“No, I’ll be the one to make my way around behind him. You’re getting somewhere safe.”

“What about waiting for backup?”

“I’m not sure if he’s going to give us a chance to wait. It’ll take a few minutes for others to get here.”

Terra knew what could happen while waiting for backup. People could die.

“You’re not leaving me, Jack. I’m your backup. We’re in this together. Let’s hide in the cornstalks and wait for him to come find us. If he comes, we’ll be ready for him.”

She crouched down, then lay flat on her belly.

Jack dropped next to her. “I don’t like to cut and run.”

“I don’t either. But staying next to your vehicle would have been suicide.”

“Listen,” he said.

Silence filled the night. No sound of gunfire. Nor sirens. Nothing.

“He must be checking the vehicle to confirm we’re dead,” Jack whispered.

“He’ll be coming for us.”

“Or if he’s smart, he’ll get into that truck of his and get out of town. He has to know that law enforcement is going to rain down on him from all corners of the state. Why would he do something like this?”

The truth was, they knew next to nothing about Leif Morrisey.

Jack’s face was close to hers. He held his weapon at the ready and eyed her. He pressed a finger to his lips. A breeze blew through the cornstalks.

Time to listen.

Someone made their way through the corn. More like marched without fear.

Leif was coming for them. Indignation settled in her gut. If Owen knew what his friend was up to, he would stop him. If anything, Leif should be running from them. Terra squeezed her weapon, wanting to shift her position, but that would make too much noise. Even in the cool of the evening, sweat crawled over her back and dripped down her temples.

Jack motioned for her to get up. She scrambled to her feet, quickly and quietly, and backed away from her hiding spot, this time careful not to disturb the plants. If Leif decided to fire his weapon into the field, they would be at risk.

Sirens resounded in the distance. Finally. But would they arrive in time?

Jack tucked her behind him. She stepped into a wider row of mowed stalks.

The corn maze.

The footfalls sounded closer. Terra ran with Jack, following the corners and curves of the maze. She gasped for breath.

They were making entirely too much noise.

“The more distance, the better,” Jack whispered. “But we’ll follow the maze, and then head back toward the road. Backup has to get here soon.”

“I have no idea which way the road is. Do you?”

Jack slowed to a stop and stepped into the cover of the cornstalks, pulling her with him. Weapons drawn, they stood perfectly still and quiet.

Sirens sounded louder.