Title: Collateral Damage
Author: Gibbsgirl
Rating: T
Spoilers: none
Disclaimers: They're not mine. Oh, you want more? They're really not mine. If they were mine, I'd have a better job than cleaning house and cooking dinner every day. Anybody wanna trade?
Author's Note: You knew this was coming, didn't you? I can't just write a story without saying something. This was my attempt at getting back to writing, at trying to hear the characters again. No Restraint was on my mind, but what spoke to me was this story idea. So rather than fight it, I decided to just let it flow. I knew if I could only get the words moving and the characters talking, I'd be okay.
It's taken me seven weeks to write this and it's taken a couple of twist and turns that even I didn't expect, but all for the better, I believe. I hope you enjoy this. There's a little something for everyone in here, I think. At least I tried.
It's complete, even though I'm posting it over a period of time. The chapters are going through final editing. You're getting them as soon as they're completely cleaned up. Thanks must go to my one and only fab beta and writing partner, my psychic twin, Mac. Without her input, this story might still be floundering in places! And I owe a special thanks to Karie for reading along with the rough draft, helping me catch the crap that didn't track and checking some of my edits. I bow humbly before you ladies. You help make me what I want to be.
His eyes flicked to the keycard in his gloved hand. It was a passcard, the kind the maids used. The kind that guaranteed access to any room on the floor. Next, he glanced at his watch. 1:57 am. With a sharp nod, he stepped through the stairwell door and let it close silently behind him.
Though the hall was empty, he strode through it as if he belonged here, as if this was his floor and the room he stopped before was his room. He made a show of pulling the keycard from his coat pocket and slipping it into the lock, imperceptibly holding his breath as the lock clicked. Now it was time for the hard work to begin.
He turned the handle slowly and quietly, and pressed the door open a fraction of an inch. It would not do for anyone to be awake and alert inside this room. When a thin line of inky blackness greeted his eyes at the edge of the door, he gently pushed the door open another inch. Listening. After a moment, convinced that there was no one awake, he slipped his fingers around the edge of the door opening it slowly, only enough to enter, lest the light from the hallway disturb a restless sleeper. Carefully, quietly, the heavy door was allowed to rest back in its frame, with only the barest click to mark his presence.
As he faced the room, he gave his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. While he stood, silently, he heard the soft sounds of sleep that filled the air. Once he could make out the shadowed contours of the room, he stepped quietly across the carpet, pausing silently by the bed, his form barely visible. Slowly, quietly he withdrew a small dark object from his coat.
Staring down at the sleeping pair and, remembering his instructions, he placed the black metal barrel against the first one's temple. Startled blue eyes flicked open at the steely hardness, then clouded over as a quiet shot sounded. The second one jerked awake, but never stood a chance. The pistol made contact with that sweet spot between the eyes. The searing heat of the bullet and the force from the muzzle pinned the unsuspecting victim to the pillow.
Coldly, he surveyed his handiwork for a moment, then tossed the gun on the bed. It was worthless to him, purchased specifically for this job. Next he surveyed the room. He spotted the laptop computer immediately. That was an obvious choice. He glanced back at the permanently silent pair and narrowed his eyes. Jewelry. All women had jewelry. He bent close to the nightstand and spotted a necklace with a medallion of some sort. And a ring, expensive looking. Those would do. The rest appeared to be common stuff. Nothing he wanted. As he slipped from the room, the night's business complete, he found himself smiling.