Page 104 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

“Right back atcha,” she replied evenly, as if she meant every word of her threat as much as Morin did.

Fortune favors the boldpopped into Liam’s head. His brother always said that just before they engaged in some crazy activity like helicopter skiing or base jumping. Lucas had always been the bold one. Liam was the follower.

Until now.

While Morin and Ruston argued, totally engrossed in their own business, Liam snuck out the open door, pulse racing, heart pounding.

How far could he get before they came after him?

More importantly, where would he go?

After he cleared the open doorway, he veered to the left, putting distance between them and obstacles in the line of sight.

He rushed to the back of his SUV and grabbed the Stiletto. He closed the door quietly and hoofed it as quickly as possible toward the road on the other side of the Devil’s Punchbowl gorge.

Maybe he could flag down a vehicle and get away.

He held the Stiletto 100 away from his torso and maneuvered awkwardly around the trees as he traversed the woods. He ignored the cold rain and the wind gusts that chilled him to the bone.

Adrenaline fueled his body. His fatigued muscles ignored the pain as he ran. Breathing hard. Long strides up the incline toward the road.

Every few seconds, he glanced over his shoulder. Were they following him? Liam could see only a few feet around him in any direction. The woods were too dense and the foggy weather compounded the gloom.

If Morin and Ruston gave chase, they concealed themselves well enough.

Liam was panting now. He landed awkwardly in a hole made by some burrowing animal, twisting his ankle. But he kept going. He ignored the sharp pain shooting through his ankle and into his foot with every step up the hill.

“Not much further. Almost there,” he wheezed to keep himself going.

The Stiletto 100 was unbearably heavy now. Several times, his arms dipped closer to the ground. Liam jerked up, keeping the drone from harm’s way. But he felt his pace slowing and his labored breath sounded too loud in his ears.

He’d lost his bearings. He paused and looked skyward. The leafy tree canopy overhead blocked his view of the sky. He swiveled his head. Tree trunks in all directions. Underbrush, decaying leaves, fallen twigs and branches littered the ground.

Liam wasn’t sure he was running toward the overlook and then the road on the other side. He couldn’t carry the drone safely much longer, either. Blinding rain washed down his face.

He closed his eyes to visualize the open area he’d used to fly the Stiletto earlier. Where was that space now? From there, he could deploy the drone. Unencumbered by its weight, he could move faster. Collect the drone once he reached the overlook.

The risk was standing in the open. Morin and Ruston could spot him easily. But with the drone in flight, Liam could deploy its weapons. An advantage Morin and Ruston could not defend.

As he was peering through the tree trunks, he heard Audrey Ruston scream. Immediately after she screamed, he heard two gunshots.

The noise came from behind and to the left of Liam’s current position. Which meant he was off course. He’d wandered too far north of the overlook and farther from the clearing where he’d deployed the Stiletto before.

“Fortune favors the brave,” he murmured.

He took a deep breath, secured his grip on the drone, and rushed toward the clearing.

-

Chapter 40

Saturday, June 4

Devil’s Punchbowl, Ontario, CA

Audrey had barely moved. Her entire body was as stiff as a pole. She’d instinctively aimed her weapon at the cabin’s open maw when the flimsy plank door slammed wide and weather stormed in. Bringing Nigel Morin along with it.

From the moment Morin breached the cabin shouting, “Ruston! Hold your fire!” Audrey had focused intently on the shooter.

---