Sean did the only thing he could. He fell backward, letting the blade's tip pass harmlessly by. He hit the ground — flat on his back — and kicked his right foot up as the attacker stumbled forward. His shoe caught the guy squarely in the groin. The gunman doubled over and groaned in agony. Sean kept driving his foot upward — now lifting the guy like a shovelful of dirt. He used the assassin's momentum and managed to get him off the ground, effectively tossing the guy eight feet beyond where Sean lay.
The would-be killer crashed to the ground in a clumsy roll. A fresh roar of anger escaped his lips. Sean pushed himself up off the ground and charged. The gunman regained his composure and stood up. His knife's handle protruded awkwardly from his side. Sean realized he must have fallen on it. The wound wouldn't be immediately mortal, but being so far away from medical attention… it might do the trick.
The big man yanked the knife from his body. He grimaced as fresh blood spurted out and splattered on the ground. His head trembled, and his face filled with rage. He roared again and raised the knife in defiance, motioning for Sean to come at him with his other hand.
"You know," Sean said, "I'm too tired to keep doing this."
He drew his pistol from its holster and fired a single shot into the man's chest.
The assassin took a step back and then another. He looked down at the new hole in his body and touched it with his index finger, almost as if he was curious. Then he winced and collapsed onto his back. His eyes stared up at the stars as the last few gasps of life passed through his lips.
Sean and Adriana rushed over to where the dying man lay and stopped a couple of feet short.
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me who sent you," Sean said.
The gunman's lips quivered. His eyes searched the starry sky — for what, Sean and Adriana didn't know.
"Tell me who's behind this," Sean said with more force. "Where is Annie? Who has her?"
The man's breathing quickened for a moment, and then ceased completely. His eyes fixed in their sockets, unblinking.
Sean sighed.
"Did you really think he was going to give us any information?" Adriana asked.
"No," Sean said. "But you never know."
Tommy and Reece burst out of the bushes on the other side of the clearing. Sean spun around with his weapon raised, but he immediately recognized his friends.
"That's a good way to get shot, sneaking up on someone like that."
Both of them raised their hands at first and then when they realized Sean knew who they were, put them back down.
"We weren't exactly being quiet," Reece said.
Sean shoved the pistol back in the holster. "I know. We heard you when you were a good eighty feet away."
Tommy looked to Adriana for confirmation. She nodded. "It's true. You two aren't the quietest."
Reece pointed at the dead man on the ground. "I see you got the shooter."
"Did you get anything out of him?" Tommy asked.
"Unfortunately, no," Sean said. "He was pretty set on not speaking. Tough sucker, though. Didn't want to have to shoot him, but he didn't leave me much choice. Plus, I really need to get some sleep."
Tommy had his weapon in his hand and put it back in its place alongside his belt. "I don't suppose he has any identification or anything."
"Actually, we found the keys to his car over there." Adriana motioned to the general area where they'd seen the yellow flashing lights earlier.
"Oh, that's what that was," Reece realized. "We were wondering what was going on with that other car out there. Saw the lights flash and thought maybe there was a camper who'd strayed off the beaten path."
"We were just about to check his car for clues," Adriana said.
"Good idea," Tommy said. He faltered and then motioned for the others to go ahead. "Lead the way… you know, since you guys saw where it was and all."
Sean turned on his phone light. "Still worried about the snakes?"
"No… okay, yes. But you would be too if one almost bit you on the butt."
"Pretty sure the snake didn't strike at your butt."
Sean spun around before his friend could retort and started walking the direction he'd seen the flashing lights. He hit the button on the fob again. Once more, the lights blinked. Sean adjusted his direction accordingly and marched ahead with the other three right behind him. The lights from their phones danced along the ground as the group moved. Sean kept an eye out for snakes — just in case. He wasn't as worried about them as his friend. That didn't mean he should be careless.
The group reached the car after only two or three minutes of walking. It was a five-door hatchback, gray with black interior. The color scheme made it perfect for keeping the vehicle hidden at night in the outback. That part was probably not in the shooter's plans. There was no way he could have known he'd be going after his targets at night. Or was there?
"Hardly a luxury car," Adriana said, staring at the modest commuter vehicle.
"Yeah. Strictly for utility purposes," Reece agreed. "See a lot of these from bikers and kayakers."
"Probably a rental," Sean said. "These guys are assets. They never use their own cars. That would leave a trail."
"Doesn't a rental leave a trail?"
"Not if you use an alias. The systems have made it increasingly more difficult to do those kinds of things. Pros still know how to get it done. They have connections for their connections. When you know the right people, strings get pulled."
"Remind me never to cross you," Reece joked.
"That would be a good idea," Tommy said.
Sean opened the front passenger door. He sifted through the glove box and found some paperwork. As he suspected, it was a rental agreement — signed for by a Jonathan Stout. No way that was the guy's real name.
Tommy opened one of the back doors and found a black book bag sitting in the floorboard. "Find anything?" he asked.
"Just the rental agreement. The guy was definitely working under an alias. No question about it, he was a pro. What you got back there?"
"Found a black backpack. Looks like something I used to carry around in college."
Black backpack? Sean thought.
"What's in it?"
"Haven't opened it yet."
Sean stood up out of the car and looked in the back seat where his friend was hunched over. Tommy started to unzip the main compartment to the book bag when Sean tried to stop him.
"No, wait."
Something beeped. Sean grabbed Tommy and jerked him back.
"Get down!" Sean yelled at the other two.
Adriana and Reece dove away from the vehicle and covered their heads. Sean expected an explosion, but none came. He looked back into the hatchback at the book bag. He frowned and patted Tommy on the shoulder.
"False alarm. Must be the guy's watch in the bag. For a second there I thought it was a—"
A sudden burst of bright white flashed from the backpack, and the car erupted in flames. The concussion blast hit Sean like a dump truck, driving him back fifteen feet through the air. He hit the dirt and shielded his face with his forearm from any falling debris.
He rolled over and stared into the burning wreckage for a second. Next, he checked to make sure Adriana and the others were okay. She and Reece had jumped for cover behind a boulder only twenty feet away from the car. They rose slowly from behind the big rock, both safe from the blast. Tommy wasn't far from Sean, lying on the ground with his hands over his head.
"You okay, buddy?" Sean asked over the crackling roar of the fire.
"Yeah," Tommy said, though his tone didn't sound so sure. "I'm okay. Just won't be going to the symphony anytime soon. Jeez, that was loud."
Reece and Adriana came out from their hiding place and joined the other two.
"I guess he had it booby-trapped," Sean said.