"I don't think your ruse will fool them for long," Kiku pointed out.

"It doesn't have to. Once I confirm where Prescott's going, fifty cops can be there in five minutes."

"How?" Jennifer sat forward.

"They're running an emergency drill at a school five minutes down the road from Big Blue."

Jennifer flopped back in the seat, and her mouth fell open. She laughed. "How the h.e.l.l did you pull that off?"

"That's Jack." Replacement gave him a quick, huge smile and then focused again on the laptop.

They raced toward Big Blue, and the peak rose up in the distance. The winter had been unseasonably warm, so Jack didn't know whether they had even opened the one ski slope that ran down the face. Prescott headed up the west side that was dotted with houses and cabins. Forest spread out on either side of them, and the sight distance dropped off as they wound their way up the curving road.

"You can ease back a little," Replacement instructed.

The Impala swung up the heavily wooded road. The main road was paved, but the many side roads branching off were little better than wide bike paths. Jack approached another side road, and Replacement pointed to take the right. The side road was paved and continued to curve up.

d.a.m.n. We're going farther than I thought. These roads are going to increase the response time, too.

"Slow down." Replacement angled the screen. "He stopped."

"I see him. Cabin." Kiku leaned forward and pointed to the right.

Between the trees, Jack saw a small cabin and the brief glow of brake lights.

Jack stopped the car.

"Do you have a map of the area?" Jack asked.

Replacement pressed a few b.u.t.tons and a map appeared.

He studied the road layout for a moment and scowled. "I'd rather come around from the back, but this road doesn't loop around. I don't want to stop here and have Prescott come right back into us either."

"He's going to know you set him up. He'll figure it out soon." Jennifer pulled out her pistol.

"Time for the cavalry." Jack froze when he looked at his phone. "d.a.m.n. No signal."

Kiku and Replacement reached for their phones and shook their heads.

Jack reached for the door handle and looked at Replacement. "Drive back until you get a signal and call Undersheriff Morrison."

"I'm not leaving you." Replacement shook her head.

Jack held up his hand and fiercely whispered, "I need someone to go."

"I'll go." Jennifer climbed over the front seat. "With my ankle I'm not much good anyway. I need a phone."

Jack handed it to her as he, Replacement, and Kiku jumped out.

"Morrison?" Jennifer asked as she put the Impala into reverse.

"Just hit redial. It's the last call I made."

Jack watched her back up on the road. He took a few steps toward the woods that separated them from the cabin.

"Prescott won't trust them. He may move Marisa, and if he does, we can get him on the road."

"This isn't the best spot for an ambush, Officer. As you said, they have the firepower in their favor." Kiku's gun was in her hand.

"I'm going up," Jack said.

"We're going up." Replacement started after him.

"No. You're last line," he snapped as he handed her the little five shot .380. "Pull the trigger. Five shots. That's it." He glared at Replacement. "They know how to shoot. Stay here. Seriously, kid. I'll shoot you in the leg if you try to come."

Replacement's jaw clamped shut.

Jack hurried into the woods; Kiku followed him. They moved fast and low as they approached the cabin in the distance.

Prescott's car was parked out front, and there was another sedan parked on the left. From the size of it and the window placements, Jack estimated the cabin had one large living room, maybe two side rooms on the right and a kitchen and bath either in the back or the left.

"How long will it take for your ruse to be discovered?" Kiku kept looking forward.

Jack made a fist and unclenched it. "I'm hoping it screws them up for at least fifteen minutes. They'll argue. They'll deny it, and then Prescott will figure it out. That's when it gets interesting."

"You think they'll move her?"

Jack nodded. "He still won't trust them. He'll want-"

They both spun around at the sound of a breaking branch.

Jack's throat tightened, and he slowly lowered his gun that was now pointed at Replacement's head. She was crouched over, and her hands were up. Her eyes were wide as she gave a little wave.

"That's amore," Kiku whispered.

Love? I wonder how you say "I'm going to kill her" in Italian.

Replacement quietly crept up the last few feet. "Sorry," she whispered.

"Jennifer shouldn't have to drive too far to get a signal. Morrison should only be minutes away."

A loud yell from the cabin drew their attention.

"Sounds like it's getting interesting." Kiku smirked.

Jack turned when he heard the Impala come back up the road. "Jennifer's back."

"That was fast." Replacement smiled.

A few moments later, Jennifer hurried toward them, limping. Her eyes were wide and her face was ashen.

"They're coming," she panted. "But-" She gulped air.

"What?" Jack asked.

"He sent me a text message and it was strange. I think he's losing it. I've known Walter for years and I'm worried he's at the end of his rope. If his plan is falling apart, he may try to get revenge against Severino by killing her."

Jack started to stand up, and Kiku and Replacement put a hand on each shoulder. "I have to do something."

Jennifer shuffled forward. "Jack's right. We need to go now. Surprise him. If he hears the police coming, she's dead."

Jack looked at the cabin and the layout for a second before he pointed to the right. "Kiku, go east. Jennifer, go west. I'm going through the front door."

"We don't need a dead hero, Jack." Jennifer shook her head.

"I'm planning on drawing their fire. I'll kick the door, and then get out of the way. That's your signal. Once you open up, I'll pop back out, and I'll drop anyone left."

They nodded, and Kiku sprinted wide to the right. She had the most ground to cover, and she disappeared quickly into the woods. Jennifer moved low and fast, and Jack turned to Replacement.

"Stay here. Wait for Morrison."

She nodded.

She has no intention of doing what I say.

Jack moved to the edge of the forest.

Woodpile. Car. Cabin.

He quickly ascertained the best route to the house. Jack covered the short span to the woodpile and crouched low. He looked for Kiku but saw nothing. Jennifer had headed a bit wide, but she moved fast.

Maybe there's a window on that side.

Jack dashed to the rear wheel of Prescott's sedan and did his best to crouch down behind the tire. He leaned his shoulder against the cold metal of the car, looked back, and almost cursed aloud. Replacement's head popped out from the edge of the woods.

d.a.m.n it. d.a.m.n it. I should have shot her in the leg.

He waved her back and made a cutting motion over his throat.

Move, Jack.

Jack covered the fifteen feet to the cabin in the blink of an eye, but it felt like forever. His muscles groaned in protest as he went from full speed to full stop and silently reached the side of the cabin.

Kiku was still nowhere to be seen, and Jennifer was out of sight now, too.

They should be in place in a minute.

Jack pressed his back against the wood next to the door and shut his eyes for one brief second.

Please, G.o.d.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Replacement had moved up to the woodpile and was about to sprint to the car, following his route.

Her small frame was an a.s.set as she got low, and she was a blur as she covered the distance.

Jack held up his hand and she nodded.

He listened. Men were yelling inside, and their voices blended together.

Minimum: four. Max: six.

Jack knew he was supposed to bust the door open, take cover, and let Kiku and Jennifer open fire. That would give all of them the best survivability rate. Kiku was faster than Jennifer, so she'd open up first. That meant she'd draw their fire. The chances of her surviving were slim.

No way. It's not her day to die.

Jack knew what he'd do before he even started for the cabin. He had run most of the scenarios over in his head already. Every way he crunched the numbers, odds were he died.

Jack smirked.

But odds are they die, too.

He stepped back, and kicked the door.

"FREEZE."

Everything slowed. He could see three men and Prescott in the living room. They all turned to look at him, and he saw the guns in their hands.

He also saw their hands start to rise.

Two rounds apiece.

Jack zippered Prescott first. One in the gut and one center ma.s.s.

The spiky-haired Asian was the one with the submachine gun. Jack put one in his chest and one in his head. Kiku's pistol grip was small for his hand, but it shot straight.

The third guy got a shot off that hit the doorframe next to Jack's head before Kiku opened up.

She fired three-round bursts, and all looked to hit their mark. Prescott took three in the back.

The fourth guy could have killed Jack if he'd followed through with his choice of aiming at Jack, but he started to turn toward Kiku, and bullets from three sides cut him down.

Prescott fell to his knees and looked at Jack with a mixture of hate and pleading Jack had seen too many times.

He knows he's dead. He hates my guts, but he's still thinking he may have a chance to live. Now he's begging.

Another body from Jennifer's side fell into view.

Four guys and Prescott.