Sweet Fortune

haven't got all night.”
    Susan's response was soft and tearful on the night air. “Please let us go. I won't tell anyone a thing. I promise. I just want to get away from here.”
    “Too late for that now, you stupid little bitch. You should have stuck to inputting the data and not gone snooping.”
    “Stop threatening her,” Alex said fiercely, placing himself squarely in front of Susan.
    “You must be the famous Green, huh? We figured you had to be a hacker. Nobody else could have gotten into that data base. Bright was worried for a while that you might be someone dangerous. But when Susan here started making arrangements for the dramatic rescue at midnight, we knew we weren't dealing with the cops. Just an amateur.”
    Hatch prayed Alex would have the sense not to mention the fact that he had not come here alone tonight.
    “What are you going to do with us?” Alex demanded.
    “The boss has a few questions to ask you. After that, I think it's safe to say we won't need either of you around anymore.”
    “Don't you dare hurt Alex,” Susan wailed. “He was just trying to help me.”
    “It's all right, Susan,” Alex said soothingly. “He won't hurt either of us.”
    “Give me a break,” Landis said. “You're both dead meat. You think Bright can afford to let you live after what you found out, Susie, baby?”
    “I told you I wouldn't tell anyone. Please, Landis. Let us go.”
    “Shut the fuck up and move. Back to the house.”
    Hatch glanced back at David, silently telling him to be ready as the other three started toward the pile of boulders. Landis was making his captives keep as close to the shoreline as possible, Hatch noted with relief. That route would bring them past the jumble of boulders where he and David were hiding.
    With one last reassuring nod at David, Hatch faded back into the trees. An ace in the hole .
    Hatch sensed David's nervousness as the younger man flattened himself against a boulder, but he also sensed the determination in him. David was going to do his part, come hell or high water. Jessie's cousin was no wimp.
    David waited until Alex and Susan had gone past. Then Landis was below him, cursing as he pushed aside a swaying branch.
    David did not hesitate. He came down off the boulder feetfirst.
    The gun Landis had been holding went off. The shot roared through the woods, louder than thunder on the night air. It was followed by a heavy thudding sound and a stifled shout that faded out quickly.
    Silence descended.
    The hair on the back of Hatch's neck stirred. He glanced to his right and saw a lone figure slither out from a heavy veil of tree limbs. Moonlight glinted on the gun in his hand.
    Hoffman.
    The pilot was being cautious, waiting to assess the situation before he moved in.
    “Hey, Hatch,” David called, his voice infused with the euphoria of the victorious male. “I got him. It's okay. Come on out. I got him .”
    The figure Hatch was watching froze, the gun still aimed in the general direction of the activity. But it was obvious the second armed man now realized there was another presence in the woods. He started to turn, nervously searching the undergrowth.
    Hatch knew it was the only chance he was going to get. Hoffman had started his scan from the wrong direction.
    Hatch launched himself forward. He struck solid flesh and threw a short, savage punch. The gunman choked on a groan, dropped the gun, and reeled forward. Hatch went in low and hit him a second time. Hoffman collapsed on the damp ground.
    “Hatch?” David burst forth from a small stand of trees. “You okay? What's going on here?” He halted abruptly when he saw the man on the ground.
    “His name is Hoffman,” Hatch said. “He's buddy of the one you just took out. These two must have comprised Bright's security force.”
    “What are we going to do with them?” David asked, glancing back over his shoulder.
    “Leave them here. I don't want to drag them all the way back to the boat, that's for sure.” Hatch scooped up the gun Hoffman had dropped. “Everything go all right back there?”
    “Yeah.” David's voice filled with excitement once again. “Landis is out cold. Shit. I never thought that karate stuff would really work.” He was obviously awed at his own success.
    Hatch gave him a faint grin as they moved back through the trees. “Nice job. You can cover my back anytime.”
    “Thanks.” David's grin spread from ear to ear. “All right. Hey, it's a deal. Anytime.”
    “You guys