CL Hart -From A Distance

by CL Hart

  They watched for a moment as the emergency crew moved one of the fire trucks closer to the burning sailboat. Several small boats circled around, but it was the Coast Guard's Zodiac that caught Cori's attention.

  "What's the Coast Guard doing?"

  Kenzie squinted, trying to see what was drawing all the attention as two more small boats moved in next to the Coast Guard's vessel.

  "Looks like they've spotted something in the water," Kenzie said as a diver flipped over the side of the rubber Zodiac and splashed into the water. A moment later, he lifted something up toward the outstretched arms of the men on the boat.

  "Oh my God, it's a body," Cori said softly.

  "Dennis," Kenzie said in a whispered breath.

  Cori stared as they pulled the lifeless body from Sail Bay and into the Coast Guard's Zodiac. "Are you sure?"

  "As sure as I can be from here." She swallowed hard against the regret rising in her throat. Collateral damage was what they called it, but this time it was more personal. "We need to get out of here, come on." She turned away from the wreckage.

  "To where?" Cori asked as they set out on the paved path that ran alongside the water.

  "Any place but here."

  Moving away from what had been their original destination, they followed the water's edge to a large hotel at the north end of Sail Bay. The hotel's manicured lawns were brightly lit by rows of tall pedestal lights. The numerous volleyball pits were empty, but there were still too many people milling about for Kenzie's comfort.

  Her eyes were on the move, searching for shelter or at least for a refuge away from the excitement around the bay. She saw another pathway lined with low-wattage ground lights, which directed hotel guests toward a tall wooden gate. "There." Kenzie motioned toward the gate.

  Cori followed without thought. She trusted Kenzie and her instincts. However, as they approached the gate, a neatly printed sign dashed their hopes for an easy exit. GATE LOCKED - HOTEL GUESTS ONLY.

  Cori tried the handle anyhow, in hopes that the sign was only a discouragement, but the gate was indeed locked. "Now what?"

  Cobra had just paid his cabbie when his cell phone warbled in his pocket. "Yeah?" he answered curtly. He listened for a moment as he watched the cab pull away from the curb. "It's done." The voice on the other end of the phone responded sharply and Cobra's brow furrowed. "I said...it's done. I saw the explosion myself."

  "And I am telling you I want confirmation. Find their bodies and finish this! They're on American soil now and we cannot afford for this to become a story on the six o'clock news. Get it done quickly and quietly, and I want visual confirmation. Understood?"

  "Yes...sir." But the caller had already hung up "This is un-God damn-believable," he said to himself as he signaled for another cab. "You want visual goddamn confirmation. Ill give you visual confirmation!" He yanked the back door of the cab open and slid into the back seat. "Santa Clara Point in Sail Bay - now!" he ordered as he pulled his Blackberry from his pocket.

  The cab ride was quick, though not quick enough for him He threw some money at the driver and exited, slamming the door behind him. Cobra could smell the acidic smoke in the air as he moved quickly toward the flaming wreckage. The choppy water was littered with unrecognizable debris. There was nothing left of the boat. Several small boats and a Coast Guard Zodiac were buzzing about as he scanned the water for bodies.

  A commotion near an aluminum gangplank drew his attention, and he smiled in satisfaction as he watched the men from the Coast Guard pull a body from the water. The smile slid from his face when he realized it was the body of a man. Cursing violently under his breath, Cobra scratched at the stubble on his chin. Hands on hips, he sighed as his eyes drifted over the crowd and the surrounding area. If they were not in the water, they had to be close by. Cobra moved slowly through the onlookers, his eyes never stopping as he pushed his way past a group of young men. They hurled insults at him for his rudeness, but he ignored them. Something had caught his attention at the north end of the bay He quickened his pace as he watched the slow moving silhouettes He was positive it was them. They were definitely women, and one was shuttling, her steps slow and unsteady.

  "Gotcha," he said as he narrowed his eyes on his targets He drew his gun and attached the silencer as he watched them come to a stop outside a tall wooden gate. It was easy to tell, even from this distance, the gate was locked. He had them cornered with nowhere to go.

  Cori stared at the gate, willing it to open. "It's locked."

  "We climb over," Kenzie said as she looked over her shoulder. No one was paying them any attention, but that was not what she was looking for. She felt something...or someone.

  "You can barely keep upright and you think you're going to climb over this gate?"

  Kenzie grudgingly accepted that Cori was right. She could feel that her side was bleeding again. She didn't want to look at it, knowing it would cause Cori even greater concern. "Let's go back and carry on along the pathway then. There have to be other exits somewhere further on. I don't want to be standing out here any longer than we have to."

  "That makes two of us," Cori said.

  They turned to head back the way they had come, when there was a click and the gate opened. A couple emerged from it, hand-in-hand, unaware of the women on the other side.

  Cori offered a broad smile. "Hi."

  The man smiled in return, but his smile faded as he scrutinized their appearance. "Rough night," Cori said with all the humor she could muster.

  The man hesitated, then held the gate open as Cori reached for it. "Thanks. Saves us from having to dig our key out," Cori said lightly.

  "No problem," he said as he and the woman continued on their way.

  "That was a bit of luck," Cori said as they walked through the gate.

  Kenzie turned to pull the gate shut and her eyes connected with someone moving swiftly along the bike path in their direction. "Goddamn it, he's like a fucking pit bull," she said. "Our luck just ran out!"

  Kenzie's words filled Cori with panic. She looked back to see Cobra rushing toward the closing gate, his gun aimed directly at them.

  "Go!" Kenzie urged as she tugged on the handle, but Cori was already moving. The gun made no sound, but the bullets striking the gate did as it solidly closed with a click behind them.

  Racing away from Cobra, they found themselves in an open courtyard of the hotel. A curving brick pathway wound around large tropical plants and tall palm trees. Moving as fast as Kenzie could manage, they heard the sound of Cobra trying to break down the wooden gate. "That won't hold him for long," Kenzie said as the world wavered around her. Reaching out, she held onto Cori's small body for support.

  "Go!" Kenzie urged as she tugged on the handle, but Con was already moving. The gun made no sound, but the bullets striking the gate did as it solidly closed with a click behind them.

  Racing away from Cobra, they found themselves in an open courtyard of the hotel. A curving brick pathway wound around large tropical plants and tall palm trees. Moving as fast as Kenzie could manage, they heard the sound of Cobra trying to break down the wooden gate. "That won't hold him for long," Kenzie said as the world wavered around her. Reaching out, she held onto Cori's small body for support.

  "You don't have to tell me." Panic shortened Cori's breath. Feeling the taller woman sway against her, Cori looked at Kenzie. "Are you okay? Forget it, dumb question. We have to get out of here and find some place for you to rest." Looking over the courtyard, she searched for cover or an exit, anyplace to hide from the pursuing hit man.

  There were a few people around and they turned with interest to the wet and battered women staggering hastily through the usually quiet hotel courtyard.

  "There," Cori said, pointing to the glow of a red exit sign. The sound of breaking wood echoed behind them. She wrapped an arm around Kenzie's waist, ignoring her protests as she directed them to the exit. The brick path narrowed toward a door and Cori prayed it was not locked.

  Ken
zie was struggling to keep her focus as Cori reached for the handle and pulled open the door. They ducked through it without having seen Cobra. She knew he would not be far behind them. It was the first and only exit and he would see it, too.

  They paused for only a moment as they found themselves standing on a residential street. Small one-story houses with manicured lawns lined the dimly lit road. It didn't matter where they went from here, and they both knew it. There was no plan, no destination, no safe place to run. Turning to their right, they headed for the nearest corner.

  After only a block, Kenzie's breathing difficulty caused Cori to slow their pace. Moving through the dim light of a street lamp, she saw the blood Kenzie had been hiding from her. It was obviously a new and more serious wound as her entire right side was soaked in blood. "Oh my God, Kenzie!" Cori stopped and looked at Kenzie but the woman could barely lift her head. "We have to stop...now. You have a fever and you're bleeding...badly."

  Kenzie wanted to argue, but she couldn't. She no longer had the strength.

  Cori moved in closer, pulling Kenzie's left arm over her shoulder as she assessed the neighborhood for someplace, anyplace, to hide. Their options were limited, unless she wanted to knock on someone's door, which she did not. Moving out of the light, she spotted a large building with a perfectly manicured lawn dotted with perfectly pruned trees and large rocks. Looking skyward, she saw an illuminated cross on the roof of the building just beyond. A church. It was a perfect place to find refuge and maybe even some help for Kenzie. "Come on, just a bit further." Kenzie said nothing as she leaned heavily on Cori for support.

  The heavy bag and Kenzie's weight slowed Cori's pace, but Cobra was not far behind them and that knowledge spurred her on. They were getting closer to the church and she could now see the neatly trimmed lawn belonged to a library. Cutting across the lawn toward the church, she began to question her decision to go there. Cobra was right behind them, and he would surely see the church's glowing cross, as she had. But what other choice did she have?

  Crossing the empty street, they stepped onto the grass and Kenzie lifted her head to see where they were. The movement pulled Cori off balance and the two of them tumbled to the ground. Kenzie's groan echoed loudly in the quiet neighborhood. They came to rest next to one of the small trees decorating the library lawn. Cori flipped the bag off her shoulder and scrambled to her knees at Kenzie's side. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was erratic. Another moan escaped her lips.

  "Kenzie?" Cori pleaded as she cupped her face in her hands. "Kenzie, open your eyes." She shook her head as she looked down the limp body. There was so much blood, she wondered how she had missed seeing it earlier. With as much care as possible in her haste, she maneuvered Kenzie over to one of the larger rocks near the trees and leaned her against it, eliciting a grimace. "Kenzie?" She didn't respond as Cori pulled back the corner of Kenzie's shirt. The wound that Cori had stitched was holding together, but just barely. Below that was a new gash, and it was bleeding profusely. "Oh, God." Cori glanced up at Kenzie's face and was surprised to see her eyes were open.

  Moving closer to her face, Cori looked deep into the vacant golden eyes. "Kenzie, we have to get you some help. There's a church right over there. I've got to get you inside." She waited for a response, but none came. "Kenzie, can you hear me?"

  Her head moved slightly and her eyelids drifted up and down.

  Cori pulled the strap of the bag over her shoulder. Leaning down, she attempted to lift Kenzie to her feet, but couldn't budge her. Dropping the canvas bag, she stepped over and crouched in front of Kenzie to get a better grip. She struggled and strained, but to no avail. All that lifted were Kenzie's shoulders, and that made her groan. Reluctantly giving up, Cori crouched down. "I can't do it without you." She stopped when she saw that she was still talking to closed eyes. "Kenzie...Kenzie, you have to help me."

  Kenzie struggled to open her eyes, to focus on Cori, but she could barely get them open.

  Defeated, Cori's head dropped forward and she rested her chin on her chest. "I can't lift you."

  "Cori." It was barely a whisper.

  She lifted her head and was surprised to see Kenzie's eyes open. Kenzie." The name was more a gasp of relief. She watched Kenzie s eyes grow larger and clearer.

  "Why don't you just let her be?"

  The voice behind Cori sent a hair-raising chill down her spine. She didnt turn around, instead she watched as Kenzie's eyes came alive with clear intent.

  "Now stand the fuck up and move away from her slowly," Cobra said. Cori hesitated for a moment too long for Cobra's liking. He jammed the end of the silencer into the back of Cori's head. "Now!"

  Kenzie pulled her eyes from Cobra and stared at Cori. Her nod was slight, but Cori saw it just as she felt Kenzie's hand slide up against her stomach, claiming the gun she had in her waistband. "You never cease to amaze me," Cori whispered to Kenzie as she lifted her hands in surrender. Straightening up, Cori stepped to the side, away from Kenzie as ordered.

  Even though she had expected it, the boom from the Colt .45 in Kenzie's hand made Cori jump. The bullet slammed into Cobra's chest, stopping him instantly. His eyes grew wide in shock as he tried to lift his gun to retaliate. He never had the chance as the second bullet hit him directly between his eyes, dropping him where he stood.

  The Colt .45 held its position for a heartbeat longer before Kenzie dropped it to her side. Her head tilted back as her eyelids slid closed.

  Chapter 15

  Cori stood for a moment, her heart slamming against her chest as her ears rang with the echoing thunder. She swallowed hard as she looked from one body to the other. What am I supposed to do now? There's a dead body at my feet and a nearly unconscious woman next to it. I need to get help, but from where? There is no way I'm leaving Kenzie here alone, bleeding and... Awake!

  Kenzie was staring at her, her head lifted with apparent effort, watching in pained silence. Watching and waiting, as if reading the dilemma in Cori's mind.

  A dog barking in the distance snapped Cori out of her impasse. They needed to move on, now. Kneeling in front of Kenzie, Cori grabbed the gun and shoved it back in her waistband. Then she once again slung the bag over her shoulder and prepared to hoist Kenzie to her feet. "I think we need to get out of here."

  Lights were coming on around the neighborhood and it was enough to urge Kenzie upward. It was a painful struggle and she could not have gotten on her feet without Cori's help. Her steps were slow and heavy, but soon they were away from the library and away from Cobra's body.

  "They're going to have a hard time explaining that," Kenzie muttered weakly as they came to the end of the block and turned down an alley behind the church.

  "What's that, the shot?"

  Kenzie had to take a couple of breaths before she could answer. "No. Cobra's dead body... If they ID him...the military would have...declared him dead...years ago..." Her breath came in a raspy rattle as she stumbled and swayed in an effort to stay upright. "Just like...just like me."

  "Already declared dead?" There was no explanation to satisfy her curiosity.

  Kenzie was relying more and more on Cori for support, her level of consciousness fading with each step. The alley was too dark to see anything, but Cori knew Kenzie was in bad shape. She was desperate to find somewhere to hide, someplace to rest and care for Kenzie. The fact that she was certain no one was behind them at the moment gave her very little assurance. Kenzie had made her aware that someone would soon be there to take Cobra's place.

  The pavement in the alley was badly in need of repair. It slanted sharply to the center to form a spillway for the hard rains of San Diego. It made their progress even slower. There was a light on in one of the businesses across the alley from the back door of the church. As they staggered closer to it, Cori read the name-Grand Avenue Animal Hospital.

  A hospital! Albeit an animal hospital, it was still a hospital...with a light on. "This way, Kenzie," she said to the unresponsive woman in her arms. "
Come on, stay with me." Cori heaved at the weights dragging down on both her shoulders. She knew if they had to go any further, she herself might just drop where she was standing.

  The back door of the veterinary hospital was open, but a heavy-duty security screen door covered it. Music was playing inside and she could hear someone moving metallic things around as she sang along to a lively country song. Her key was off, but her heart was in it as she loudly belted out the chorus. Cori cautiously moved into the light and banged on the door. The singing stopped instantly. The motion of knocking caused the heavy canvas bag on Cori's shoulder to slip to the ground. She let it be. All of her strength was needed to hold onto Kenzie as she anxiously waited for someone to appear Cori angled their position, hoping to hide their bloodstained clothing. Kenzie mumbled something but Cori couldnt make it out. She tightened her grip on Kenzie's waist, feeling the blood soaking through her shirt. Cautiously aware of their visibility, she looked both ways down the alley. At the moment, they were still alone.

  Cori raised her hand to knock again and this time the volume of the radio diminished. Whoever was inside had definitely heard the knocking. Once again, Cori lifted her hand, but this time her knock stopped in mid-motion when she saw the silhouette of someone behind the security screen. "Hello?"

  "We're closed, go away," an understandably nervous female voice stated.

  "Please," Cori begged. "My friend...she's injured." She motioned toward Kenzie with her head. The movement caused Kenzie to flinch which made her moan. "Please...we need some help. She could hear movement behind the door, but Cori still could not make out the woman behind it. "Please...can you just let us in? "

  "J-J cant. Its against hospital policy to open the door after Hours. The voice was closer to the door now.

  "I-I can appreciate that." Cori tried her best to remain calm sensing that playing on the woman's compassion might be the key to getting the door opened. "But my friend here is badly hurt." Cori moved a little, giving the person behind the door a chance to see the blood that covered Kenzie's clothes as well as her own.