Page 91 of Deadly Evidence
The magnitude of that act—and her roiling emotions—made her desperate to rush after them to help.
What if just one more person, one more weapon, could make all the difference? How could she ever forgive herself if Lacey was hurt during this attempted rescue?
A lifetime of taking charge and being in control warred against Brady’s warning to stay put and out of the way.
The path Brady and Tom had followed led up into the rocks beckoned her.
Maybe the other guys had heard a noise or seen some motion. Maybe they were
lying in wait this very moment, ready to pick off Brady and Tom when they least expected it.
And nothing—certainly not the three men who might be holding her daughter hostage—was going to keep her from bringing Lacey home.
Her pulse thrumming through her veins, Anna slid silently off her horse and tied the reins to a waist-high sagebrush.
Slowly, careful to avoid making any sound, she slipped her rifle from the scabbard, then turned toward the path, taking care with each step.
At the top of the path, she looked back and found Dante still dozing.Thank you, God, she whispered. He was better off with the horses, out of harm’s way.
One false move—one unnecessary noise—and the kidnappers could panic. And Lacey might be the one to pay the price.
At a skittering of pebbles across the rocks ahead, her heart stopped for a moment. It could be Brady or Tom. It could be one of the smugglers. But whoever it was, she wasn’t going to stand out in the open and take any chances.
Crouching low, she moved behind some boulders and continued on, running parallel to the trail, taking care with every step.
Just ahead, she caught a flash of white and the furtive movements of someone moving in the same direction Brady had gone.
Both Tom and Brady were dressed inblackfrom head to foot.
Releasing the safety on her rifle, she picked up her pace and slipped behind the guy ahead of her on the trail.
Four images had shown on the helicopter’s FLIR screen. If Lacey was one of them and this guy was the second, then there were two more ahead. This guy must have seen or heard something and decided to circle around for a closer look.
Which meant Brady and Tom were in danger.
Up ahead, the loud crack of a rifle resounded through the hills like cannon fire, then another.
The figure in front of her stood taller and raised his rifle to his shoulder. Took aim at some object ahead.Brady?
Anna moved closer. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she announced. “Drop your rifle or I fire.”
“Now why,” he snarled, “would you want to do a thing like that?”
He spun around and dropped low, his rifle instantly raised to his cheekbone. Even in the darkness, his face was strangely familiar. Nieto?
If I don’t fire, I’m going to die...and maybe Lacey, too.
Pure resolve slammed through her as she curled her finger around the trigger and aimed.
The deafening crack of a rifle exploded into the night air.
The man screamed, doubled over, then crumpled to the ground.
She stared, horror and deep regret swamping her senses.
Then Dante stepped past her and lowered his own rifle, the stunned expression on his young face surely matching her own. “I had to, Anna—it was either you or him.”
“Y-youshot him?”
