The Vanishing Gary Brown (booksvooks TXT) 📖

The attack came from out of the darkness. The unseen blow struck him hard in the chest, sent him reeling backwards from the force of the impact. Martin lost his footing on the broken ground and slid over the edge of the cliff, clutching out as he fell. His arm became entangled in an outcropping of tree roots, violently ending his descent. He swung helplessly back and forth and stared down at the jagged mountain floor below. Particles of loose sand and gravel streamed over the ledge. He turned his head and looked away, avoiding the assault to his face and eyes. When at last he looked up, Fallon stood above him.

“No way you’re getting off this mountain alive, Fallon!” Martin yelled. The pain ripping through his shoulder was unbearable, but he refused to allow the killer to see the pain on his face or hear it in his voice. “Too many people want to see you pay for what you’ve done. Especially me.”

“Forgive me if I fail to give a shit,” Fallon called down. “But from where I stand, I’d say my chances of getting away are pretty fucking good.”

“I’m warning you,” Martin said. He struggled to get a foothold on the cliff face, couldn’t. “Give it up. As much as I’d like to put a bullet in your head myself, the Agency has other plans for you.”

Fallon sat on the ledge of the cliff, crossed his legs, made himself comfortable. “They’re going to have to find me first,” he said. “Too bad they don’t know the tunnels inside these caves like I do. They go off in a dozen different directions. It’s one reason Joseph and I chose this little piece of heaven to call home. So we could get out in a hurry, in case someone like you came snooping around. By the time they find this cave, I’ll be history.” He stood. “Well, gotta go. Time’s a wasting. I really wish we could have spent more time together, Martin. I rather enjoyed our conversation. Come to think about it, the last time I saw you there really wasn’t much time to chat either, was there?”

“Go to hell, Fallon.”

“Oh, relax, Martin. No need to be so bitter. There’s no reason we can’t leave things on a high note. Besides, we can both honestly say some of our fondest memories are the ones we share.”

“Meaning?”

“Fucking your wife, of course.”

Martin struggled with his good arm to reach the ledge of the cliff. “You’re a dead man, Fallon!” he yelled.

“Maybe one day,” Fallon replied, “but not today. See you around.”

From behind him came a menacing growl... thick, low, guttural.

“Goddamn wolves,” Fallon muttered. He drew his gun, chambered a round, then turned, expecting to face the wild animal. Instead, he was surprised to see a golden retriever crouched in front of him, teeth bared, jowl quivering, eyes afire. “What the hell?” he said.

Martin recognized the growl. “Maggy!” he yelled. “Action!”

Immediately, the dog responded to the command as her years of police training had taught her.

Gun…

Danger…

Protect…

Action!

Maggy bounded forward as Fallon raised his gun to shoot. Too late, the retriever struck him hard in the chest with her powerful front legs, then chased him down, forcing him backward, sinking her teeth deep into his skin, first his arm, next his leg. Fallon dropped his weapon. As though sensing the nearness to the edge of the cliff, Maggy pressed ahead in her attack. Fallon fell backwards, his arms clutching helplessly at the air as he toppled off the cliff. He screamed as he fell past Martin and landed with a sickening thud on the rocks below. Maggy peered over the ledge, saw her master, and whined.

“It’s okay, girl,” Martin said. He stretched his good arm up towards the ledge. “Maggy… Retrieve.”

Maggy reached down, sunk her teeth into the sleeve of Martin’s jacket, dug her paws into the ground, and backed up until Martin had cleared the edge of the cliff and rolled onto the ledge. Breathless, he lay on his back. Maggy licked the dirt off his face with her warm, wet tongue.

“Thanks, fur face,” Martin said. At the sound of her master’s voice, Maggy whined excitedly and licked faster still.

“Okay, okay!” Martin laughed. “I agree. Let’s get out of here.”

Raines met Martin on the trail beside the Twins. His face was cut, bleeding badly.

“You okay?” Martin asked.

“Yeah, I think so.” The operative pointed toward the ridge. “Bastards have the woods booby-trapped. I was up there, following you. Next thing I knew, I was flat on my back. Must have hit a trip wire. Damn branch nearly took my head off. Sorry, Martin. Guess I screwed up.”

“Forget about it,” Martin said. “What about Claire and Amanda? Are they all right?”

“A little upset, but none the worse for wear,” Raines replied.

“And Krebeck?”

“Dead. Fallon killed him.”

“Proof there is a God,” Martin said. “Son of a bitch got what he deserved.”

Raines nodded. “No argument here.”

72

IN THE DISTANCE, the helicopter came alive. Its engine whined. A strobe light flashed on its underbelly.

“Sounds like the assault team is moving out,” Martin said.

“Local cops and paramedics are on the way,” Dan replied. “Mark insisted Mr. Stone be airlifted to hospital. Poor bastards lost a lot of blood. Keeps drifting in and out of consciousness.”

“Is he going to make it?”

“Yeah, he should be fine.”

Martin ran along the path towards the clearing, yelled back. “I need to get to that chopper before it takes off.”

73

CLAIRE THREW HER arms around Martin as he and Maggy reached the helicopter.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I guess so.”

“Did you find Fallon?”

“More like Fallon found me.”

“And?”

“Dead,” Martin replied. He looked down at the dog. “If it weren’t for Maggy, I’d be the one lying at the foot of the mountain. She saved my life.”

Claire knelt, kissed the retriever on her forehead. “Thank you, girl,” she said. Maggy panted, chuffed.

Oyama walked towards Martin. “Pike’s men are recovering Fallon’s body,” he said. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Good,” Mark said. “Give me a minute.