Close To Danger (Westen #4)(83)

He took a moment to press the binoculars into the corner of the window, just enough to see through them. Movement came from his left, the southeast side of the forest. His plan was simple. Piss her off until she made a movement his direction. Once her position was marked, he planned to take her out.

It was a cluster-fuck plan, he knew. Sort of like poking a wounded bear so it would attack you and pray you got off the first shot. But it was the only plan he had. It was paramount he kept her focused on him until Chloe was safe and out of harm’s way.



*



Determined to get back to Wes, Chloe strode confidently along the tracks she’d made earlier. Harriett was right on her tale. By her guess they were about a hundred yards from the shack.

More gunfire sounded up ahead followed by loud voices.

Chloe picked up the pace. They came to a fallen tree trunk and Chloe started to step on top. Harriett grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“What?” she asked, stopping with one leg on the log to look at her.

The other woman stood stock still, head cocked slightly to one side, like a dog listening to something far away.

“They’re here,” Harriett said, moving to the left and a more direct route through the trees toward the deer blind.

“Who’s here?” Chloe said, suddenly stomping and stumbling through the snow to keep up with the taciturn woman, the pack of supplies on her back laboring her efforts. “What if it’s someone working with Hannah?”

“It’s not,” was the only answer Chloe got as they carved their way through bushes and tree trunks.

Arrggg! She wanted to scream. Would’ve given into the urge if she didn’t think it would endanger Wes.



*



“Isaac died doing his job!” Wes yelled, then ducked flat on the floor as the war cry sounded again outside and another bullet ripped through the window’s screen mesh, obliterating the rest of plexiglass and putting a hole in the far side of the shack.

“He only joined that black ops group because you asked him to, Strong. He never should’ve been there!”

He peeked through the screen without the binoculars this time, just in time to see a movement of grey and white with red move from the far left to the right.

“She’s getting closer,” he whispered, to prep himself or W?den, he wasn’t sure.

“Isaac was a big boy, Hannah. He made his own choices. No one forced him to join the group. Maybe he just didn’t want to come home!”

He fired through the window again, sending more bullets her way, but aiming to her right, forcing her to come his direction.

“Another fifty feet and she’ll be right where I want her.”

“Grrrr,” W?den growled from where he’d inched closer to be beside him.

Wes stroked the fur behind his neck. “Easy boy. I know you’ve got her scent, but we need her closer. Then that rifle’s going to be more hindrance than help. She’ll have to drop it.”

Then the advantage would be his.



*



Rapid gunfire sounded up ahead. Gage held up his fist, signaling Cleetus and Daniel to freeze. A single rifle fire sounded, followed by sounds of impact and a woman’s voice. “He only joined that black ops group because you asked him to, Strong. He never should’ve been there!”

“Earl said Hannah was armed with a sniper rifle,” Gage said. “So, the single shots are probably her.”

“The automatic sounds like a handgun,” Daniel whispered over his shoulder. “Probably Wes’s service weapon.”

“Do we have any idea if there’s a place for Wes and Chloe to take refuge out here?” Gage looked from Daniel to Cleetus. Both men shook their heads.

“My uncle Charlie and some other hunters used to go deer hunting here before the area was developed twenty years back,” Cleetus said.

“You ever go with him?” Gage asked.

Cleetus rubbed his hand over his mouth a moment. “I was a kid. Seemed like there was an old shack or something.”

“Could be where Wes went with Chloe.” Gage weighed their options. “Let’s assume he’s hold up somewhere and Hannah is between us and them. We don’t want her getting away, circling back behind us, so let’s split up and make a net. Cleetus you go to the right, block off any exit to the river. Daniel, you stay on the left near the edge of the woods and block off any escape into the open field. I’ll go up the middle. She’s armed and dangerous, so keep alert. Stay within eyesight.”

The deputies moved in opposite directions about twenty yards then stopped and waited for Gage’s signal. He took a deep breath and prayed. Prayed that none of his people would get hurt. Prayed they’d be able to stop Hannah. Prayed he wouldn’t have to tell his wife anything bad happened to her sister.

A second round of rapid gunshots sounded ahead of them.

Time to get moving.

With a nod, he gave the motion to move forward.





CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE


The closer Chole and Harriett got to the deer blind, the more gunfire and shouting they heard. Panic settled deep inside Chloe, propelling her forward.

Had W?den died? Was Wes hurt? If so, how bad? How were they going to stop this crazy woman?

I have to get to him. Don’t let him die.