Thursday
Milwaukee
7:35 P.M.
The pursuit was on!
We hurtled down the darkened streets following Battle Guy's directions. I was very impressed with the way that Mist rode her Ducati – she definitely knew what she was doing!
"Kick-Ass! Tait is heading for your location!" Battle Guy called.
"Copy that – we're on the ground and watching for him – what direction?"
"He's heading west, along East State Street – Three SUVs!"
"Jackal, stand to – we have incoming!"
Seconds later, I could see three SUVs hurtling towards us. I raised the sniper rifle, aimed for the front SUVs engine, and fired five rounds. All five bullets hit the engine compartment and the engine tore itself apart as oil leaked out and coolant splashed onto the street. The SUV came to a rapid halt blocking part of the street and the SUV behind it rammed into the side. I shortly found the engine grill of the rear SUV in my sight and sent five bullets in that direction.
The exploding engine told me that I had been successful and I watched as the rear SUV smashed into the second one, pinning it in place. Jackal was attacking the armed men in the first SUV, so I dropped the sniper rifle and sized my G36K and started engaging the armed men in the rear SUV. There did not seem to be any fire coming from the second SUV.
We had raced down East State Street at speed before reaching North Broadway. We found a scene of carnage. We had seen explosions and gunfire flashing in the darkness as we had come down the street.
Tait's escape route had evidently taken him towards and past the building that Kick-Ass and Jackal had been using as a sniper nest. Battle Guy had been able to forewarn them and Tait's convoy had come under attack from Kick-Ass' sniper rifle and Jackal's P90. The heavy rounds from the sniper rifle had destroyed the engines of the lead and chase vehicles leaving the target vehicle trapped and the escort vehicles under sustained fire from Kick-Ass' G36K as well as the P90.
As we came to a halt the target Jeep Grand Cherokee was moving backwards and forwards, ramming the vehicles in front and behind. Finally, the driver made a big enough gap to escape and accelerated away down North Broadway. We manoeuvred past the wrecked vehicles and continued the pursuit waved on by Kick-Ass and Jackal.
After half a mile, we crossed under the I-794 and continued south. The first Police vehicles were now in evidence and we could see red and blue flashing lights as emergency vehicles raced towards the penthouse and the scene of the wrecked vehicles at North Broadway. Unfortunately, two Police cars did swift one-eighties and started pursing us.
"Battle Guy, we've got the attention of the Milwaukee PD!" I called.
"Copy that!"
The Jeep Cherokee took a hard right at the end of North Broadway onto East Menomonee Street and then onto East Erie Street. One Police car took the turn too fast and crashed into a pair of parked cars, but the other Police car kept up the pursuit.
..._...
We crossed the river at South Water Street and then raced along South 1st Street. We lost the remaining Police car somewhere along the route – not sure how! Shadow and I went alongside the Jeep, Shadow to the right and myself on the left. Mist stayed behind us watching for problems. I pulled out a Glock 30 pistol and sent half a dozen .45-calibre rounds into the driver's window, which was armoured but could only take so much abuse at close range. Shadow used the distraction of my actions and fired her Five-seveN into the front passenger seat. Her armour piercing rounds made short work of the glass and she killed the man in that seat and also managed to wound the driver who lost control and the Jeep swerved to the left and skidded before flipping over onto waste ground and coming to a halt upside down amid the screech of tearing metal and screaming men.
We all skidded to a stop a few feet from the wrecked SUV. We had minutes only and maybe even seconds before Police descended on the area. We were on borrowed time, well and truly!
..._...
I pulled out my Wakizashi and headed for the SUV. I was followed by Mist, while Shadow kept overwatch.
"Fusion – evacuate the City now!" I ordered.
Everybody had instructions on how to leave the City and escape. On this order, they would follow these instructions to the letter. We would all meet up at Safehouse F.
A man crawled out of the wreckage. It was the man – William Tait, the final piece of the puzzle.
"Who are you?" He demanded, rolling onto his back.
"My name is inconsequential, but I am Hit Girl and you challenged me. I do not lose and I never pass up the opportunity to avenge those that I care for! You crossed the line, along with Montfort – so you must pay for your deeds. Chicago is under my protection – nobody who crosses me is safe. Wherever they hide, I will find them!"
"Please..."
William Tait got no further, as his head was severed from his body and it rolled in the gently settling dust.
"It is done!" I growled. "Time to go!"
The following afternoon
Friday
Safehouse F, Chicago
It was finally over.
Everybody was gathered in the briefing room. Dave, Marty, Kim, Erika, Josh, Chloe, Cathy, Cameron, Natasha, Curtis, Megan, Marcus, Paige, Abby, Tony, Shannon, Tommy and Sophia.
We were all very tired, but there was one thing left to do.
"A big Thank you to everybody. We could not have done this without all of you – everybody played their part – even Sophia. Together, we accomplished what initially looked impossible and thankfully, nobody was killed or seriously hurt. Even our newest members, in action for the first time, showed great bravery – thank you."
I paused, doing my utmost to keep my emotions in check.
"It is with..." I could not go on; I felt tears running down my face.
Marcus stepped forward and put his arm around my shoulders and he continued for me.
"This morning we received the news that Natalie Bay died as a direct result of complications, due to her injuries sustained almost a month ago. Jack is okay and still recovering, but Natalie never regained consciousness after the attack," Marcus said and his words sent a ripple of shock and surprise through the assembled people.
Chloe was holding Josh very tightly and tears began streaming down their faces. This was replicated around the room in the pained expressions and tears.
The next day
Saturday
West Ridge
Cameron and Natasha were looking a little worried.
"Don't worry – you're gonna enjoy this!" I smirked and handed each of them a small burgundy coloured item. "You're goin' home!"
The two kids stared down at the brand new British Passports in surprise and then looked back up at me.
"Marcus contacted some friends, who had other friends. Basically, to cut a long story very short, you two are in the clear and can now go home," I said, throwing each twin an envelope. "First class tickets on British Airways, plus some spending money! You leave in the morning."
Natasha jumped up and gave me a big hug.
"Thank you, Mindy!"
"I owe you two for keeping my secret and helping me in Milwaukee. Now go home and don't get yourselves into any more trouble!"
Soon after we had returned from Milwaukee, I had sat down with Chloe and Erika to debrief them.
"So, what happened in the penthouse?" I asked gently.
"I'm sorry Mindy, I..."
"Erika stop – before you say anything, know this: I am not mad at you or anybody. We were all in a difficult situation and Chloe can tell you that no matter how well you plan, things still manage to go to shit! Now, I heard both of you scream and yell – you both get shot?"
"Yes, I did – in the chest – twice!" Erika admitted.
"Are you okay? Have you seen Cathy?" I asked with concern.
"Yes, I did – just some bruises. Chloe was right: bullets and tits don't go together well!" Erika said with a grimace, as she rubbed her chest.
I looked at Chloe.
"Yes, I got shot again and yes, my chest hurts and yes, I saw Mom!" Cathy admitted, rubbing her own chest.
"I hesitated, when I should have shot the guy!" Erika said. "I don't know why – I managed to shoot at those Nightingales!"
"It happens, don't worry. I heard you got that Nightingale in the forehead – damn good shot, girl!" I said encouragingly.
I was not looking forward to going to another funeral – the last one that I attended did not quite go according to plan and I had ended up fighting for both Dave's life, on top of a damn panel van and my own!
I had to go, to support Joshua. He was really broken up about Natalie dying. He was up in his room now and he was spending a lot of time there with Chloe. I was glad of Chloe; she had spent the night with Josh and was trying her best to help him. I still had no idea how to cope with grief in the normal way; my way of coping was killing!
I had avenged the dead Cops and Natalie, but that was not enough. I had lost a part of my life – somebody who had known both my Mom and my Dad.
That Evening
Dammit!
I went upstairs and pushed open the door to Josh's room. Josh was lying on his bed and Chloe was cuddling him.
"Joshua!" I called.
"Yes!" Josh said looking over toward me. His eyes were red.
"We're going out – just you and me!"
"Mindy, I can't..."
"Get up off your fucking arse, boy!" I yelled. "You're not the only person who's lost somebody!"
"Now hold on Mindy!" Chloe started.
"Stay out of this Chloe!" I responded and I saw that Chloe understood from my tone that she should back off.
"Fucking bitch!" Josh growled and climbed off the bed and pulled on his shoes.
Twenty minutes later, we were weaving in and out of traffic at fifty miles per hour on my BMW.
"What's this all about, Mindy?" Josh asked from behind me.
I said nothing and just kept on going.
Safehouse F
An hour later, it was dark and we were both in our combat suits and ready to depart the Safehouse.
Marty and Erika would be in the Command Centre and would monitor us.
"You sure about this?" Marty tried.
"We both have things to work out – just watch our backs!" I replied.
"We'll do that!" Marty replied with a smile.
I finished checking Jackal out to ensure that he had not missed anything and then Jackal checked me out for any missing equipment. I had him focussed, so that he could not think about anything else, at least not yet.
Ten minutes later, we both roared up the concrete ramp.
Two miles away, I finally answered Jackal's question.
"You and I have something in common – we don't cope well with grief. We both have things to work out of our systems. I go out alone, I'll do something stupid. I have a feeling that you've been contemplating going out on your own, too."
"Yes, I have – Shadow's been good but, I need to work things out for myself," Jackal replied.
"Well, why don't we go and have some fun – work off our grief..."
..._...
"Where...?"
"… Are we going?" I finished. "I had a chat with a certain Cop and there's some people who deserve to... Disappear!"
"Now that's what we need!" Jackal replied.
"It'll be tough – you up to it, Jackal!" I asked.
"I won't let you down, Hit Girl!"
We pulled into a street, in southeast Chicago.
Jackal and I were now in mortal danger. This area belonged to a well-known and vicious criminal gang that was usually able to evade arrest and prison thanks to blackmail and well paid lawyers. Voight was fed up with letting these bastards go and recently they had managed to get away with murder. They now deserved the ultimate sanction. We secured the motorcycles and moved towards the next street over and into the heart of the area.
"Well, well, well!" A voice yelled out of the darkness.
I drew my twin Katana swords and Jackal drew his Ninja-To as four men moved out of the shadows.
"We don't like vigilantes – they don't belong down 'ere!" Strangely, this guy had a British accent.
"Bring it on, motherfuckers!" I growled, sizing the men up.
A shadow moved to my left and I saw the glint of metal and then the shape of a pistol being raised.
A shot rang out as a body fell to the ground at my feet. I replaced my pistol and growled at the men.
"Let's keep it polite, gentlemen!"
"What the fuck is that voice?" A man asked.
"The last thing that you're ever gonna hear!" I growled.
Hit Girl hissed into her comms.
"Move!"
She then shot forward and attacked the men. I swung my Ninja-To, severed the left hand of the nearest man, and saw the blood spray over my combat suit. Hot Girl took off one man's head, followed by another man's arm. That flooded the street with blood and the fourth man fell to my blade in his chest.
I now understood why Hit Girl and told me to move. We needed to remove these men fast, because almost immediately we were surrounded by eight more men, all armed with guns, knives and machetes. The adrenalin surge from the first group of men had allowed me to focus and I used my emotions, I used the loss of Natalie and I wanted more – I needed to channel my emotions into killing these men.
The men started to shoot, but our armour deflected the shots and Hit Girl and I waded into the men, our blades slashing from side to side. I seized a machete from one man and started wielding it in my left hand, while my Ninja-To was in my right. Limbs and weapons were scattered across the street, blood poured into the gutters and down the drains. I saw a man advancing on Hit Girl, but her attention was with the three men in front of her. I was too far away, so I dropped the machete, seized a fighting knife, and threw it hard at the attacker, who dropped to the street behind Hit Girl, just as she reduced her three men to one, who then turned and fled.
Hot Girl stowed her blades, drew a pistol and dropped the man with a single shot. I looked around. Thirteen men were dead – most of them in pieces. Hit Girl was covered in blood and I could see blood on my combat suit. I smiled to myself under my mask and I could see another smile on Hit Girls lips.
"That felt good!" I growled.
"Hell yeah!" Hit Girl replied.
It really was time to leave!
We ran back to our motorcycles and left the area at high speed. Hoped that we had not just poked a hornet's nest, but I saw the night's activities as part of the healing process. I needed a distraction, a way of leaving Hit Girl behind for a time and enjoying being with my family and friends. I had just had a good idea: I enjoyed using the 'Vigilante', so why not get a boat that could be used as Mindy Macready! The 'Vigilante' would never see the light of day and only go out at night.
I liked the idea of that – buy a boat and we could all have fun out on the lake – maybe even go further afield! Yeah, I think I would definitely look into a boat, just a little one...
… On the other hand, maybe a slightly larger one!