Dakota (Ch 34)

After the fourth shot, I knew Janie and I were now the only target. We now had the full attention of the shooter. The only thing standing between us and him was the front door. I didn't know how this was going to go down. I didn't see an acceptable outcome. If Janie didn't shoot first, we were both goners. She kept her focus on the door, but her body fidgeted. She couldn't sit still. Her eyes shot to me for a moment, then back to the door. She spoke in a whisper.

"Jake. Don't say anything. Just do what I tell you. You're not going to want to hear it. But you need to. Just do what I say. OK?"

"Janie--"

"Just tell me now. Promise me that you'll listen to what I tell you."

"I can't make that promise."

"If you love me, you will. Please, Jacob, please."

Her eyes left the door for a moment and she looked directly into my eyes. It was as if she could see inside me. She could see my fear. She could see my concern. She could see my love. Blink. I dropped my head. I didn't know exactly what she was going to ask me to do, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I already knew that I couldn't do it. I knew that I wouldn't want to. But I loved her. And I trusted her. So I shook my head and made the commitment anyway.

"Alright Janie."

I felt the emotions bubbling back up again. My eyes were moist. I was still sweating from the tension of the moment.

"I promise...I'll do it."

I worked hard to get those words out.

"Go. Grab your phone and go."

"What do you mean go?"

I spoke at full volume before catching myself midway through my protest. I sat more rigidly. For a moment, I forgot about the pain in my wrist.

"I mean, get the hell out of here. This isn't about you. It's about me. So go. Just go. Run. This'll end one way or another, but you shouldn't have to go down because of me. Go."

"I'm not leaving you here."

"Yes you are. You promised me. And I expect you to honor that promise. It may be my last wish."

"Don't say that. We're gonna make it."

"We don't know that anymore. It could go either way. I don't want you here if that guy wins. And I don't want you dead."

"I can't just leave you here."

"You can and you will. Now hurry up. You're wasting time. That last shot was further away, but the shooter will be headed back toward the house. You have to go now."

"What kind of big brother just leaves his sister behind?"

"You're not leaving me. Now goddammit get the hell out. Do it. Go!"

"I love you Janie."

"I love you too. But please..."

She trailed off. She looked back at me for a moment. She didn't say another word. She just mouthed, 'Go'.

/ / /

He bent down and glanced in the vehicle Rebekah had abandoned. It was unoccupied. He looked up again. His eyes scanned the woods. It was still. It was quiet. He walked behind the car and circled to the other side. He scanned the woods again. North, South, East, West. No one. He was concerned with the idea that someone else was also in the woods with him. Who were they? Where were they? Why were they here? His attention turned back toward the house. He didn't have time. Someone would have heard the shots. Someone would have called the Sheriff by now, even out here. He couldn't waste time searching for a phantom in the forest. He was here for one reason. He was going to finish what he started. This had gone on long enough. It was time to put an end to it. It was time that Janie Samuels met her end. She couldn't just walk away from Pablo de Amantillo. And someone got in the way, they'd meet their own fateful end.

He proceeded down the dirt lane in the direction of the Samuels' house. He didn't rush. He took his time. He was sure to keep cover behind trees on his trek. He paused every three paces or so to scan the area again for the mystery visitor. He was unaware that at the same time, Rebekah watched as he made his progress towards the house. She watched and waited, nervously.

He made steady progress toward the house. The tension grew with each step. Someone was out there. Someone was watching, waiting. He stopped and rested behind the other FBI agents' car. He knelt behind it and faced away from the house. Nothing. He didn't see anyone. Someone was out there, and whoever it was had made themselves the enemy. Just for being out there.

He began again at the abandoned car. He scanned away from it. The door was left open. The driver would have moved in that direction. He carefully examined the woods. He paused at each tree. He saw only green and brown. Nothing. He glanced at the house. The curtains were all drawn. It was quiet. There was no movement. He made a move passed the cabin and paused behind the hood of the car. His focus was still on the woods. He traced the path again, from the vehicle towards the house. It was time.

He ducked down and hurried to the corner of the house. With his back to the wall he prepared to move beneath the front window, to the door. The silence of the Dakota Woods was shattered. In the distance, the digital tones of a cell phone ringer chirped.

She didn't know what to do. She grabbed for the phone to silence it. Kahle had warned her. She forgot. She hadn't done it. Fear surged through her. Her body shook.

He spun his head in the direction of the sound. Staying low to the ground, he spotted the movement of a young pine, between the branches, a patch of yellow was visible. In one swift motion, he raised the gun to his shoulder and fired.