The profiler had shaken her head at him. It wasn’t the act itself, she’d explained, it was the act in conjunction with the killer’s psychopathic thinking.

Alex made no excuses for Besand. Besand simply liked to kill.

And he had Brynn in his sights.

Alex jogged through the snow. He could hear voices far ahead. Jim must have caught up with Thomas. They were tough men. The three of them should be able to hold off one injured serial killer. Alex pursed his lips. Besand had a gun, but Alex knew he didn’t have much history handling weapons. That was a big strike against him. Three against one. Four if you counted Brynn, which he did. She was incredibly tough. Too bad Ryan was on his ass. He was a scrappy kid.

They should have no problem overpowering Besand.

Then why was his skin crawling?

Besand had a good hiding place and was obviously well enough to move back and forth to the cockpit. If he’d been a halfway decent shot he could take them out one at a time like a sniper.

He glanced back and measured the distance from the body of the plane to the closest big trees. Darrin would have to be an excellent shot. And Alex knew he wasn’t.

Kiana barked in the distance.

“Jim!” he called out the name before he could see the men. He didn’t want the cop drawing on him as he came on them in the woods. They were all a little trigger-happy at the thought of Besand creeping through the trees.

The two men were watching for him, Kiana beside Jim’s feet.

“Ryan isn’t going anywhere,” Alex said. “He can’t even stand up. His fever’s pretty high.”

“Shit. We were just talking about what to do if that was the case.” Jim twisted his lips.

“Brynn has Ryan’s gun. Announce yourself before you enter the plane.”

“Crap. She won’t use that thing. She hates guns.”

“She said she knows how to use it.”

“She does. I taught her. I wouldn’t let her on any of my hasty teams without knowing how to shoot first, but she refuses to carry one.”

“What now?” Alex calmly asked the question even though his nerves were spiking like he’d been shocked.

Jim and Thomas looked at each other. “Someone needs to hike out,” Jim said. “Tell people where we are. I just tried calling Collins. There’s no coverage at the moment. I don’t know how long this storm is going to last. Whoever hikes out can’t go alone though. And obviously Ryan shouldn’t be left alone.”

“Something tells me he’ll see that differently,” Thomas muttered.

“Brynn won’t leave him. I know her. She’s in full nurse mode and won’t let him move.” Jim gnawed on his lip. “I think the three of us should head out. We can move fast.”

Alex pictured himself trying to keep up with the two mountain men.

Jim frowned. “Unless you’re not feeling up to it. You had quite a shock yesterday. And I’ve seen you favoring your knee. Did that happen in the avalanche?”

“No, but it didn’t help it. Old injury.”

“Can you hike out?”

Alex paused, and Jim didn’t let him answer.

“You wouldn’t have to stop to think about it if you could. You’re staying here.”

“I’m good with that. I think one of us should stay.”

“Good. It’s settled.” Jim made a definitive motion with his hand.

He hadn’t wanted to leave Brynn. That’s what had made Alex pause. He couldn’t leave her alone with a serial killer wandering the woods. Especially now that Besand had seen her. She might as well have a big target on her back.

“I’ll feel better knowing you’re here with her and Ryan anyway. Thomas and I should be able to hike out in under twentyfour hours if we push it. We’ll get more supplies and come back on foot or by copter if the weather breaks,” Jim stated.

Alex nodded.

Thomas scowled.

“What?” Jim asked.

“Don’t like breaking up the team,” he said evenly.

Jim exhaled and nodded. “Neither do I. But I don’t see any other choice. We could all stay, but what’s the point? We’ll get help faster if we move out.” He glanced at his watch. “As soon as possible.” He shifted his attention to Alex. “Can you hold down the fort?”

He nodded. Jim held his gaze for a second longer than was necessary.

“Let’s get going.”

Silently, eyes scanning, guns at the ready, the three men headed back to the plane. Kiana kept pace next to Alex.

“What happened to your leg?” Thomas asked.

Alex jumped at the sound of Thomas’s voice. The man spoke so rarely. “Uh, gunshot wound.”

“How long ago?” Apparently, Thomas was feeling chatty.

Alex counted in his head. “Four years or so.”

“Judge Braeden?”

Alex nearly tripped. Jim turned from his position at point and raised an eyebrow at Thomas. “You talking about that murdered judge? I remember that.” He frowned at Alex. “Were you there?”

Alex could only nod. How had Thomas put it together? He’d added one and one and come up with four. Accurately.

Jim stopped their trek and faced Alex. “Two marshals died in that courtroom. You were shot too?”

Alex met his gaze and nodded again.

Jim’s brows came together. “The judge and the shooter died too. Wasn’t the shooter the wife of some illegal drug importer on trial? She shot the judge and three marshals, but one of them managed to take her down with a shot.” He eyed Alex. “You got her, didn’t you?”