Chapter 2 - The Sniper in the Woods
I instantly dropped to the floor as a suppressed bullet shattered the kitchen window.
Glass rained down on my back while I crawled desperately toward the heavy oak cabinets.
My military instincts took over, shutting down my fear and replacing it with pure tactical focus.
I grabbed the titanium lockbox and dragged it with me into the dark hallway.
Marcus Finch was still speaking calmly through the satellite phone I clutched in my hand.
He advised me to surrender the geological surveys if I wanted to live to see tomorrow.
I ended the call, plunging the cabin back into complete silence.
I knew that a sniper outside meant there was likely an assault team moving in to breach the doors.
I needed a weapon immediately.
I remembered the fireplace in the living room and the heavy iron poker resting beside it.
It was not a rifle, but it was better than fighting barehanded.
I slid across the hardwood floor, keeping my head well below the window line.
As my fingers closed around the cold iron poker, the front door suddenly swung open.
A man dressed in black tactical gear stepped inside with a suppressed rifle raised to his shoulder.
He swept the barrel across the empty living room, looking for any sign of movement.
I held my breath, hiding in the deep shadows behind the leather recliner.
He took two steps forward, exposing his flank to my position.
I lunged upward, swinging the iron poker with every ounce of strength I had.
The heavy metal struck his rifle, knocking it completely out of his hands.
Before he could recover, I delivered a crushing blow to his knee, sending him collapsing to the floor.
I grabbed his dropped rifle and aimed it squarely at his chest.
The front door creaked again, and another figure stepped onto the porch.
I swung the rifle toward the door, my finger resting heavily on the trigger.
It was Hank McCoy, the retired Marine who had brought me the casserole earlier.
He was holding a massive hunting shotgun and looking down at the groaning mercenary on the floor.
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Hank casually racked a shell into the chamber of his shotgun.
He looked at me and said we had about two minutes before the rest of the cartel hit squad arrived.
