Free Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) by Rita Herron Page B

Joy, but she didn’t budge. “Come on, we have to get out of here.” But Joy had passed out again.
    Mia tried to lift her, but she was too heavy. Her lungs straining for air, she slid her arms beneath Joy’s arms and dragged her toward the back door.
    “I’m sorry, so sorry,” Mia whispered. She kicked the door open with her foot and pulled Joy the rest of the way outside then onto the ground a few feet away beneath a Blackgum tree.
    A second later, a car engine rumbled down the drive, but it was hard to tell who it was over the sound of the fire crackling.
    She bent and hugged Joy.  “I’ll be back with help. Hang in there, Joy.”
    She turned to run around the front of the house, hoping to see Alex or the sheriff, but suddenly something slammed into the back of her head.
    Mia cried out, stumbled, then hit the ground, and the world went black.

C HAPTER N INE

     
     
    As soon as Henry braked, Alex hit the ground running. He didn’t wait until the truck had stopped. Seconds later, he heard the engine die and Henry’s labored breathing behind him as the older man jogged after Alex.
    One look at the front of the house though, and Alex noted the flames eating the living room curtains. He gestured toward Henry. “Around back. We can’t go in the front.”
    Alex darted left, calling Mia’s name as he glanced through the side windows. Smoke was creeping in the hallway toward the back.  “Mia!” he shouted again.
    Please God, let her be okay.
    The sound of fire crackling popped into the night, a breeze stirring, making the situation more dangerous with every second. The fire would spread to the dry grass outside if they didn’t contain it soon. He made it to the back steps, scanning left and right, then spotted Joy slumped onto the ground beneath a tree unconscious.
    “Henry, there’s Joy!” He ran toward her, knelt and checked her pulse.  Low and thready, but she was alive. “Call an ambulance,” he said as Henry lumbered up.
    The poor man looked panic-stricken and was sweating as he dropped to his knees and dragged his wife into his arms.
    “Baby, hang in there, it’ll be all right.” 
    Alex gave Henry’s shoulders a gentle shake then shoved his cell phone into Henry’s hands.  “Henry, call an ambulance. I have to find Mia.”
    The older man seemed to jerk himself out of his shock, took the phone and started punching in numbers.
    Alex raced up the steps to the front porch, heat and smoke suffusing him as he ran through the open back door. “Mia!” The smoke was so thick he could barely see, but the kitchen was empty.
    Had Mia dragged Joy to safety? If so, why wasn’t she outside with her?
    “Mia!” He stepped into the hallway, scanning the living room that was being eaten by the flames, and squinted through the blaze in search of Mia. But he didn’t see or hear anyone inside.
    The steps were to the left, so he jogged up them, dodging a patch of fire on the bottom step. He had to hurry before it spread. Already, smoke was rising, thick and suffocating toward the bedrooms.
    “Mia!” No sound.
    Why would she have gone upstairs? Unless she’d been up there when it started and Joy had gotten herself out.  But once the smoke curled upward, Mia would have come downstairs.
    Unless she was hurt and unable to.
    Pure fear paralyzed him for a moment. What if Jones had knocked Mia unconscious and left her in the house to die?
    Fire crackled and a board splintered down, dragging him from his terror. He had to hurry. Every second counted.
    He took the steps two at a time, then checked the first bedroom and adjoining bath. Empty. Covering his mouth with a handkerchief to keep from inhaling more smoke, he ran to the next bedroom, then the master suite.
    Both empty.
    Panicking, he jogged back down the steps, jumping over patches of flames and the burning rug. A siren wailed, coming closer.
    The fire truck. Maybe the ambulance was close behind.
    But where in the hell was Mia?
     

     
    Mia roused from