Echo (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #2)

1. Jane Doe

CHAPTER 1

JANE DOE

H e’s going to kill me.

There’s not a single doubt in my mind that I won’t live to see another sunrise. Unless, of course, I’m granted a miracle. Dear God, please grant me a miracle.

I pump my arms, urging my body to move faster as my breathing comes out in ragged puffs of air, thanks to the cool spring night. I’m thankful for the cold, though, because it’s helping to dull the full extent of the pain from my impact with the car a few hours ago. After managing to pop the trunk open and jumping out at that stop sign, I thought I’d finally gotten my chance at an escape.

Unfortunately, he showed no qualms about literally running me down. My hip aches, my side right along with it, but thank God, nothing feels broken.

Not yet, anyway. Adrenaline pulsing through my system, I try to decide which route I should take. I could take my chances and maybe climb a tree—though then I’ll be trapped. The only thing I do know is that I can’t keep running. And when he catches up to me, I won’t be walking away. Not this time. My bare feet burn, but the cuts covering them are the least of my problems.

A gunshot rings out, and I stumble, slamming my knee into a rock. I choke on a scream. I can’t let him know where I am. It’s dark now, and the shield of trees is keeping me relatively hidden. Out of sight, out of the crosshairs.

I just have to live until morning. By then, this park will be busy with hikers, and murdering me will be too risky. Even for him.

Another shot. Wood splinters off the tree beside me, and I fall once more, shredding the hem of the men’s dress shirt I’d managed to grab on my way out the door. It helps to shield my body from the cold, covering skin the black dress I’m wearing beneath it doesn’t.

Fabric tears as I push up from the ground.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need. I start repeating Psalm 23. My mother told me to write it on my heart for moments just like this.

Tears sting my eyes.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Every move is agony, but I keep going. Keep moving.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.

I have to keep fighting until there’s no more breath in my chest. I won’t go down without a fight. Too much has been lost already, and if something happens to me, the truth will also be buried six feet beneath the cold, hard ground.

Ahead, I can see the bright illumination of headlights on the highway. Hope fills me with renewed strength. If I can get up to the roadside, I can get into a car before he reaches me. Then I’ll be able to survive. Then I can get help.

I push harder. Faster. I’ve got this.

Until—I slide to a stop at the edge of a river.

Water roars, blocking me from the highway. Thanks to the heavy rains we’ve had over the past couple of days, there’s no hope of me getting across without being swept away. Still, maybe?—

“I told you I’d find you. I will always find you.”

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.

Dread coils in my belly as I turn to face my attacker. His smile is sinister, his eyes dark. How I ever trusted him, I’ll never know. Unfortunately, it’s a mistake that will likely cost me my life. “What, you don’t think you can take me on without that?” I ask, eyeing his weapon, trying to keep my tone level.

Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.

He raises the gun and levels it on me. “I have nothing to prove to you, darling. I gave you a chance. You failed. Now I have no choice. You gave me no choice. Why couldn’t you just take the deal? Why couldn’t you play ball?”

“You know me well enough to know I never would have gone along with it. You sold your soul, and that’s something I’ll never do.”

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

“Always dramatic. Things could’ve worked out. I’m sorry, but you’ve truly not given me any choice.”

My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…

A single tear slips down my cheek. If this is the end, at least, I stayed true to myself. At least, I didn’t—a gunshot echoes through the trees, and the bullet tears through the flesh of my abdomen.

Pain.

So much blinding pain.

And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.