Submerged (17 page)

"She'll have a mask that'll cover her nose and mouth.
All of us will. The kids will share one tank. We'll share the other. Once I get you out, we'll all swim to the surface together. I'll carry Ella. Make sure you tell Colton exactly what will happen and what I'll be doing."

"
He's going to be terrified when the water comes in," she whispered.

"
I know." He massaged his forehead. "I have to hang up now."

"
Good-bye, Marcus."

"
Remember to call Leo."

"
I will."

"
And remember to breathe, Rebecca."

After
he pushed the disconnect button, he cried out, "Jane! Help me help them!"
Please let me reach them and get them out of the car in time.

Chapter
Twenty

Near Cadomin, AB – Saturday, June 15, 2013 – 12:11 AM

Rebecca placed the call to Marcus's friend Leo.

"He's going to swim out to us," she
said as she quickly explained their situation.

"Marcus is a good swimmer,"
Leo said. "He knows what to do. How high is the water inside your car?"

"
Past my waist. My kids are in the back, where the water is lower."

"Hold on
." A heartbeat later, Leo returned. "I have good news."

She blew out a breath. "I could use that right about now."

"We have an ambulance and two patrol cars on their way. They're fifteen minutes out."

"I
doubt we have fifteen minutes."

"
Stay calm. Help is on the way. And, Mrs. Kingston?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm praying for you and your kids."

"Thanks, Leo. We could use that too."

She disconnected the call, then looked over her shoulder and caught sight of her son's terrified expression. She gave Colton a shaky smile. "When Marcus breaks my window, I want you to grab your sister and hold your breath if the car fills up." The fear in her son's eyes nearly choked her, but she pressed on. "Marcus is going to rescue us. Understand?"

"Okay. I'll hold on
to Ella, and I promise I won't let go of her."

"
Marcus says we're really close to shore. Do you think you can swim with your sore leg?"

Colton nodded and swiped at the tears on his cheek.

The car shuddered, and they shrieked as they were jerked forward.

She took a deep breath. "The car's going to fill up with water really fast
, Colton. You're going to have to hold your breath, but not for long. Marcus has oxygen tanks. You know, like scuba gear. He's going to give me the first tank as soon as the door opens. Then he'll give you and Ella one."

"Scuba tanks
? Cool. What about you, Mom? You're stuck. How will you get out?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself
."

"And we have the superhero," Colton said with a wide grin.

"Yeah." She winced as a heat flared in her chest. "Just promise me you'll be brave."

"I promise."

"I love you, honey," she said, gulping back a sob.

"Love you too, Mom."

"I am so proud of you, Colton. You are so strong and—"

They were thrown into utter blackness.

Colton let out a screech. "Turn the lights back on!"

Rebecca slammed her hands against the dashboard controls. "Come on!" she cried between gritted teeth. "Turn back on!"

The lights blinked on, off, then on again.

She covered her mouth with one hand. She was afraid to move or breathe. If she was this frightened of being left in the dark, she could only imagine her son's fear.
Get it together, Rebecca.

"Colton, I'm going to give you my cell phone. If the lights go out, you ca
n open it and turn it on. Okay? I'm going to have to throw it to you."

"I'll catch it." The brave resolve in his voice made her smile.

Turning, she stared into Colton's eyes. Her hand trembled as she gripped the phone. It had been her lifeline. Literally.

You can do this.

She tossed the cell phone and breathed a sigh of relief when he caught it.

"When we get out of here, maybe you should take up baseball," she said, trying to inject some humor into an otherwise bone-chilling
situation.

"Can I call Dad?" Colton asked, his voice trembling.

"You can try."

She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. There was no point in saving the battery power now. Colton needed to hear his father's voice. To say
good-bye.

She gave her head a sharp shake.
No! We're going to survive.

"Dad's not picking up," Colton said.

"Leave him a message." Her voice cracked on the last word.

There was silence in the back seat.

"Colton?"

"I hung up. I didn't know what to say."

"That's okay, honey. He knows you love him. And Daddy loves you."

Colton began sobbing.

"Please stop crying," she said, wishing she could hold him in her arms. "I know you're scared, honey. So am I. But we have to have faith. We have to believe that we'll be out of here soon."

"Do you really think
so?"

"
Yes, I do. Be brave, honey."

Hearing
his sobs made her angry. Not at him, but at her own uselessness.

Seething with frustration, she grabbed the steering wheel and push
ed it up with all her strength. With her children's faces in her mind, she attempted to wriggle free. But every movement sent severe knife-pains through her ribs.

Her eyes streamed with tears
, and she was drained of all energy. As her emotions collapsed, she cried as inaudibly as possible so that Colton wouldn't hear. There was nothing more she could do except pray for a miracle.

Chapter
Twenty-One

Near Cadomin, AB – Saturday, June 15, 2013 – 12:11 AM

Another jagged flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and a sharp crack came about five seconds later.

"
Damn," Marcus muttered. The storm was getting closer.

He
opened the car door, ripped the Bluetooth off his ear and tossed it on the passenger seat next to his cell phone. Stripping off his shirt, he slung the straps from the tanks over his shoulder. With a flashlight in hand, he waded into the river. The water was frigid, but he pressed on. The ground sloped sharply. He dove in and swam toward the car. It took less than five minutes.

As he reached for the driver's door, the boards beneath the front end gave way and the car slid further into the river.

Shit!

He rapped
the flashlight on the top of the car and heard a muted reply.

How much water is inside?

The door handle was out of reach, so he dove below. He didn't bother with the mask. This was a reconnaissance dive. Plus, he needed to conserve the air in his tank, in case he couldn't get Rebecca out right away and had to leave it with her.

The door didn't budge. He shone a flashlight into the window. The sharp angle of the car had forced Rebecca over the steering wheel.

"Hurry!" she mouthed.

He gave a nod, then swam to the
surface and shone the light inside the rear window. Colton had pushed an unconscious Ella up onto the top of the back seat, against the rear window. The water was up to the boy's chest.

When Colton noticed the light, the terrified boy pressed his face against the window and screamed something. It was heartbreaking to witness
.

Marcus gave Colton the OK signal, then held up a finger.
One minute, and I'll have you all out.
He prayed the boy would understand.

Correct timing was essential. Marcus knew he had to get the first tank to Rebecca as soon as he broke the window. They'd be holding their breath as the car filled. He'd have to open
the back door, secure the kids' masks and get them to shore.

Then he'd go back for Rebecca.

The question was, could he get everyone out alive?

Chapter Twenty
-Two

Near Cadomin, AB – Saturday, June 15, 2013 – 12:15 AM

Rebecca let out a victorious whoop as soon as she spotted the faint light moving in the water toward them.

"
Marcus is here. Outside the car." She turned her head and saw Ella lying on top of the back seat. "You are brilliant, my son. That's the perfect place for your sister."

The car jerked and shifted forward, and they each let out a scream.

"What's happening, Mom?" Colton cried.

"
Just a bit of movement. Keep calm."

Rebecca knew what had happened. The car had moved further into the river.

Colton groaned.

"Are you all right
, honey?"

"I'm almost out, Mom!
The seat's moved forward. My leg's almost free."

"That's
awesome, honey. Keep working at it. How's Ella doing?"

"She's
breathing real loud."

"Give her another dose."

"I lost Puff," he said in a forlorn tone. "It's in the water somewhere."

She took a fortifying breath
, thinking of the backup inhaler that was locked in the glove compartment. "That's okay. Marcus is here now."

"I'm out!" Colton shouted
seconds later.

When h
e half walked, half swam toward her, Rebecca held up a hand and shook her head. "No! Stay where you are. We don't want the car to shift any more than it has. Stay back and keep your head above the water. Ella's too."

"But
what about you? Maybe I can get you out."

"No, honey. We have to trust Marcus. He'll know what to do."

Something banged against the car. Rebecca knocked on the window in response.

The light moved closer. Then she saw Marcus. His face was distorted from the dirty water and faint light, but she'd never felt so glad to see someone in all her life.

She released a heavy sigh. "Hurry!"

He
swam toward the rear, and a minute later, he vanished.

"Help us!" Colton sobbed, banging on the window.

"Honey, I know you're scared, but we have to stay calm."

"I want out, Mommy!
Get us out!"

"I know."

She cried openly now, rocking back and forth, hugging her chest. Her heart ached for her son, for Ella.
God, please…if you can't save all of us, save my children. Save Ella and Colton. Please…

She
couldn't imagine life without her babies. Couldn't contemplate never holding them again.

"What if we die here?"
Colton asked.

The question sent icicles down her spine.
"We're not going to die."

"But what if we drown?"

"Marcus won't let that happen."

She didn't know why she was relying so heavily on a stranger to save them, but there'd been something in Marcus's voice—something that made her feel calm, made her believe they would
all come out of this nightmare, alive.

She glanced down at the steering wheel that immobilized her.
Or at least some of us will survive.

With a high probability of internal damage and definite broken ribs, she doubted she'd have the strength to swim, much less get out of the car. Marcus would be busy with the kids. By the time he got
them to shore and came back for her, she could be dead.

But Colton and Ella will be alive.

She smiled, imagining their lives as they grew. Would they be rebellious teenagers? Would Wesley be able to handle them? What would they do with their lives? What would they become?

The water had risen to her breasts. Though the majority of her body was numb with cold, she kept her hands above her head and flexed her icy fingers every now and then.
Breathing hurt her ribs, and she tried to slow each uneven breath. A surge of nausea rippled through her body. Her vision swam in and out, and all the blinking in the world wouldn't bring things into focus.

Please, God, don't let me faint now.

But God wasn't listening.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Near Cadomin, AB – Saturday, June 15, 2013 – 12:17 AM

With his mask in place, Marcus dove down alongside the car. He could see brownish light coming from the headlight. The interior lights were flicking on and off. Reaching the driver's side, he gripped the slim flashlight in one hand and waved it over the window.

Rebecca wasn't
moving. She had passed out, her mouth an inch from the water.

He had to move fast.

He shone the light into the back seat and waved at Colton. The boy moved to the window and pounded on the glass. That's when Marcus noticed Colton was no longer trapped in the back. He was free.

Thank God for that!

Colton pointed at his sister, grinned back at Marcus and gave the thumbs-up. The kid was ready.

Now came the difficult part.

Marcus returned to the driver's window and pulled the ResQMe tool from his pocket. Holding it in one hand, he positioned the cutter in the middle of the window. He pushed down, feeling the hard spring within the device. A web of cracks appeared and water seeped inside the car.

A second later the window caved in from the pressure.
He pushed the fragments of glass aside and shoved a tank through the hole. Securing the mask over Rebecca's mouth, he flushed the water from it, all the while trying to ignore the flailing movements in the back of the car and Colton's shrieks.

Hold
on, Colton! I'm coming!

Marcus
glanced toward the back seat and saw the children pressed up against the rear window where there was a small pocket of air. It would last maybe thirty seconds.

He moved to the back door
.
Okay, here's where timing is everything.

One quick snap of the ResQMe and the rear side window was shattered. He wedged his body inside the window to slow the water flow and so he could reach the children.
With his added weight, the car slid further into the river. He took a deep breath, held it and removed his mask. With no time to waste, he slipped it over Ella's face and flushed it. Seconds later, river water filled the interior of the car and it sank, landing on the river floor with a soft thud.

Out of the corner of his eye,
he saw Colton take one last breath of air. The boy grabbed his arm and pointed at his mouth, his eyes widening with alarm. Marcus fastened the secondary mask around the boy's head, pushed the flush button. A second later, Colton nodded and held up a thumb.

Brave boy.

In seconds he had the tank strapped to the boy's back. But now Marcus needed air. Moving to the front of the car, he wedged his body between the driver and passenger seat, then secured the secondary mask from Rebecca's tank over his face. Gulping in a few breaths of air, he examined Rebecca. She was still unconscious, her hair drifting like strands of seaweed around her face. He felt her chest. Her breathing was spasmodic. Not a good sign.

He looked over his shoulder at
her children. They were sitting in the back seat. Colton had strapped them in, to keep them from floating up against the ceiling of the car. The boy didn't realize how dangerous his actions were. The seat belt could jam.

Marcus felt for the
ResQMe tool in his pocket. He still had it. Worst-case scenario, he'd cut the belt from the kids.

Evaluating the situat
ion, he realized there was only one thing he could do. He had to get the kids to safety and come back for Rebecca afterward. What alarmed him was the possibility that Rebecca would regain consciousness and discover her kids were gone. If she panicked, she could do serious damage to herself, especially if a broken rib had pierced her lung, as he suspected.

He
took a deep breath, held it, then removed the mask and moved to the kids. The seat belt released easily, and he pulled Colton and Ella toward him. He pointed out the door and started outside, but Colton tugged on his hand and pointed to his mother.

Marcus shook his head and pointed up. Then he dragged both kids out the door and started swimming to the surface. With Ella tucked under his arm, he held on
to Colton and used the opposite hand to pull them upward.

It
took a few strokes and they broke the surface.

Colton ripped off his mask. Panting, he
cried out, "You have to go back for my mom."

Marcus removed his mask. "I
will. As soon as I get you to shore."

"I can take Ella back."

Marcus shook his head. "Sorry, son, but I'm taking you to shore first. Your mom would never forgive me. Now swim!"

It seemed to take forever before they reached the shallows. Colton
removed the tank, handed it to Marcus and raced for the shore. Marcus followed closely behind, swinging Ella into his arms. When they reached the car, he set her down in the back seat and removed her mask. He felt for her pulse. It was faint but regular.

"Get in," he said to Colton.

The boy climbed in beside his sister. He was shivering violently, and Marcus turned on the engine and cranked up the heat. Retrieving two emergency blankets from the kit, he draped them around both children.

"Colton, stay here with your sister. Do
not move! Got it?"

"Got it." The boy's teeth were chattering.

Marcus reached for his cell phone on the dash. "Here's my phone. Call 911 and ask for Leo. Tell him you and Ella are safe, but we need an ambulance."

Colton nodded.

Marcus ruffled the boy's wet hair. "I'm going back for your mom now."

Tears flowe
d down the boy's cheeks. "She said you would save us."

As he ran toward the river, Marcus hoped to God he wasn't too late.