Two Lonely Souls
Chapter 19
Everyone including Isabella, Charlie, and Amita crammed into three unmarked FBI trucks and headed for the Staples Stadium. They were going to enter underground and then head upstairs to the seating area. Other teams met them on site and were going to be searching the parking structure and lower levels, including team rooms for bombs or other devices. Once a room was cleared it was sealed until the next night when it would need to be used. Don's main team and the Special Forces team joined up and headed to Isabella's box. They would use it as the main headquarters for today and tomorrow.
Isabella's private box was huge and located at the center floor. There was nothing above her box and nothing directly below her, except the nosebleed seats that spread from below her box and down. The repelling team, including Colby and David were going to use the tiny catwalks high above to evenly space themselves across the ceiling of the stadium and start examining the rafters and ceiling piece by piece. Charlie and Amita already had diagramed the most efficient spacing for the repelling team and for the sniper team. There were four members of the sniper team, Isabella, Ian, Brian, and Coop. Each would have at least one spotter, maybe two, since there were going to be so many people to deal with. The bomb squad was standing by in case anything was found today.
Isabella had her sniper rifle assembled and was looking through the scope. Talking was going on around her and the repelling team had already started their descent. She had a two way ear-wig in her ear and had been amused at the swearing the guys had done as they crossed the tiny catwalks to get to where they were headed. Even so, she rose from her prone position shaking her head. "I don't know guys. The floor seats are literally on the floor, filled with celebrities, then all the other seats filled with lots of people. It will be like a search for Waldo. Ian what do you think?"
Ian stood like the tall monolith he was as he rose from his prone position. "I think that is an apt description, Bella. If we don't find the bombs today, and have to hunt through the people tomorrow for the triggers, it will be an impossible task. We can stay targeted for hours on end, but if the spotters can't give us what to target, well, difficult is not a strong enough word."
Don shook his head, his shoulders bowed under the enormous pressure. The two teams together had already taken out two cells planning some kind of poison gas strike. Now they still had to clear the facility, the enormous facility, making sure it is safe for tomorrow. One of the repellers, David, yelled into his com unit "Bingo!" and it was followed by others. All five repellers had found cylindrical metal containers with wires attached around and on top of the cylinder. They were strategically placed in specific distances along one of the horizontal beams. One of the Special Ops guys described the bomb mechanism and the cylinder to the bomb squad leader.
"One of my guys is coming to you. You'll have to lower him down to the device. We may have to construct a device so each of my men has precision control to disarm without dispersing the chemical."
Isabella spoke up first, "Don, they are all sitting up there with no masks. If it goes off…"
Tommy looked at her sadly, "If it goes off, we may all be dead baby. Masks only help sometimes, and depending what we are looking at it may not make a difference here."
Isabella's eyes got really big. "What if we shoot the detonator? Will that disarm it?"
The bomb squad leader's voice came over the com. "We won't know until one of my guys gets up there. Could you hit the detonator?"
Isabella and Ian both sighted it again, looked at each other and motioned up. "We have to reposition ourselves. We'll keep you posted."
Tommy grabbed her by her arm. "Isabella, you should leave. It is too dangerous."
"Tommy, baby. You know better than that. I have a job to do just like in Afghanistan. Too dangerous simply can't be. It is just another day on the shooting range. And I WILL NOT leave my team, ever. You never would have left me, even to carry my dead body home. I will not leave you or my team," she looked at Don, "either team."
With that Ian pulled her through the doorway as they went in search of better sniper holes. They climbed and climbed until they were on the catwalk, prone and aiming at the detonator. Ian spoke up this time, "We can do it from here. We have to know if they are daisy-chained together though. If we knock off one, will it set off the others?"
"Understood. We'll get back to you."
"Ian? What about Brian and Coop? Can they hit that?"
"I don't think so baby. I think this is going to fall to you and me, and we can't miss."
She smiled slightly at Ian, repeating what he said to her all the time, "We never miss." She paused and breathed at being so high up, this was so far beyond nosebleeds, she was practically feeling oxygen deprived. "What if it is daisy-chained?"
"Those three head shots you made in ten seconds. How did you do it?"
"I calibrated my rifle to be almost exactly where I thought their heads should be once I fired. I hit the middle one first, then took down the third, then the first. They literally never saw or heard it coming."
"And even if they had the third body would have blocked the way for retreat. Maybe we can do something like that here. Hit the middle, then go at it from the ends." Ian looked around and Isabella joined him.
"If we could just find a spot to get more than one target shot at, we might be able to take out a daisy-chain."
Tommy and Don, along with everyone else had been listening. Tommy spoke up, "Damn that is ballsy. Could get us all killed too."
"Yeah, well baby, none of us lives forever. Ian and I are just up here fantasizing if you know what I mean. It's sorta the hot sniper wet dream to pull something like that off. Neither of us wants it to be daisy chained. If it is, everyone gets out but us. I don't suppose we have any other really sharp sharp shooters with us? Brian and Coop are good, but not good enough for this. Don?"
"I could do it, maybe." His voice was full of exhaustion and uncertainty.
Ian spoke up, "Maybe doesn't cut it. A year ago you could have done it Don. Even two weeks ago when you weren't so damned tired you're shaking you could do it. But right now, you are no sharp shooter."
Colby had been listening to all the conversation while he had been lowering the bomb guy to the cylinder. He had managed to stay silent through all the scary talk as well as the banter. He was concentrating on the bomb squad man looking over the bomb.
"The bomb looks like it is detonated by a single button that would detonate the whole series, so it's daisy chained. However, it also looks like I can cut one of the wires between each cylinder and it would disarm the daisy chain and you could shoot the detonators one at a time. Otherwise, we will have to do it up close and personal and build some kind of frame for the squad to stand on."
Tommy asked about how effective masks would be. "Up close, not effective at all. I don't catch a smell up here, so I don't know if we are dealing with Phosgen gas or Sarin gas or maybe one of a hundred others. But they had equipment to make Phosgen gas in their basements, so we are working under that assumption. If I could smell the grass and hay smell of Phosgen, we'd already be exposed. If the canisters were opened, it would not take much to spread since it drops to the low lying areas and spreads rapidly. It goes through clothes and through skin quickly. Masks will protect from breathing it in, getting in through the eyes or mouth. Phosgen is a toxic gas at room temperature, which it would be right now. Death is not instantaneous, so even if this goes south everyone, even the shooters, should exit the building immediately, strip and scrub in the showers. It will increase survival rate. Everyone gets taken to the hospital under hazmat quarantine and it would be 48 hours before we would know how effective our counter measures have been. Bomb squad leader, we should get lots of hazmat showers set up outside immediately. And we will need containers of dry ice to freeze the containers and the contents before we move them. The containers are cylindrical and are about 6X8."" The Bomb squad leader broke in, "We're on it." The bomb squad member hanging in the air with Colby continued, "Masks would be ok where you are in the box, but not great since it can be absorbed through the skin and clothing, and would be useless out here where I am. Even in the box you must get out immediately, get rid of your clothes where they tell you, and scrub shower. Does everyone know the drill?"
A positive, if somewhat sick sounding, response came from both Don and Tommy.
Isabella spoke up, "Is there any way we can seal the tops to the cylinders? Through the scope it looks like they're almost like cheap restaurant creamers, a lot bigger but still. Could we tape them down or something? The detonators are small and look like they are just intended to throw back the lid. They can't be all that powerful."
"That is actually not a bad idea. However, I would be hesitant to jostle it at all before it has been disarmed. My first choice of a plan is to shoot the detonators if Ian and Isabella are sure they can do it, then seal and freeze the canisters and take them to the lab."
Ian spoke up, "We can hit the detonators, no problem. But just in case, everyone else should get out. We'll be far enough away with masks and special clothing we'll have enough to clear."
Tommy lost his cool for the first time anyone had actually seen, "I WILL NOT LEAVE HER," he paused and took a breath and continued, "my team will not leave her behind. Period. You will both hit the targets, and we will turn it over to the bomb squad, and be done."
Colby's voice came on line and in his understated way simply said, "I stay."
Isabella smiled at his understatement. Colby always was extremely understated. Her deep, sultry voice went across the com unit, intended for Colby but would go to everyone on com, leaving goose bumps in her wake. "I love how understated you are, and how restrained you have been up until now. Thank you, baby. Ian is right, we won't miss. The bomb squad needs to clip that wire. Anyone not required, and I will leave that to Tommy and Don to determine, should leave. We are coming down to the box to put on the protective gear. The bomb squad needs to get it there ASAP. By the time we have our gear on, everyone who is leaving should be gone and the bomb squad should be done with their wire cutting. Let's move people. And can someone find me something to eat? Quickly."
Ian made sure he was off com as he pulled her up from her prone position. "You are so bossy, Bella my love."
"Ian, we could have sat here while they all talked it to death or we could get task focused and move forward. Frankly, I'd like to take care of this, go home, take a shower, have life affirming sex, and sleep, probably in that order. A 48 hour stay at the hospital is not in the cards."
"Too bad, I'm guessing we can't squeeze life affirming sex in after getting this taken care of. There are probably a few too many guys around that might balk at the idea."
"Yeah, sorry Ian."
Ian laughed softly as they descended towards the box. "Yeah, I know. Leave a man his dreams, baby."
Isabella stopped and looked back at Ian, her look serious. "We don't miss."
"Never, baby. You can bet your life on it."
"We are betting on a lot of people's lives Ian. If it was anyone but you Ian, I would never go with this. I believe in you and I believe in me. WE are the best there is. Let's save lives with our skill instead of taking them."
Ian shook his head and leaned in to her ear as they were approaching the box, "I love you, not just because you are beautiful, or because you are the best shooter I've ever known, but because you are always thinking about life and not just death."
She smiled at him a little sadly, a missed opportunity that could have been brief but great. "Thank you, Ian." She pushed through the doors and into the box where sandwiches and drinks were waiting. Colby pulled her quickly into his arms after she set her rifle down. He wrapped his arms completely around her and gently lifted her face to his and kissed her. He had not forgotten her earlier injuries and was extra gentle with her. She let him lead her to the food and down to the chairs so she could eat.
Tommy's eyes followed Isabella around the room. He knew she could do this. And this time, she could do it without him. As much as he loved her and regardless of how much he may need her, she no longer needed him as her rock although he did believe she loved him. But she had found a home here in LA, a lover, friends, and relative safety, relative being the key word. When he left this time, he would return for her wedding, and when her children were born. But he would never have her again, not like in Afghanistan. Regardless that they never kissed or made love, she was his there. But she was his no longer.
The bomb squad brought in the equipment and Isabella abandoned her mostly eaten sandwich to look at the outfit they wanted her to wear. It was readily apparent to everyone it was huge and would be a barrier to her success rather than a help. She shook her head firmly, took the mask and walked to the door.
Don shouted over the din, "Isabella! You have to have some protection. You cannot go without it."
"I can go without it Don. Ian and I won't miss. I have complete confidence in the both of us. If I wear that contraption, I may very well. Ian is taking up his point on the other side. We'll decide who takes the middle when we get to our points. If something terrible happens and the gas is released, get out of the building immediately. Do not wait for me or Ian. Just go." She looked directly at Colby and then at Tommy. "Please." Her voice by that time was almost a whisper but her 'please' carried to the people she needed it to.
"I'm going up there with you. You'll need to be helped out if something goes wrong. I'll have more protection than you and can move us faster."
"If something goes wrong Colby, Tommy, and gas is released, it sounds like we have a good chance to survive as long as we get to the showers. Ian and I will be as far away from the shower as one can be. We will be the most exposed."
Colby quickly spoke up, "I'll repel you down to the lower level. It will be faster. Ian can repel himself down. Ian, are you catching this? Someone will bring you repelling gear. It will be faster going down if we have to evacuate. Everyone else who is staying should be by the doors to exit immediately."
Both men looked at her and simultaneously said firmly, "We will not leave you Bella. Never."
She looked at both men, tears in her eyes. "Fine. But Colby stays with me. Tommy you are on the floor. Protecting me is no longer your job baby."
"I know, Bella. I know. I'll wait for you in the box. Don and I are staying in the box. Everyone else is at the door." Tommy looked at her, "But this conversation is irrelevant and as such should end. You go make your shots. I think Ian is waiting for you."
Isabella looked at both men, sighed and kissed Colby and then turned and surprisingly kissed Tommy. Both kisses were brief but communicated all her feelings for them both. She walked away, picked up her mask and her rifle and walked through the doors. Before she went to climb the stairs, she double checked her rifle was loaded and how many shots it had in it. Then she swung her rifle over her shoulder, stuffed her gas mask into her jeans and climbed the stairs. The closer she got to her spot, the more narrow her focus became, visualizing the target, the small box on the top of each canister, the size and shape, and exactly where she should strike.
She got into position, easily swinging the rifle off her shoulder and anchoring it on its tripod. This rifle was really overkill for this job. It was meant for long distances in wind and rain. While one couldn't make this shot with any accuracy with a handgun, a sniper's rifle like Ian's was more than adequate. She came on-line, silencing all other com traffic except between her and Ian. No one but Ian and Isabella had the channel. Everyone else had gone silent. Colby was just down from her, prepared to scoop her up and drop her to the floor in seconds. But he never made a sound or movement. He could not distract her in any way.
"I'm hot baby. You want the honors of the middle one?"
"I have a great shot from here for it. I'm hot too. On my mark, 3…2…1…mark."
They both simultaneously fired, disarming instantly each target at the end of the chain. They repositioned, aiming for the second one in, further out, a different angle made the shot more difficult.
"Are you hot Bella?"
"I'm hot."
"On my mark…3…2…1…mark."
And they both took out the second detonator from their end. "Ian baby you have the ball."
He didn't have to count down, but he did it out of respect for his fellow marksman. "3…2…1…mark." And Ian took out the final canister detonator.
It was only then Isabella got up to move. "Ian, it has been a pleasure and an honor sir."
"Isabella, it has been a pleasure and an honor, my lady. I will forever be at your service."
"Until the next pretty girl comes along." She lightly teased as she climbed down the stairs.
"My head may be turned occasionally, but my heart is yours. I won't after all live as a monk because you love others, but my heart is firmly in your hands."
Don popped in on the com link, "Geez Ian, you're practically quoting her poetry. I never thought I would see that day."
"Despite the love and affection and obviously great sex she gets, I doubt there is any poetry involved. Given the bruises I caught sight of I suspect very rough sex takes the place of poetry and sonnets. Too each his own."
Tommy popped up with a gruff and hostile, "What bruises?"
"Tommy, it is none of your business. Stand down, soldier. Do not do something where I will have to cut you out of my life. That would be like cutting off my arm. Please Tommy, Ian is right it was just rough sex. We like it that way, occasionally. This is between Colby and me. Ian should not have said anything and did because the imp in him can't help but cause trouble. This does NOT concern you Tommy, or anyone else. DO YOU GET ME TOMMY?"
"I got it, Isabella. I won't kill him. But if he ever strikes you in anger, I'll be here on the next flight and they will never find the body."
"Like you're going to be the person I call for something like that. I could handle it myself. You are losing your cool baby. You are always cold as ice. You will never have to take that action because he would never strike me, ever. Period. And you should not make threats when the FBI team, the bomb squad team, and your own team are listening." She walked in the box entrance and Ian followed. The suite was empty except for Tommy and Don. There was almost complete silence except for Tommy's heavy breathing and anger permeating the room and Colby standing deceptively casual leaning against the wall. Colby was dangerous but Tommy was positively lethal.
Isabella turned to Don, "What comes next? Is the bomb squad ready to repel down and disengage the canisters? Should we finish clearing the rest of the building?"
"Yeah, we need to do all that, but right now you need to rest. You are pale and tired, but your hands aren't shaking. I bet before, during, and after your hands never shake."
Ian stepped in shielding Isabella from any other bits of anger or frustration. "I think getting everyone out sweeping the rest of the building is good. She needs to rest, but hang around in case you need her."
Something occurred to Isabella. "Shouldn't we probably leave the canisters in place or put fake ones up there just in case the entire cell wasn't taken out and they come to detonate?"
The bomb squad leader spoke up, "Yes absolutely. It is too risky to leave the canisters there, but fake ones with fake wiring would be a good move. I'll get my guys working on that. If there is someone who is determined to detonate, he'll want to see they are there."
"We need the dogs in here. David, can you call in the bomb sniffing dogs? It is too big of any area to cover on our own. Everyone out, take the slice of the pie you have been given and start to cover it. Assume they have put bombs on timers under seats, behind walkways, etc."
"Bella, you go to sleep. Ian you rest too. If we have to take someone out tomorrow night, I need you both in top form. And Ian, no more poetry, these two guys are ready to rip each other's throats out as it is."