She hit the target only once, and that was when she took position behind the rifle after Tanner had set the range for her. When she shot at the target on her own, she never came within ten feet of hitting it.
“That is definitely more difficult than it seems,” Sara admitted, and then she looked over at Tanner with a serious gaze.
“Can you really make that shot with one round?”
“Yes, because I have to.”
“But what if you miss? You know what’s at stake.”
Tanner smiled thinly.
“Beginning to have your doubts about me, eh Blake?”
Sara broke eye contact, but looked back at him an instant later.
“If you say that you can make the shot, then that’s good enough for me.”
“I can make the shot.”
Sara grabbed the rangefinder and took position.
“All right then, let’s get back to work, but before we do, there’s something I have to tell you.”
Sara went on to recount her meeting with Burke, Lennox, and Jake Vincento. When she finished, she was relieved to see that Tanner had remained calm.
“I’m certainly not the only man who knows how to kill, and Vincento will either sink or swim. Let Burke give him as much work as he wants to, I’ll only draw the line at working alongside him. I kill alone.”
“I sense a disaster coming, but perhaps it will work out.”
“I could recommend someone if it became necessary,” Tanner said.
Sara’s eyebrows raised up in surprise.
“Who would that be?”
“My mentor, Tanner Six. He’s as deadly as he ever was.”
“I’d like to meet him someday.”
“Yeah, maybe someday,” Tanner said.
***
As they were leaving the lake in the afternoon, Sara told Tanner that her investigation into the Sicilian assassin, Maurice Scallato, had hit a dead end.
“I see why he’s called ‘The Ghost’,” Sara said. “It’s almost as if the man doesn’t exist.”
“So I’ve gathered. And he’s very selective about his kills. I’ve only heard of seven confirmed contracts, all were high profile hits, and other than his signature, Scallato didn’t leave behind a clue.”
“What signature?” Sara asked.
Tanner smiled.
“I thought you knew, Scallato uses his own blood to draw a ghost on the body of his victims. With DNA, no one can commit a copycat murder and claim it was his.”
“If he’s ever caught, the DNA evidence will make it infinitely easier to prosecute him.”
“He’s not planning on being caught. Let Scallato go, Blake. I’ll cross paths with him someday, and when I do, I’ll repay him for siccing Rashid on me.”
“What if he’s not through with you, Tanner?”
“So much the better. I’ll kill him that much sooner.”
***
Their last day of training went well, and Tanner was hitting the target every time, although some of the shots were on the fringes.
Sara had a natural talent as a spotter, and she called out with great accuracy the changes Tanner needed to make. They were moving about often, going several yards to the right or left, and ranging in on the target from different angles and elevations. Tanner even made one shot from over 3,100 yards and was successful.
“I’m going to do more target practice. I like it,” Sara said. “I used to practice with a pistol at a gun range, but I like the rifle better.”
“Are you going after my job?” Tanner said.
“No Tanner, despite what Sloane Lennox may think, you’re one of a kind.”
***
Two days later, Tanner arrived with Sara, Deke, and Alexa, near the lake house in Pennsylvania where Yatsenko would be.
The lake property was owned by Yatsenko under a phony name. When it was verified by government agents that Yatsenko planned to spend time at the lake, it was deemed a perfect place to kill him.
Sara would receive a text on her phone when Yatsenko left Philadelphia, and that would allow Tanner plenty of time to get set up and take a shot.
Tanner and Sara were dressed as hunters, but didn’t have to bundle up in coats because despite it being winter, the temperature was mild. The day offered bright sunlight, and more importantly for Tanner, little wind.
Tanner’s sniper rifle looked out of place, but it was late in the hunting season and he would be in a secluded area. Tanner also wore a small backpack that contained water, energy bars, and spare ammo.
There was more equipment in Sara’s car trunk, including a full set of body armor that Alexa insisted Tanner bring along with him. If he failed to kill Yatsenko with the rifle, he would have to go after the man inside the lake house and make it past Yatsenko’s men.
Alexa had driven in with Tanner while Sara and Deke had followed. They were parked on the dry riverbed. Although there were signs that other cars used it occasionally, Tanner had seen none driving on it, and thought that it was a good place to park and make plans.
Alexa shielded her eyes from the bright sun.
“You have a nice clear day, that’s good, and should help you make the shot.”
“What happens if you don’t kill Yatsenko with the rifle?” Deke asked.
“Then I’ll have to do things the old-fashioned way.”
“But I thought that there would be a dozen men with Yatsenko?”
“There might be, but I’ve killed more than that to get to a target.”
Alexa took Tanner in her arms.
“Make the shot. I don’t want you to risk yourself.”
“Don’t worry; I’ve made tougher shots.”
“Just how far away will the target be?” Deke asked.
“It’ll be nearly a mile and a half,” Sara said.
Deke imagined the distance and stared at Tanner.
“You can make that shot in one attempt?”
“I will when the time comes.”
Deke shook his head in wonder.
“Remarkable.”
***
Tanner kissed Alexa goodbye. She and Deke were taking advantage of being in Pennsylvania to visit the American Military Edged Weaponry Museum, which was about a hundred miles from their current location.
“Have fun visiting your museum,” Tanner told Alexa. “I expect a T-Shirt.”
Alexa laughed, and then her face turned serious.
“I know that there’s a lot of stress on you to make this shot, but at least you won’t be in much danger as you take it.”
“I’ll still have to make it back here for Blake to extract me, but yeah, there’s not much risk to me, personally.”
“I know you’ll make the shot. You’re a Tanner.”
“That I am, and when this is over, we’ll go exploring for a place to live.” Tanner looked over at Deke. “Keep an eye on Alexa inside that museum; she might be tempted to take a ‘souvenir.’”
Deke smiled.
“The place is awesome if you’re an edged weapons freak like I am, and there are a few pieces there that I would love to have.”
Sara looked at Deke and Alexa.
“You two are visiting a museum together?”
“As friends,” Alexa said. “Or don’t you think that a man and a woman can be just friends?”
“That would depend on the man and the woman,” Sara said.
“I can think of two women who might never be friends,” Tanner said.
Alexa and Sara looked at each other, and then Sara smiled.
“I like Alexa...”
“But?” Alexa said.
“No buts, although I had thought that you might be a distraction that Tanner didn’t need. I see now that you’re not. The way you handled yourself when Omar Ali Rashid tried to take you hostage proved as much.”
“Thank you,” Alexa said. “And... I guess I like you too.”
Tanner smiled.
“Good, you’re practically sisters. Now take off and I’ll see
you and Deke back at the motel tonight.”
A last kiss, and then Alexa headed for the car with Deke walking along beside her.
Sara stayed back, and then stepped closer to Tanner.
“Make the shot.”
“Yes ma’am,” Tanner said.
Sara made a face.
“Stick with calling me Blake. Ma’am makes me sound like an old lady, or, you could start calling me Sara.”
Tanner grinned.
“I’ll stick with Blake, Blake.”
Sara walked towards the car, as Alexa and Deke drove off, but then she turned and walked back to Tanner.
“There’s plenty of time until Yatsenko shows. I want to see the actual lake house and where you’ll be shooting from.”
“Tag along if you want, but remember, there are no bathrooms out here.”
“I’m not a delicate flower, Tanner; I can rough it for an hour or so.”
“Yes ma’am, Miss Blake, whatever you say, ma’am.”
Sara laughed and they headed towards the lake.
CHAPTER 9 – Henry the eighth
Kyril Yatsenko’s lake home was easily accessible only by using a private road that led to a winding gravel driveway.
The narrow driveway opened up to a large parking area that was paved in brick, and twenty yards from the left side of the home was a green storage shed made of corrugated metal. There was an unflattering chain link fence around the property, lake included, while the driveway had a second wooden fence on both sides of it.
That shorter fence was bordered by thorny bramble bushes that were flush against a thick growth of wild plants and trees. This included poison oak, which could cause a nasty rash.
Being early winter, most of the trees were bare of leaves, but the urushiol oil in the poison oak was still active, although the plant itself appeared dormant.
The plants were as much a security measure as was the wooden fence, and seeing them, Tanner knew that getting too close to the driveway would be a mistake. He and Sara were looking down on the gated driveway entrance from the top of a small hill.
“This is as close as I want to get to Yatsenko’s home,” Tanner said to Sara. “I’ve a feeling there are hidden cameras in the surrounding area, along with the ones you can see.”
“That would fit in with his other security measures,” Sara said. “It really is the best choice to kill him from a distance.”
“Yes, although there’s a section of downed fence near the front entrance. If I’m forced to invade the house to reach Yatsenko, I may use that as a point of entry.”
Tanner pointed to a set of hills that were north of the property.
“Let me show you what the house looks like from the area I’ll be shooting from.”
Sara shaded her eyes, and looked over in the direction that Tanner had indicated.
“That is a long way off, and you’ll have to account for the elevation. Why not let me stay and help you, Tanner? It would make your job easier.”
Tanner bit his lip as he considered, then reluctantly nodded.
“You would be a help.”
“I will be, you’ll see.”
Tanner was carrying the McMillan rifle he had trained with. Anyone seeing that gun would suspect that he was out to kill something more than deer. However, they shouldn’t be running into anyone they couldn’t easily avoid contact with.
Deer were actually illegal to hunt, as the season had ended only a few days earlier in Pennsylvania. However, the furtaker licenses they carried under phony names legally allowed Tanner and Sara to hunt for bobcats, raccoons, or foxes. They carried them on the off chance they ran into a game warden.
***
As they circled around to the other set of hills while walking through the trees, Sara thought about her desire to learn more about Tanner’s connection to Dr. Jessica White and her husband. Thomas Lawson had said that Tanner bore a resemblance to the doctor’s husband, and that intrigued Sara.
She had gone online, and after finding a picture of the doctor’s husband, whose name wasn’t actually White, Sara saw the strong resemblance he had to Tanner.
She wondered if they were related and had been planning to look into it further, but was having second thoughts about it.
She and Tanner needed to work together. She had been gaining his trust, and if she went behind his back to learn more about him, he might interpret her actions as hostile.
“Tanner?”
“Yeah?”
“After hearing what Lawson said about your resemblance to Dr. Jessica White’s husband... I grew curious and found pictures of him on the Internet. There is a strong resemblance.”
Tanner stopped walking.
“Go ahead and ask me, Blake.”
Sara shrugged.
“Are you related to the man?”
Tanner stared at her, there was no anger in his eyes, but there was an annoyed aspect to his gaze.
“Let’s get something straight. If I ever want you to know more about me, I will tell you more, all right?”
“Yes, and I was just asking a question. As I said, I was curious.”
Tanner softened his gaze.
“At least you didn’t go behind my back and contact the doctor or her husband.”
Sara smiled, and there was a bit of guilt to it.
“I thought about it.”
Tanner said nothing more, but just continued on towards the hills. When they reached them, Tanner began sighting through his scope, and saw an interesting sight at the lake house. It was the man he’d run into the other day while he was exploring the area, the one with the gold teeth in front. He was toting a broom and dustpan and was sweeping the area in front of the home.
Sara had a pair of binoculars, and she spotted the man as well.
“There’s someone already there. I think he’s a caretaker.”
“It looks that way. He’s probably getting the home ready for Yatsenko’s visit. I ran into that guy when I was here the other day. He’s not the friendly type.”
Sara smiled.
“Neither are you.”
“True,” Tanner admitted.
The man with the gold teeth finished his sweeping and decided to take a smoke break. He was standing near the front door of the home, and Tanner saw an opportunity. While Sara was gazing at the surrounding area with her binoculars, Tanner emptied the cartridges from the rifle and loaded in snap caps, dummy rounds. He then lay down, took careful aim, and pulled the trigger.
The rifle made a snapping sound, and that was followed by Sara releasing an audible sigh of relief.
Tanner looked up at her from where he lay on his stomach.
“What’s wrong, Blake?”
“I thought the rifle was loaded.”
“I’m just using that guy as a stand-in for Yatsenko, but keep an eye out. I don’t want anyone to see me and think I’m actually trying to shoot someone.”
Tanner took a number of practice shots with the rifle and was becoming familiar with the shot he’d have to make. In his mind’s eye he could see the man below receiving a deadly impact from a round.
He planned to make that imagined scene a reality once Yatsenko arrived.
Tanner continued to practice even after the man with the gold teeth had moved on, but stopped when Sara called to him.
“Look,” she said, and pointed off to the right, where a boy of ten was walking along with a rifle and headed in their general direction.
The rifle looked huge in the boy’s hands. It was an old M1 Garand. Tanner had owned one when he was a boy, and had fond memories of it.
“I saw that kid the other day when an older kid and his two brothers tried to bully him.”
“Did the other boys hurt him?”
Tanner smiled.
“No, he kicked the big kid’s ass and sent the three of them running off.”
“He looks too young to have that rifle,” Sara said.
“That depends on the boy, but let’s go talk to him.”
“Should we have a cover story or use phony names?” Sara asked.
“For a kid?”
“His parents are probably nearby.”
“All right then, call me Bob. What name do you want?”
“I’ll keep Sara, it’s a common enough name.”
“Once I kill Yatsenko, the Feds will label it a mob hit. The important thing is to not have witnesses. Just be yourself and the kid and his parents will likely move on by the time Yatsenko shows up.”
Tanner was about to call out to the boy as they drew near him, but the kid had heard their approach. The boy turned his head and looked at them with wide eyes, but when he spotted Sara, he smiled.
“Hi lady.”
“Hello yourself, I’m Sara and this is...,” Sara was going to tell the boy that Tanner’s name was Bob, but after smiling impishly, she gave Tanner a new name. “His name is Mortimer.”
Tanner scowled at Sara and mouthed the name. “Mortimer?”
Sara suppressed a giggle, and spoke to the boy again.
“What’s your name, honey?”
“I’m Henry Knight,” the boy said. “Are you two out here hunting?”
“Yes,” Tanner said. “And that’s a nice gun you have there, Henry. What sort of rounds are you using?”
Henry stared up at Tanner with a blank expression on his face.
Sara looked around.
“Where are your parents, Henry?”
“Um, they’re at home.”
Tanner held out a hand.
“Let me see that rifle.”
Henry hesitated, but then handed the M1 over to Tanner. Tanner checked the clip, and saw that it was loaded with .30-06.
“This ammo is a little heavy for this rifle, Henry. Who loaded it?”
“It was like that, and what do you mean heavy, ain’t all bullets the same?”
“Essentially, but just like people, it’s the differences that matter most.”
Tanner emptied the rifle of the .30-06 cartridges and pocketed them. Henry grew angry and pointed at him.
“You’re trying to steal my bullets!”
“Relax, kid, I’m just switching out the ammo, I have some low grain cartridges that will be better for you and won’t risk damaging the rifle’s operating rod.”
The TANNER Series - Books 13-15 (Tanner Box Set) Page 5