Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Alone?” Phoenix asked.
Sadie shrugged. “She didn’t mention anyone being with her, nor did she add another name to the reservation. But that doesn’t always mean anything. People don’t always disclose who they’re traveling with when they book.”
Phoenix turned back to the computer just as the comm system came on through the speakers. Phoenix glanced at the monitors to find the incoming caller was at one of the entrances. Someone with security.
“Magnus?” a voice said. “You there?”
Magnus set a hand on the desk. “I’m here. The entire team is. What’s up?”
“Oh good. This is Gerald at the south gate. Phoenix is with you then?”
“I’m here, Gerald,” Phoenix responded, annoyed that he couldn’t continue to focus on the data about his Little girl. My Little girl? Jeez. How the hell was he already thinking of Lyra as his anything?
The voice came through again. “I have a report of an accident near the south entrance. A vehicle hit the railing, ricocheted, and slid into the ditch on the other side.”
Phoenix went into work mode. “Any report of fire?”
“No, sir. Single-passenger vehicle. Female driver. Apparently, she’s trapped inside the car. A hotel guest saw it happen and stopped to help. I believe that guest is also a female. She’s at the scene.”
Phoenix jumped to his feet. Surely, it’s not Lyra. It didn’t matter. He was a trained emergency responder. His body automatically prepared to go.
“I’ll go with you,” Caesar said.
Phoenix nodded as he dashed toward the supply cabinets. He was far more stressed than he usually felt when heading for an emergency. Granted, historically, those emergencies had often been fires, but the fire department fielded all kinds of calls, and his company had usually been the first to arrive on any scene. If a car went off the road, there was a chance they would need equipment to get the passenger out of the vehicle.
Caesar had the supply cabinet open in seconds. They each donned a jacket before grabbing a few crowbars and a first aid kit. As long as there were no flames or threat of an explosion, they could surely extract the woman without the jaws of life. No one had insinuated the vehicle had flipped. That always made things worse. Buckled roofs made it difficult to get doors open.
“It could be anyone,” Caesar stated as the two of them jogged toward the stairs.
“I know.” Phoenix took the steps three at a time, and they rushed out a side entrance and hurried toward one of the SUVs.
It took five minutes to get to the accident. As soon as Phoenix saw a car pulled over on the side of the road, he pulled up behind it and jumped out of the SUV, grabbing his crowbar. At first, he didn’t see anyone, and then he shifted his gaze down the slight incline to find a second car that had slid down the steep hill.
“Down here!” a woman shouted, standing next to the mangled vehicle.
Phoenix hurried down the grassy slope with Caesar on his heels. He heard Caesar thank the woman for calling and staying with the passenger while he raced to the driver’s side door.
The glass was shattered. “Ma’am, my name is Phoenix. I work for the Danger Bluff Resort. I’m going to get you out of there. Are you okay?”
The world stopped spinning as the woman in the car turned her gaze to his. Lyra. His heart thudded.
“I’m fine,” she said in a thin voice. “Just scared and trapped.”
Ignoring the shattered glass, he reached through the window and wrapped his hand around hers. Automatically, Phoenix assessed Lyra’s condition, noting no visible injuries but a sprinkling of shattered glass covering her. She was shaking, probably in shock. Her hand was cold. “You’re not injured, Little one?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so, but the door won’t open.”
“We’ll get you out of there, Lyra. I promise. Be brave for me, okay?” He glanced at the entire picture for a moment. The passenger side of the car was trapped against the embankment. He would need to get her out through the driver’s side.
When he looked back toward Lyra, her huge brown eyes went wide as she stared at him. “How do you know my name?”
Oops. “Long story, but we were expecting you at the resort this evening.”
“Oh, right.”
“Can you move your legs for me, Little one?”
She wiggled both legs one at a time.
“Nothing is trapped by the dashboard, right?”
“No, sir.”
Phoenix took off his jacket and leaned into the car to drape it over her, including her head. “Lean in the other direction for me so I can clear out the rest of the glass. I bet I can pull you through this window, but I don’t want you to get cut.”
“Okay.” She did as he instructed, gripping his jacket around her head and torso.
Phoenix went overboard, clearing the shards of glass that still rose from the car door. Most of the window had shattered into a million pieces that weren’t likely to have cut her, but he didn’t want to take a chance. “Okay, I think we’re good now.” Thank goodness she was petite. A large man wouldn’t have fit through this opening, but he was confident he could pull Lyra through it.