Free Twins of Prey by W.C. Hoffman

split up as well?”
    “No, we must stay together. We are not as big, strong or equipped as them.”
    “Blah, so they have guns. We are getting pretty good at dealing with these people who have guns,” Tomek said, again ignoring the concern his brother was trying to impose upon him.
    “Still, alone we are weak.”
    “Yeah, but we can take them out faster and get back to the garden.”
    Drake found his brother’s comment regarding the garden slightly hilarious based on the fact that the garden was the last place Tomek ever wanted to spend any amount of time.
    “We are not splitting up. I need you, there, you happy?”
    “Very,” answered Tomek, but Drake knew the answer and was only asking facetiously. “I saw the woman head down through the brambles toward the river and the dog guy went back toward their original camp.”
    Drake was happy that his brother could provide this useful intelligence, since he himself was watching the sheriff and Coleman’s retreats. Drake bent down to pick up a stick and drew a rough outline of the area.
    “Together they may have hunted us down, but apart they will all be scrambling back to Pine Run.” Tomek nodded in agreement.
    “Their leader guy ran up towards the top of the ridge. He has a day and a half hike, but once he reaches the top he may be able to call for help.”
    “So we go after him first?”
    Tomek always interrupted Drake’s planning sessions like this. No matter what the topic. Whether it was figuring out how to best plant corn, fix the roof or kill intruders, Tomek did not have the patience to let the plan roll out in front of him.
    “Not necessarily. Being the leader he may try his best to recover his men,” Drake pointed out.
    “And woman.” Tomek reminded Drake as if he forgot.
    “Yes, Tomek. And woman.”
    “But that leaves one more. Where did he go?”
    “Honestly, I have no idea,” Drake replied, impressed that his brother remembered so much about their opposition. “They may have guns, but they are not woods people. You saw the way they camped. Add that to the fact that even though they dress alike, they do not operate as a team. I have a strong feeling that they will show themselves to us in some way.”
    “Show themselves? What are you going wait for, them to run by us naked being chased by a bear?” Tomek joked as he began to lose sight of the plan.
    This time Drake spoke with confidence “Night out here can be hard. We are used to it and Uncle made us ready. They are not. If we don’t get them, the woods will.”
    “So what do we do now?”
    “Wait. We wait them out.”
    “It is almost completely dark, so can we wait them out while trying to find the woman?” Tomek said, again showing a peculiar interest in Henderson.
    He did not like his brother’s answer but agreed that it was the better plan. “No, we know where she is. We need to find the lost one.”
    “Well hopefully that bear chases him by us naked.” Tomek added sarcastically.
    “Why wouldn’t the bear be naked?” Drake shot back quickly to show he could be just as quick-witted as his twin.
    Not to be outdone, Tomek began to ask, “What if the bear was wearing the uniform of the lost guy...”
    However Tomek stopped mid-sentence looking over Drake’s shoulder. Just as the loud conversations and bushwhacking of the deputies had alerted the twins to their location, the twin’s own ongoing discussion had drawn unwanted and unexpected attention to themselves. Drake saw the look in his brother’s eyes and spun to see what he was looking at. There stood Deputy Ravizza with his gun drawn a mere 12 feet away, demanding the boys in an authoritative tone.
    “Get on the ground! Get on the fucking ground now!”

12 Pine Slider
    R avizza stood behind them, pistol drawn nervously, moving back and forth between both boys. Time stood still for the deputy, all his training in both the Air Force and law enforcement never prepared him for this. The situation he was in now, with his