructed Mac to call the marina for
additional resuscitation equipment, Blair grabbed Dianes arm and
dragged her toward the door. “Come on. We need to get fires
going in the bedrooms and fill the bathtubs. Were going to
have to get them warmed up.
“Shouldnt we call for an ambulance or something? Diane
asked, hurrying along beside Blair.
“No time, Blair said, taking the stairs to the second floor on
the run. “The most critical thing for an exposure victim is to get
them warm as quickly as possible. Blair stopped outside
Dianes bedroom. “Are you okay?
Diane stared at her as if she were insane. “This is a nightmare
and
I keep praying Ill wake up. But until I do, Ill do anything I have
to. Im not going to let her die.
“Dont worry, Blair said grimly. “No one is dying
tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I t was too dark for Blair to see exactly what was happening on the
beach, even with the floodlights on the boat spotlighting the people
swarming al over it. When she had at empted to run down in search of
Cam, Paula had informed her that both she and Diane were confined to
the house until further notice. Blair would have argued, but that only
would have delayed Paula in organizing the teams to get Cam and
Valerie up to the house. She was acutely aware that Paula was doing
everything possible to take care of the injured, even though she had to be
crazy with worry over Renée.
Despite understanding the reasons behind the protocols, Blair couldnt
control what she felt, which verged very close on panic. She just
wanted to see Cam, and waiting was agony. She alternated between
stalking out to the rear deck and pacing in the kitchen. Diane waited at
the window, watching the activity on shore in pale silence.
“Here they come, final y, Blair said when she was able to make out a
clutch of figures transporting a stil form on a stretcher toward the
house. Only a single stretcher. Her chest tightened. What did that
mean? Where was the second casualty? Where was Cam ?
“Im sure theyl take them right upstairs, Blair said, concentrating on
what she could do rather than let ing the terror swal ow her. “Lets go up
so we can help.
Within minutes, Felicia and Wozinski half-carried Cam into the
bedroom. She was wrapped in an emergency thermal blanket and,
other than her shoes, appeared to be naked. Her face was gray and her
skin looked rubbery from the
cold, but Blair was nevertheless enormously relieved to see that
she was conscious and making some ef ort to walk. Blair pushed back
the covers on the bed. “Over here.
“Il get the IV set up, Wozinski said, as Felicia and Blair helped Cam
into bed.
“No, Cam rasped. “You and Felicia give Savard a hand with
Valerie.
“Stark had supplies brought over from the emergency aid center at the
marina, Blair said, replacing Cams damp blanket with several layers
of dry ones. “I heated four liters of saline in the microwave. Greg, I can
help you get Cams line started while Felicia assists in the other room.
“Yes maam, Greg
said.
Cam shook her head weakly. “I can
wait
“No, you cant, Blair said firmly. “Go ahead,
Greg. Felicia said, “Il be next door with
Valerie.
When Greg left to get supplies, Blair sat on the edge of the bed next to
Cam. She cupped her cheek, shuddering inwardly at the icy touch. “Are
you injured anywhere?
“Bumps and bruises. Cams teeth chat ered. “Fire feels good. Maybe I
can sit closer.
“As soon as you get some warm fluids into you. Blair stroked her face.
“You know that rapid external rewarming can cause problems. Blair
had skied in enough remote areas to know the protocol for exposure
and hypothermia. So did al of her security staf , and every shift
contained at least one agent who was an EMT like Savard and Wozinski.
Many hypothermia victims died during the initial resuscitation at empts
because warming the outside of the body without raising the internal
temperature led to cardiac col apse. “Wel get you warmed
up as fast as we can, but were not taking any
risks.
“Right now Id take my chances, Cam said, shivering violently. “Christ,
Im cold.
“Il get some more
blankets.
“No, Cam said, grasping Blairs hand. “It wont help. Juststay
close.
“I can do bet er than that. Blair kicked of her shoes, shed her jeans,
and got under the covers. She cradled Cams head against her shoulder
and wrapped her arms and legs around her. “Im not going anywhere.
Cam had drifted of by the time Wozinski returned. He silently and ef
iciently started an IV in Cams right arm and hung a liter of warm saline.
“That wil run for about ten minutes. Il be back to hang the second liter
then.
“Thanks, Greg. Blair said, stroking Cams hair. “For
everything. “Its an honor, maam.
Alone, Blair closed her eyes, even though she wasnt tired.
She wasnt planning on sleeping. All she wanted was to listen to
Cam breathe.
* * * * *
“Glad youre here Greg, Renée Savard said, applying EKG pads
to Valeries chest. “Start another IV in her left arm, would you.
We need to get another bag of the hot stuff into her. Her temps
ninety- two.
“Got it.
“Tell me what I can do, Diane urged, pressing close to the side
of
the bed near Valeries head, trying not to interfere but
wanting desperately to do something. Valerie looked so white,
so stillso lifeless. “Please.
“Here. Felicia tossed Diane a thermal towel from the emergency
kit brought over from the marina. “Dry her hair and when
that towel gets cool, Ill get you another hot one.
Valerie moaned, her body twitching reflexively when
Diane touched her. Diane blocked out the sound and
concentrated on doing anything she could to get her warm and
dry. “Is she going to be all right?
“Yes. Renée placed an oxygen mask over Valeries face.
“Here, hold this on. Its real y important. The warm air will heat
the blood in her lungs and help raise her core temperature.
“Ive got it, Diane said, taking the mask from Savard.
When Valerie moaned again and jerked her head away,
threatening to dislodge the mask, Diane leaned down and
whispered in her ear. “Valerie, darling, its Diane. Youre all right.
Youre safe. Let us help you.
Valeries eyelids, so bloodless that the blue of her irises
shone through the skin, flickered and opened. Wordlessly, she
stared into Dianes eyes.
Diane smiled and caressed her forehead above the re-
breathing mask. “Youre going to be all right. I love you.
Valerie nodded almost imperceptibly and closed her eyes
again. Diane shivered, not from cold, but from the pain of
losing that brief connection. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how
to help her,
she said desperately.
Renée slid an arm around Dianes shoulders and hugged her briefly.
“Youre here, and she knows it. Thats exactly what she needs.
* * * * *
“Do we know yet what happened out there? Renée said,
slumping into a chair in the command center. Mac and Paula
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