Deliver Us from Evil by Robin Caroll Read Free Book Online Page A

his face. The lenses of his glasses fogged over, although there was no heat in the aircraft.
    â€œWell, that was fun,” the pilot announced.
    Roark laughed and clapped the pilot’s shoulder. “Good work, man. Good work.”
    â€œAre we almost there?” Thomas’s voice shook as he spoke over the engines and rattles.
    â€œI’ve had to veer off course to avoid the main line of the storm. It might put us off schedule by about an hour.”
    â€œWill that be a problem? With the heart, I mean?” Roark asked.
    Glancing at his watch, Thomas raked his upper teeth over his bottom lip. “It might.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, it might? ”
    â€œWell, the cardiac surgeon told me if I didn’t land in three hours to give the first injection. It’s already been two hours since the heart was harvested.”
    â€œThen go ahead and give the injection.” Roark cracked his knuckles.
    â€œIt’s just . . .” Thomas gazed down at the floor of the helicopter.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe procedure is very delicate. I need to be as still as possible, and I need light.”
    Roark shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Still? In a helicopter?”
    â€œThat’s the only way to do it. It’s not fair. We didn’t anticipate a storm of this intensity coming upon us so quickly. Why did this have to happen to us?”
    Roark had never been able to tolerate whining. “You’ll have to do it despite the turbulence.”
    â€œI’m not trained to inject hearts.” Thomas’s bottom lip protruded. “The cardiac surgeon should’ve come.”
    â€œBut he didn’t and you did.” Roark laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “You can do it, Thomas.” He whipped out the flashlight fastened to the side of the copilot’s chair. “I’ll hold the light for you.”
    The flight medic hesitated a moment, looking like he was gnawing on the inside of his mouth, then nodded. “Okay.”
    Roark flipped on the flashlight and tapped the pilot’s shoulder. “Thomas needs to make an injection. Can you keep this as steady as possible?”
    â€œI’ll try, but the wind and snow are really pushing us.”
    â€œJust do your best.”
    Thomas unzipped the pack, then laid it open on the seat beside him. Four syringes snuggled inside. He set the cooler on the floor, then lifted the cover.
    Not knowing what to expect, Roark held his breath and peeked into the container. There wasn’t a river of blood, only a pink tinge of liquid surrounding a bluish lump. Clear, liquid-filled bags surrounded the organ.
    Thomas freed one of the syringes from the pack, then hovered over the heart. His Adam’s apple bobbed once. He lifted his gaze to Roark.
    Roark smiled and focused the beam of light. “Go ahead, you’re doing great.” Not that he would know if the guy wasn’t, but he couldn’t tell Thomas that. Part of his job was to be a calming presence to those on the edge.
    Lowering the syringe, Thomas leaned over the cooler.
    The helicopter shoved to the left.
    Thomas jerked the needle upright. A sheen of sweat glistened on his upper lip. “I can’t do this.”
    â€œSure you can.” Roark tapped the pilot’s shoulder again. “Try to keep her as steady as possible for a minute.”
    â€œI’m trying,” the pilot growled.
    Roark directed the flashlight again. “Go ahead.”
    Thomas licked his lips before hunching over again. He lowered the syringe. This time, the needle pierced the tissue of the organ. He pressed down on the plunger.
    After pulling the needle free, Thomas locked it back in the pack, then closed the lid on the cooler. He wiped the side of his face with his shoulder before looking at Roark and smiling. “I did it. That gives the heart another twelve hours.”
    Roark shifted on the seat, the worn vinyl rubbing against his