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

Rachel glanced at Alex. “It’s our only chance.”

Alex slowly nodded and they took off running again.

Behind them, shots ricocheted through the woods.

Once they reached the destroyed station, they found a safe place to hide.

“I don’t hear anything.” Rachel listened over the noise of her pulse and the fire raging, but there was only silence.

“I don’t, either. I hope she got out of there safe. Stay here with Liam. I’m going after her.”

Rachel clutched his hand. “Be careful, please.”

He smiled down at her and squeezed her hand before heading back to where they had left Michelle.

Rachel glanced over at Liam. Her brother was mumbling incoherently.

Lord, we need Your help...

She barely got the words out when she heard multiple shots fired. Alex!

Seconds later, more than one set of footsteps came their way. Rachel got to her feet and drew her weapon. She wasn’t going down without a fight.

With the rifle ready to fire, Alex charged into the wooded area with Michelle close behind.

He spotted the weapon and stopped dead in his tracks. “Whoa. Hang on, there, Rachel. It’s just us.”

She slowly lowered the weapon. Relief threatened to buckle her knees. She was on edge. They all were. They needed the nightmare to end soon.

“They’re almost here.” Where are you, Jase? He didn’t want to show Rachel how worried he was, but they couldn’t hold out much longer. McNamara and his men were almost right on top of them and Liam was fading fast. If they didn’t get help soon, none of them would be walking out of here alive.

“We know you’re in there.” McNamara stopped in front of their hiding spot. “Come out with your hands up and we might let you live. If we have to come get you, it’ll be a different story.”

Rachel was close enough to see all of Alex’s uncertainties. He didn’t know what to do. Should they keep fighting? Or give up? If they did, would McNamara let them live long enough for Jase to reach them?

McNamara ordered his men to fire on them. Shots riddled through the space where they stood, forcing them down to the ground.

Their time was now measured in minutes. Rachel took his hand and looked into his eyes. Seconds passed while he just took in her beauty. Was this the end for them?

She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. “It will be okay. We just have to keep believing.”

He nodded. He so wanted to believe that, but desperation made it difficult to hold on to his faith. He loved her. He didn’t want to die without letting her know how much.

Alex cupped her face. There were tears in her eyes. She understood what possibly lay ahead for them, as well. “I love you, Rachel. I love you so much.”

A sob escaped and she hugged him tight. “I love you, too, Alex.”

“Last chance. Surrender or die.” McNamara’s ultimatum interrupted the intimate moment.

Alex brushed a tear from her cheek. “I know that, and I never stopped loving you, either. I’m just so sorry I messed things up between us before. I should have listened to what you needed. I should have been there for you.”

She shook her head. “No, you were right. I had no business putting demands on you. Just because I was ready to leave the CIA didn’t mean you were, too. I should have listened to what you wanted. I shouldn’t have run away from you.”

He tugged her closer. “None of that matters now. We love each other. That’s all that matters. I love you so much and with God’s help, we will get through this.”

She smiled up at him. She had enough faith for the both of them and he was grateful. “You’re right. We will.”

But they both knew there was only one option left for them. Giving themselves up was their only chance, but convincing Michelle of this would not be so easy. Alex told her what they must do.

Her reaction wasn’t a surprise. “I can’t. He’ll kill me.” Alex didn’t doubt for a second that her fears were justified.

“You’re right, he will. You should head out,” he told Michelle. “We’ll turn ourselves in. They still need us to find the sarin. Take the gun. My team should be here soon.”

Michelle was stunned that Alex would let her go. “Thank you for trusting me,” she said with heartfelt gratitude. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“You saved our lives,” Rachel said. “You don’t need to repay us. But you need to hurry. We can’t hold them off much longer.”

As Michelle went deeper into the wilderness thicket behind them, Alex prayed he hadn’t made a terrible mistake by letting a person go who was at the very least an accomplice to Temple’s crimes.

When he was satisfied she was a safe distance away, he looked down at Rachel. “Are you ready for this?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’m ready. We’ll get through this, Alex. I know we will.” Her strength reminded him of all the times they’d fought side by side.

Alex let her go and they got to their feet. “McNamara, we’re coming out. Hold your fire. I want your word you’re not going to shoot us. Otherwise, you’ll never find the sarin.”

A tense silence followed. Alex wondered if McNamara and the rest of Temple’s goons had already located the sarin. If so, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill all of them.

“All right, you have my word. Put your weapons down and come out with your hands up.”

Alex blew out a sigh. They hadn’t found the gas yet.

Rachel didn’t seem at all convinced. “Do you believe him?”

He didn’t, but he didn’t want her to give up. “I do. He has no idea where the sarin is. They need us. Follow my lead, okay?”

She slowly nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Alex lowered his weapon to the ground and Rachel followed his lead. With one final look into her beautiful eyes, and a prayer for safety chasing through his head, he took Rachel’s hand and stepped out of the coverage to face five