Target on the Mountain by Elizabeth Goddard (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

“We’re not going to let that happen,” Alex assured her.

Before Michelle could respond, the woods around them detonated with gunfire.

Rachel glanced over at him. “We can’t hold them off much longer.”

Alex searched their surrounding woods. “We’ll have to make a run for it. Liam, can you make it?”

Liam was barely hanging on, but he was quick to assure him. “I can.” Alex slid a look Rachel’s way. He could read all of her skepticism, yet they were out of options.

He pointed deeper into the wilderness behind them. “That’s our only way. Go, Rachel.”

Rachel grabbed Liam around the waist and took off running with Michelle following. Alex covered them as best he could until he was certain they were safe, then he left his hiding spot and ran as fast as possible while shots flew past him, barely missing him several times.

Alex caught up with them. “We bought ourselves some time. I just hope Jase and the team get here soon. We can’t hold Temple’s men off for long.”

As they hurried through the woods, Alex kept a careful eye behind them. So far, no one was following. His gut told him it was only a matter of time before that changed.

SIXTEEN

It felt like the nightmare would never end. Rachel could hear the men tramping through the woods at a fast click.

Alex glanced over his shoulder. “I see them. We are way outnumbered.”

With her heart threatening to explode against her chest, Rachel could feel each breath as it burned her lungs.

She was barely hanging on. She couldn’t imagine how difficult the trek had been for Liam. He looked as if he was ready to drop. Her brother stumbled and almost took her with him. “Alex, we have to find a place to hide. Liam can’t take much more.”

She glanced around, searching for anyplace where they might take cover to wait it out until the Scorpion team arrived.

“Over there.” She spotted a thick grove of trees off to the right where it was impossible to see inside. “It’s worth a try.”

The four of them headed for the grove. If their plan worked, Temple’s men would keep going straight.

As they entered the wooded area, Rachel could barely see a few inches in front of her.

With Alex’s help, she slowly eased Liam down to the ground. She could see he was close to losing consciousness again. Please let help arrive soon.

Next to her Rachel could feel Michelle trembling. If Temple and his men realized she had been helping Deacon all along, they would kill her without asking questions.

Over the drumming of her heartbeat, Rachel heard the men working their way through the woods. They were almost right on top of them now.

Michelle came close to screaming. Rachel covered her mouth with her hand. They couldn’t afford to be found out.

“Do you see them? They were just here.” McNamara sounded as if he’d been running a marathon.

“No, but they can’t be far. They have Carlson with them and he’s injured. That should slow them down,” answered a man she didn’t recognize.

Silence followed while Rachel held on to a breath.

“Temple wants them found now. Who knows who they’ve contacted? We’re running out of time and our buyer is waiting. If we don’t deliver the sarin soon, it will be bad for us. These people don’t accept excuses,” McNamara said.

Rachel reached for Alex’s hand and held it tight. As an answered prayer, she heard the men slowly move away from the spot.

“I think they’re gone,” Alex whispered. “We need to get back to the station, where Jase is expecting us to be.”

Rachel looked down at Liam. He hadn’t regained consciousness. Tears filled her eyes. They couldn’t leave him here.

“I’ve got him.” Alex hauled Liam up beside him. It was going to take all of his strength to get Liam back to the station, yet he never hesitated. “You and Michelle head out. I’ll be right behind you.”

She shook her head. “I’ll follow you. In case those men circle back. Otherwise, you’ll be vulnerable.”

He slowly agreed. It was their only option. “Okay. Michelle, you know the way. Don’t try anything foolish.”

The woman was clearly terrified of McNamara. Rachel didn’t doubt for a moment that Michelle had suffered terrible things at Temple’s and McNamara’s hands.

With Alex all but hauling Liam beside him, it was slow going. It felt as if it took forever for them to make any time at all.

Rachel kept a close eye behind them. She was afraid the noise they were making would attract the men’s attention. So far, they seemed to have bought their decoy. But for how long?

Several times, Alex had to stop to catch his breath. Michelle kept a careful watch out for them. Whenever they stopped, she did, as well. As much as Rachel wanted to trust her, she couldn’t bring herself to fully. She’d worked for Temple. To what degree she had been involved in his organization was still undetermined.

Rachel eased up next to Alex and put her arms around Liam, too. “Let me help you. We can make better time together.”

He nodded and they slowly made their way along the path. They were still some distance from the station, but she could see it burning above the treetops.

Behind them, Rachel heard something. She stopped, as did Alex. “That has to be them. We need to hurry.”

They did everything they could to go faster, but it was impossible. They stumbled several times and almost fell.

“We’ll never outrun them. We have to find a place to take cover,” she told Alex.

He shook his head. “We’re almost there.”

Rachel grabbed hold of Liam again and she and Alex all but ran with his dead weight between them.

“I see them. They’re up ahead,” McNamara yelled. “Don’t let them get away.”

“We have to hurry, Rachel,” Alex urged.

She felt as if she were running blindly, not sure how much farther she could go.

Michelle grabbed the weapon Rachel had tucked behind her back. “Go. Let me cover you. I can slow them down for a bit to