Page 66 of The Hero She Loves

Crack.

“Fuck. Olson is shooting at the helicopter.” Jenna grabbed the satellite phone. “Owen?”

“We’re under fire. One pilot’s been hit, so has the engine.”

She watched as the helicopter swung west, the pilot clearly fighting for control.

“Olson’s got a sniper rifle,” Park said. “From the shots, I’d guess that he’s north of our location.”

“Owen, Park thinks Olson is to the north.”

“The pilot’s going to land,” Owen said. “We’ll move to the south.”

She saw the helicopter start descending.

Her pulse raced and she dragged in a breath. At least they hadn’t crashed.

“We need to check that they’re okay.” Park watched the helo until it disappeared from view. “Plus, we need more ammunition.”

She nodded, frustration crashing into her. She wanted to track down her prey. Olson was getting away. She cursed.

Park grabbed her arm. “We’ll get him.”

With Jenna by his side,they raced to the area where the helicopter had landed. It was in a flat area with no trees.

Park felt the tension coming off her. She wanted to be chasing Olson.

He glanced up at the mountains. They’d get him. They wouldn’t give up.

A second later, they cleared the trees and he saw the helicopter. Several state troopers and Owen were milling around it.

“Owen!” Jenna jogged over and gripped the young marshal’s hand. “Are you okay? Anyone injured?”

The younger man nodded. “We’re all alive. One pilot got hit by shrapnel in the face and neck. The bullet shattered the glass.” He nodded over to where a man in a white shirt sat on theground. His shirt was sprinkled with blood and another state trooper was treating him.

The second pilot appeared, circling the helicopter. He was older, with a gruff face. He was checking the exterior of the aircraft.

He walked toward them.

“Chris, this is US Marshal Jenna Sheridan, and Parker Conroy,” Owen said. “They’re hunting the fugitive on the ground.”

The pilot nodded.

“What’s the verdict?” Owen asked.

“I can fix it,” the man said.

“You’re sure?” Jenna asked.

“I’ve been working on birds of all kinds my entire life. The bullet hit the engine, but the damage is minor. Oliver copped the worst of it.” His gaze moved to his injured co-pilot.

“Okay, do whatever you need to do.” Jenna looked back at Owen. “Olson is on the move, but he’s close. This is our chance to stop him. If he gets away…”

“We’ll never find him again.” Owen frowned. “We need to wait for the helo to be fixed.”

She shook her head. “If we wait, we’ll lose him.”

Owen looked at Parker.