He ducked three shots.
That made six teen.
In the few seconds it would take Maddox to replace his clip, Joe rushed down ward. One flight of rusty metal steps, then another.
Bullets pinged against metal, forcing Joe to zigzag as he plunged down the next flight. He got off two rounds, gaining him self a few seconds’ reprieve.
Maddox hit the pavement in the rear alley, landing on his feet and bolting into a dead run.
Joe was three seconds behind him.
His heart pumped madly, sending much needed adrenaline through his veins.
But he had the advantage from this angle.
Problem was if he killed Maddox he might not find Elizabeth until it was too late.
He needed the bastard alive.
Maddox was likely counting on that.
Joe stopped. Spread his legs shoulder width apart and took aim.
The first bullet whizzed right by Maddox’s left ear.
The second closer still.
Maddox skidded to a halt. “Okay!” he shouted. “You made your point.”
Though he held up both hands in a gesture of surrender, Joe wasn’t taking any chances.
“Place your weapon on the ground, Maddox. Now!” Joe eased to ward him, keeping a bead on the back of his head.
“All right. All right.” He started to lower his weapon, bending at the knees in order to crouch down close enough to lay the Beretta on the ground.
Ten feet, eight. Sweat beaded on Joe’s fore head as he moved closer still.
Just as Maddox’s weapon reached shoulder level he dropped and rolled.
Joe almost fired, but hesitated.
That split second of hesitation cost him every speck of leverage he’d gained.
“Looks like we have an impasse,” Maddox said from his position on the ground. Though he lay on his back he’d leaned up ward from the waist just enough to get a perfect bead on Joe’s head.
Joe shrugged nonchalantly. “The way I see it, if we both end up dead, then there won’t be any report for me to file.”
Maddox grinned. “You always were a cocky SOB. But this time you’ve met your match.”
“I don’t think so.” Joe’s trigger finger tightened. “Now put down your weapon before I have to kill you.”
“A good agent never gives up his weapon, Hennessey.”
The explosion of the bullet bursting from the chamber was deafening in the long, deserted alley.
It hit dead center.
Chapter 13
Elizabeth crouched in the darkest corner of the room. She squeezed the keys in her hand, letting the bite of metal keep her senses sharp.
David was alive.
The son of a bitch.
Fury boiled up in side her, leaving a bitter burn in her throat.
For weeks after his death she had wished she could have spoken to him one last time before he died. If she’d only had the opportunity to apologize for her impatience and frustration with his work. As dedicated as she had always been to her own work, how could she grow disgruntled about his loyalty to the job? And that was exactly what she’d done. She had used a double standard. It was okay for her to work long hours seven days a week, month in, month out, but when he failed to show for weeks on end she’d behaved petulantly.
She’d kidded her self and pretended they were two of a kind and his long absences didn’t bother her. But they had. To say otherwise was a lie.
So when she heard about his death she’d tortured her self for endless nights. Thinking of all the things she should have said.
All that energy…all that emotion wasted on a man who wasn’t worth the time it took to tell him to get lost.
If only she’d known just what a monster he was she might have killed him her self.
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration.
But she wanted desperately for him to pay for what he had done. He could rot in prison for the rest of his life and she wasn’t sure that would be punishment enough. Yet execution was far too quick and merciful.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She couldn’t be distracted by her hatred and bitterness toward David. She had to focus. Finding a way to escape the man holding her was the only hope she had of saving Joe.
She knew the meeting location.
All she needed was her free dom.
Her fingers tightened around the keys once more.
If she called him in here by crying out in pain as if she were sick, she could…
Well, she wasn’t sure what she would do but she could make it up as she went. God, she prayed, please don’t let him kill Joe.
If Joe died…there were so many things she wanted to say to him. Too late…just like before.
Determination roared through her. No. She wouldn’t let this happen to her again.
She had to do something.
When David had died there had been nothing she could do. Considering what she knew now she was glad. But this was different. Joe was a good guy and she loved him.
Why was it she couldn’t do any thing personal right? It always seemed as if she went about her relationships back ward or side ways or something. Deep breath.
She could do this.