Page 86 of Sam's Salvation
Audra ground her molars together. Damn stubborn mule.
Scuffling to their left drew her attention. Sam shifted on his feet. He raised a finger to his lips and tipped his head toward the sound. She nodded. Raising her gun, she led the way.
A flash of gray appeared between two containers. They hurried forward, but were forced to take cover when a bullet pinged off the metal above Audra’s head.
“Damn, that was close.” Sam activated his mic. “Dean, Max, we’ve got him. Near the north fence.”
“Coming,” Dean said.
“Sam, you go around. I’ll come up from this side. We’ll box him in.”
“No.”
She groaned. “Will you stop with the macho thing? I have the gun. If anything, I should be asking you not to leave. But I know what you can do with those hands and feet. You don’t need a gun. Donny’s going to get away if we don’t split up.”
His jaw worked. “Fine. But Aud—” He stopped and shook his head. “I love you. Be careful.”
She kissed him quick. “I will. I love you too. Now go.” She nudged his shoulder.
With a long look, he disappeared around the other side of the ISO container.
Audra drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. She rolled her shoulders to loosen the tension and crept forward on the balls of her feet. Silence reined in front of her. Where had he gone?
She reached the end of the container and swung around it, gun raised.
Nothing.
Moving forward, she glimpsed Sam coming up from the other side. She shook her head, then continued forward clearing space after several more shipping containers. She strained to hear any sound over the police presence at the warehouse.
A muffled whisper reached her. She stilled, then glanced back, looking for Sam. He wasn’t there. She knew she could reach him on the comms, but didn’t dare try. If that was Donny whispering, he’d hear her.
Audra slunk forward. The whisper grew louder, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. This deep into the containers, sounds echoed wildly.
“Get your ass here now!” came a fierce whisper.
Back against the end of a container, she listened, but didn’t hear anymore. She thought it had come from her right, but couldn’t be certain. Edging forward, she peeked around the side. The aisle was empty.
A click sounded behind her. She froze, recognizing the sound of a hammer being drawn back. Slowly, she turned.
Donny stood there, a revolver in his hand. His eyes widened slightly as he saw her face, then he grinned. “Hello, Alexandra.” He moved closer. “Though I don’t think that’s your real name. Who are you, really?”
Muscles stiff, she faced him stoically.
“Don’t want to talk? That’s okay. You can come with me, and we can talk back at my place. I’m sure you’ll be more willing to open that pretty mouth there. Drop the gun.”
She held on to it.
He sighed. “Don’t make me shoot you. It’d be a waste of a pretty face.”
When she still just stood there, he raised his gun. “One.”
Audra’s jaw worked.
“Two.”
She glanced to the side, hoping Sam would come around the corner.
Donny tsked. “Don’t make me say three.”