“Yes, sir.” The tech relayed the instructions and the black SUV immediately slowed. The screen showed the Reaper drop in altitude until it was just meters from the ground. It stayed just above the rising dust cloud behind the Humvee.
“Prepare to loose weapons.”
Somewhere South of Dallas, TX
BRIDGER COULD BARELY make out the SUV behind him. If it weren’t for their daytime running lamps, he couldn’t be certain they were following him. At least Roger has a chance.
He pushed the Humvee far harder than it was designed for and his target appeared ahead of him. For the first time in a long time, he held out a little hope that he might survive this.
Bobby tried to push his foot harder against the floor but the accelerator was fully depressed. He could see the overpass in the distance, the train tracks riding them would be his avenue of escape.
He felt his heart rate increase at the crazy idea he had and prayed that he could actually perform the feat of idiocy that he had in mind.
As the tracks approached, he felt the hair on his neck and his arms rise with anticipation. He called it his spidey sense, and it had never failed him.
His head snapped around and he peered through both side mirrors. Something is wrong.
He couldn’t see the daytime running lamps in the rear mirror any longer and he knew…they had dropped back. That could mean only one thing.
Bridger willed the truck to move faster, praying that he could still pull off his Houdini act. He reached for the door latch as the overpass approached and prayed.
Langley, VA
COLONEL NELSON LEANED in closer and stared at the image on the screen. “Don’t lose him. Do NOT let him get under that bridge.”
“Sir, I don’t know if the Reaper can follow him under that—”
“That’s why I said don’t let him make it!” Colonel Nelson reached around the man. “Weapons free! Take those sons of bitches out!”
“Weapons free.” The tech’s voice sounded small in the moment.
Colonel Nelson watched as the missile trail shot in front of the camera and the Humvee exploded just as it entered the shadows of the bridge. The Reaper banked upward and over the train tracks. “Circle around and verify.”
The tech gave him a sickened look. “Sir, we watched the vehicle disintegrate—”
“I said VERIFY.” Nelson’s face left no room for doubt that it was an order.
“Yes, sir.” The drone operator made a wide circle and slowed the approach. They zoomed in the camera and burning bits of debris could be seen scattered for nearly a hundred yards. Thick black smoke rose and curled around the concrete stanchions of the bridge.
“No signs of life, Colonel.”
Nelson crossed his arms and gave the screen a self-satisfied smile. “One down. Locate the other.”
Quitman, TX
ROGER SLOWED THE Humvee and stopped at the edge of Quitman. He could feel his hands shaking as the adrenaline coursed through him. He tried to slow his heart rate and focus. He had only been to Bridger’s place twice and he’d not taken the same path either time. “My kingdom for a fucking GPS right now!” He slammed his hand on the steering wheel.
He slowly rolled through the small town, his eyes searching for anything remotely familiar. He goosed the accelerator and prayed to whatever deity that might be listening to please show him the way.
Roger drove through the small town and a particular paved road called to him. He slowed and stared down the length. “I’ve got nothing else.”
He turned and floored the accelerator. He knew that if nothing else, it would get him clear of the populated center of town should their worst fears manifest.
Roger noticed a familiar sign and willed the accelerator harder. A bend in the road with a large tree hanging over one edge had his heart racing. “I’m on the right road. I can feel it.”
He rounded the bend and stood on the brakes, skidding the Humvee nearly into the oncoming lane and getting yelled at by a particularly surly looking farmer in an old pickup.
Roger stared at the dirt road to his left and turned the Humvee onto it. “This is it. This is it.” The couple of times he had been to Bridger’s he had entered from the other side, but the last time he left, he had come this way. He was nearly certain.
Roger pushed the Humvee down the dirt road and slowed when a familiar crest came into view. He scanned the foliage on his right and nearly whooped when he noted the chain laying across the front of the cattle guard leading to Bridger’s place.
Roger stopped the Humvee just shy of the cattle guard and swallowed hard. Bridger wouldn’t leave the chain down…
Another adrenaline spike forced his hand and Roger urged the Humvee over the cattle guard and onto Bridger’s property. He didn’t know why, but he felt he’d stand a better chance against whoever was there if he came in hot. He pressed the go-pedal down and when he rounded the bend near Bobby’s house, he slid the Humvee to a stop, peppering the area with gravel and dirt.
Roger hit the kill switch as he climbed from the truck and did a quick search of the area. He pushed his brain to focus. He knew that Bridger had hidey-holes scattered throughout his property. He also knew that the place was littered with traps.
He felt that metallic taste of fear, that impending sense of doom, and turned to run into the woods. He prayed that he didn’t find any of Bridger’s traps before he found a safe place to hide.
Langley, VA
COLONEL NELSON WATCHED as the Reaper closed on the location that the satellite had tracked the other truck. It was well hidden under the canopy of old growth trees, but he knew
