Page 105 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

Her thoughts ran down a list of recent mistakes.

She’d made a tactical error when she’d taunted Morin back in New York. She shouldn’t have triggered his insecurity.

She should have fired instantly as soon as she had the chance before he could kill her first.

She should have left with Liam Stuart immediately instead of hanging around until Morin found them.

Too late now to indulge in second guessing.

“Neither of us is likely to miss at this range, Nigel,” she said sardonically. “Comes down to a test of reflexes. After I shoot you, can you return the favor before you die?”

“Mutual kill by reciprocal firearms is a myth, Audrey. Theoretically possible, but no documented cases on the books,” he replied flatly. “I’ll shoot you first and that’s it. You want me to do it because you’re done.”

She cocked her head, “Why haven’t you already fired?”

He scowled. “Why did you kill Krause?”

“That’s what’s bothering you?” she asked, mocking him. “Krause came at me. Self-defense. What was I supposed to do?”

“Yeah, well Brax is pissed off. Go back to Quan and back to his bed if you like.” Morin’s tone was hard. “Your career is over.”

Audrey felt a stab of doubt followed by hot anger. “You told Brax about Krause?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Morin said. “You know what they say. If you shoot at the king, you’d better not miss.”

She smirked. “You think of yourself as the king, do you?”

He glared. “You’re done in the field. Forever. You’ll be lucky to avoid prison.”

She was quiet for a couple of seconds, considering. “I don’t believe you. You didn’t tell Brax about Krause. Brax wouldn’t allow you to kill me.”

“You think not?” Morin quickly raised his arm and fired off a round. The bullet passed her head and exited the rotted planks two inches from her left ear.

The deafening noise, even partially contained in the open cabin, reverberated like an explosion blasting inside a wooden box.

She imagined sound waves washing over her, loosening her teeth, drowning her hearing. Forever.

Even as she wondered why he’d deliberately missed her head.

Morin had aimed wide of her skull. If he’d wanted to hit her, he would have. He was baiting her. He wanted her to fire back, to give him a reason to kill her.

Which meant he’d been bluffing about Brax.

Morin had not told Brax about Krause. Her career wasn’t over. Not yet.

But both she and her career would be done if she aimed her weapon at Nigel Morin. He wouldn’t miss a second time.

She glanced away from Morin briefly to check on Liam Stuart.

The space he’d occupied since he arrived was empty.

She scanned the room as quickly as she dared. Every move of her head produced a swimming feeling, as if she were physically under water instead of metaphorically.

The scientist was no longer inside the cabin.

“Where’s Stuart?” Audrey asked at normal volume, although she couldn’t hear her own words. “He’s gone. Stuart is gone.”

Morin kept his gun aimed at Audrey while he, too, looked around the small cabin. Stuart was not there.

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