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

the ranger station. In the meantime, I’m calling in the state troopers. I know you don’t trust the local authorities, but these guys are state. Hang in there. This is almost over.”

Alex ended the call with Jase’s assurances running through his head.

He turned to Rachel and smiled. “They’re close. He’s calling in backup, too.”

She went into his arms and held him tight. “I’m so grateful. I’m not sure how much more of this we can take on our own.”

He kissed her temple and let her go. “I’ll keep an eye on the guys below. You watch this one in case he wakes up.”

Alex went over to the opening. One of the men had disappeared. He searched the area below. Where had he gone?

“What’s wrong?” Rachel had noticed him looking around.

“One of them is missing. He may be heading this way.”

She moved closer to the door. With the butt of the weapon ready, she waited, but nothing happened. After what felt like an eternity, she glanced over at Alex.

He shook his head. The man still hadn’t appeared again. His buddy was standing behind a tree, partially visible. “I don’t see him. Maybe he got worried about his missing comrade and went for help.” If he had, then Alex wasn’t sure they could hold the men off until Jase arrived.

“We can’t afford to make a run for it with Liam’s condition so serious.”

Liam opened his eyes as if he’d heard her say his name. When he spotted the man lying by the door he tried to stand, but Rachel hurried over, trying to quiet him. “Liam, it’s okay. Try to stay as still as possible. Help is almost here.”

“That’s one of the men who took Deacon and me hostage,” Liam managed in a whisper. He glanced up at Alex. “There are others out there still, aren’t there?”

Alex had to tell him the truth. “There are. Two more that we know of. I see the one, but the second is missing. He could be anywhere. Can you keep an eye on this guy?”

Liam didn’t hesitate. “I can.”

Alex smiled in spite of the situation. It had been years since he and Liam had worked together. He’d missed his companion.

Rachel clearly wasn’t sure. “He’s too weak, Alex,” she whispered so that only he could hear. “He won’t be able to withstand a firefight. Is there still no visual of the other one?”

Alex shook his head. He didn’t like it. “They’re definitely up to something.”

He had barely gotten the words out when the second man appeared again next to his friend. “Where was he?”

“Something’s wrong.” Rachel looked through the scope of the weapon of the man she’d disarmed. “He has something in his hand.”

Before she finished talking, the man’s companion opened fire and they were forced away from the opening.

After the first round of shots whizzed past them, Alex aimed at the man who’d fired on them, forcing him back behind the coverage of the tree.

“Where’s his friend again?” Rachel asked. Alex glanced below. The man had vanished again.

Uneasiness coiled into the pit of Alex’s stomach. The shooter opened up on them again, forcing their attention from the opening.

Alex and Rachel returned his shots, but they were using up valuable ammo they didn’t have to use.

“Hold your fire,” Alex told Rachel. “They could be trying to run us out of ammo then charge the station.”

She did as he suggested but kept a careful eye on the man behind the tree. “He’s just standing there. Almost as if he’s waiting on something.”

“Or someone...” Alex’s gaze latched with hers. She shivered visibly.

With the silent standoff continuing, Alex kept listening for any sound of the missing man approaching. What was he up to?

The thought had barely cleared his head when something came hurling through the opening. Alex ducked to keep it from hitting him; the smell of gasoline was pungent.

Seconds later, the station exploded in fire. The man had thrown a Molotov cocktail into the building. The station went up like a tinderbox, filling the room with acrid smoke. Alex hurried to Liam’s side and helped him to his feet. Their once-unconscious assailant was beginning to come to.

Alex pointed his weapon at him. “If you try anything, I’ll shoot you. Do you understand?”

Coughing from smoke inhalation, the man glared at him.

“There’s only three of them! You can take them!” the man yelled, trying to warn his buddies.

Alex took a step closer and he quickly shut up.

With the station now becoming a raging inferno, they could no longer go through the entrance. “We’ll have to go out the back window.” Alex headed for the opening that faced the valley below.

Their only plan of escape was at the edge of the mountain with no way down.

FIFTEEN

Rachel looked below them at the sheer drop that was now their only escape.

“I’ll lower you down first,” Alex told her. “Then Liam. Then this guy. Once you’re on the ground, head right.” Alex’s love for her was shining in his eyes. She smiled up at him, trying her best to reassure him and herself that everything would work out, in spite of what her gut was screaming.

She tucked her weapon behind her back and climbed through the opening, trusting Alex with her life. He grabbed hold of her arms and slowly lowered her down. There was still a three-foot jump. With her heartbeat threatening to drown out all other sound, she nodded and Alex let go. She dropped to the ground and stumbled on the uneven footing. Somehow she managed to catch herself before she slid over the edge and plunged to her death.

Rachel blew out a huge sigh and stood on unsteady legs. Alex was as pale as a sheet, clearly terrified by what he’d just witnessed. “I’m okay,” she quickly reassured him.

Liam’s descent wasn’t nearly as easy. He landed on his injured side, the pain causing him to scream. Rachel rushed to his aid and helped him rise to his feet. They carefully made their way to the safe area. She lowered