The Healer by Dee Henderson

Book 5 of The O'Malleys

Summary: 

A flood brings them together...

Rachel O'Malley is a trauma psychologist who works disasters for the Red Cross; her specialty is helping children. Captain Cole Parker has spent the last year fighting fires, investing arsons--and falling in love with Rachel. When a flood surges through their community, it's a chance in the midst of tragedy to spend some precious time together.

And Rachel is relying on Cole's love.

For years, Rachel has touched grief while helping others work through it, but now grief is getting very personal...she may lose her sister to cancer. She's depending on Cole--her rock, immovable--to help her make it through. 

But the floodwaters conceal a deadly surprise...

A crime scene is swallowed up by the waters. One person is dead, and the police suspect there may be a second victim. The murder weapon has fallen into the hands of a child, and the flood disaster is about to be eclipsed by gunfire at a local school. 

And Rachel is caught in the crossfire.

Rachel knows one of the injured students, a child who died, and the shooter. She's struggling to do her job even as she copes with her own trauma. For she must deal with more than just grief among the children she is trying to help--one of them still has the gun. And Rachel fears a third tragedy will soon follow unless Cole and the O'Malleys can solve a murder still hidden by the floodwaters...

Opening Lines: 

"We need to go, Mrs. Sands." Rachel O'Malley stopped the elderly lady from turning toward her living room and instead steered her toward the front door and the waiting Red Cross volunteer. Shutters rattled and a misty rain blew in the open door, dampening the hallway. The Des Plaines River was surging through the levee; and getting people to safety was the priority. It was Tuesday, march 13, and rains across Chicago had triggered rapid flooding along six miles of the river. 

"I need my pictures."

"Yes, ma'am. But I'm afraid there isn't time." Rachel shifted the birdcage and medicine bad she carried to help Mrs. Sands with her raincoat. "This wind is strong, so let Nora and the officer help you."