“Now!” Kane stopped above her, one hand reaching to slow her descent. “Now, Jenna.”
Still falling, Jenna pulled on the rope. The sudden jolt pulled on her harness and beside her Kane nodded and dropped slowly to the ground. Beside him, Styles had matched his pace, and they both turned to look at her as she landed on jelly legs. Her fingers didn’t seem to work as she tried to undo the clasps on her harness, but Kane had her out in seconds and the ropes flew up in the air as the chopper moved out of sight. The entire drop had taken only seconds.
Trying to gather her breath, she turned to Kane. “Spread out. We know he’s armed.”
“What’s she carrying?” Kane ran behind Jenna along the narrow trail.
“M18 pistol.” Styles frowned. “It’s loaded for bear. She doesn’t mess around.”
As Styles headed through the forest, Kane came along beside her. “How the heck did he disarm her? I’ve worked out with her, and she could take down most men unarmed.”
A scream pierced the silence and Jenna’s heart missed a beat. “She might have met her match this time. Let’s go.” She took off at a run.
Forty-Seven
Arms pumping, Jenna crashed through the underbrush. Ahead in the clearing a man dragged Beth from a truck, and she fell to the ground like a rag doll. When the man swung at her head with the pistol, she swiveled, kicking the gun from his hand. Seconds later, he attacked her with his fists, but she fought back, twisting and turning to avoid the blows. Jenna ran faster and in the distance could see Styles emerging from the forest. Kane would be on her right and coming in hot. He’d have his weapon drawn and be taking aim. Jenna took in the situation and gasped as the man pulled out a hunting knife. Throwing caution to the wind, she charged at the fighting couple, throwing herself at the man’s legs in a shoulder charge. As he fell, he swung at Beth and the massive backhand sent her sprawling into the bushes.
The blade of the knife swished past Jenna’s cheek as they tumbled to the ground. She rolled and kicked in a deadly dance as the knife came down so close it sliced through her jacket. As he slashed at her, the blade got closer. He roared above her and she glanced up to see the man’s arm rise into the air, his face twisted in a grotesque triumphant expression. There was no escape, she tried to roll away and brought up both arms in defense. In that instant a shot rang out, the sound echoing through the forest. The man screamed and fell flat on his back, clutching what was left of his right hand. She choked back a cry as Kane walked out of the forest holstering his weapon. She’d never been more pleased to see him. Behind him, Styles thundered past and fell on his knees beside Beth. In the distance, sirens blasted as Jenna took Kane’s outstretched hand and he pulled her to her feet.
“You okay?” Kane’s gaze moved over her. “That was gutsy.”
Nodding, Jenna noticed Kane had slipped into combat mode. Shaken to the core, she looked up at him. “Thank God I had you for backup.” She squeezed his arm. “That guy is dangerous.”
“So I see.” Kane ran a finger down the split in her jacket. “The liquid Kevlar vest can only do so much, Jenna. If he’d cut your face?—"
Shaking her head, she indicated toward Beth. “He would have killed her.”
“I’d have taken him down before that and so would Styles.” Kane stared into her eyes. “You distracted him enough for me to wound him. I’m proud of you.”
Jenna smiled. “I’m glad you never miss.” She indicated toward the screaming man. “He’s not going anywhere. I need to check on Beth.” She went to her side and gasped at the mass of bruising on her face.
“Thanks, Jenna.” Beth blinked through swollen eyes. “You risked your life for me. I’ll never forget that.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jenna nodded. “Just doing my job.”
She walked toward the man cursing them, and Jenna stared at him. In the struggle, his face had been so contorted with rage she hadn’t recognized him. Could this be the same easygoing cowboy she’d interviewed in the hay yard? “Tex Williams?” His laid-back attitude had been one of the reasons he’d remained a suspect.
“I need medical attention.” Williams rocked back and forth, his bleeding hand clutched to his chest, staining his plaid shirt. He looked at Kane and his eyes narrowed. “Why did you shoot me? I had two crazy women attacking me. I had a right to defend myself. That’s the law in Montana, don’t you know? “
“Good luck with that.” Kane bent and patted him down but didn’t cuff him. “Don’t try and run or I’ll cuff you. I figure that might hurt some.”
“You’re gonna pay big time for this.” Williams glared at him.
“I’m sure the trail cam footage with tell another story.” Styles walked toward him, one hand firmly on Beth’s elbow. “We have Cutter and he’s singing like a bird.”
“Yeah.” Kane crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. “We know everything: when this all started, how you procured his victims, the Larkins’ body disposal. He told us you did all the actual killing, and he just roughed them up some.”
“He’s lying.” Williams had turned sheet-white and his mouth turned down at the corners. “I was just a kid when he took me to one of the cabins and showed me how to discipline a woman. He told me he was doing God’s work. He said that since the Garden of Eden, women have been evil, using their bodies to lure men into depravity. He needed to make an example out of some of them so that the others would toe the line.” He shook his head. “I’m not taking the blame for all of them.”
Jenna sent a message to Raven that the suspect was down and needed medical attention and so did Beth. She turned her attention back to Williams. “Do you want to make a deal?”
“I need medical attention and your duty of care is to supply it.” Williams let out a strangled cry. “Maybe then I’ll make a deal.”
Jenna took out her phone and waved it at him. “I have a doctor on the way now. I record a confession now or you take your chances in court. We have footage of you attacking a federal officer and attempted murder of a sheriff with a deadly weapon. That will tie you up in court for a while. Why not talk to us before you pass out? That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”
“I’m bleeding to death here.” Williams cradled his arm.
“You’ll be fine.” Kane moved closer to examine his hand. “It cost you a couple of fingers but if you’d stabbed my wife, we wouldn’t be offering you a deal.” His mouth turned down. “Dead men can’t make deals.”
