Page 58 of Twilight Tactics

“He is. The best we can do now is keep him warm and get him transported to the hospital.”

“The ambulance is about five minutes out.”

The crack of a rifle shattered the moment. Bark exploded from the tree just inches from Maya’s head, showering splinters over Elena.

“Down!” Sully shouted, throwing himself over Elena and Maya.

Another shot rang out, striking the ground next to them. David returned fire and her ears rang.

“To our right, elevated position,” David called out. “I can see the rifle barrel.”

Sully shifted off Elena and Maya. “Keep working. Get him on that ambulance. We’re going after the shooter.”

Sully moved through the underbrushwith David fifteen yards to his right, barely visible in the pine-scented air, but staying in sync with him as they homed in on the shooter’s position. Sully’s boots pressed silently against the forest floor, each step carefully placed to avoid the brittle twigs that could betray his approach.

Another shot rang out, the crack echoing through the trees, the bullet aimed at the ambulance arriving at the scene. It pinged off the side. David fired back, and Sully held his weapon ready, the grip warm and reassuring against his palm.

The rifle disappeared. “Think he’s running?” Sully said. “Or holed up and hoping we don’t know where he’s shooting from?”

“Can’t tell, but if he’s running, he’s not shooting. Are we sure it’s just one guy with a weapon?”

“As sure as we can be at the moment.” Sully motioned to the hunting blind and makeshift ladder partially concealed by the tall pine about eighty yards ahead. The wooden structure blended with the bark, but the unnatural angles gave it away. His thoughts flashed briefly to Elena and Maya, Billy and Van. Were they safe? Was Billy still alive? The worry lodged in his throat like a stone before he forced it down and refocused on what he needed to do.

David nodded and aimed his steps in that direction. A beadof sweat trickled down Sully’s temple as he moved quickly and as quietly as possible now that he was close to the location.

When no more shots came, he sprinted the final twenty yards toward the tree where he suspected the shooter was hiding. He pressed his back against a nearby tree, the bark scraping against his shoulder. He could hear movement above. The wooden planks creaked.

“FBI! Drop your weapon!” Sully called up, gun trained on the blind.

Silence.

Then the sound of someone scrambling higher into the tree.

“There’s nowhere to go,” Sully said. “My partner has a clear shot from the other side. Come down now and no one has to get hurt.” He squinted against the sunlight filtering through the branches, trying to get a glimpse of the shooter.

More silence.

“Now!” David said from his position.

No response.

“I’m a federal agent,” Sully called, sweat trickling down the small of his back despite the cold. “Don’t make me climb that tree.” Not that he would. The guy could pick him off like shooting fish in a barrel, but the threat couldn’t hurt. His wounded shoulder throbbed with a dull, insistent ache as he maintained his position.

Still silence.

Come on, man. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.He suppressed a sigh, wishing he had all the technology that went with being an agent. He could use some eyes in that blind. “I’m not kidding. There are two of us and one of you. We can wait. Or I can just get someone to bring a chainsaw.” Again, probably not, but he’d say just about anything at this point to get the guy to surrender peacefully. Because he was Sully’s ticket to getting some answers.

Seconds passed, marked by the steady thrum of his pulse in his ears.

“Fine,” the voice finally said, young and uncertain, “I’m coming down.”

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah.”

“Leave the rifle and any other weapons you have up there. Understand? Do not have anything in your hands when you come down. And use both hands on the ladder to do so. Am I clear?”

“Clear.”