“We’ll get through.” Kane spun the wheel and headed back toward town.
Jenna hit her mic. “Follow us. We’ll go past the woman and take cover behind The Devil’s Boulder.”
Boom!
“I hope he’s not aiming this way.” Kane’s expression was grim. “I do
n’t take too kindly to people shooting up my truck.”
Jenna gripped the edge of her seat. “There on the left. Dammit, the snow looks deep.”
“If it’s a fire break, it will be maintained regular. We’ll be fine.” Kane turned the Beast into the snow-covered road and slowed to a crawl. “We’re good, the tires are gripping just fine. I see the boulder.” He maneuvered the truck in close beside it and scanned the area. “Where’s the shooter?”
Boom! Boom!
Jenna stared into the dark forest and caught sight of a flash of red. “There’s someone coming this way.” She pointed into the forest and then turned to him. “You’ll need a vantage point.”
“I’ll be on your left.” Kane grabbed his sniper rifle and slid silently from the truck.
By the time, Jenna had opened her door, Kane had disappeared into the trees. She turned as Rowley and Wolfe came to her side. “The woman is running this way. Fan out. We’ll wait until she comes to us. Kane is positioned on the left. He’ll handle the shooter.”
“Copy that.” Wolfe moved out vanishing like a mist into the forest.
“I’m watching your back.” Rowley gave her a determined stare.
“I said fan out. The shooter might slip through our net.” Jenna searched the forest. It was so dark and gloomy, she had to strain her eyes but movement ahead, caught her attention and then in the distance a young woman stumbled into an opening.
She opened her mic. “Here she comes.”
Boom!
Branches shattered and the girl cried out and took off in a different direction. The young woman was over one hundred yards away. Jenna waved her hands. “This way, run this way.”
She caught sight of the girl’s wide frightened eyes as she tripped and fell, sliding over the icy ground. Terrified the gunman had a clear shot, Jenna broke cover and zig-zagged through the forest, to draw fire. It worked.
Boom!
A branch crashed down so close to her that lumps of snow prickly with pine needles bombarded her. She ducked behind a thick tree to catch her breath and drew her weapon but the girl was bounding away from her.
Boom!
The pine tree beside Jenna shattered, peppering her cheek with splinters. She peeked around the tree and then dashed through the forest, chasing the girl.
“Jenna, I’m coming in on your right.” Wolfe’s voice came through Jenna’s earpiece. “Wait for me. I’d be able to take him down from here but you’re in my line of fire.”
“Sorry, Shane. If you miss, he’ll kill her. Hold your fire. If I can get to her position, with any luck, he’ll be distracted and break cover. Kane will have a clear shot.” Jenna took off in the girl’s direction putting her body between herself and the gunman. She hit her mic again as she ran. “He’s not killing another girl on my watch. Jenna out.”
Sixty
Sobbing with fear, Ava crawled into the bushes. She’d seen a woman, waving her arms but at first, her brain had failed to register the bright yellow sheriff’s logo on the woman’s shirt. She’d been yelling something but the pounding in her ears had blocked out everything. Panting, she peered through the leaves. The sheriff was zig-zagging through the trees toward her, her shirt like a bright target in the dim forest. Ava wanted to scream out a warning but fear had closed her throat. Preacher was fifty yards from her and had stopped moving, his attention fixed on the sheriff. She watched in horror as he raised his rifle and aimed.
Boom! The tree where the sheriff had been standing exploded and woodchips flew out in a cloud of sawdust and pine needles. The sound of footsteps crunched on the snow, and she caught sight of Preacher moving with purpose but in no hurry through the trees like a hunter stalking his prey. Bushes moved and the sheriff darted toward her.
“This is the sheriff. Put down your weapon. We have you surrounded.” The sheriff poked her head around the tree.
Boom!
The sound came like the roar of a dragon and the pine tree beside the sheriff blew apart but the brave woman kept on moving closer to her. Terror held Ava in a vicelike grip as she crawled on hands and knees toward her. If she could get ten yards farther, she’d get to her. “Help me! He’s trying to kill me.” She pushed her voice out of her parched throat. “He killed my friend. He’s killed tons of women. I’ve been his prisoner. Help me… Pleeeeease.”