Target Read Online Free PDF Page B

forward.
    Another twitch.
    Another step.
    â€œI haven’t done anything to you,” she yelled, and heard her voice hitting inside her skull.
    He flicked the gun again. Baily ran at him, fingers spread, aimed for his eyes. She collided with him and he didn’t give, any more than a concrete buttress would give. The knee she aimed at his crotch never reached its target.
    â€œJust let me go!”
    One of his feet came down on the very end of the toes on her right foot—just enough to make her fall forward. And with one firm shove he pushed her back.
    She screamed, heard bones in her ankle snap. His foot still held her toe down, held it while she slammed into the tar on the roof with its scatter of small, sharp rocks. Gravity and her whole weight drove her head against the ground.
    â€œStupid bitch.”
    The words came from a distance. Fire consumed her leg, shot through her thigh, her groin. She writhed, and vomited. Consciousness slithered.
    â€œGet up,” he shouted. “Don’t you choke on me. Get up. ”
    Baily couldn’t see anything but bright lights, blinding lights.
    His hands were on her now, dragging at her. “Stand up,” he said.
    She fought him but her fists bounced off his body. And she cried.
    As soon as he released her she crumpled. Before she could go all the way down, he supported her. Held her and hauled her, the right leg useless and dragging behind, toward the parapet around the roof.
    â€œThe cleaners are coming,” she said through splitting torment, trying to stand on her left leg. “They always come now. It’s a rule here. You came at the right time.”
    His laughter shuddered into Baily’s brain. Sweat filled her eyes, soaked her clothes. The pain tore at her, ripped her apart.
    â€œYou’ve made this harder for me but I’ll give you one more chance. What did Nick bring with him when he ran from California all those years ago? And where is it now?”
    Nothing she said would matter. “Kill me. I don’t know anything. Kill me now, I don’t care anymore. The cleaners will walk in before you get out.”
    â€œKeep your mouth shut.”
    She screamed again. “I don’t know anything.”
    â€œToo bad. You’re gonna help me anyway.”
    Baily waited for the click of the hammer pulling back.
    â€œWalk,” he said, a hand under her arm, and she hopped, her knee all but doubling each time. “There you go.”
    The front of her leg banged into the parapet.
    Below, a white vapor rose so very far away. Swirling, clinging to things she couldn’t see. She swayed forward, scraped her knee, felt the pull of the soft, white mist spread out below. Soft, white, like foamy water.
    â€œAll you have to do is tell me where it’s hidden.”
    â€œAt Place Lafource,” she said. Whatever it was, if it belonged to the Boards, why wouldn’t it be there, and why wouldn’t that seem logical? And why was he asking her?
    â€œWhere at Place Lafource?”
    Consciousness slipped. “The house.”
    He shook her. “ Where in the house?”
    She shook her head slowly and couldn’t keep her eyes open.
    â€œIt’ll do,” he whispered and let her go. “Very nice, Sarah.”
    He was going to let her live. She panted and told him, “Baily, not Sarah.”
    His face came very close. “What are you saying?”
    â€œI’m Baily Morris. You don’t want me anyway. You want Sarah Board, don’t you?”
    â€œYou’re lying.”
    â€œNo. My badge is in my pocket. I don’t like wearing it. Baily Morris.” She moved a hand toward her pocket.
    â€œShit,” he said. “I believe you. And you just gave away any chance you had. I’ve got to do this now.”
    A gentle push at the back of her left knee and the exhausted leg buckled. She tipped forward, her scream clotted in her throat.
    Baily flew, so slowly, her arms spread