Critical Impact...teaser sample

 From the Matthew Jacobs Critical Impact action novel...a teaser sample. (Available on Amazon).

Critical Impact is the third book in the Running the Edge series. Released November 2, 2025 the book is perhaps the most intense of the series where the main character, Matthew Jacobs, is thrust into a situation that challenges everything he stands for; his mission, his duty, his dedication, and his faith.

The following is a short sample text...(Each book in the series can be purchased individually or as a set...and it is recommended to read the series in sequence.)

......

“Matt, we’ve got maybe fifteen minutes until we reach our Critical Return Point. I’m sorry, but I have no choice in this. It’s a mandatory operational issue. We can try again later once we get refueled.”

“Can we make one more pass north. Give me seven minutes more Ian. Can you do that?”

Ian looked at the flashing CRP light then at his copilot. “You got an extra seven minutes Matt, then I’m pulling the plug.”

Ian swung the 1369 again into a wide arch that took them out over the ocean just beyond the break line, then he angled back in toward the dunes eventually turning due north flying just above where the breakers met the beach.

“Ian. Let’s keep her further out. Maybe we’re just looking too straight down from the wrong angle. We might be able to see something from a different angle now that the sun is higher in the sky.”

Ian raised his left hand and gave him a thumbs up. The 1369 dropped lower to about a hundred feet giving them still another angle from which to view the area. Four minutes later Carlos and Xavier again heard the chopper approaching from the south. They scrambled another time to crawl under the burlap tarp.

“They must be looking for us.” Xavier complained.

“How would they know we’re even here? They’ll never find anything. Just stay still.”

 Sharon again heard the chopper and realized it was approaching from a lower angle out in front of their position where she could see it visually. She tried to break open the locked door to the shed but could not budge it loose. She looked for something she could use as a signal devise but all she found was the loose piece of tarnished tin that was roughly six inches square with crumpled edges. The higher angle of the sun now cast several beams of light that filtered through cracks in the shed planking. She grabbed the piece of tin and vigorously rubbed it against her Jeans trying to polish it enough to reflect light.

The 1369 came closer and she could see it as it moved above the beach out in front of her about two hundred yards. In desperation, she tried to bounce some of the sunlight off the tin and through the narrow cracks, then shifted to the larger opening a knothole provided hoping enough reflection would get through to catch the eye of someone on the chopper. She angled the tin moving it back and forth catching as much of the small beam of sunlight as she could. With each movement, she tried to follow the slow-moving chopper.

 

***

 

Matt and Pell scanned the dunes but could see nothing. He looked at his watch and knew time was running out. He turned to slide back deeper into the cargo area about to give it up when something caught his eye. A flash…a dull flash, but a flash none-the-less. Then another.

“Ian! Slow down. Back up.”

“You see something?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I saw a flash. It came from the backside of a dune with a lot of debris and beach grass covering it.”

Ian slowed the 1369 and began a slow reversal of their direction maintaining their same heading, just floating backwards.

“It was over there along that long line of dunes where all the large driftwood logs are scattered. I’m sure of it.” Matt exclaimed.

Pell responded, “I don’t see anything.”

“Give me your binoculars.”

Matt scanned the dune for several seconds then locked his point onto something that looked out of place. He took a closer look.

“There. Ian. 90 degrees straight off our starboard side. A vehicle covered by a tarp. It’s that blue and white Blazer. We’ve found them.”

Then another flash caught his eye. “It’s got to be Sharon. Set us down.” Ian spun the 1369 around in a wide turning arch and headed south again.

“Where are you going?”

“We’ve reached our CP Matt. We gotta head back.”

“No Ian. Not yet. Drop me off.”

“No can do. You’re not even supposed to be here. Commander Reese gave me strict orders.”

“Since when have you ever obeyed strict orders!”

Ian rolled his head from side to side and looked at his copilot again who shrugged his shoulders agreeing with Matt.

“Ah Matthew…I’m really going to catch it for doing this. Stand-by. We’re going down about four hundred yards south of that position, A running drop and go. You’ll have to jump not enough fuel left to hover long enough to lower you down on the winch. You’ll be on your own, but I’ll radio ahead your position and request for backup.”

Matt grabbed his small backpack that had a handheld transceiver inside, some water and an energy bar along with a box of shells for his 30-06. He slung the rifle case strap over his shoulder crossing it in front of his chest and pulled the case around to his side so it would clear the choppers hatch, then he removed his helmet and replaced it with his dark blue ballcap pulling it low over his brow so it would not blow off.

Ian brought the 1369 down in a low, slow pass. Matt sat with his legs dangling over the edge of the opened sliding hatch and Pell extended his arm in front of him preventing him from jumping from to high up.

Sand and beach grasses began to fly in all directions as downwash from the chopper ripped across the dune. Matt slid further over to the edge positioning the butt end of his rifle case between his legs. Pell removed his arm and pointed with his hand for Matt to jump. The fall was about eight feet and he landed hard but the sand cushioned his fall and he rolled across and down a shallow slope, then crawled to his knees and waved at Ian who raised the 1369 in a climbing turn to the south and left the area. Within seconds, Matt was alone and the only sound came from the wind blowing through the grass and the ocean waves rolling up on the beach a couple hundred yards away. He started moving in the direction where he spotted the hidden Blazer careful not to expose himself above the dunes using them instead to hide his movement. The loose sand and undulating character of the dunes slowed his progress.

 

***

 

Carlos and Xavier climbed out from under the tarp and ran to the top of the dune that offered a clearer view toward the south. They saw the 1369 drop low partially hidden by a high dune then rise again and fly off.

“They’ve dropped someone,” Carlos said.

“You sure. Where? I don’t see anyone.”

“He’s there alright. I’m sure of it. And I know who it is.”

“Who?”

“That Jacobs fellow. I’m sure of it…from the Coast Guard, the one who tried to stop us before.”

“You didn’t see him so how can you be sure?”

Carlos threw a cynical stare toward Xavier.

“I’m sure. Because we have his family. And we can use them against him.”

“Can you take him.”

“All I need is a clear shot about six inches square and he’s as good as dead.”

“Then do it.”

Carlos raised his rifle and checked the breech once again blowing out a few grains of sand. He extracted the already loaded main clip and reinserted it into the rifle. A quick jerk on the slide and the first shell slid into the chamber. He walked below the crest of the dune for about fifty yards and then climbed toward the top crawling the last few yards so not to expose himself. He stretched the rifle across a small piece of driftwood and slid his barrel through a clump of beach grass that offered a good area of camouflage. He opened the spring-loaded scope covers and began to scan the dunes searching for his target....

***

 

.... Carlos slowly scanned the dunes through his scope. His trained eye looking for what did not belong. Any twitch, an off-center shadow, odd movements, out of place colors, behind every blade of grass and beneath any of the dunes, his victim could be hiding. He detected movement and swung his scope on the location. A bird. He began to sweat. He knew Jacobs was there. All he needed was a few inches of open space that lined up with his target. Then more movement caught his eye. He shifted his sight again and saw the top edge of Matt’s shoulders and head moving diagonally behind a dune. Matt stopped behind a log and slightly raised his eye above its edge his ballcap tipping over the upper side. Carlos leveled his rifle then quickly fired.