CL Hart -From A Distance

by CL Hart

  They walked down the aluminum gangplank to a small eight-foot dinghy. Within minutes, Dennis was maneuvering the small craft in and out of the moored sailboats to bring them alongside of Helen's Gate.

  "Nice name," Cori said as she admired the scripted gold and blue lettering on the back of the boat.

  "I named her after my grandmother."

  "Here we go, ladies." Dennis grabbed hold of the rear railing.

  "Thanks, Dennis," Kenzie said as she laid a hand on her beloved boat. Her arm felt heavy as she ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the hull. She could feel some of the tension leave her body when she finally stepped on board.

  "Will you need a taxi pick up in the morning for breakfast?" he asked as he assisted Cori out of the dinghy.

  Kenzie offered a hand to Cori and once she was safely on board, she reached back for the bag Dennis held out to her. "Actually, Dennis, I'll be pulling up anchor once I check everything out."

  "You're leaving?" He was both surprised and disappointed. "But you're paid up 'til the end of the year."

  "I'm leaving on business. You know how it is. I'll be back, though. Don't you worry."

  "All right then. It was nice to meet you, Miss Laura. You have a safe trip, Miss Etcher," Dennis called as he powered his dinghy back toward the dock.

  Kenzie turned to Cori and smiled. "Welcome aboard Helen's Gate."

  "Thanks. I can't believe we finally got here," she said as she looked over the sailboat. "Wow, I'm very impressed. Are you going to show me around?"

  "You bet."

  Handing Cori the duffle bag, Kenzie went to the base of the mast where she had a key hidden. She never knew when she would be aboard, so there was no point in packing a key with her. Cori was standing at the door that led to the accommodations below deck when Kenzie returned. Cori reached to turn the knob, just to see if it was indeed locked. The slight movement of the handle was all that was needed.

  Ping.

  Kenzie heard it and her eyes flew open wide in horror. A high-pitched whine - that most people never got a chance to describe -quickly followed. She flew at Cori with a full body tackle, taking them both over the side of the boat just as the propane tanks below ignited. Helen's Gate exploded in a massive fireball. The sound was heard all the way to Pacific Beach.

  Cobra was sitting in the back of a taxi in a parking lot across from Sail Bay, nursing a swollen lip and a sore elbow, when the night sky around Mission Bay erupted with a large orange fireball. He didn't feel the blast, but he was certain those in the nearby vicinity had. He did not care about the loss of life and he did not care about the destruction of property. The new guy, Calvin, had done his job and Kenzie's boat was in a million pieces, and so were they - it was finally over. Leaning back in the taxi, he sighed in relief. The job was done and all he wanted to do was go home.

  "Holy shit! Did you see that?" The taxi driver's eyes were wide as the fire and black plume of smoke climbed into the night sky.

  "I most certainly did," Cobra said with an arrogant confidence. "I don't want to get caught up in the traffic, so you can take me to the airport now."

  The driver nodded an absentminded acknowledgement as he glanced back and forth between the road and the flames. He pulled a u-turn in front of the wooden roller coaster, the famous landmark that marked the start of Pacific Beach. "You think it might be terrorists?" he asked, glancing into his rearview mirror at his passenger.

  "Nah," Cobra answered. "Probably someone who wasn't paying attention to what they were doing."

  The taxi picked up speed, leaving the burning wreckage behind them. "Which airport - international, commuter, or military?"

  "Military," Cobra said, but then thought about it. "Actually better make it international."

  Dennis had almost made it back to the dock when the explosion lit up the sky. Before he knew what had happened, he felt the Shockwave and then the intense heat. Looking back, he felt his stomach heave when he realized whose boat had exploded. His attention on the burning wreckage, Dennis failed to see the approaching dock and walkway. The small dinghy missed the dock running its occupant head first into the aluminum gangplank and sending his limp body into Sail Bay.

  Chapter 14

  As she felt the full force of Kenzie's body slam against her, Cori's first instinct was to scream. They were in the air, falling toward the dark waters, when the fireball mushroomed toward the sky. The Shockwave from the explosion pushed them hard into the water. Disoriented, Cori felt the cold blackness of the ocean engulf her as the fire above billowed over their heads. A heaviness dragged her down into the water. At first, she thought it was Kenzie pulling on her shoulder, then she realized it was the canvas bag. Letting it go would leave them once more with nothing, and that was not an option. Kenzie would need it. Only then did another thought erupt in her mind. Kenzie!

  Kicking forcefully until she reached the surface, Cori breathed in a welcome breath of air. She searched the waters around her, but it was hard to see through the smoke and the burning debris. The fire was raging out of control. Twisting around, she swung the bag behind her and pulled the strap over her neck. That was when she saw Kenzie, floating face down, just out of reach. Oh God, no! Propelling herself with her legs, Cori reached her quickly. Pushing the scattered debris away from them, she flipped Kenzie over and lifted her face out of the water.

  "Kenzie! Kenzie, open your eyes!" Panic swelled through Cori as she wiped the hair from Kenzie's face. "Oh God, Kenzie...please, open your eyes." There was no response, no sign of life in the still features. Fearing the worst, Cori pressed trembling fingertips to the side of Kenzie's neck...and waited as they bobbed in the water. Kenzie had a pulse and she was breathing. Cori closed her eyes and whispered a silent thank-you.

  The intense heat of the flames refocused her on their immediate predicament. The water around them was littered with wreckage and some of it was on fire. However, thankfully those same flames also hid them from the onlookers beginning to gather along the shoreline. Everyone's attention seemed to be on the burning boat. Now if she could just get them to shore without being spotted.

  Leaning further back into the water, Cori pulled Kenzie close to her and began the slow, arduous swim to the beach. She had not swum more than a few feet when Kenzie's body tightened and jerked.

  A groan that was more of a gasp signaled Kenzie's return to consciousness as she struggled for air against the tight grip around her chest.

  Cori stopped swimming and treaded water as she positioned herself so that she could see Kenzie's face. The gold-colored eyes had not yet opened, but Kenzie's grimace told Cori all she needed to know. "Kenzie... Kenzie can you hear me? Open your eyes," she pleaded.

  "Can't...get...a breath," she answered with a grunt as her eyes fluttered open.

  "Just hang on. I have to get us to shore." Cori was grateful that she was awake but she needed to keep making progress toward landfall.

  Kenzie tried to focus on her surroundings as Cori pulled them through the water. With slow, shallow breaths, Kenzie could feel the oxygen return to her lungs. Desperate for more air she attempted a bigger breath, but it caused her to cough. The pain flashed through her body from multiple directions, causing her muscles to constrict, pulling her away from Cori and down into the water.

  Cori had no choice but to stop. Pulling upward with every ounce of strength her small frame could muster, she was relieved to feel the sandy ground beneath her feet as she brought Kenzie's face back above the surface of the water. "Easy...easy," she said as she struggled to get them to shore.

  With each cough, Kenzie's body protested her attempt to stand Coritugged, dragged, and stumbled into shallower water until Kenzie was able to help. "Come on, we're almost there "

  "I can t...get a breath," Kenzie gasped, leaning heavily on Cori as she tried to get her feet under her.

  Cori repositioned the bag on her shoulder and then moved in to pull Kenzie s arm around her neck. "Let me help you " A hiss of pain escaped through Kenz
ie's clenched teeth. "Is it your side?" Coriasked as they neared the shore.

  "Amongst other things..." Kenzie tried to focus on the sandy beach. She felt weak and disoriented, but her training and her instinct for survival were strong. "We've got to get...out of here "

  The words were quiet and lacked Kenzie's normal confidence Coriwas not sure whether Kenzie was talking to her or to herself. It didnt matter. She'd had the same idea.

  Shouts and screams pulled Cori's attention away from Kenzie People were pointing toward something floating near the dock. For a moment Cori wondered what it might be, then realized the distraction was what they needed to emerge from the water unseen. Cautiously, they moved together through the salty water until they made it to the shore. Only then did Cori turn to see what everyone was looking at, but there were too many people blocking her view for her to see anything.

  Kenzie was quiet, but Cori could hear the difficulty she was having with her breathing. It was raspy and halting, and it was clear she was in pain. Now that they were out of the water, a part of her wanted to stop and tend to Kenzie, but Cori knew they had to get as far away from the flaming sailboat as possible. The shifting sand was hard to walk in, but as quickly as they could manage, they made it up the bank and onto the asphalt pathway that ran alongside the bay.

  Curious onlookers had gathered on the shoreline. The flaming sea craft held everyone's attention. Some of the people had even moved into the water, searching through the floating debris for any victims. Fate was on Cori and Kenzie's side. They were far enough away that no one noticed the two women, huddled close together, moving slowly into the shadows.

  Without the buoyancy of the water, Cori felt the weight of the bag. Grabbing the strap with one hand, she attempted to shift it higher on her shoulder. "Now where?"

  Kenzie looked around and then gestured with her head toward a bike path that ran between two of the waterfront homes. It didn't matter at the moment where it led, just that it took them off the beach and out of view. They hurried the best they could away from the sounds of the burning wreckage, keeping close to the edge of the path and out of light from the lampposts. In the distance, sirens filled the warm night air.

  Each step was a struggle but Kenzie kept her mind, and eyes, on the path. She could hear Cori's labored breathing as she strained under the weight she was carrying. It was only then that she realized it was not Cori's breathing she was hearing, it was her own. Her side was burning with pain, but she couldn't worry about that right now. They had to keep moving. The question was: to where?

  Cori felt the resistance as Kenzie's pace slowed. "Kenzie, we have to keep moving," she pleaded as she tightened her grip.

  "I know," Kenzie said, but her body would not respond to her mind.

  "Come on." Fear was pushing Cori forward, fear and the fact that she didn't know what else to do. The sirens were growing louder and her anxiety pressed her beyond what her mind was thinking. The houses and cottages, packed tightly together, left no space for cover or any place they could hide. The night was still young enough for joggers and walkers, who thankfully paid them little attention, but she knew that wouldn't last for long. The explosion and the flames, along with the approaching sirens were drawing people from all over the Mission Bay area.

  Turning off the bike path into an alleyway, Cori spotted a a covered boat parked against a fence behind one of the houses. "In there?"

  Kenzie looked it over. She wanted to stop, she needed to stop, but she knew they had to move on. "No...you were right earlier... we have to keep moving."

  Cori looked at Kenzie. "Shouldnt we just get out of sight just now?"

  Kenzie closed her eyes. A place to hide would be good, but they couldnt stop. she wanted to, more than anything, but the training that had been drilled into her forced her onward. If she could just clear her head and think. Exhaustion was clouding her judgment and the pain of each breath was pulling her down. Move it soldier. This is not the time to stop, LeGauIt. Keep it moving. Forward...always forward! But she couldn't.

  Suddenly Kenzie found her mind back in boot camp. Sergeant Carter was yelling at her to move. "If you stop now, soldier, you're gonna die, and you're gonna take your entire platoon with you Do you want to be responsible for every one of your friends dying? I don't think so, soldier. Move it, move it, move it!"

  Each step was a struggle as she tried to shake sergeant Carter from her mind. Though her mind tumbled in and out of time, she knew she was not in training She was in an alley, running for her life The sandy beach had been hard to run in... The sandy beach was suddenly the sands of the Middle east... Cobra and Viper were there. And soldiers...

  Kenzie stumbled, and if Cori had not held her, she would have fallen to her knees. "Easy," Cori said as she strained to keep them both upright.

  Kenzie shook her head and tried to keep her mind focused on the present but she was just too tired. There were cars lining both sides of the alleyway and Kenzie reached out to steady herself against one.

  The simple movement brought a flash of unexpected pain and a wave of darkness. Her legs wobbled and she started a slow slide to the ground.

  "Kenzie!" Cori did her best to hold on, but Kenzie's dead weight was more than she could bear. "Kenzie!" Fear and concern overwhelmed her as she dropped the bag and knelt down next to her fallen companion. Kenzie's eyes were open, but were distant and unfocused.

  "Kenzie, look at me. Kenzie?" she begged as Kenzie closed her eyes with a grimace.

  "I'm fine," she said with a groan. She was disoriented and having a hard time concentrating. "Just help me up."

  "No, you are not fine! You're feverish. You keep mumbling to yourself and it's starting to scare me. I can't do this alone." Relieved that Kenzie was at least conscious for the moment, Cori looked up and down the alley to see if anyone was watching them. She was grateful to see that they were alone.

  Cori's fear was enough to pull Kenzie's mind back together, at least for the moment. "Let's go."

  "Can you stand?"

  "Yeah...I'm fine, I just...slipped. Let's move on," Kenzie said as she steadied herself with her left arm. The movement was enough to dislodge her Colt .45 and, without warning, it clattered onto the ground, the sharp sound echoing loudly through the alley. Cori scooped the gun up and placed it into the front waistband of her pants before she assisted a grunting Kenzie back to her feet.

  "Maybe we should rest here for a bit," Cori said, no longer having faith in herself or in escaping their situation.

  Kenzie said nothing. It was taking all of her concentration just to get herself upright. Part of her wanted to rest. Her legs felt like tree trunks and her entire upper body felt like it was on fire. Her body was so hot she could feel the sweat rolling down her side beneath her damp clothing. She gingerly touched her side. The warmth oozing through her fingers told her more than she wanted to know. Pain was her friend, keeping her mind alert, telling her she was alive.

  "We have to keep moving...now." She took a couple of uncertain steps and then turned to Cori, knowing she couldn't make it without her. "I'm okay, let's go."

  Their progress was slow, but steady, until the alley ended at a long, high wooden fence. Looking left and right, Cori tried to decide which way to go. Kenzie was still standing, although every step was a struggle. As if sensing Cori's indecision, Kenzie lifted her head just as the sound of the sirens wailed to an end. The emergency personnel had arrived at the scene. "I think we should go right," she said.

  Cori looked over at her and then in the direction she had suggested. "Isn't that back toward the bay?"

  "Yeah," Kenzie said. "But if we go left, that will take us out to Mission Bay Boulevard - way too much traffic and too many

  "Would that be such a bad thing? I mean, wouldn't we be safer with more people around?"

  Kenzie hesitated, but only for a moment. "It might be safer but I think we'd attract too much attention." She took a breath and swallowed hard against her own rising doubt and the pain that clouded her
judgment. "We need to find a place to hide."

  "What about one of these houses?"

  "No, let's just keep moving."

  Kenzie attempted to do just that, but her steps were slow and wobbly and Cori reached out to steady her. "I think you need to come up with a plan B." Cori moved closer to her, securing the bag on her shoulder as she attempted to wrap her arm around Kenzie's waist. "I can't pack you around San Diego all night."

  "I'm okay," Kenzie said, holding up a hand to fend off Cori's assistance.

  "No, you're not. You're a heartbeat away from passing out and then what? We need to find someplace to rest, if only for a short while." She slid a sideways glance at Kenzie's pursed white lips. "And so I can take a look at that battered body of yours."

  "Hmmm," she answered with a deep, rumbling grunt "Any excuse to get your hands on my naked body again," she teased quietly, not taking her eyes off the path in front of her.

  Cori shook her head in disbelief. "I'm glad to see your sense of humor was undamaged." This woman is unbelievable. "Your naked body is the last thing on my mind," she said. "Right now I'm more concerned with saving our asses by getting out of sight."

  "I agree. Let's keep moving."

  "Until what...you fall down...again?"

  Kenzie refused to answer as they came to the end of the alleyway. They were back at the bay, the path blocked by several concrete cylinders that were in place to prevent vehicle traffic The remains of Kenzie's burning boat still lit up the night skies while morbid spectators crowded the shoreline. Their detour down the alley and bike path had let them avoid all the onlookers.

  Cori saw the anguish etched into Kenzie's tired face. Silently she watched the embers floating upwards to the heavens. "I'm sorry about your boat, Kenzie," Cori said, almost regretting the intrusion on her privacy.

  Kenzie sighed loudly and focused her attention on the woman beside her. "Material things can be replaced."

  Knowing what the boat meant to her, Cori could only nod.