Case 1: Sniper, Part 5
Disclaimer: Same as before
C.J. Sandiego - Thanks for the encouragement. This is just one case Hal and Ivy will work on together, there's gonna be a lot more.
~ ~ ~ ~
Ivy's Apartment, Riverside, California
8 May 2000: The knocking on the door pulled Ivy out of her reading of Lewis Carol's Through the Looking Glass almost immediately. She saw Hal standing on the other side of the door through the peephole carrying some files under his arm.
Ivy opened the door and Hal walked in, "I've so far gotten everything I know and remember about Erich Spyde on paper."
Hal hung his dark green cotton A-2 flight jacket with the brown leather collar on the wall, wearing his Navy blue long sleeve sweater and jeans from the day's work, indicating he hadn't had time to change.
"Hal, how long did you stay after at the conference center?" Ivy asked.
"About an hour after you left, don't worry I called Papa Gino's that pizza place you told me about. They said our order should be in approximately twenty minutes." Hal replied.
"They take forever but they make the best pizza and breadsticks in town." Ivy said.
"You seem to live off fast food a lot during the week." Hal mused.
"Hal, that's right. Being one of the top detectives at ACME has its downs." Ivy said.
"Well, how about next working dinner you come over to my place and I'll make you a nice home cooked meal, with some dessert, and then we could talk about whatever case we happen to be working on, or backlogged paperwork." Hal replied.
Ivy smiled, unexpected treatment from a new partner, but maybe she shouldn't read too much into it. He was probably being another typical gentleman Brit. But still the thought of a nice home cooked meal sounded great.
"I do have a home to go to on weekends." Ivy replied, "My parents are both great cooks. Anyway, what were you about to tell me about Spyde."
"Right." Hal replied, "Let's get back to work."
They sat down at Ivy's kitchen table and Hal spread out an assortment of pictures, a service record, and some letters that Spyde had written to him. "I should have realized he was at madness' gate shortly after the riots." Hal replied.
"What was he like before all this happened?" Ivy asked.
"He was a good natured, idealistic fellow, a little on the intense side but still an eager and intelligent pupil. He was a devoted son, family man, and fiancé, he was set to marry a lovely young woman when his term expired and go work for the South African Police when the riots hit. All the people he loved, died, because they were in the path of the rioters. If he had been allowed to shoot the lead protestor the riot would have been stopped, in his opinion." Hal replied.
"Why didn't they let him shoot? I mean if it would stop the riot, wouldn't the police want that to happen." Ivy asked.
"I'm not sure exactly, but the blames somehow lies with Christopher Powers, the current South African Minister of Defense who was then Colonel Powers, South African Army. He chose to negotiate with the lead protestor instead of killing him and causing more loss of life. If he had allowed Spyde to fire the rioters would really have gone berserk and more would have died. Spyde lost the people most important to him for that decision and all he wants is revenge." Hal replied.
"Revenge?" Ivy said, "Then why shoot five people unconnected to the case...."
"Ivy I never said Spyde was sane. He apparently has no concept of the value of human life anymore." Hal replied.
"Evidently, we've pretty much seen that with his actions of late." Ivy replied, "What about the victims having similar names of his target."
"I'm guessing that was his idea of a sick joke." Hal replied, "Josha turned up some more interesting bits of info at Crimelab."
"What was it?" Ivy said.
"There was just a purchase three nights ago of match grade 7.62x54mm rimmed ammunition. That's the sort of ammunition that an SVD Dragunov uses." Hal replied.
"OK, I'll bite for this lead, but don't other rifles use that kind of ammunition?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, but I'm willing to bet that there aren't that many Dragunov rifles in use in this area." Hal replied, "Besides the only other rifle I can think of that uses that type of ammo is the Mosin-Nagant 1871, the old Russian issue rifle of World War II."
"What makes you think that Spyde bought the ammunition?" Ivy said.
"For one our witness, the clerk at the gun shop, said that he and the customer talked at length about his baby. Another he said that 'Baby' was gonna make some things right in the world and put some people in their place." Hal replied, "The guy got concerned and called ACME because he knew we were on the case."
"Alright, then do we have a face to put to the name?" Ivy asked.
"Surveillance tapes at this gun shop revealed this. A clear shot of the man." Hal replied.
A narrow faced, thinly bearded fellow with cold gray eyes, close cropped black hair and a grin that could only be from that of a crocodile about to enjoy a meal. "Erich Spyde, meet Ivy Darren." Hal said dourly, "He may have changed his appearance, but those eyes give him away. They were once eyes that burned with patriotism and love for his family and motherland. But now they blaze with hate and vengeance."
"You can tell that from a security camera photo?" Ivy said.
"No, I can tell because I worked with, trained with, and lived with this bloke for six months in South Africa." Hal replied.
The door chime sounded and Ivy walked across the beige carpet floor of her decent studio apartment and opened it. The pizza delivery girl, a slim little girl in her mid-teens handed them their order and Ivy paid and tipped her. As she walked back in, Ivy could see the effect that this case was having on Hal. She could see what had to be guilt written across his features. There was no way that this was his fault, couldn't he see that.
"Hal, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Ivy asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I've got none." Hal replied, "My mother, when she did remarry, was past her child bearing years."
"That's rough, I mean losing your father at such an early age." Ivy replied.
"I lived with it the past twenty-four years." Hal replied, "I just wonder how he'd feel that I decided to follow his path."
"He's definitely proud, wherever he is Hal." Ivy replied.
"I know. Somehow talking to you makes me feel better about this." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
Zack's Apartment, Golden Gate Park
"Tatiana, how long have you been pregnant." Zack asked.
"Since our night in Honolulu. I've been pregnant for almost a month and I only found out yesterday." Tatiana replied.
"Do you think that your parents...." Zack began until Tatiana put a finger to his lips.
"I'll handle my parents when they come here. But they'll be just as pleased to know that I'm marrying you because I love you." Tatiana said, replacing her finger on Zack's lips with her lips.
"My mom and dad are still miffed about this, but they'll get over it. Anyway I managed to convince Father Fulton to move the wedding next month or July. He says let the bride pick." Zack replied.
"I managed to get in touch with the flower arrangement people, the wedding singer, and Donna, the coordinator, she says it's a tight fit but we'll be able to get the wedding on July at the earliest." Tatiana said, "I'm so exhausted."
"Look honey, if it means that much to you, we can wait till our baby's born and have the ceremony afterward." Zack replied, as he pulled his fiancée closer, cuddling against her.
Tatiana practically melted into his arms and said, "I'm fine with the earlier ceremony. Or even our original date. I'd just rather not walk down the aisle when I'm as big as the church if I can help it."
"If that's the case, I'll see if I can't talk Ivy's new partner into letting us use his Land Rover to drive you to the rehearsals." Zack joked.
"Just wait until I go into labor Zack, just wait." Tatiana replied, mock threateningly, "I'll make you wish that you were facing your sister in a sparring bout."
Little did Zack know, as he walked in front of his apartment window that two gray eyes were watching him through a telescopic sight.
~ ~ ~ ~
"I can't believe this!" Hal laughed, his mood lightening considerably, "You've chased the world's most famous thief responsible for the Tower of London heist, the satellite theft, and God knows what else since 1990. That's amazing."
"She's been lying low of late for some reason. She's just given us occasional challenges ever since Zack and I split. She's been like a second mother to Zack and I almost at times. She cares about us like we're her own children sometimes." Ivy replied, "I guess its because she never really had anyone."
Over the past hour or so, since they'd figured out their man and had done everything they could possibly do, they just sat over pizza and soda and talked about many things.
"I really had no idea you'd accomplished this much by the time you turned twenty." Hal replied, "Hell when I turned twenty I was still mucking about in my battalion with the Royal Marines, training to run Selection."
"What's Selection like?" Ivy asked.
"It's basically six of the most intense weeks of your life to start out. Which mean I spent six weeks in Wales in the dead of winter running around in full fatigues with a rucksack that could weigh from forty-five to eighty pounds going up steep hills and negotiating thick woods. Then there's the jungle phase, where I spent a month in Malaya living in the rainforest learning the basics at the British Army Jungle Warfare School. Then three weeks of Escape and Evasion training which I practiced being on the run from enemy soldiers and surviving an interrogation." Hal replied, "Everybody gets captured on the prisoner run, so we get the experience of being POW and know that we don't ever want to be captured."
"Sounds rough." Ivy said, "How many started out?"
"We started with one hundred and seventy six men and only a dozen graduated to wear the beige beret that all SAS soldiers wear proudly." Hal replied.
"Well, at the Farm for ACME we didn't have quite the physical intensity or attrition rate, but we did lose quite a few kids in my class." Ivy replied.
Just then the phone rang and Ivy answered it. She just about turned pale when she heard the news.
"Ivy? What's wrong?" Hal asked.
"It's Tatiana. Zack's been shot!" Ivy said, trying to reign in emotion. There were tears starting flow down her cheek and Hal gathered her into his arms, feeling her tears soak through his sweater.
He picked up the phone, "Tatiana, this is Hal? How's Zack."
"Ivy, they've rushed him to the hospital and...." Hal began.
Ivy grabbed her keys and Hal said, "You're not driving. In this state you could easily get hurt."
"Hal, this Spyde fellow's gonna be hurt when I'm through with....." Ivy began.
"The hell you aren't driving." Hal replied, "I'll get us there to the hospital."
"Us?" Ivy asked.
"You're my partner, and also someone I've started to see as a friend. I'll be damned if I see you getting scraped off a highway somewhere because you drove in a highly emotional state." Hal replied as he gathered up his coat and walked to the elevator with Ivy falling into step beside him.
~ ~ ~ ~
San Francisco Emergency Room
"Ms. Darren, they've just wheeled Zack into surgery. Your parents have been contacted. Wait here please?" the surgeon said, "The bullet entered his chest, just inches from his heart and came out below his right shoulder. He's lucky that the round didn't go an inch to the left or he wouldn't be here with us now."
Ivy saw Tatiana sitting in the waiting room, her face blotchy and red from crying. She regarded Hal with bloodshot eyes, "How can you do this?"
"Do what?" Hal asked, feeling utter certainty the question to follow.
"Shoot a man in cold blood?" Tatiana said, "Knowing full well he's a husband, father or anything! How can you see him through a telescope and squeeze the trigger."
"Believe me, I know how that can be done. Those last sight pictures never leave you. I can still remember the faces of those I've shot." Hal replied, "Zack is fortunate to have survived an encounter with a sniper. Before you think me cold hearted I ask you this, could you do it?"
"No, of course not!" Tatiana protested.
"Then that's good. The difference between myself and Mr. Spyde is that I can feel the natural guilt after every kill. That I can recall the faces of those I've shot as not just people my superiors ordered me to fire upon but human beings. But in the same sense, I knew I was doing a job, eliminating men who would kill my fellow soldiers and marines. Spyde is killing for vengeance." Hal replied, "I don't know how I could do it either. You're closer than God to a man when you're behind the crosshairs, for you determine whether he lives or dies. Spyde was consumed by that power, where I was not."
"Ms. Darren." Said the doctor, "The good news is that Zack is stable. We've moved him into Intensive Care. There's some chairs and couches around up there if you'd like to spend the night. The bad is he's in a coma. He suffered from massive blood loss and internal injury. It's a good thing that his fiancée had the sense to call 911 when she did or he wouldn't be alive."
"Tatiana." Hal said, "Ivy, you're close to Zack. No one knows what comatose men truly hear, but if you talk to him you might get him to wake."
Hal felt a resolve within himself. He was going to give Spyde a third eye for this, pure and simple. His former student was now going to be the target within his sights, his prey. Could the deer defeat the wolf?
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC
Disclaimer: Same as before
C.J. Sandiego - Thanks for the encouragement. This is just one case Hal and Ivy will work on together, there's gonna be a lot more.
~ ~ ~ ~
Ivy's Apartment, Riverside, California
8 May 2000: The knocking on the door pulled Ivy out of her reading of Lewis Carol's Through the Looking Glass almost immediately. She saw Hal standing on the other side of the door through the peephole carrying some files under his arm.
Ivy opened the door and Hal walked in, "I've so far gotten everything I know and remember about Erich Spyde on paper."
Hal hung his dark green cotton A-2 flight jacket with the brown leather collar on the wall, wearing his Navy blue long sleeve sweater and jeans from the day's work, indicating he hadn't had time to change.
"Hal, how long did you stay after at the conference center?" Ivy asked.
"About an hour after you left, don't worry I called Papa Gino's that pizza place you told me about. They said our order should be in approximately twenty minutes." Hal replied.
"They take forever but they make the best pizza and breadsticks in town." Ivy said.
"You seem to live off fast food a lot during the week." Hal mused.
"Hal, that's right. Being one of the top detectives at ACME has its downs." Ivy said.
"Well, how about next working dinner you come over to my place and I'll make you a nice home cooked meal, with some dessert, and then we could talk about whatever case we happen to be working on, or backlogged paperwork." Hal replied.
Ivy smiled, unexpected treatment from a new partner, but maybe she shouldn't read too much into it. He was probably being another typical gentleman Brit. But still the thought of a nice home cooked meal sounded great.
"I do have a home to go to on weekends." Ivy replied, "My parents are both great cooks. Anyway, what were you about to tell me about Spyde."
"Right." Hal replied, "Let's get back to work."
They sat down at Ivy's kitchen table and Hal spread out an assortment of pictures, a service record, and some letters that Spyde had written to him. "I should have realized he was at madness' gate shortly after the riots." Hal replied.
"What was he like before all this happened?" Ivy asked.
"He was a good natured, idealistic fellow, a little on the intense side but still an eager and intelligent pupil. He was a devoted son, family man, and fiancé, he was set to marry a lovely young woman when his term expired and go work for the South African Police when the riots hit. All the people he loved, died, because they were in the path of the rioters. If he had been allowed to shoot the lead protestor the riot would have been stopped, in his opinion." Hal replied.
"Why didn't they let him shoot? I mean if it would stop the riot, wouldn't the police want that to happen." Ivy asked.
"I'm not sure exactly, but the blames somehow lies with Christopher Powers, the current South African Minister of Defense who was then Colonel Powers, South African Army. He chose to negotiate with the lead protestor instead of killing him and causing more loss of life. If he had allowed Spyde to fire the rioters would really have gone berserk and more would have died. Spyde lost the people most important to him for that decision and all he wants is revenge." Hal replied.
"Revenge?" Ivy said, "Then why shoot five people unconnected to the case...."
"Ivy I never said Spyde was sane. He apparently has no concept of the value of human life anymore." Hal replied.
"Evidently, we've pretty much seen that with his actions of late." Ivy replied, "What about the victims having similar names of his target."
"I'm guessing that was his idea of a sick joke." Hal replied, "Josha turned up some more interesting bits of info at Crimelab."
"What was it?" Ivy said.
"There was just a purchase three nights ago of match grade 7.62x54mm rimmed ammunition. That's the sort of ammunition that an SVD Dragunov uses." Hal replied.
"OK, I'll bite for this lead, but don't other rifles use that kind of ammunition?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, but I'm willing to bet that there aren't that many Dragunov rifles in use in this area." Hal replied, "Besides the only other rifle I can think of that uses that type of ammo is the Mosin-Nagant 1871, the old Russian issue rifle of World War II."
"What makes you think that Spyde bought the ammunition?" Ivy said.
"For one our witness, the clerk at the gun shop, said that he and the customer talked at length about his baby. Another he said that 'Baby' was gonna make some things right in the world and put some people in their place." Hal replied, "The guy got concerned and called ACME because he knew we were on the case."
"Alright, then do we have a face to put to the name?" Ivy asked.
"Surveillance tapes at this gun shop revealed this. A clear shot of the man." Hal replied.
A narrow faced, thinly bearded fellow with cold gray eyes, close cropped black hair and a grin that could only be from that of a crocodile about to enjoy a meal. "Erich Spyde, meet Ivy Darren." Hal said dourly, "He may have changed his appearance, but those eyes give him away. They were once eyes that burned with patriotism and love for his family and motherland. But now they blaze with hate and vengeance."
"You can tell that from a security camera photo?" Ivy said.
"No, I can tell because I worked with, trained with, and lived with this bloke for six months in South Africa." Hal replied.
The door chime sounded and Ivy walked across the beige carpet floor of her decent studio apartment and opened it. The pizza delivery girl, a slim little girl in her mid-teens handed them their order and Ivy paid and tipped her. As she walked back in, Ivy could see the effect that this case was having on Hal. She could see what had to be guilt written across his features. There was no way that this was his fault, couldn't he see that.
"Hal, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Ivy asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I've got none." Hal replied, "My mother, when she did remarry, was past her child bearing years."
"That's rough, I mean losing your father at such an early age." Ivy replied.
"I lived with it the past twenty-four years." Hal replied, "I just wonder how he'd feel that I decided to follow his path."
"He's definitely proud, wherever he is Hal." Ivy replied.
"I know. Somehow talking to you makes me feel better about this." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
Zack's Apartment, Golden Gate Park
"Tatiana, how long have you been pregnant." Zack asked.
"Since our night in Honolulu. I've been pregnant for almost a month and I only found out yesterday." Tatiana replied.
"Do you think that your parents...." Zack began until Tatiana put a finger to his lips.
"I'll handle my parents when they come here. But they'll be just as pleased to know that I'm marrying you because I love you." Tatiana said, replacing her finger on Zack's lips with her lips.
"My mom and dad are still miffed about this, but they'll get over it. Anyway I managed to convince Father Fulton to move the wedding next month or July. He says let the bride pick." Zack replied.
"I managed to get in touch with the flower arrangement people, the wedding singer, and Donna, the coordinator, she says it's a tight fit but we'll be able to get the wedding on July at the earliest." Tatiana said, "I'm so exhausted."
"Look honey, if it means that much to you, we can wait till our baby's born and have the ceremony afterward." Zack replied, as he pulled his fiancée closer, cuddling against her.
Tatiana practically melted into his arms and said, "I'm fine with the earlier ceremony. Or even our original date. I'd just rather not walk down the aisle when I'm as big as the church if I can help it."
"If that's the case, I'll see if I can't talk Ivy's new partner into letting us use his Land Rover to drive you to the rehearsals." Zack joked.
"Just wait until I go into labor Zack, just wait." Tatiana replied, mock threateningly, "I'll make you wish that you were facing your sister in a sparring bout."
Little did Zack know, as he walked in front of his apartment window that two gray eyes were watching him through a telescopic sight.
~ ~ ~ ~
"I can't believe this!" Hal laughed, his mood lightening considerably, "You've chased the world's most famous thief responsible for the Tower of London heist, the satellite theft, and God knows what else since 1990. That's amazing."
"She's been lying low of late for some reason. She's just given us occasional challenges ever since Zack and I split. She's been like a second mother to Zack and I almost at times. She cares about us like we're her own children sometimes." Ivy replied, "I guess its because she never really had anyone."
Over the past hour or so, since they'd figured out their man and had done everything they could possibly do, they just sat over pizza and soda and talked about many things.
"I really had no idea you'd accomplished this much by the time you turned twenty." Hal replied, "Hell when I turned twenty I was still mucking about in my battalion with the Royal Marines, training to run Selection."
"What's Selection like?" Ivy asked.
"It's basically six of the most intense weeks of your life to start out. Which mean I spent six weeks in Wales in the dead of winter running around in full fatigues with a rucksack that could weigh from forty-five to eighty pounds going up steep hills and negotiating thick woods. Then there's the jungle phase, where I spent a month in Malaya living in the rainforest learning the basics at the British Army Jungle Warfare School. Then three weeks of Escape and Evasion training which I practiced being on the run from enemy soldiers and surviving an interrogation." Hal replied, "Everybody gets captured on the prisoner run, so we get the experience of being POW and know that we don't ever want to be captured."
"Sounds rough." Ivy said, "How many started out?"
"We started with one hundred and seventy six men and only a dozen graduated to wear the beige beret that all SAS soldiers wear proudly." Hal replied.
"Well, at the Farm for ACME we didn't have quite the physical intensity or attrition rate, but we did lose quite a few kids in my class." Ivy replied.
Just then the phone rang and Ivy answered it. She just about turned pale when she heard the news.
"Ivy? What's wrong?" Hal asked.
"It's Tatiana. Zack's been shot!" Ivy said, trying to reign in emotion. There were tears starting flow down her cheek and Hal gathered her into his arms, feeling her tears soak through his sweater.
He picked up the phone, "Tatiana, this is Hal? How's Zack."
"Ivy, they've rushed him to the hospital and...." Hal began.
Ivy grabbed her keys and Hal said, "You're not driving. In this state you could easily get hurt."
"Hal, this Spyde fellow's gonna be hurt when I'm through with....." Ivy began.
"The hell you aren't driving." Hal replied, "I'll get us there to the hospital."
"Us?" Ivy asked.
"You're my partner, and also someone I've started to see as a friend. I'll be damned if I see you getting scraped off a highway somewhere because you drove in a highly emotional state." Hal replied as he gathered up his coat and walked to the elevator with Ivy falling into step beside him.
~ ~ ~ ~
San Francisco Emergency Room
"Ms. Darren, they've just wheeled Zack into surgery. Your parents have been contacted. Wait here please?" the surgeon said, "The bullet entered his chest, just inches from his heart and came out below his right shoulder. He's lucky that the round didn't go an inch to the left or he wouldn't be here with us now."
Ivy saw Tatiana sitting in the waiting room, her face blotchy and red from crying. She regarded Hal with bloodshot eyes, "How can you do this?"
"Do what?" Hal asked, feeling utter certainty the question to follow.
"Shoot a man in cold blood?" Tatiana said, "Knowing full well he's a husband, father or anything! How can you see him through a telescope and squeeze the trigger."
"Believe me, I know how that can be done. Those last sight pictures never leave you. I can still remember the faces of those I've shot." Hal replied, "Zack is fortunate to have survived an encounter with a sniper. Before you think me cold hearted I ask you this, could you do it?"
"No, of course not!" Tatiana protested.
"Then that's good. The difference between myself and Mr. Spyde is that I can feel the natural guilt after every kill. That I can recall the faces of those I've shot as not just people my superiors ordered me to fire upon but human beings. But in the same sense, I knew I was doing a job, eliminating men who would kill my fellow soldiers and marines. Spyde is killing for vengeance." Hal replied, "I don't know how I could do it either. You're closer than God to a man when you're behind the crosshairs, for you determine whether he lives or dies. Spyde was consumed by that power, where I was not."
"Ms. Darren." Said the doctor, "The good news is that Zack is stable. We've moved him into Intensive Care. There's some chairs and couches around up there if you'd like to spend the night. The bad is he's in a coma. He suffered from massive blood loss and internal injury. It's a good thing that his fiancée had the sense to call 911 when she did or he wouldn't be alive."
"Tatiana." Hal said, "Ivy, you're close to Zack. No one knows what comatose men truly hear, but if you talk to him you might get him to wake."
Hal felt a resolve within himself. He was going to give Spyde a third eye for this, pure and simple. His former student was now going to be the target within his sights, his prey. Could the deer defeat the wolf?
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC