Page 124 of Counter Attack

“He’s nursing a leg wound, which is going to make it really hard to keep him alive until you get here.”

“You shot him?”

“I told him not to run, but he didn’t listen.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Answer your FaceTime call. And then I want you here, on the point facing Eagle Ridge.”

Alex looked at the phone. Kayla was FaceTiming her. She accepted the call, and Nathan appeared on her screen standing on a metal folding chair with a noose and slack rope around his neck. His left pants leg had a dark stain on it.

Her world shifted, and she fought the lightheadedness that engulfed her brain.

“Don’t come!” He yelled the words.

Kayla kicked the chair, tilting it. The rope tightened as Nathan grabbed the noose around his neck and scrambled to right the chair.

“I’m on my way.”

“See to it you come alone. If I even suspect that anyone is with you, I’ll kill him.”

“I’ll be alone.”

“To make sure, stay on the phone.”

“The call will drop when I get to the road.”

“You better hope it doesn’t, but if it does, you have ten minutes to get here.”

It would drop. There was no service of any kind once she left the ridge. She had to trust that God would help her.

It dawned on her—Kayla wouldn’t kill Nathan. Not until she had Alex.

She looked at the phone. The call was still live. “There’s no way I can get to Harper’s Point in ten minutes from here. You will not see my face until I know Nathan is all right. I’ll call you once I get reception, and I expect to see him alive and well.”

“You’re not telling me what to do.”

“That’s the only way you’re going to get me to the Point.” Alex ended the call and looked at Mark. “You heard?”

“Yes. What’s the plan?”

“Get everyone to the point, a few at a time. I’ll wait for you to get in place before I confront Kayla. And no sirens, no flashing lights. Radio silence—that goes for phones too. We can text. Then set up with your rifle.”

Something flashed in his eyes. Fear? Surely not.

“Do you have a problem with that? You were a sniper in Afghanistan, right?”

Mark gave her a curt nod. “I don’t have a problem.”

He clearly did, but once again she felt that sense of peace. She’d have to trust him. “Have the men surround the point but hold back unless there’s a need for them. I’ll trust you to know if that happens.”

He stood a little taller. “I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.”

Fifteen minutes later, Alex was glad she’d met only a handful of vehicles on her mad dash to the point. She turned onto the road leading to Harper’s Point and waited for Mark. Once he pulled in behind her, she got out, and he met her with Gem at his side. The dog might come in handy.

“The others are parking farther back and will hike in closer to the lake,” he said, his posture tense.

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