A pale stream of light moved her way and a ringed shadow appeared in front of her. She pulled her head above the water, saw a white circular preserver, and grabbed for the edge with her fingers.

“She’s got it,” someone yelled.

Caitlin clung to the buoyant foam, coughed. “I’m here.”

A male voice came through a speaker. “We’re coming for you, Caitlin. Stay on the preserver.”

“I’m here,” she repeated softly. Just this once, she’d accept help.

She felt the hands before she heard the angry voice. “So am I.”

Branford pushed down on her shoulders.

Caitlin lost her grip and went under.

Ten feet down, his hands let go and his feet kicked Caitlin’s shoulders. His last act would be to drown her.

You don’t know how much time I’ve spent in the deep, asshole.

She reached up and grabbed his shoe. He kicked again, but Caitlin got his other foot, pulled down. Both sinking now, Caitlin got her hands around his head and put the zip-tie back to work. His body bucked against her, his hands fought against her grip, but she pulled back harder, and looked up. Once again, she saw the light of the world from the edge of darkness.

Not a bad sight, she thought. The end of my tunnel. At least I’m in control.

Her chest ached, her muscles gave way, her heart wanted to stop.

But Branford’s stopped first.

When she felt him go limp, Caitlin pushed off his shoulders with her hands, then off his head with her feet.

Chapter 86

CHAPTER

86

Two Days Later

“ARE YOU SURE you should be up and about, Scott?”

Scott Canton lowered the guardrail of his hospital bed, smiled with the functional seventy percent of his lips. “If you can, I can.”

Only ten days into his recovery, Scott moved well, but his words took effort.

“Good,” Caitlin said, “’cause I won’t spend one more minute strapped in a bed.”

She leaned back on her crutches. They’d bandaged her ankles and wrists, sewn up the gash in her head. Nothing permanent except the nightmares.

Mike Roman wheeled a walker in Canton’s direction.

Scott accepted it and then waved him away. “At ease.” He got his weight over the walker, winked at Caitlin. “Let’s g—” He struggled with the g sound, then started over. “Let’s roll.” Ten feet down the hall, he pointed at a green space out the window. “Beautiful day.”

Mike beat both of them to the door, did the honors.

Scott looked to Caitlin. “He have to be here?”

“You try getting rid of him,” she said. “He’s like a stray dog I gave bacon to.”

Scott shot Mike a nod, pushed past. “Best kind of dog.”