Dead Aim(92)

Alex shinnied up the tree and crawled to a nook cloaked in pine branches. It was daylight now, and she needed all the cover she could get.

Pray that no bird or animal would fly out of the tree and give her position away.

Don't make a sound.

Don't even breathe.

He was right below her.

No, he had moved on down the hill.

She was afraid to let out a sigh of relief. Stay here for a little while until she was sure she'd lost him.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Twenty minutes.

Twenty-five.

She climbed down from the tree.



Runne smiled.

The woman had turned and was circling back toward the bluff.

Perhaps she was in a panic and trying to reach the road.

Or perhaps she was trying to meet with Morgan.

Where the hell was he?

The anger and frustration had been growing in him for the last hour. He didn't know if he could wait for Morgan to show after he caught the woman. She'd hurt his pride, and that couldn't be tolerated. She needed a lesson, and he would give it to her.

He would slit her from belly to throat.



She couldn't hear him, but she knew he was close.

Her heart was beating hard, painfully, as she ran.

No use trying to be quiet now.

Run.

Too tired . . .

Keep running.

Her hand tightened on the branch she'd picked up after she climbed down from that last tree. It wasn't much of a weapon, but she was getting too exhausted. Soon she'd have no choice but to face him.

Not yet. The path that led up the bluff was just ahead. Morgan might be—

Her legs went out from under her.

Tackled!

He was on top of her, his hands on her throat, her mouth.

“Shh.”

She bit his hand and tried to swing the branch.

“Alex, dammit,” he whispered.

Morgan.

She went limp.

“Are you okay?”

“No.” The tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I'm tired and cold and scared and that son of a bitch wouldn't give up. You took your time getting here.”

He touched her cheek gently. “No supersonic jets from Guatemala City. I'm sorry.”

“You should be.” She tried to sit up. “Get off me. We have to hide. I don't know how far he is behind me.”

“I do. We have a little time.” He got off her but stayed on his knees beside her, his hands running over her body. “Christ, you're wet.”

“I went through a couple streams. I thought it would kill my scent. It worked. Or maybe he can't smell as well as you can.” He was drawing her into his arms. “Don't do that. I must feel like an icicle. I'll get you wet. I'm okay.”

“You're more than okay,” he said unevenly. “And this is for me, not you.”

She didn't move. He was warm and strong and she wanted to stay there forever. Her arms tightened around him for a moment before she pushed him away. “No, after what I've gone through tonight I'm not taking any chances. We're going to stay alive.” She got unsteadily to her feet. “Let's get out of here.”

“You're about to collapse. You go to the side trail and hide there. I'll lead Runne up the bluff trail.”

“Why?”

“I need him there.”

“Need?” Her gaze searched his face. “Why not here?”

“Not now. Go and hide in the shrubbery.”

“The hell I will. I don't know why the hell you want him up there, but I'm the one who'll get him there. He wants to catch me so bad by now he's probably salivating.” She took the branch and erased their signs on the ground. “You wait in the shrubbery and then follow him.” She dropped the branch and moved up the trail. “But don't take as long this time. Okay?”

“Alex, dammit.”

She didn't listen. It was too difficult just putting one foot in front of the other. Get to the top of the bluff. She could make it.

It took her another five minutes to reach the top of the bluff, and by that time she was numb-weary. She moved toward a huge jagged rock and leaned against it.

Come on, Runne.

Come and get me. Bait for the trap.

He was coming.

She felt every muscle in her body freeze when she saw him appear at the top of the trail.

He was smiling with fierce satisfaction. “You've led me on a chase, you bitch.”

“Because you're not as good as Morgan. He would have caught me in the first fifteen minutes.”

His smile disappeared. “Look at you.” He walked toward her. “How pitiful you are. Like my whore of a mother. Just a weak woman after all.”

“Screw you.”

“Bold words. Do you think Morgan is coming to rescue you?” He shook his head. “You're all alone. I killed him.”

She froze. “You're lying.”

He shook his head. “I killed him.” He was only six yards away, and suddenly there was a knife in his hand. “So there's no reason to keep you alive. I can't tell you how much I'm going to enjoy killing you.”