Page 40 of The Search

“Tell the pilot to go to the clearing,” Logan said. “We have to make a run for it back there.”

“Take Bassett and get out of here. We’ll be right behind you. It’s not—”

Rotors. Loud. Close.

Sarah’s heart jumped. She couldn’t see the helicopter through the palms, but it must have been near and getting nearer every minute.

Logan took her arm. “Run for it. I’ll get Bassett.”

She didn’t have to be told twice. “Monty!”

Branches hit her in the face as she tore through the jungle with Monty beside her.

The helicopter flew over her, almost on top of the camp.

Bullets.

The helicopter was spraying firepower on the camp below.

Logan and Bassett were next to her now.

More shots from the helicopter.

Galen and his men were behind them, then passing them as they raced toward the clearing.

It was scarcely a mile. It seemed a thousand.

Her lungs ached as she tried to force air into them. God, she was afraid. Stop it. Fear was always the enemy. She had been afraid before and survived. She’d survive now.

The clearing was up ahead. Would the helicopter be there?

It was landing as they burst out of the jungle. Galen’s men weren’t even waiting until it hit the ground to jerk open the door and tumble into the aircraft. Galen was standing by the door waving his men inside before he jumped in himself.

Bassett reached the helicopter and Galen pulled him inside. “Logan,” Galen called. “Hurry. Get the hell inside. They must have spotted us. I hear them coming.”

“So do I.” Logan was looking up at the sky. “Get Sarah and the dog inside.”

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Rudzak’s helicopter flying low and fast toward them.

“Hurry.” Galen reached for Sarah’s hand.

“Monty,” she called, and the retriever jumped inside the helicopter with her.

Bullets. Spraying the clearing from Rudzak’s helicopter.

Logan moved away from the helicopter, lifted his weapon, and released a hail of bullets at the approaching helicopter.

Another spray of bullets.

“Logan!” Galen shouted.

Logan was down, blood streaming from his thigh. “Get out of here, Galen.”

“The hell I will.” Galen jumped out of the helicopter.

But Monty was ahead of him, already running toward Logan.

“Monty!” Sarah screamed.