Free OUTNUMBERED volume 4: A Zombie Apocalypse Series by Robert Schobernd Page A

shadows in the orange glow as they emerged from behind the cabin and hustled across a short expanse of open ground toward the second cabin.
    Two men and two women herded Paige and Carmen toward the point where the walkway to the pier touched ground. A man I recognized through my rifle scope as Marc Ridder held a pistol to Carmen's head, and a blonde woman held a gun to Paige's head. A man in camo led the procession, and a tall dark haired woman wearing camo brought up the rear. Each carried an assault rifle across their chest, ready to fire. Shane and I whispered then acted as the people emerged from behind the second cabin. The other four were surprised when the lead man's head exploded in a mist of blood and gore. At the sound of Shane's rifle shot, I dropped the tailing woman with a shot to her head. They hesitated momentarily before Ridder and the blonde pushed their captives behind a huge concrete fountain ten feet from the water's edge. 
    Ridder's voice carried through the radio receiver. "How the hell did they know we were down here?" For ten seconds there was silence. "You bitch. You had this damned radio transmitting all the time. I ought to shoot you right now." The sound of a hand smacking flesh blasted across the airwave. "Who's running this operation?"
    "Tom, I don't know his last name." Carmen replied with a quivering voice. In the background I heard Paige, "Stop it you coward. Don't hit her again." There was another loud smack sound and then a groan.
    "Tom, come in Tom. This is Marc Ridder. I have two of your women and I'll kill both of them if you try to stop me from going out on the pier."
     
    There was pregnant silence as I breathed deeply. Now what? If we tried to hit Ridder and the blonde and didn't get clean kills, Paige and Carmen would be condemned to instant death. Even if our shots were perfect, reflex actions of the dying bodies could tighten trigger fingers to kill both of the hostages.
    Trying to sound emotionless, I said, "This is Tom."
     
    Ridder gloated openly. "We're going to stand and leave now, Tom. We'll dump the women off across the lake unharmed."
    Four figured stood. Carmen and Paige faced us. Their two capturers were behind them. The four figures carefully sidestepped over to the walkway leading to the floating pier. We were only fifty yards from them and saw pistols jammed into the back of the captive's necks. One shot by Ridder or the blonde would likely sever the spinal cords and kill the women instantly.
    We were beaten and knew it. We also knew without doubt Ridder would murder both hostages as soon as he figured he was far enough off shore to be safe. He had no way of knowing Shane and I were both Delta Force snipers. Long range snipers. While watching the quartet approach the long go fast boat I said, "Our only hope is for long distance shots when Ridder thinks he's out of rifle range. I'll take him and you hit the woman. It's only a five-hundred yard shot, but the movement of the boat is the problem."
    Shane's voice was rock steady. "Fire when you're ready. It's their only hope."
    Ridder seated both hostages on a bench seat facing us. The blonde stood behind Paige; the pistol was still pressed against her neck. Ridder left the boat and hurried to cast of the bow and stern lines. He jumped aboard and sauntered to the cockpit as the boat drifted free and nudged against the pier.
    One outboard engine cranked, sputtered and died. The starter ground several seconds before it started and sputtered as it struggled to come up to speed. The second engine came to life, roared, then settled into a steady hum. I watched Ridder through the scope wanting to pull the trigger. The first outboard ran a little smoother. The blonde had both of my women seated and stood smugly behind them. One hand was twisted in Paige's hair and the pistol still pressed against Paige's neck. The boat would pull away any second.
    I gasped as a figure flashed upward on the other side of the slim boat! The blonde