He turned around and found Tommy crouching right behind him. "I don't like it, Sean. You don't even know where that guy is."
"I will."
Sean reached out his hand and jiggled the base of the bush. Another shot boomed from the top of the canyon. Sean peeked over the top of the rock and immediately ducked back down.
"Got him," Sean said through gritted teeth.
"What do you mean, got him?" Tommy tried to imitate his friend's voice.
"I just need the general area. He may move around a little, but I have a feeling he likes his spot. I saw the gunsmoke lingering in the air from some rocks across the way. He's got a shooting hole for his gun. I'll put some rounds close to his position. He'll have to duck for a minute."
"There's no other way out of this, is there?"
Sean leveled his head and locked eyes with his friend. "Other than a dead sprint down the trail? No. And if you want it that way, I'm game for that, too."
"Operative word being dead. No, I'll opt for the swim."
"Right. So you ready?"
"What, now?"
"We could wait for the sniper to get bored and come down after us... Yes, now."
Reece whispered back to them, interrupting their conversation. "Whenever you're ready."
Sean motioned to him with a flick of his head. "See? He's good to go. When I fire that first bullet, move."
"But..."
Tommy couldn't voice the rest of his protest.
Sean crawled over to the other side of the boulder and took up a position on both knees. From this range, he doubted how accurate he could be. Hitting the target would be improbable. Even pinging a few rounds within a yard or two of the sniper's spot would be unlikely. Sean's entire escape plan depended solely on his experience with people. And that experience told him that guys with guns usually ducked for cover when someone else started shooting at them. It was the natural survival instinct built into every living person on the planet. Only the most well-trained individuals could ignore it. Sean hoped this sniper wasn't one of those.
He took a deep breath and let it out slow to reach total calm. It was an exercise he'd learned a long time ago: take a deep breath, count backward from ten, slow the heart rate, unleash the fury.
For Adriana.
Sean reached the number one in his mind and stuck his weapon around the boulder's edge. He raised it fast and squeezed the trigger. "Go!" he barked at Tommy.
Sean adjusted his aim slightly—higher and to the left. The first round sent a poof of rock and dust off the canyon wall. He fired again. The second shot was much closer to the sniper's position and had the same effect on the stone as the first. Reece hit the water with a splash as he launched out headfirst into the pool close to where it flowed downstream.
Tommy tripped on a rock and tumbled to the ground. He rolled a foot or two and came to a stop close to the water's edge. He was out in the open, easy pickings if the gunman above was still taking aim.
Sean kept moving and fired again. No rock debris or dust this time. The bullet must have sailed over the target and into the bush beyond. He marched forward with an insane look of fearlessness in his eyes.
Tommy struggled to his feet and plunged into the water. A second later, he disappeared below the surface.
Sean's weapon popped again, the fourth round much closer to the target than any of the others but still a yard away. He stole a glance into the rippling water. No sign of Adriana. Reece was drawing close to the short drop-off where a patch of rapids churned and pushed downstream. He could see Tommy's pale skin moving quickly toward the drop-off as well—not far behind Reece.
Sean shot again. He noticed movement behind the rocks above. It wasn't much. Just the shadow of a leg moving by the shooting hole. But it told Sean what he needed to know. The sniper was on the move.
Sean continued toward the water's edge. Tommy was gone now. Sean realized Adriana's body must have floated downstream. He didn't have time to wonder. The thought fueled his rage, and he shot again. Over and over again he popped off repeated shots, peppering the rocks above in the direction he'd seen the movement. As he emptied his magazine, he moved faster and faster toward the water's edge until he felt his feet licked by the cool liquid.
He counted the rounds until he reached the last one. The water was up to his shins. Sean saw the sniper's barrel poke around the side of his rock fortification. One more step in the water, and Sean squeezed the trigger again. The last bullet smacked into the big boulder, sending the sniper ducking for cover and pulling his weapon out of view.
Sean didn't hesitate.
He dove into the water as quietly as possible and frog paddled downward until he felt he was deep enough. He kicked out with his legs, going as hard as his muscles would allow. Something struck the water nearby, mere inches to the left of his shoulder. The big-caliber bullet jittered for a foot or so and then fizzed out, falling limp toward the pool floor. Another zipped through the water a foot in front of him. Again, the water snubbed the round's force and sent it drifting to the bottom.
That did little to ease Sean's concern. He'd done the research long ago about bullets and water. He didn't necessarily want to put it to the test in this kind of situation.
Ahead, the water churned noisily. He was almost to the rapids. Another round struck the water next to him, then another. The sniper was getting desperate, firing shots faster than he could aim.
At the edge of the pool, the pool's floor sloped up to the point where the space between it and the surface was marginal. If the shooter was on target, there wouldn't be enough water between Sean and the bullet to slow it down.
Sean kicked harder. His legs started to burn. He was almost there. Speed would be crucial. A fast target was a hard target.
He reached the lip of the pool where the water dropped over the rocks and rushed down the river. He winced, anticipating a bullet into his spine as he felt his body slide over a smooth river rock.
Sean was close enough to the surface that he could hear the gunshot. It never came, and he splashed into the next section of the river and the onrushing current.
26
Watarrka National Park
Sean tumbled through the white water, if he could call it that. In East Tennessee, the Ocoee River offered much more treacherous waters. This was more like the Nanthahala in North Carolina—a river Sean also knew well—deep enough to keep his body covered but no real danger as far as the undercurrents were concerned.
Fortunately, that part of Australia had gone through a wetter-than-usual summer, and the river pushed downhill at a rapid rate.
Sean saw Tommy's head bobbing out of the surface thirty yards ahead. He knew Reece was probably just beyond. Sean forced thoughts of Adriana out of his mind and kept paddling forward, only slowing his effort occasionally to look back up to the canyon's ridge for any signs of the shooter. They were moving so fast, he doubted the guy could keep up on foot for long, especially with such a big weapon. By the time the sniper reloaded, they would be nearly out of range, and nearly impossible targets in the unpredictable current.
After five minutes of swimming steadily with the current, Sean caught up to Tommy. Reece was only forty feet away.
Sean gasped for air. He'd exerted a good deal of energy during the swim. His muscles felt like Jell-O.
"Any sign of her?" Sean asked, his voice still in a panic.
Tommy shook his head as he floated downstream on his back. "I'm sorry, Sean. I've been watching the shore, but I haven't seen her."
Sean couldn't fight back the emotions any longer. He sobbed uncontrollably, mixing his tears with the river water on his face.
Tommy reached over and grabbed the back of his friend's head. "I'm so sorry, buddy." He couldn't think of anything else to say. Silence was probably best. Any words right now would just stir up more emotions.
Reece had slowed his progress up ahead, and the two Americans gradually caught up. The big Aussie flapped his hands to keep steady on his back as he
floated next to the others. He said nothing to Sean. It was the same dilemma Tommy faced. What could he say to a friend who'd just seen the love of his life gunned down right in front of him?
They reached a calm point in the river where the currents slowed.
"What are we gonna do now?" Reece asked Tommy.
"Where does this river go?" Tommy answered with a question.
"Through the outback, mostly. Not much out here."
Tommy thought through the issue. "We can't go back to the car. They'll be waiting for us."
"Not like there's much to go back for anyway."
"True," Tommy nodded. "I know. Passports, your ID, weapons, everything. It's all gone."
Sean remained quiet, though he still clutched his Springfield in one hand. It was the only possession they had left. At least Reece and Tommy still had clothes on. Sean was in his underwear.
"Wait a minute," Reece said, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "I have a friend a few miles from here. His name's Rick, Rick Teague. He's a bit of a hermit, but he might be able to help us. If we ride the river a little further, we can get out and go on foot. Won't take us long."
The plan sounded good enough, considering the circumstances. "What does your friend do?" Tommy asked.
"Not sure anymore. He used to be a businessman in Adelaide. Then one day he walked in to his boss's office, pissed on the desk, and walked out. Since then, he's just been living out here."
Tommy raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Wait, how long have you known this guy?"
"About five years. Actually, I only met him once. Accidentally stumbled on his property while driving a group around. He was kind enough to help me get the Land Cruiser out of the mud. Said if I ever needed anything to just ask."
"So this guy is more of a one-time acquaintance than a friend."
Reece cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, I guess that sounds about right. But he's a good guy. We can trust him."
"I don't trust anyone," Sean said.
It was the first time he'd said anything in several minutes. "Well, you trust us, buddy." Tommy patted his friend on the shoulder.
Sean didn't respond. He simply stared off into the distance.
The three floated through the still waters and back into faster currents.
"We don't have much choice," Reece said over the sound of rushing water. "We've got no money, no ID, no credit cards, nothing. And Sean there has no clothes. Our only chance is Rick."
Tommy sighed. "Fine. A bad plan is better than no plan at all," he muttered.
After another fifteen minutes in the water, the canyon gradually shortened until the men found themselves on the desert plains that stretched beyond.
Reece pointed to a sandy, rock-strewn beach to the right. "Over there. Make for that shore."
Tommy and Reece paddled their way over. Sean hesitated for a moment. He would have been fine with the river taking him far away from here. Adriana was here. Was she at the bottom of the river? Or had she drifted to shore somewhere and he'd just not seen her? Sean considered staying in the water, if for no other reason to keep the hope alive that he might find her. His eyes desperately scanned the shore on either side of the river, thinking maybe she'd washed up on the rocks.
She was gone. Deep down, he knew that was the reality. Sean didn't want to admit it. He'd failed. All the people he'd protected over the course of years, the lives he'd saved, ran through his mind. But he couldn't save hers—the life that mattered most to him.
Reluctantly, Sean started stroking his way over to the beach. The current wasn't strong, and he easily spanned the distance. Tommy and Reece were already on dry land, sitting on some rocks to catch their breath. Sean felt the first rock under his feet and gained a foothold as he struggled out of the water a few dozen yards downstream. River water ran off the tip of his nose as he stared at the ground. His fingertips and elbow dripped constantly for a minute. His boxer briefs were soaked.
He slowed his breathing and let his muscles rest for a moment. He fought the emotions back again and refocused his mind on the one thing he could control: that was the moment and his next move. Even though those were things he could normally command with willpower or desire, this was different. The sickening pain filled his chest again and tightened his stomach.
She can't be gone. The thought kept running through his mind. She has to be alive.
His imagination started going through wild scenarios where Adriana somehow made it to shore. If she could, maybe she'd get help. He choked thinking about it. He knew it was all just fanciful dreaming. If she'd been able to miraculously make it to the river's edge, she'd still be bleeding and in desperate need of medical attention.
Tears rolled freely down Sean's cheeks. He squeezed his fists against his knees, hoping the moment of pure rage would make him feel better. It did little to stem the utter heartbreak pulsing through his being.
A bird chirped in the distance, barely audible above the sound of the rushing water. Sean looked toward the trees on the other side of the river. A bird—possibly the one he'd heard whistling—took off, flying in an up and down pattern through the air until it disappeared into the forest.
He and his friends needed to do the same. Sean knew it, but he was paralyzed with grief. The idea of escaping the killer didn't register in his mind. All he could think about was Adriana.
Sean twisted his head toward his two friends sitting with their arms folded across their knees. Tommy, unsurprisingly, was still panting for breath from the short swim to the beach. They'd been uncharacteristically quiet since their narrow escape. He couldn't blame them. Sean knew Tommy well enough to know that his friend wouldn't say anything stupid. Reece would follow that lead.
The urge to jump back in the river and go looking for Adriana downstream resurfaced. Maybe she's just around that bend, he thought. Or maybe he should run back up the shore and get a higher point of view to see better. He searched the beach and noticed a thin trail leading back toward the canyon.
Common sense took over, and Sean shook off the irrational thoughts. For a man who was used to taking action to get things done, doing nothing felt like having a thousand-pound weight sitting on his chest.
Again, he took a sidelong glance at his friends.
"They'll come looking for us," Reece said. "We're safe for now, but we need to get moving."
Sean could tell his friend didn't want to say anything. Reece's reluctance further proved his friendship. Sean couldn't think about leaving, though. He had to find Adriana, even if she was dead.
Dead. He shook his head violently to rid it of the thought.
"Sean?" Tommy said, full of hesitation. "He's right. We need to get going. If we sit here, we'll get picked off one by one."
Sean honestly didn't care. He didn't want his two friends to die. But concern over his personal safety was no longer present. In a strange way, he almost hoped the sniper found him sitting there on the river beach. Nothing mattered anymore.
"Sean? We have to move."
Tommy's persistence bounced off Sean like a marble striking a tank. "Go on," he said in a voice that was almost absent from his body. "Leave me here."
The other two exchanged nods and slowly got up from the ground. As they trudged toward Sean, he saw his pistol on the ground next to him.
Tommy and Reece stopped a couple of feet from Sean. They both wore anxious expressions on their faces.
"I don't mean to be a jerk about this, brother, but Adriana knew what she was getting into. She was stubborn. We loved that about her. But you dying out here in the wilderness isn't going to bring her back. And I somehow doubt that's what she'd want you to do."
The words stung. Sean winced again, like the pain was taking another swing at him.
"I can't move on," Sean said. "Not without her. I at least have to find her."
"Tommy's right, mate," Reece said in a solemn tone. "I know how much you love her. But sticking around here...it's suicide. We need to get to my friend's place and hunker down for
the night."
"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "I can guarantee you Adriana wouldn't want you to sit around here and get killed. You have to keep going, no matter how hard it may seem. Live for her, if for nothing else than to get back at the guys who did this."
The last line struck a chord in Sean's head. Yes. They have to pay, he thought.
Sean slowly stood up. Mud and sand clung to his skin. He didn't care. There was only one thing on his mind. It beat like a steady drum. Until he had it, he would think of nothing else.
Revenge.
27
Watarrka National Park
Jack leaned over and picked up the cube stone from the rocks. He examined the different sides and pursed his lips in silent consideration. Five other men—Jack's personal henchmen—stood around as Jack turned the object over so he could see the different engravings.
"The big one dropped that when I started shooting," a muscular man with blond buzz-cut hair said. He stood off to the side, allowing his employer to have a look around. His right hand gripped the barrel of a rifle propped against his hip.
Dark droplets of dried blood smattered the loose rocks around the pool. Jack bent down and rubbed a finger on it. The blood was still slightly sticky. He rubbed two fingers together and then moved to the water to dip his hand in.
"Shot her in the chest," the sniper said. "She fell into the water."
Jack stood, washing his hands of the blood. "Where's the body?"
"Washed downstream. She's at the bottom of the river by now. Fish food."
"Where are the other bodies?" Jack asked. His tone had taken on a stern, irritated sound.
"I know what you're getting at," the man said in a sharp English accent. "Don't worry. They're dead too." The sniper lied about that part. He wasn't about to tell his employer—a man who paid handsomely for results—that he'd let his quarry get away. "Fish food, all of 'em."
The Sean Wyatt Series Box Set 4 Page 19
