Free Run: An Emma Caldridge Novella: The Final Episode by Jamie Freveletti Page A

“I left my satellite phone back at the cabin with Cowboy Leon,” she said to the girl, “so I need to get to a location where I can pick up a cell signal. Any idea where that would be?”
    Sam thought a moment. “Probably a mile closer to the compound, but I can’t be sure.”
    “Is there a path that will take me farther away from the road they’re on?”
    Sam pointed to the left. “You’ll hit a second cutoff about half a mile down. It ends at a rock plateau that overlooks Sunrise City. You’ll get a signal there, but it’ll be weak.”
    “I’m off, then. You should get back to the cabin. If the posse finds you, use the sat phone and call the number that I gave you for Edward Banner. He’s a contract security CEO who deals with the Department of Defense. Tell him what’s happening.” Emma removed her watch from her wrist and handed it to the girl. “Keep this on at all times, and when you get back to the cabin give it to Carrie. It contains a GPS chip that Banner can track. They grab her again, I want to be able to find her. Banner gave it to me, so just let him know that you have it.”
    Sam strapped the watch on and swallowed once. “What do I tell him about you?”
    “Tell him I’m homing in on Ryan.”
    Sam shook her head. “Don’t do this. Don’t go near the compound. It’s suicide.”
    “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay,” Emma said, and turned Lily down the path.
    S HE REACHED THE rock plateau twenty minutes later and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw two small bars light up on her cell. Before she could make a call, she heard the sound of engines revving over and over again. She took out her binoculars and sighted the piece of the road that the posse was on. Two of the three cars that were after her were racing back the way they had come, presumably to the compound. Emma couldn’t see how many men were in each, but the odds had just shifted against her.
    She scrolled through the contacts list to call Sumner, and as she did, the phone began to vibrate. In a moment of serendipity, his name lit up on the display. She hit the button and put the phone to her ear.
    “Sumner?”
    “So tell me about the guy who stole my gun,” Sumner said without preamble.
    Emma had always loved the way he cut to the essentials of the matter. Sumner’s intensity was only tempered by his occasional flashes of humor, and when she called him, he responded every time without fail. Having Sumner at your back was a true godsend.
    “His name is Tarnell and he’s the sheriff of Sunrise City,” she said. “What are you doing up at two in the morning?”
    “Worrying about you,” he said. “After that somewhat cryptic voice mail where you suggested that I call the governor, I actually did place a few calls. You should know that things have changed. The FBI and ATF are preparing to execute a warrant against Shaw. They’re sending a team to surround the compound.”
    Emma’s spirits lifted. “That’s excellent news! I think they’re holding Ryan there, and if I’m right, he’s as good as out and I won’t have to do a thing.”
    “They’ll be in place in the next hour. You know how the FBI loves its early morning take-downs.”
    Emma thought about the men racing back to the compound. “I’m not so sure the news is all good. Shaw may have gotten wind of the mission. The posse that’s chasing me sent some men back to the compound.”
    “Did you just say that a posse is chasing you?”
    “Don’t worry, it’s nothing I can’t handle, but that’s why I’m calling.”
    “Yes.”
    “You don’t know what I want yet.”
    “Whatever it is, the answer is yes. And I’m coming out there to get my gun.”
    “When?”
    “One hour.”
    Emma snorted. “You can’t get here in an hour from Florida.”
    “I’m not in Florida, I’m riding with the ATF. I’m an hour outside of Sunrise City.”
    “How did you manage that?”
    “Federal agencies stick together. Mine talked to theirs. What were