Chapter 39
Taj had been crouching on a rise above Granite Hills homestead since lunchtime, waiting for Ben to leave. When the red land cruiser started off down the drive, he wasted no time. Moving at a scrambling run, vaulting the post and rails, he made a beeline for the vehicle shed.
Ben’s old ute, with its remote-mounted spotlight, was parked outside. Taj pulled back the tarp. Just as he’d thought. Ben didn’t believe firearm regulations applied to him. A rifle and boxes of ammo lay carelessly strewn in the tray under the tarp. Taj took up the Browning, a classy-looking rifle with a tactical scope. A precision weapon.
Taj worked quickly, with no idea how much time he had. At least Ben had the decency to leave the gun unloaded. Taj opened the breech, retracted the well-oiled bolt, thum
