Page 85 of Fatal Witness

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

For the time being, he left Gem in her crate. Which way to go? There were no trees along the road in either direction. While he was trying to decide, his cell phone rang and he checked the ID. Hayes. And one service bar that blinked off and on. “Where are you?”

“Half mile back ... got a ... call. Someone ... shooting and pulled over. You ... okay?”

“You’re breaking up. The shooter took out my SUV. Call Alex and bring her up to date. And don’t try to get where we are—there’sa sniper shooting at us.” Mark hoped Hayes’s connection was better than his.

“Sure thing ... get to me?”

“No.” They couldn’t risk the road—there was absolutely no protection from the sniper for the half mile between Mark and Hayes. And they were at the top of the next highest ridge on the mountain. He’d hiked the whole area, but in this particular section, the gorge was so steep he’d given up.

He peered over the railing at a narrow ledge six feet from where they stood. If they missed it, the hundred-foot drop beyond meant certain death. They simply could not miss it. Once they reached the ledge, they would be out of the line of fire, and the hike to his house was doable.

He spoke into the phone again with no idea if his words were reaching Hayes. “We’re going over the railing and then walking to my cabin to get my four-wheeler.”

With the all-terrain vehicle, they’d be able to come around the mountain on the other side of the gorge. By that time, Alex would have a team in place. Mark disconnected and glanced at Dani. “Guess you heard we’re going to my cabin.”

The wind whipped her hair, and she brushed it away from her face. “How do we get there?”

He nodded toward the railing, and her eyes widened. “We can’t walk up the road?” she asked.

“I’m afraid not. I don’t know where the shooter is.”

“You don’t think he’s gone?”

“I doubt it.”

“But he’s not shooting at us.”

“We’re out of his line of sight.” Mark scanned the hills around them. Other than the wind being a little high, it was a perfect place for a sniper, and he’d picked the perfect spot to blow out their tires. Dare Mark risk checking to see if the shooter was still out there?

There was no question in Mark’s mind that the shooter was using a high-powered rifle and scope, which meant he was probably a good distance away and would take a second to zero in on a target. A quick look should easily be possible with minimal danger.

He crouched beside the fender and popped up just long enough to scan for a reflection. Yes! A light glinted on the hill across from them. Mark dropped to the ground just as a bullet whizzed by and embedded in the metal railing.

Another bullet kicked up dirt not a foot from the front of the SUV.

Dani hugged her arms to her waist. “I’m sorry! If I hadn’t wanted to come—”

“Not your fault.” He opened the rear door and grabbed Gem’s harness and leash before he released her from the crate. “Good girl,” he said as she stood for him to put her in the harness.

He hadn’t heard a single rifle report so the shooter must have a suppressor. The brief flash of light had given Mark only a general sense of where the shots originated.

Another bullet shattered his side mirror. Again no report, but with the angle, he had a better idea of the direction. “He’s moving and we’ll be sitting ducks.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on!”

For now, the SUV blocked the shooter from seeing them as they inched their way to the metal railing. His heart pounded in his chest as more bullets rained around them. He had to get Dani to safety.

Mark peered over the edge at the six-foot drop to a narrow ledge, and tried to keep his mind off what would happen if they missed it. He glanced at Dani, alarmed at her paleness. “Can you make it?”

She swallowed hard, then squared her shoulders and nodded.

He looked down at Dani’s feet. Athletic shoes. Hiking bootswould’ve been better. He decided not to tell her to watch for rattlesnakes, at least not yet. “I’ll let Gem down first, using her harness and leash, then I’ll follow. You’ll come last.”

That way if she stumbled when she jumped, he could catch her before she plunged over the side of the ledge.

41

The lunch rush was just starting when she entered Pete’s Diner, and Alex quickly spotted Nathan in their corner booth.

---