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she saw now. Three against one. But not for long. |
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She took a deep breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth, to steady her racing heart. She couldn't just charge up the hill and burst onto the scene. If they saw her too soon, she'd end up with a hostage situation on her hands. |
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D.J. glanced around, searching for a way to approach the altercation without being seen. A strip mall lined one side of the highway, deserted in the dawn's early light. If she approached by way of the alley behind the stores, she would come out behind the men. D.J. ran, across the parking lot, around the corner of the building, and up the garbage canstrewn alleyway. |
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She reached her destination and peeked around the corner. Her hand went to the gun that had chafed a sore spot in the hollow of her back. Her fingers froze on the grip. D.J.'s mouth dropped open in shock as she absorbed the meaning of the scene before her. |
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Two of the men lay on the ground, unconscious. The third circled McCall. Though the sun still hovered below the horizon, it provided enough light to cast a grayish glint off the long, hooked hunting knife in the man's hand. She'd seen such knives at her father's hunting lodge, the blade specially curved to gut a dead deer with a flick and jerk of the wrist. The image made her cringe. |
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D.J. drew her weapon and stepped out from behind the building. The attacker glanced her way. The second his attention wandered, McCall's leg shot out. The knife flew through the air. The weapon hit the ground, its metallic clatter ampli- |
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