Too Far Gone

86

Manseur was in excruciating pain. Kennedy was on the other point, separated from them by the inlet. Leland, who might or might not be wounded, could be anywhere. Bond and Alexa had to figure out some way to take Leland out of the picture. Bond tried to reach Kennedy by radio.

“He isn’t answering,” Bond reported. “Might have his unit turned off.”

“I hope so, but I doubt it. Leland isn’t someone to underestimate. He killed two game wardens and Deputy Boudreaux.”

“He killed those wardens?” Bond asked.

“I found a Wildlife and Fisheries badge inside the cabin. They were on Leland’s trail for selling alligators or something. They got this far, but I doubt they got out alive. We have to assume Leland flanked us and has Kennedy’s weapons,” Alexa said. “If he does, what are we facing?”

“Two-seventy rifle, shoots on the money to four hundred yards. The rounds will totally ignore these vests,” Bond answered. “He had maybe forty rounds with him, minus what he used up. Plus his Glock. 40 and three magazines.”

Alexa said, “He can pick us off as he sees us. And we can also assume he’s taken Kennedy’s vest.”

“Possible,” Bond agreed. “We’ll just shoot him in the head, or blow off one of his limbs.”

“We have to see him first,” Alexa reminded Bond.

“Any ideas?”

“He’s wired tightly, primitive emotionally. I’m going to really piss him off and see if he overreacts.”

“How?” Bond wondered.

“Boys and their toys,” Alexa replied, smiling grimly.