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Chapter 9

Intuitions

.. Two weeks later …..

0830 – Hereford, UK

"Well….well….well…." Jackson said, taking note of the approaching officer as he expertly loaded bullets into a clip. Spanner looked up from his weapons bag and grinned. Both soldiers stood upright and the formalities were soon dismissed as Captain Elvis Harte stood amongst his team once again.

"Ya got yer clearances boss." Spanner said more as a statement than a question.

"Affirmative."

"Well it took ya long enough boss." Spunky said pulling his ear muffs away.

"Pipe down Spunks! Medical regs got in the way." Elvis said tucking an arm of his sunglasses down his front.

"But yer married to a medic boss!"

"Oi! Ya wanna force the other two, includin yerself, into a drill?" Elvis said, unholstering his pistol with a sound rip of Velcro.

"Negative boss."

"Good." Elvis said, eyeing his comms specialist, then he grinned broadly. "It's good to be back boys!" He squeezed the pistol grip, rotating it this way and that, getting used to the feel of it in his hand again. The lads watched him, then exchanged glances. It was good to have their boss back, fully recovered from the incident in Afghanistan.

"Reckon ya might be a bit rusty." Spanner said watching his captain palm a loaded clip into the pistol.

"Not a chance." Elvis said donning his hearing protection muffs.

"Let's see what ya got." Jackson said stepping back to assess the action. Elvis looked towards the dummy targets and smiled grimly, chambering a round. He exhaled a quick breath, then swiftly squeezed off three rapid shots. He had been away from the range for a bit, but he was still deadly. Jackson studied his success through binoculars, taking his time surveying where the bullets landed. "Bloody good grouping to the chest boss."

Elvis scowled.

"Ya were aimin for the chest yeah?"

Elvis rolled his eyes. "Indeed!"

"Just need to get in a wee bit tighter." His sniper advised.

"Roger that. Let me take a gander."

Jackson passed the binoculars over and Elvis studied his work closely, then rechambered the pistol. This time he instantly fired off two rounds, then another two, reaching for the binoculars again.

"Ya kept the weapon clean right?" Jackson quipped as Elvis peered intently at his work again.

"Shut the fuck up you!"

Jackson laughed. Elvis grinned. The team was together and the lads all fell right into place with their camaraderie. Eventually Elvis emptied several clips and needed to reload. As his nimble fingers forced the bullets down into the clip he watched his team fire off countless rounds of ammunition. They had to be well practiced and spot on and they were. He was proud to these men. They were his best team.

The scent of propellant lingered in the air and he felt like he came home again. Elvis felt a deep gnawing in his abdomen as he pressed the bullets down. He cannot go back. Not to active duty. Not away from Georgie and now their child.

"Clear!" Jackson shouted as Spunky emptied his weapon and two additional soldiers made their way onto the range. They were members of McAllister's sniper unit. Elvis lifted his muffs onto his head and seemed to be drawing himself inward.

"You alright?" Spanner asked, releasing an empty clip from his pistol. Elvis looked at him but did not answer straight away. "Care to share?"

"Nah. It's fine." He finally answered.

"Georgie OK?"

"Yeah… yeah, she's fine. The baby is fine."

"You're shootin well Elvis."

"I 'ad no doubts about that mate." Elvis said smiling.

"It's good to have you back boss."

"Likewise." Elvis reached for another empty clip and repeated the reloading process. Spanner was keen to observe the agitation in his actions. Elvis became aware that his lieutenant was on to him.

"Wha"?"

"Oh nothing… Nothing. Everything's fine." Spanner said with a feigned air of disregard.

"Fuck sake Thompson!" Elvis said rolling his eyes.

"You're missin it."

Elvis gave in and nodded. "I'm missin it." He said neatly lining up his clips in a tight row.

"What are ya gonna do?"

"Nothin." Elvis said wagging his head slowly. "I'm 'ere now. Part of the Directing Staff. Least you lot are 'ere as well. Gives me somethin to chew on."

Spanner laughed. "How's Georgie feel about you bein back on the range?"

"It's part of the job Spans. I'm part of the staff responsible for marksmanship trainin."

"You'll be training yourself as well. It never ends boss."

Elvis looked at him. It was true. Combat was in his blood. He had trained damn hard to be the best he could be. Directing Staff or otherwise, he was still SAS.

"Let me ask ya somethin." Elvis said shoving a clip into his pistol. "Ever hear of a Colonel Wescott Jones?"

"Heard he was a prick."

"Yeah….'at's what I'm gatherin."

"Why do you ask?" Spanner said tilting his ear muffs back onto his head.

"Just curious." Elvis said donning his own hearing protection as Jackson called out.

"Range is clear! Range is hot!"

Spanner's brow creased. What the hell was the boss getting up to now? Harte was never just curious about something. There had to be an ulterior motive. Elvis ignored the expression and quelled any further discussion as he fired his weapon with deadly precision,

Xxxxx

1100 – Hereford , UK

"Georgie! Hey Georgie wait up!"

Georgie turned to see Sargent Toni Blythe sprinting her way.

"Hey Toni!" Georgie said as the petite martial arts specialist gracefully skidded to a stop.

"How are ya mum?"

Georgie laughed. "Mum."

"Get used to it. You'll be hearing yourself being called that in short order."

"Months, to be sure."

Toni grinned. "How are ya feeling?"

"Good. Yeah."

"I still cannot get over the photos from the ultrasound. How precious!" Toni said.

"I know. Right? I'm still over the moon Toni and she's still growing!"

"She? I thought you didn't know the sex as yet?"

"Well we don't. But I think it's going to be a girl." Georgie said smiling.

"Why?"

"Dunno. I just have this feeling. A boy would be lovely, seeing that we have Laura, but we're both looking forward to however we are blessed."

"Maybe you'll have twins!"

"Oh no! No! We already know there is only one. That's enough to be sure."

Both women laughed.

"Listen Georgie, would you and Elvis be free tomorrow for a meet up? I have some dresses I fancy and would like your opinion."

"Sure, yeah. I don't think we have anything planned. I'd loved to."

"Great! The lads are at the range so Spanner should be talking to Elvis about the invite as well."

"Right. I'll check in with him later. Where do ya want to meet?"

"Forester's Pub. They have that extra room with large tables and I can lay the photos out so you can easily take a gander."

"Fine. One of us will get back to you to confirm."

"Thanks Georgie."

"Hey, I gotta get back. Peter's will be crying he missed out on a sandwich."

"Go on then. I have to knock some blokes around in the gym."

Georgie threw a thumbs up as Toni trotted off, waving as she went. Georgie touched her belly and looked down smiling. "Am I right or wrong little one?"

Xxxxx

"Not a bad welcome back to the range day for ya boss." Jackson said wiping down his rifle before placing it in a case.

"Thanks mate. It felt damn fuckin good." Elvis said with a huge grin. "Ya noticed my groupings got in tighter."

"I did notice that. Next time you might actually hit the target."

All four of them laughed.

"Next time…rifle." Jackson said.

"Roger."

"Wanna start ya off gradual, ya know." Spanner said.

"Oi! Thank you for 'at." Elvis said ripping his gloves off.

"What's on your agenda this afternoon?" Spanner said watching his captain intently.

"A fuck load of emails. I tell ya they never end." Elvis moaned, raking his hair back.

"The joys of bein a boss." Spanner said zipping his weapon bag and standing upright.

"Cheers."

"Listen, Toni and I were hopin you and Georgie could meet up tomorrow for drinks and eats at Forester's."

"Sounds like a plan."

Spanner moved in closer and said softly. "Elvis. If you really want to know about Jones. Talk to Toni."

Elvis' movements stilled and he made direct eye contact with his lieutenant. He responded with a curt nod and watched as Spanner moved away from him but maintained the eye contact until he turned and walked completely away. Elvis' eyes narrowed as an odd feeling washed over him.