“We can’t get up the hiking trail in this,” Chase replied, both hands on the wheel and her eyes straight ahead. “Too narrow, and there’s a rope bridge at one point—can only traverse that on foot. But we can get close to the reported location off-road.”

The route they took gave a whole new meaning to the term off-road. As far as Lily could tell, they were simply forging their way through completely virgin forest by some innate compass in Chase’s head. All around them, the wilderness lay untouched with absolutely no evidence of anything that resembled a trail.

“How far away are we? If they’re doing CPR, we don’t have much time.”

“We’re close,” Chase said.

“When we get there,” Lily said, “just tell me what to do.”

“You assess the patient—I’ll break out the gear. Just think of it like you’re in the ER, Lily.”

As if anything about this was remotely familiar.

Lily decided to stop thinking at all. She’d handled every kind of emergency there was at some point in her career. She’d just have to adapt. Less than a minute later, Chase halted the Jeep on the crest of a rocky ledge and shut off the engine. The canopy of trees thinned, and Lily picked out what must be the trail, just wide enough for two people in some places, wending up the mountainside.

“Come on,” Chase said. “We’ll have to get up to the trailhead on foot. Watch your step—don’t break an ankle.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” Lily jumped out, careful of her footing on the rocky track, and determined never to wear anything except hiking boots again. Possibly even in New York City. Chase yanked open the rear door of the Jeep, reached in, and pulled out a red backpack nearly as tall as Lily and shrugged it on with practiced efficiency. She handed Lily a red tackle box with a white cross on its side. “Meds and the defibrillator. Can you handle it?”

“Yes,” Lily said before she’d even gripped the handle. No matter how heavy it might be, she had no choice. “I’m good. Let’s go.”

Chase checked her red DEC vest with multiple pockets, donned a half helmet with a headlamp that she switched on, and started off. Lily followed Chase and the narrow beam of light as closely as she could, not bothering to search for any sign of the trail but concentrating on putting each foot down on stable ground. Somehow, Chase managed to pick her way with the ease of a mountain goat through clumps of boulders and densely packed trees, until as if by some miracle, the trail widened and the terrain became more level.

“This way, just another quick climb.”

“Go, go,” Lily said. “I’ll be right behind you.”