Running.

Pushing through the bushes.

The earth soft beneath their feet.

Two miles to go.

It was the helicopter. Catherine could hear it plainly now.

And if she could hear it, Munoz’s men would be hearing it.

Kelly glanced up at her in panic. “Are they coming after us?”

“Not yet.” But it wouldn’t be long. Munoz was dead, but his men wouldn’t chance there being anyone left alive to bear witness. “We’re almost there.”

But five minutes later Catherine heard crashing in the bushes behind them. How close?

The glade was just ahead. She could see the blue lights of the helicopter as it started to land.

But Kelly was faltering, slowing.

“No!”

Catherine grabbed her hand and half pulled her, streaking toward the helicopter. “Only a few yards more.”

Ron Timbers stepped out of the shadows and was opening the door of the Apache helicopter for her. “You cut it close, Catherine. Her father?”

“Dead.” She pushed Kelly into the copter and climbed in after her. “Tell that pilot, Neely, to get out of here. They’re only a step behind us.”

Timbers glanced at her shirt as he jumped in after her and headed for the cockpit. “There’s blood all over you. The kid?”

“No. Kelly is fine. Tell that pilot to move!”

He was already moving. Seconds later they were lifting off.

But not soon enough.

A bullet buried itself in the fuselage of the copter.

Another shattered the windshield.

Kelly froze. “Are we going to die now?”

“No.” Catherine’s arms closed fiercely around her. She hoped she was telling the truth. They’d be okay if they didn’t get the gas tank. “I’ve got you. We’re out of here.”

Another bullet struck a rotor with a loud ping.

“Just a minute more, and we’ll be out of range,” Timbers called back to them.