Page 28 of So Insane

His teeth clicked together, and his eyes rolled back into his head. He fell forward onto the ground, and Faith rolled him over, not onto his stomach but his back.

She cried out in rage and drove her fist into him over and over and over. She heard a crunch as his nose broke, but still she continued to strike him. When she finally paused for breath, Tooley’s face was swollen and misshapen with bruises. His nose was nearly flattened, and blood trickled from both nostrils and a cut just below his eye.

Faith’s hands shook, partly from the force of her repeated blows striking his skull and partly from her emotions. She rolled off of him and collapsed against the mountain. Tooley lay still, knocked unconscious.

She sighed and dialed Michael. “Faith? Where are you? Was that your light that fell?”

“Yes,” she said, “I apprehended Tooley. I lost the light in the struggle.”

“Jesus,” Michael swore. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’m about a mile from your position. I’m heading back now.”

Tooley groaned and stirred, and Faith said, “Call Kinzel and let him know we have his prisoner. Tell him to send the helicopter.”

“Already did,” Michael said. “They’re on their way.”

“Wonderful,” Faith said, “We’ll be back shortly.”

She hung up and moved to Tooley. She rolled him roughly onto his back and handcuffed him. “As I was saying, I’m Special Agent Faith Bold. You are Ferris Tooley, and you’re under arrest.”

Tooley groaned again, and Faith yanked him to his feet. “Here’s the deal, asshole,” she said, “I need to use my cell phone flashlight to light our way back. It’s already low on battery from chasing you halfway across the Rockies. I have enough light to get back to my partner. You fuck with me, I don’t have enough light, and we end up stuck on the side of the mountain. That happens, and I just roll you down the hill and tell Marshal Kinzel that I had to kill you to save my own life. Since that just happens to be true, I would also suggest exercising your right to shut up. Sound good?”

Tooley nodded.

“Outstanding. Now walk.”

Faith pushed him forward. He stumbled to his knees, then got to his feet and trudged back down the path.

The cell phone light was next to useless. That meant that a journey that took Faith twenty minutes to complete earlier took nearly an hour. When she finally reached the ledge, Tooley spoke, the words badly muffled due to the swelling in his face.

“I can’t make it down there. Not with my hands tied.”

Faith looked down at Michael and Turk. Michael waved, and Turk started barking excitedly.

“See them?” Faith said.

Tooley nodded.

“That’s my partner, who is an outstanding shot with a handgun, and my dog, who is the most dangerous German Shepherd you’ll ever see in your life. You try to run—not that you have anywhere to go—or try to hurt me, and they’ll show you exactly what I mean. Got it?”

He nodded. “I’ll behave.”

“Good.”

She pulled out the folding knife the FBI issued to all of its field agents and realized this was the first time in her ten-year career she’d ever used it. What a day.

She sliced the bonds, and Tooley rubbed his wrists. The bruising on his face had swollen to comical proportions, and he breathed through his mouth in short gasps, his nose far too misshapen to breathe normally.

“We’ll get you medical attention when we get down there,” Faith said in a calmer tone. She hoped she didn’t sound as guilty as she felt.

Well, whatever. He had tried to kill her. Michael would have to understand if she went a little crazy on him.

Tooley nodded and said, “Thank you,” in a contrite voice, and started down the ledge.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Michael swore and drew his weapon. He kept it pointed at the ground but remained ready at any second to level it at Tooley if he tried to hurt Faith.

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