Read Run: An Emma Caldridge Novella: The Final Episode for Free Online

back into an adjoining room. Emma shot in his direction, which did nothing more than take out a window at the end of the hall.
    She didn’t see the hit coming, only felt the pain explode in her head as something metallic and heavy knocked her to her knees. She started to crawl away but winced at the repeated blows that rained down on her back and shoulder blades.
    When the pummeling stopped, it was replaced by the tip of a rifle muzzle, and she heard Shaw say, “Get up and walk to the back door. You’re going to be my second human sacrifice.”
    T HE HELICOPTER HOVERED over the nearby butte, making a massive racket as it started its descent. Consalvo, Steinberg, and Sumner stood nearby and watched it maneuver itself onto a clear area. It was a Bell, not fancy and not armored. It settled onto the ground and the pilot cut the engines. Sumner breathed a sigh of relief at the reprieve from the racket.
    The pilot leaped out and jogged, with his head down, toward them. It wasn’t until he had cleared the rotors that he straightened and Sumner got a good look at him.
    Wilson Vanderlock slowed to a loose-limbed walk. When he reached the three he locked onto Sumner.
    “Where is she?” he said.
    Sumner waved a hand at the compound. “In there, I think.”
    Vanderlock took in the gathered and cordoned off FBI official vehicles and the tactical van with multiple antennas.
    “I heard that there’s a boy with a bomb attached to his body. He still okay?”
    Sumner nodded. “For the moment.”
    Consalvo stepped forward. “I’m Agent Consalvo and this is Agent Steinberg. I understand that you were sent by Mr. Banner?”
    Vanderlock reached out and shook the men’s hands. “Yes.”
    “I heard Banner is former military. Are you?”
    Vanderlock shook his head. “I work freelance. For Banner and others,” he said.
    Consalvo grunted and gave the Bell a hard look. “You willing to fly that thing to Canada with a maniac onboard?”
    Vanderlock nodded. “If it’s required to save the boy, absolutely.”
    “Good answer. I think I’m going to like you, despite the hair.”
    Vanderlock’s shoulder length hair was tied in a ponytail. This time Vanderlock smiled outright. “Why thank you, sir.”
    Consalvo gave him a quelling glance and waved at the compound. “Shaw wants to board it in the backyard. Sumner tells me that patch is big enough to land the machine. You agree?”
    Vanderlock squinted at the compound. Steinberg walked up and handed him some binoculars. Vanderlock checked out the area and handed them back.
    “Piece of cake,” he said.
    “Then let’s get to it. Give me five minutes. I’m going to give Shaw a chance to rethink his position. “
    Consalvo waved at Steinberg and headed to the tactical van. Vanderlock walked up to Sumner.
    “They going to just let me fly this guy to Canada and let him go?”
    Sumner shook his head. “I don’t think so. Earlier, Consalvo said that he wouldn’t get approval to let Shaw off the hook. I’ve got to think they have a team on the Canadian side ready to track him as he leaves.”
    V ANDERLOCK GAZED DOWN at the compound. “You think she’s alive?”
    Sumner inhaled and let it out, slowly. Vanderlock had said what he’d been afraid to say out loud.
    “I hope so.” He shook his head. “I think so, absolutely. I would know if she were dead. I’d feel it.”
    Vanderlock returned his attention to Sumner. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
    A rustling in the bushes behind them made Sumner swing around and aim his gun. Two men on horses rode out from the trail. The first was older, about fifty, with a weather-beaten face and a rifle in a holster attached to the saddle pommel. The second was younger, in his twenties, and he had a young girl, about twelve, riding behind him with her arms wrapped around his waist. A third horse emerged, this one ridden by a young woman, also in her twenties, with a clean scrubbed face and long hair tied in a braid down her back.
    “Mr.