Page 79 of Solid as Steele
“Tovar might be a better suspect right now. He was seen with Cassie and threatened her. Leach wasn’t, but I’m liking him for the murder of my Vancouver victim and the attack two nights ago.”
“Still, it could just be about that for him.” Ryan looked at Owen. “Nothing to do with your sister, right?”
“Right,” Owen mumbled.
“We won’t know until we get face time with him,” Mackenzie said. “Which should hopefully be soon.”
“And I hope we recover evidence that concretely points to Leach as our killer in both investigations.” Owen patted his backpack sitting on the floor. “I brought along evidence bags and disposable gloves in case we need them.”
“Good planning.” Ryan suddenly came alert and listened. “My brothers have the campsite in view. No one’s there. Which means they can’t confirm it’s Leach’s site. What do you want to do?”
Owen jerked open the door and shouldered his backpack. “We’re going in.”
Ryan handed Mackenzie a Kevlar vest, something she wished she didn’t have need of. But they could be heading into danger, so she quickly put it on and fastened the Velcro. It was big but would still protect her. She double-checked the clip in her sidearm, and after Owen grabbed a rifle, the three of them set off.
Scrub dried from the nearly rainless fall and winter dotted the flat ground. Every step they took kicked up dust that faded into the clear blue sky. The temperatures hovered around fifty degrees with a cool breeze blowing across the landscape.
Ryan led the way, following numbered flags on steel posts his brothers had inserted into the ground. He carried a heavy pack, and Owen had another pack Ryan provided strapped to his back. Owen seemed to have recovered from his attack and was moving along at a great clip.
She carried her belongings in her own backpack. It jostled her arm, radiating pain and leaving her struggling to keep up. The terrain turned more rugged, and they had to scale boulders. Her arm complained, but she bit her tongue to keep from crying out and slowing them down.
Ryan set a fast pace, but all three of them continued to survey the landscape, looking for danger. They reached a narrow pass in the large boulders, and Ryan raised his hand. He pointed at an outcropping nearby where the glint of metal flashed in the sun.
“Take cover. Now!” He scrambled behind a butte.
Owen helped Mackenzie move into the space and followed behind. A gunshot broke the quiet. The bullet hit the wall behind him and splintered the rock formation. Birds flapped into the air.
Her heart leapt into gear.
Ryan pressed his mic. “We’re under fire.” He glanced out. “Flag sixteen.”
Ryan listened intently. “We’ll hold. Let us know when to move.”
He turned to Owen and Mackenzie. “My brothers will approach from the west and take a few potshots at the shooter to draw his attention. That’ll allow us to circle back and move in behind him. Be ready to go. We’ll have to move fast.”
“The shooter wants me,” Owen said. “I’ll give you both a head start and bring up the rear.”
“No!” Mackenzie shook her head. “I won’t let you make yourself a target. We all go together, or we don’t go at all.”
“Agreed,” Ryan said. “No need to be a hero. My brothers will keep him busy, giving us plenty of time to move. Let’s get into position. Owen first. Mac in the middle. I’ll have the back.”
Owen frowned at Ryan, but he slipped past Mackenzie, squeezing her good arm and giving her a warm look as he eased by.
She smiled at Owen. “It’ll be okay. We’llallbe okay.”
He nodded but his expression remained uncertain. “Stay near me, but leave a bit of room in case he does fire on me.”
She nodded, not wanting to think about that happening, but knowing she had to be prepared for it.
Gunshots rang out. Peppering the rocks above.
“Move!” Ryan shouted.
Owen took off. Mackenzie and Ryan charged after him.
He kept glancing back at her. He needed to stop doing that or he might fall.
Rifle reports exploded in the air, but they didn’t take any fire.
