Phantom Prospect - Alex Archer [50]
Splinters of wood flew off and struck Jax across her cheek as Annja realized that Sheila wasn’t about to go quietly and cower somewhere. She hauled Jax back into her room.
“Dammit!”
Jax crawled to the door and stuck her gun through the opening. She squeezed off two rounds and Annja winced as the sudden explosion thundered inside her head.
Jax pulled back and brushed a hand across her cheek. It came away bloody. “I would have taken that slug if you hadn’t bumped into me.”
“That your way of saying thanks?”
Jax grinned. “Maybe.”
She ducked and squeezed off another shot, then pulled back. Annja watched her. So far, they hadn’t heard any return fire.
Jax frowned. “You think I tagged her on that first volley?”
Annja shook her head. “No idea.”
Jax took a deep breath. “Well, no way to tell if we stay here.”
“Just be careful,” Annja said.
Jax got down on her belly and crawled over to the doorjamb. Annja frowned. “Wait.”
Jax looked back. “What?”
Annja went to her bag and pulled a small compact out. She handed it to Jax, who took it with a grin. “Good idea.”
She popped it open and used it to peer around the frame.
Annja braced for the impact of a bullet, but no gunshot came. After a second, Jax pulled back into the room and tossed Annja the compact.
“Seems secure.”
Annja nodded and they crawled out into the corridor. Jax took the lead, her pistol ready to fire if need be.
They approached the turn in the corridor and Jax looked at Annja, holding a finger up to her lips.
Annja braced herself.
Jax spun around the corner and aimed her pistol.
The corridor was empty.
Annja let loose a pent-up breath and Jax’s shoulders slumped. “So much for that.”
“You think she’s back in her room now?”
Jax frowned. “Doubt it. If she’s acting like this, it means she’s going on the attack. And that’s not particularly comforting. We’d better hook up with Hunter and Cole and make sure that Sheila’s not planning a hostage taking.”
“Good idea.”
They took the steps up toward the main deck, each time clearing the turns carefully. Annja half expected Sheila to pop out at any minute and squeeze off a few more rounds at them.
But nothing else happened. When they were close to the steps leading to the wheelhouse, Jax pointed topside. “Last I heard, Hunter and Cole are up—”
A sudden scream pierced the air.
Jax and Annja looked at each other and then ran for the steps.
20
Annja and Jax crested the steps, expecting to see something other than what greeted their eyes. At the stern of the boat, they saw Sheila holding a gun on Dave, who looked like he wanted to rip her head off. “Stay the hell back!” she shouted.
Sheila clutched another crew member Annja didn’t recognize. The young man looked as though he might faint at any second. He didn’t struggle and stayed right where Sheila had him pinned with her arm. The broken wrist didn’t seem to be slowing her down nearly as much as Annja might have hoped.
“Get the winch and drop the dinghy over the side. Don’t screw around or little Stevie here gets a bullet for his trouble.”
Dave frowned, but made his way to the winch and secured the lead cable to the motorized dinghy that was strapped to one side of the ship. Once he had the cable secured, he fired up the winch.
“What’s going on here?” someone said.
Annja held up her hand as Cole and Hunter came through the doorway from inside the cabin. Hunter stopped short and then looked at Annja. “Guess you nailed it right.”
“It’s a long story,” Annja said.
Hunter noticed Jax. “Where’d you get a pistol?”
Jax didn’t take her eyes off Sheila. “I don’t make a habit of going through life unarmed.”
Annja could feel Jax tensing. She shook her head. “Don’t do it,” she said quietly.
“I can make the shot.”
“You won’t. And her finger is tight around that trigger. You might hit her, but she’ll get the shot off before she dies,” Annja said.
“You sure? I’m a crack shot with this thing.