No reply.

“Your friends are dead,” Rennell said.

“Shut up.”

The kid was starting to panic. He spoke into the radio again. “Guys, I’m at the bottom of the ridge. I got the shooter. Where should I take him?”

No reply.

Rennell stood. “I told you. They’re dead.”

“Maybe I should just kill you.” He spoke into the radio once more. “Guys, if I don’t hear from you, I—”

Rennell dropped a knife from his sleeve scabbard and, in one smooth motion, threw it at the young man’s chest.

FFFFT.

The blade went right into his heart. The young man dropped his walkie-talkie and gun, then staggered backward. He dropped to the ground, dead.

Rennell grabbed his rifle and ran.

The two trucks that Tanner had warned him about were barreling up the road toward his location. He fell to his knees and aimed at the first one coming over the hill. BLAMM! The windshield shattered and the driver screamed as he lost control of the vehicle and went off the road, crashing into a boulder. The second truck was right on top of Rennell now, and he didn’t have time to aim. He rolled out of the way of the truck’s tires and tried to get off one shot as he struggled to his feet.

BLAMM!

The driver screamed and then screamed again as the truck turned over, pinning him beneath it.

Rennell froze.

What the hell? That hadn’t been Rennell’s shot! It had come from behind him. He went into a crouch and whirled, gun pointed.

Maria was standing there with a gun in her hand. “I heard the shooting and came running.” Her voice was shaking. She looked down at the gun in her hand and drew a deep breath. “I picked this up on the way. I probably could have picked up half a dozen more. It was a lot of shooting, Rennell. How many…No, I don’t want to talk about it. You did what you had to do, and I helped you.”

“I did the killing,” he said flatly. “All you did is bozo work. Stop trying to steal my thunder.”

“Why, Rennell, I believe you’re trying to save my tender feelings.”

“Bullshit.”

“Too late. You’ve already shown me that minuscule amount of softening. I won’t tell anyone.” She smiled shakily. “But it was a waste because I deliberately killed that man and we both know it. In fact, I caught a glimpse of his face before I pulled the trigger.” She moistened her lips. “And now I’m going to go over and make sure he’s dead.” She moved over to the truck. “Though I aimed for his throat, and he was pinned under the truck so I’m almost sure.”

“I’m very sure,” he said harshly. “You don’t have to look at the bastard.”

“Yes, I do.” She was kneeling beside the truck and shining her flashlight on his crushed head. “Yes, quite dead.” She got to her feet. “Thank God!”

“Maria?” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “What’s going on?”