Free Pilot Error by T.C. Ravenscraft Page B

be far away, probably just through those trees on the other side of the swamp. That, in turn, meant they were just about out of room to run. A sudden chill slipped down her spine. Just how far behind were the men who had already tried to kill her? And what if they had already called in those reinforcements Luke had mentioned?
    "Good dog," Luke said, suddenly grinning and patting the black and white ruff. "I think Fizz just found us a way across. Look." He pointed at a fallen tree that stretched almost all the way to the other side of the pond before submerging into the swamp. "But first, I think we need a little diversion."
    Without giving her the chance to comment, Luke put down the life vests, grabbed her shoulder and spun her around so that her back was to him. It wasn't until he had moved away and she had turned back around that she realized why. He had unclipped her leather jacket from the backpack and was headed down the more accessible-looking of the two arms of the swamp. About thirty yards in the opposite direction from where they were headed, Luke stopped, looked around, and then dumped her jacket on the mucky ground.
    "Hey!" Micki called in protest. Luke jogged back toward her and as he drew within hearing range she said, "That's a three hundred dollar jacket!"
    He threw her an infuriating smile. "So add it to my bill," he said without stopping on his way past her to the log bridge. "I'm sure you're keeping tab."
    "Too bloody right I will!"
    Micki looked back at her jacket, meant to steer their pursuers in a different direction, and considered her options. Luke was right; this island was too small to hide for very long. She didn't hold out much hope for using life vests to get off it, but if she had her choice of meeting the guys with guns on open beach where there was some chance of running away, or pinned inside a swamp, then she'd pick the beach.
    Bringing her attention back to Luke, she watched him take his first cautious step onto the rotting log, the action chasing the irate pelican away from his perch.
    "Come on," Luke said, moving his other foot to join his first when the log held his weight. "Let's get moving before you get that cute little tush of yours all bitten to bits, too."
    'Cute little tush?' Cute little tush, her ass!
    Fuming, Micki watched him carefully make his way across to the other side of the murky swamp. Focusing on her irritation was preferable to thinking about what may be behind her, and she seized upon it. The last space to be negotiated was a length of several feet from log to bank, and she found herself wickedly hoping that Luke wouldn't make it and land in the foul-smelling water.
    There was no such luck, and he stepped safely onto the far side. Shrugging off his camera bag and putting it down with the life vests, Luke gestured her forward.
    "Come on," he urged, extending a hand, "I'll give you a pull when you get over here. It's a doozie of a last step."
    Stubbornly, Micki pushed Fizz's haunches onto the makeshift bridge first. The dog wandered hesitantly out along the log, pausing every few steps to sniff the water. With a little encouragement when he reached the submerged end, Fizz bounded up the last bit of steep bank with help from Luke, who grabbed his collar to haul him to dry land.
    Now it was her turn.
    Micki drew a deep breath and focused on what she was doing. The dark water beneath her reeked of decaying vegetation and rippled with each step she took across the log. The backpack screwed with her center of gravity just enough to make her balance questionable, but she was determined to manage alone. When Luke's hand came into her peripheral vision she angrily batted it away. She was doing just fine, thank you. She didn't need—
    The tree dipped unexpectedly, throwing her precarious balance askew, and for the second time that day she found herself toppling over with Luke reaching out to catch her.
    Oh, shoot!
    Micki grasped his offered hand, but instead of clinging to it for