It took them about an hour to reach the wrecked tractor trailer. McCrea could just barely see the nose of the wreck around the turn of the upcoming switchback when he brought the team to a halt and motioned for them to come in close.

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “These woods here are where I last saw Grubbs and his friends. I don’t know if they’ve moved off or if they’re still around, but we had a standing deal. Next time we saw each other, we’d shoot. He’s a mean cuss, and I don’t think he was bluffing. But I think we need to make one thing very clear before we take our next steps.” He scanned the others’ faces to make sure that he had their attention. “We’re here to take him into custody, not to kill him.”

“What if he shoots?”

“Then shoot back. Shoot to kill. But do not be the first on the trigger. This is a weird day, but that is one line that we can’t afford to cross.” He found himself glaring at George when he added, “Murder is still wrong.”

“What do we do with them if we get them?” Joey asked.

Eric Lofland beat McCrea to the answer. “Take them back and try them.”

“Then we can kill ’em,” quipped the other Foster. Caine. He laughed, but then backed off when he saw that no one else did.

McCrea knew, now more than ever before, that this adventure was a colossal mistake. The Foster boys and Eric Lofland had never been in this kind of fight before, he was sure of it. They had the kit and the ammo, but would they have the nerve? It’s one thing to blast away at targets at a shooting range, but when the targets shoot back, that changes a person. McCrea decided to take George at his word that he’d seen battle, and while he had no idea what Joey’s background was, he had a tough maturity about him that inspired confidence that he’d stay in a fight long enough to win it.

As for the others, well, they’d all figure it out together.

Kyle Foster asked, “Shouldn’t we get off the road? If they start shooting first, we’ve got no place to hide.”

“This time of year, the woods are too noisy,” McCrea explained. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to spread out. Three of us will walk along the right-hand side of the road, and the others will walk on the left. Keep at least ten yards between you. Fifteen is better, but don’t let it string out so far that you can’t bring assistance fast. We’re going to move slowly, and keep your eyes scanning the woods on your side, we’ll scan the woods on ours.”

“What are we looking for?” Caine asked.