Morgan CarpenterCarpenter 1
9/29/06
The Stealth of Life
She sidled closer to the ground, being spotted meant failing the mission. With dawn beginning to show its orange, face, it would soon be too late eliminate the mark. Peering through her binoculars, she observed the target pacing in his 15th story office. Having been on reconnaissance for two days, she knew his habits. Every night, he entered the building at 7:00 P.M. After buying his Columbian coffee from a machine, he would stroll to his office, arriving at approximately 7:15. After finishing the caffeine loaded drink, he would work all night, taking two bathroom breaks and one snack break in the process. At roughly 4:00 A.M., he would amble around his room and check to see that all his work was completed. Then, near 4:30, he would exit the building and calmly stroll to his black 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe and drive the two hours back to his home in Greenmount, New Jersey. She also knew various details form his private life, such as he had an affair with his neighbor's wife, has an illegitimate child, drinks heavily and is a former heroine addict. For the time she spent as his "replacement" secretary, this was a good deal of information. Checking her gauges to see what the wind and temp were like, she began assembling her weapon.
"Military Defense Plan 15.A signed and sent, report on project management completed, and what is the last thing…Oh yes!, my wife's birthday present." Pressing his finger down on the button labeled Sec., he spoke into the speaker. "Maurice, can you call FTD and order two dozen roses, half white and half red, and have them sent to Sarah on her birthday. Thank you!" Picking up his briefcase, he headed tiredly towards the
Carpenter 2
door. As he placed the key in the handle to lock the door, Sam heard a brief beep. "I wonder what that could be." He walked to his desk and sat down, seeing he had received a message. "I guess I have time to answer one more email," he sighed, glancing at his watch. Pulling back his rolling chair, he read the message that had appeared on the screen. LOOK BEHIND YOU. A shot fired from the woods sped upwards towards the building as the curious man turned in his seat.
As she turned the barrel into the last groove on the rifle, she pulled a cover of leaves over the gun for camouflage. Placing her eye behind the scope, she sighted into her targets office. With a couple of turns of the scope's sight adjustment, she zeroed in clearly. The man was leaving his office and she would have to do something quick. "Damn, he's leaving his office!" Pulling out her cell phone, she sent a brief message to the man's email. Slowly, he turned from the door and came to his desk to sit down. She zoomed in and switched off the safety as he read the message inquisitively. Applying a slow pressure to the trigger, she waited for him to rotate towards her. She fired the shot with a small click of the reaction trigger. The bullet zipped up and through the window, impacting on the target in less than a second. The hollow-point shell shattered through the man's head, just as the broken window shards hit the floor. A wave of blood spattered on the desk and cubicle wall as the body fell to the floor. She was already moving away as chaos broke out on the 15th floor.