Case 1: Sniper, Part 6
Disclaimer: Same as before. BTW sixteen is the minimum age of enlistment in the British Armed Forces.
~ ~ ~ ~
(Intensive Care Unit)
9 May 2000: Hal woke with a feeling on pins and needles in his right hand and that feeling one gets after waking up in an unfamiliar location. He realized he was sitting in the ICU on one of the couches. Ivy was fast asleep at his side, and hence the reason his hand lost circulation in it. She had been leaning her full weight against his right side.
Taking great care not to disturb her he shifted her to a more comfortable position and put a pillow under her head. He took one of several folded blankets and draped it across her body. Ivy stirred and mumbled something but settled down to sleep. Tatiana had already got a blanket and pillow and an older couple whom Hal figured out had to be Zack and Ivy's parent was lying asleep as well. He walked out of the building to his SUV and started it up for the conference center. It was just half an hour before after one in the morning when he got there.
Hal parked the SUV, turned off the lights and broke out a padded case. Inside it was the Accuracy International Super Magnum sniper rifle. There were already quite a few prepared hides, or sangars for the police sharpshooters covering this event. Hal had already worked out several possible firing angles for the podium where Spyde could fire from. All he had to do was wait. If Spyde's habits were anything like they had been when he worked with him in South Africa he would be scouting for hides right about now. And when he tried to fire, he would get a big surprise in the form of a .338 Lapua round right through his forehead. It was about ten minutes after he got a nice spot in a small maintenance shed on the roof of the building that he saw Spyde walking about, casually examining an area near the conference center that was undergoing remodeling. The work crews had no work the next day because of the event and thus it made a perfect, though fairly obvious spot. Spyde had gambled that security wouldn't be up to his tricks.
"Quite original Erich." Hal said to himself, "Hide in the most obvious spot and figure that security won't think you're going to hide there. But you know I'm about, so this could be a ploy."
Spyde had only two possible hides he could use, the construction yard and a two story historical house across the street and to the right of the conference center. The second hide had better concealment but not nearly as many lines of fire as the construction yard due to the presence of a couple trees and a light post. Hal knew Spyde only needed one and only one well placed round to achieve his objective. Coming out of this alive seemed not to be in the equation of Spyde's plans, for there was seemingly a plan to go out in a blaze of glory after executing his deed.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal took an index card and a pencil out of his pocket and using a small hand held laser telescope he pinpointed various ranges from his hide to the various landmarks to use as a quick reference for zeroing his scope. He knew he had one, and only one, shot to fire at Spyde and he wanted it to count.
Spyde seemed to like to operate at ranges of five and six hundred meters, because that was where the SVD was at its most effective. The buildings around the conference center would make good hides, but police sharpshooters already had sangars on them and Spyde wasn't that willing to risk such an early compromise before taking the one shot he believed would set everything to right.
The more he thought about it, the more he figured that Spyde would prefer the less obvious historical house as a hide. What better way to funnel him into a trap than by having the police snipers occupy that hide. That would pretty much force Spyde to use the construction yard hides.
It was another two hours before Hal went back to his apartment and fell asleep in his clothes.
~ ~ ~ ~
10 May 2000: Roll call had just finished at ACME and the main building was again its usual bustle of activity. Ivy sat at her desk in her office, typing a proposed route for the Powers visit. VIP security wasn't usually a job she did, but since she and Hal had the most experience dealing with the most immediate threat to Minister Powers' safety they were put in charge of the security detail. She hadn't seen him since he dropped her off at the building.
After finishing typing up the report Ivy walked into the bullpen looking to get a quick snack from the fridge. She saw Hal sitting at a table, his back to the corner, nursing a cup of coffee. "Where have you been?" Ivy asked.
"I was up late last night." Hal replied.
"I can tell." Ivy replied.
"How's Zack?" Hal asked.
"He's stable but still in a coma." Ivy said, Hal could see his partner was obviously distressed and he was at a loss for words, "Tatiana got the week off because of this."
"This must be really hard on her." Hal replied.
"I'm going to visit Zack at lunch time and see if Tatiana needs any help." Ivy replied.
"Good idea, I'll drive you there." Hal replied.
"You don't have to, you know." Ivy said, "I can ask Armando or Maria...."
"Ivy, you're my partner, and hopefully a friend. Besides, I was planning to see if Zack was alright myself at noon." Hal replied.
"Hal, that's so sweet of you." Ivy said, smiling despite herself.
"That's one of the things the Colonel used to teach me." Hal began, with a wry grin, "One must take care of one's partner."
Ivy said, "That's true, your lives may depend on each other. Who is the colonel by the way?"
"My grandfather, he was one of the original commanders of 3 Commando, British Army in World War II. He may have been old and frail during the years I knew him." Hal replied, "But one look in his eyes revealed the fierce warrior of his youth."
"He must be proud." Ivy said, "That you followed your father's footsteps."
"He died shortly before I joined the Royal Marines on my sixteenth birthday, and before I volunteered for the sniper training course." Hal replied.
Ivy put a reassuring arm around his shoulder, "It's tough to lose someone you love."
"I know." Hal replied as they climbed into his Land Rover and he pointed it off in the direction of the hospital.
~ ~ ~ ~
As they walked into the hospital they were greeted by a tearful Tatiana. "What's wrong? Is Zack..." Ivy said, fearing the worst.
"No, Ivy, he isn't. These are tears of joy. He came out of the coma not more than five minutes ago." Tatiana replied.
Ivy practically ran up the stairs, with Hal running close behind with Tatiana standing in the lobby staring at the holes in the air they left when they ran off. Then she ran to the nearest bathroom with a speed that rivaled that of both Ivy and Hal. Morning sickness, as she discovered, was not just confined to the morning hours.
"Ivy?" Zack said weakly. His chest was bandaged, around the area where the bullet had entered, and there were IV's sticking out of his arms, but he was still conscious.
There were tears of joy in Ivy's eyes, "Oh Zack, you had me worried for a second."
"Hey Ive, I couldn't die. For one who'd help my lovely fiancé Tatiana raise our kid? For two who'd give you a hard time?" Zack began.
"You know Zack, you're lucky you're wearing bandages right now." Ivy snapped back, lightly punching him on the arm.
"Owww..." Zack winced, "Hospital patient here, Ivy, hello?"
Hal grinned, "Nice to see you've returned to the land of the living mate."
"Did you catch him?" Zack replied.
"Not yet." Hal replied, "But we will. Trust me on this one."
"Where's Tatiana?" Zack asked, raspily.
"I'm right here darling." Tatiana said, walking in from the elevator, "In a minute I'm gonna need a hospital bed."
"Oh stop being such a drama queen Tatiana, morning sickness only lasts the first trimester." Ivy joked, "I should know, I was around when mom was carrying Zack."
"I don't think I'm gonna make it that far....Where's the bathroom!?" Tatiana shouted, bolting out of the room with Hal running behind her to point it out.
The sounds of a person throwing up could be heard in the next room. "Zack, I can see you're in the doghouse right now." Hal replied.
"And you're set to be his room mate if you keep up the commentary." Ivy joked back, wiping the last couple of tears from her eyes.
"Hal, Ivy, could either of you do me a favor and pick up my parents and grandmother from the airport tomorrow?" Tatiana asked.
"I'll take care of it. My SUV's big enough to hold all their luggage and the passengers as well." Hal replied.
"That's sweet of you Hal, but I should go, I mean Tatiana's grandmother's a little senile, she might not trust you because she's never met you. She knows me pretty well." Ivy replied.
"I never said you couldn't go." Hal replied, "I'm just saying my SUV's better suited to the task. Besides, if I'm going to spend the next four years here working with you I may as well meet your future in-laws."
"Just don't start having flashbacks of raiding a Marxist camp at dawn. OK?" Ivy joked.
"I'll try not to." Hal replied as the nurse checked Zack over and got Tatiana some asprin.
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC (Sorry this one's so late, I've had school catch up on me. I'll be able to update more over Christmas break.)
Disclaimer: Same as before. BTW sixteen is the minimum age of enlistment in the British Armed Forces.
~ ~ ~ ~
(Intensive Care Unit)
9 May 2000: Hal woke with a feeling on pins and needles in his right hand and that feeling one gets after waking up in an unfamiliar location. He realized he was sitting in the ICU on one of the couches. Ivy was fast asleep at his side, and hence the reason his hand lost circulation in it. She had been leaning her full weight against his right side.
Taking great care not to disturb her he shifted her to a more comfortable position and put a pillow under her head. He took one of several folded blankets and draped it across her body. Ivy stirred and mumbled something but settled down to sleep. Tatiana had already got a blanket and pillow and an older couple whom Hal figured out had to be Zack and Ivy's parent was lying asleep as well. He walked out of the building to his SUV and started it up for the conference center. It was just half an hour before after one in the morning when he got there.
Hal parked the SUV, turned off the lights and broke out a padded case. Inside it was the Accuracy International Super Magnum sniper rifle. There were already quite a few prepared hides, or sangars for the police sharpshooters covering this event. Hal had already worked out several possible firing angles for the podium where Spyde could fire from. All he had to do was wait. If Spyde's habits were anything like they had been when he worked with him in South Africa he would be scouting for hides right about now. And when he tried to fire, he would get a big surprise in the form of a .338 Lapua round right through his forehead. It was about ten minutes after he got a nice spot in a small maintenance shed on the roof of the building that he saw Spyde walking about, casually examining an area near the conference center that was undergoing remodeling. The work crews had no work the next day because of the event and thus it made a perfect, though fairly obvious spot. Spyde had gambled that security wouldn't be up to his tricks.
"Quite original Erich." Hal said to himself, "Hide in the most obvious spot and figure that security won't think you're going to hide there. But you know I'm about, so this could be a ploy."
Spyde had only two possible hides he could use, the construction yard and a two story historical house across the street and to the right of the conference center. The second hide had better concealment but not nearly as many lines of fire as the construction yard due to the presence of a couple trees and a light post. Hal knew Spyde only needed one and only one well placed round to achieve his objective. Coming out of this alive seemed not to be in the equation of Spyde's plans, for there was seemingly a plan to go out in a blaze of glory after executing his deed.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal took an index card and a pencil out of his pocket and using a small hand held laser telescope he pinpointed various ranges from his hide to the various landmarks to use as a quick reference for zeroing his scope. He knew he had one, and only one, shot to fire at Spyde and he wanted it to count.
Spyde seemed to like to operate at ranges of five and six hundred meters, because that was where the SVD was at its most effective. The buildings around the conference center would make good hides, but police sharpshooters already had sangars on them and Spyde wasn't that willing to risk such an early compromise before taking the one shot he believed would set everything to right.
The more he thought about it, the more he figured that Spyde would prefer the less obvious historical house as a hide. What better way to funnel him into a trap than by having the police snipers occupy that hide. That would pretty much force Spyde to use the construction yard hides.
It was another two hours before Hal went back to his apartment and fell asleep in his clothes.
~ ~ ~ ~
10 May 2000: Roll call had just finished at ACME and the main building was again its usual bustle of activity. Ivy sat at her desk in her office, typing a proposed route for the Powers visit. VIP security wasn't usually a job she did, but since she and Hal had the most experience dealing with the most immediate threat to Minister Powers' safety they were put in charge of the security detail. She hadn't seen him since he dropped her off at the building.
After finishing typing up the report Ivy walked into the bullpen looking to get a quick snack from the fridge. She saw Hal sitting at a table, his back to the corner, nursing a cup of coffee. "Where have you been?" Ivy asked.
"I was up late last night." Hal replied.
"I can tell." Ivy replied.
"How's Zack?" Hal asked.
"He's stable but still in a coma." Ivy said, Hal could see his partner was obviously distressed and he was at a loss for words, "Tatiana got the week off because of this."
"This must be really hard on her." Hal replied.
"I'm going to visit Zack at lunch time and see if Tatiana needs any help." Ivy replied.
"Good idea, I'll drive you there." Hal replied.
"You don't have to, you know." Ivy said, "I can ask Armando or Maria...."
"Ivy, you're my partner, and hopefully a friend. Besides, I was planning to see if Zack was alright myself at noon." Hal replied.
"Hal, that's so sweet of you." Ivy said, smiling despite herself.
"That's one of the things the Colonel used to teach me." Hal began, with a wry grin, "One must take care of one's partner."
Ivy said, "That's true, your lives may depend on each other. Who is the colonel by the way?"
"My grandfather, he was one of the original commanders of 3 Commando, British Army in World War II. He may have been old and frail during the years I knew him." Hal replied, "But one look in his eyes revealed the fierce warrior of his youth."
"He must be proud." Ivy said, "That you followed your father's footsteps."
"He died shortly before I joined the Royal Marines on my sixteenth birthday, and before I volunteered for the sniper training course." Hal replied.
Ivy put a reassuring arm around his shoulder, "It's tough to lose someone you love."
"I know." Hal replied as they climbed into his Land Rover and he pointed it off in the direction of the hospital.
~ ~ ~ ~
As they walked into the hospital they were greeted by a tearful Tatiana. "What's wrong? Is Zack..." Ivy said, fearing the worst.
"No, Ivy, he isn't. These are tears of joy. He came out of the coma not more than five minutes ago." Tatiana replied.
Ivy practically ran up the stairs, with Hal running close behind with Tatiana standing in the lobby staring at the holes in the air they left when they ran off. Then she ran to the nearest bathroom with a speed that rivaled that of both Ivy and Hal. Morning sickness, as she discovered, was not just confined to the morning hours.
"Ivy?" Zack said weakly. His chest was bandaged, around the area where the bullet had entered, and there were IV's sticking out of his arms, but he was still conscious.
There were tears of joy in Ivy's eyes, "Oh Zack, you had me worried for a second."
"Hey Ive, I couldn't die. For one who'd help my lovely fiancé Tatiana raise our kid? For two who'd give you a hard time?" Zack began.
"You know Zack, you're lucky you're wearing bandages right now." Ivy snapped back, lightly punching him on the arm.
"Owww..." Zack winced, "Hospital patient here, Ivy, hello?"
Hal grinned, "Nice to see you've returned to the land of the living mate."
"Did you catch him?" Zack replied.
"Not yet." Hal replied, "But we will. Trust me on this one."
"Where's Tatiana?" Zack asked, raspily.
"I'm right here darling." Tatiana said, walking in from the elevator, "In a minute I'm gonna need a hospital bed."
"Oh stop being such a drama queen Tatiana, morning sickness only lasts the first trimester." Ivy joked, "I should know, I was around when mom was carrying Zack."
"I don't think I'm gonna make it that far....Where's the bathroom!?" Tatiana shouted, bolting out of the room with Hal running behind her to point it out.
The sounds of a person throwing up could be heard in the next room. "Zack, I can see you're in the doghouse right now." Hal replied.
"And you're set to be his room mate if you keep up the commentary." Ivy joked back, wiping the last couple of tears from her eyes.
"Hal, Ivy, could either of you do me a favor and pick up my parents and grandmother from the airport tomorrow?" Tatiana asked.
"I'll take care of it. My SUV's big enough to hold all their luggage and the passengers as well." Hal replied.
"That's sweet of you Hal, but I should go, I mean Tatiana's grandmother's a little senile, she might not trust you because she's never met you. She knows me pretty well." Ivy replied.
"I never said you couldn't go." Hal replied, "I'm just saying my SUV's better suited to the task. Besides, if I'm going to spend the next four years here working with you I may as well meet your future in-laws."
"Just don't start having flashbacks of raiding a Marxist camp at dawn. OK?" Ivy joked.
"I'll try not to." Hal replied as the nurse checked Zack over and got Tatiana some asprin.
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC (Sorry this one's so late, I've had school catch up on me. I'll be able to update more over Christmas break.)