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TWENTY-FIVE
Chasing a man through the woods was becoming too familiar. Jack sprinted, jumping over logs cutting through the undergrowth. Small branches slapped him, but his laser focus remained on the chase.
The man disappeared among the dense trees.
Jack stopped behind a thick trunk to hide. He leaned over his thighs and caught his breath, then examined his surroundings to get his bearings.
Weapon at the ready, Jack crept forward, grateful for a quiet carpet of pine needles in this section of the woods. The canopy here kept the forest in shadows. Movement fifteen yards ahead drew his attention. The man’s shadow told Jack what he needed to know.
The man leaned against a tree, probably catching his breath too.
Jack crept forward until he reached the tree, the criminal leaning on the other side of it. He feared the man could hear his pounding heart or even the sweat as it slipped down his temples.
Here goes everything.
Weapon at the ready and his arms stretched in front of him, he swept around the tree. “Police.”
Gone.
The man had slipped away.
Jack suddenly felt exposed. He crouched and searched the area but saw no one. He maneuvered to stand behind another tree. He had to get a lead on this guy. He’d thought he had the advantage, but he’d made a mistake.
The muzzle of a gun pressed against the base of his head. “Toss your gun.”
The man, who spoke in a low, whispering rasp, quickly took several steps back and, Jack was sure, out of his reach. The man remained behind Jack so he couldn’t get a good look at his face.
Jack lifted his hands and let his 9mm dangle from his finger.
“I said toss the gun.” Again, the rasping voice.
Frowning, Jack did as he was told. This wasn’t going down the way he had imagined. He had to turn this around—and fast. He considered taking the action route—diving and rolling to grab his gun again. Could he disarm this man without getting shot in the head?
Or he could use the psychological method. “You shoot a cop, and they’ll hunt you down. You’ll be looking over your shoulder until the last day of your short life.”
“I’m already looking over my shoulder.”
“Who are you?” Jack wanted answers, and he needed to distract the man. “Come in, and we can help you. Whoever you’re running from, we can help you.”
“You can’t help me.”
In his peripheral vision, Jack saw movement.
Terra.
Blood roared in his ears. If Terra drew the man’s attention, he would shoot Jack first and ask questions later. Or she might shoot and kill the man, and they would still need answers.
He would have to risk it. No other choice.
A twig snapped.
Jack threw himself to the ground and rolled as gunfire rang out—the man had taken a shot at Terra and was now on the run. The guy dashed through the trees. Once again, the chase was on. Jack snatched up his gun and sprang to his feet as Terra rushed forward, gasping.
“Let’s go.” He took off after him.
After twenty minutes of running and searching the woods, he stopped to visually search the area as he caught his breath.
“I think we ... lost ... him.” She spoke the words between gulps of air.
