Final Option (Oregon Files 14)

Juan wrenched Sánchez’s hand just as he pulled the trigger.

The bullet went through the driver’s head. Blood spattered the ballistic glass, and then he collapsed on the steering wheel.

While Sánchez struggled to get hold of the wheel, Juan recognized that it was a lost cause. He sat back and whipped the seat belt over his torso. The metal buckle clicked at the same time that the speeding SUV swerved through the shoulder and dipped into the ditch next to the road.

The top-heavy SUV tumbled onto its side, and all the air bags went off.

* * *

—

Raven watched in horror as the SUV cartwheeled off the road. It violently flipped twice and came to rest on its tires. She pulled to a stop next to the wrecked vehicle, and Linc and Eddie leaped out of the PIG.

The armored car ahead of them braked, did a U-turn, and crossed the median to the other side of the highway. Raven was about to target it with a rocket, but it shielded itself behind a van that had come to a stop on the opposite side of the highway. The body of the van had IGLESIA DE SANTA MARÍA emblazoned on it. St. Mary’s Church.

She couldn’t shoot at the armored car without the risk of killing the churchgoers, some of whom had gotten out and were on their cell phones as they looked at the SUV wreckage.

The soldiers in the armored car had no such qualms about bystanders. Church members dove to the ground as the .50 caliber machine gun in the turret opened fire. The PIG wasn’t designed to withstand such a heavy barrage, and the huge rounds started pouring through the cab.

She knew it was time to abandon ship and scrambled out of the PIG through the open passenger door.

* * *

—

Juan shook his head as he regained his senses. The first thing he noticed was Sánchez’s face in front of him. Wide eyes stared at him blankly, a broken windshield wiper protruding from his neck. Apparently, the colonel had not been wearing his seat belt.

The next thing that got Juan’s attention was knocking on the window. He saw Linc pounding on the glass and looking in. Juan gestured that he was all right, though he did feel some blood trickling down his face.

The door wouldn’t open, so he motioned Linc to the driver’s side. The guard next to Juan was now lying in the truck bed, which allowed him to lean over and pop the lock.

Eddie yanked the door open while Juan unlatched his seat belt.

“Are you okay, Chairman?”

They were interrupted by the thump of heavy machine gun fire. Shells tore into the PIG as Juan pushed himself out of the SUV.

Eddie and Linc helped him take cover in the ditch behind the PIG. Raven joined them a moment later.

Eddie produced a handcuff key and unlocked Juan’s wrist. Then he took out some gauze and pressed it against Juan’s forehead.

“You got a nasty cut in the crash,” Eddie said.

“Better than the alternative,” Juan said. “Life in prison didn’t sound fun.”

“Thought you might need this,” Linc said, handing Juan his spare combat leg.

“And I didn’t get a present for you,” Juan said, strapping it on quickly. “Now, how do we get out of here with that armored car pouring rounds into our ride?”

“Max assumed this was a one-way mission for the PIG,” Raven said, pulling the truck’s remote control from her pocket.

Eddie nodded. “We didn’t think we’d get it back onto the ship without awkward questions about it suffering serious damage.”

“Not to mention the bounty that must be out for me right about now,” Juan added.

“That, too . . . Raven, time to lead them away from here so we can make our rendezvous undisturbed.”

Raven nodded, and the PIG began to belch dense smoke. After a huge cloud had surrounded them and the truck, she revved the engine. The PIG barreled down the highway toward Las Armas.