The phone next to my ear vibrated, moving away from my cheek, I saw there was a text from Claire.
Swiping the screen I clicked on the tiny envelope icon.
-Kit
Meet me up at the garage in fifteen minutes. We are heading to the range to get your qualifications done.-
I replied with a short OK.
Standing up, I took one last deep breath of the warm ocean air and turned to start the trek back up the hill. It would be good to shoot some things, release the stress and anger that was churning inside of me.
Cresting the top of the hill I spotted Claire digging in the trunk of the Cadillac, turning to look at me when she heard the gravel crunch under my soft soled shoes. Her eyes were hidden behind her ever-present aviators. Claire was still beautiful and I silently cursed my heart when it skipped a few beats when I looked at her wearing that ratty t-shirt and fitted jeans, the wind blowing her hair around like she was in a model photo shoot. I forced myself to look at my feet, I would have to have a serious heart to heart with my heart and tell it to settle down before it got me into more trouble.
Closing the trunk, she spoke to me, "I took the liberty of grabbing your gun and a few other things. The gun range I use is over by your house." She motioned to the back seat where I could see two suit bags hanging up on the convenient luggage hook above the window, "I grabbed some spare clothes for both of us to change into when we finish. We are heading to the San Diego Zoo afterwards, I received a last-minute email request to make the opening of the new polar bear exhibit this afternoon." Claire twirled the car keys around her finger, "The exhibit was funded by one of my major campaign contributors, He begged me to come out to show some support." She shrugged, "I also figured it would be good for us to get out of the house for a few hours before the Secret Service Agent comes by later tonight for the debriefing from the incident."
I nodded tightly, not knowing what to say. I actually was glad to get out of the house for a little while, heading back to San Diego and my home turf would be welcomed. Maybe I could call up Tito and have him come hang out with me at the Zoo. I wanted someone to vent to who wasn't signing off on my paychecks.
Walking closer to the car I mumbled, "I can drive."
Claire had already moved to the driver's side of the Cadillac, "I will drive. Like I said Kit."
I interrupted her, "I know, sometimes you like to play driving Miss Daisy." The joke had a little more bite to it than I intended. Claire's smile faded, I could feel her eyes push through the tint of her aviators and read me. I opened the passenger side door and sat down before she could get too far. I was very unfounded in my anger and I didn't need Claire to try to pick apart why I was, when I barely knew why I was so angry in the first place.
Claire sat in the driver's seat and started the Cadillac, and as soon as the radio powered on, the cabin filled with music I had not heard since I drove around with my grandfather on his farm in Pennsylvania. I couldn't hold back the small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth when I heard the lyrics.
"I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time..."
Claire's hand shot out to hit the off button, but not before I caught that she was listening to the Johnny Cash satellite station. The music was cut off abruptly, Claire said nothing and focused on backing the Cadillac out of the driveway. While she looked over her shoulder to make sure she didn't back into my Lincoln parked behind it, I reached over and turned the radio back on, allowing the music fill up the car as I slowly turned the volume up a few notches.
"Johnny Cash? I expected a refined Senator, Doctor and heir to a steel mill legacy to listen to something a little more...well refined." I bit my lip as I tried to keep the smirk off my face, this was highly unexpected of Claire.
Claire kept her eyes on the road as she turned out onto the road, I could see the way her jaw clenched that she was embarrassed and so badly wanted to turn the radio off, but wouldn't, knowing it would let on that she was truly embarrassed. She said nothing allowing Johnny to fill the lack of conversation between us.
I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line
The twang of the old country music continued to swim around in the car's cabin, the rich tones of the music bounced happily off the interior that was made for listening to music in a perfect setting. I glanced out the window as Johnny's lyrics struck a chord, the same lyrics he wrote when he was in the same situation I was, falling for a woman who forced him to walk the line between what his heart wanted and what the reality of getting it would cost. I focused on the passing trees and tried to think about riding around on the old green tractor with the old radio tied with twine on the front of the tractor.
Those days felt like an eternity ago.
The conversation in the car was minimal, only pieces of questions and answers while I worked through the emails that never seemed to end in my inbox. There was a strange tension between us, a tension that wasn't of anger or sexual, it was just a strange tension that I could not pin point. Claire had not gone back to being the Senator when she answered the simple questions I asked, she also did not throw out any causal conversation starters. The few times I did look over at her, I could see in the way her jaw was still clenched, she was deep in thought.
I knew the thoughts were about why I reacted the way I did in the bedroom as she shared the details of the attack with me. I had learned over the last few days that when Claire went quiet and her jaw clenched like it was, she was deep in the recesses of her beautiful mind trying to piece together things she didn't understand. Come to a conclusion without asking up front.
After we left the highway and she navigated the city streets, I decided to break the tension now that my residual and unfounded anger had left miles ago. I would try to start a conversation and maybe get her to tell me why all of her radio presets were nothing but the best old country satellite radio had to offer. I leaned to look out the front windshield when all desire to break the ice fell away at the first sight of the massive building just on the edge of the view before me.
I recognized the large black building from the traffic light Claire stopped at a block away. It was Davey's building, the headquarters and training facility for his contract firm. I had been there a handful of times over the last two years picking up jobs when Davey felt sorry for me.
Claire drove into the large lot behind the building where I knew the private entrance that led to the firearm range was. She took her aviators off, silencing the quiet hum of the engine. "Davidek's building provides discreet mobility. No one knows I come here and I am not tracked when I am here. It is one of the few places I can move freely." Claire palmed the sunglasses in her hand, "The private range has allowed me freedom in becoming more comfortable with carrying a firearm and learning how to use it successfully, instead of pointing and shooting." Claire glanced at me quickly before exiting the car.
Davey pushed the back door open and grinned as I shut the passenger side door. He was dressed in his usual white button down, perfectly tailored to fit him, a grey satin tie and the usual black fitted suit pants, looking ridiculously handsome in the early afternoon sun.
"Kit, you two made good time." He stopped to stand in front of me, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder, "I have the range booked for you and Senator Avondale. No one will bother you two for the next couple of hours." He dropped his hand when Claire came around from the rear of the Cadillac, his grin widening as he mumbled something to her in Czech, walking over to shake her hand. I noted that he was using her formal title of Senator, irritating me a little more.
I stood still, still facing the black metallic door listening to Claire and Davey speak to each other in Czech. My irritation grew when I couldn't understand what was being said but felt certain it was Davey asking how I was doing and god knows what Claire was telling him.
I looked over my shoulder as Davey's shadow shifted and moved towards me, Claire's shadow moving with his.
"Kit, go ahead down to the range. I need to speak with Davidek for a moment." Claire smiled at me, it was the Senator smile, she was putting on a show in front of him and in turn, shutting me out.
I nodded, taking the black gun cases from Davey offered to me. Rushing to the door I punched in the access code he gave me years ago, ripping the door open and walking into the cool and sterile hallway. My irritation was in full force with every quick, soft step I took to the massive state of the art gun range deep in the bowels of the non-descriptive building.
Claire was pissing me off with her cold behavior, a behavior I knew I inspired in her over the last few hours with my stupid outburst, but this all was so complicated, difficult and infuriating. The constant opening and closing of doors on both of our sides. It made me think for a split second if it was even worth it.
Walking into the state of the art gun range, I smirked when I saw Davey had laid out enough ammunition and guns for a full standard qualification. He had also hung up the all too familiar target of a threatening man with an eighties porn mustache, grimacing and pointing a revolver at the shooter. I reached for the green button with a forward arrow in white, sending the menacing man down 25 yards to stop and swing lightly in the breeze brought on by the vents in the ceiling.
I stared in the blank paper eyes of my target, sighing, I had gone through this process a million times in my career, every six months I would go through the paces and prove to the agency I was proficient and efficient enough to carry a weapon and serve. I set the gun cases down hard, the slap of plastic against metal filled the room, the sound bouncing off the length of shooting lane walls.
A million and one times to prove to someone I was still worthy.
Flipping open the first black case I picked up my P99, hefting it in my hand and clenching the grip tight enough that it left little ridges in the palm of my hand. I walked to the middle of the lanes, tossing on a pair of shooting glasses and ear plugs, I loaded the three magazines in the case, inserting one into the P99 with a satisfied slap and click with the heel of my hand, I set the gun down.
I rolled my shoulders and took my stance. Taking a deep calming breath, I picked up the gun, clutching it with both of my hands, moving my fingers around until I found my grip.
I raised the gun and found my sight picture. Leaning forward as my instructors from long ago drilled into me, I squeezed the trigger and fired, and in the blink of an eye, I had sent fifteen rounds down range. All of them settling in a small group in the center mass of the windbreaker the mustached menace wore.
I dropped the magazine out and quickly replaced it with a brand new full one. Another breath in and as I let it out, fifteen more rounds found their target. A few to the center of his forehead and the rest widening the hole I had created at center mass.
I finished off the last clip and when I was done, the target wobbled in the aftermath of the velocity and force I had presented through it. I set the smoking gun down, enjoying the smell of cordite wafting in the air and pressed the second green arrow on the side of the lane wall. Rushing the target back to me in the whir of paper rattling against air.
When it stopped, I grabbed the edge with two fingers. Lifting it up to take a look at my grouping. Smirking to myself, I still had it, and better than ever now that I was sober. I slid my shooting glasses up to the top of my head and unclipped the target, turning around to set it on the table and grab a new one, when I looked up.
Davey and Claire were standing at the back table where the black cases and targets were. Davey was grinning and nodding like a proud father at me, Claire was looking at the target in my hands, her eyes unreadable but intense.
I held up the target as I picked out the orange spongy earplugs from my ears, "Still better than you Davey."
Davey laughed and took the target, examining the groupings, "I never doubted you for a second Kit. You will have to come out in the summer and compete in the yearly competition against Black Talon Incorporated. They won last year, and I would like nothing more than to wipe the floor with them this year. They will never see it coming from you."
I focused on reloading the empty magazines, "I will think about it, Davey." I looked up at Claire, "Is this satisfactory enough for you Senator Avondale? Or should I continue to waste more of Davey's ammo?" I was back to being the ass I was in the first few days I met the blonde. I wasn't about to let her get away with her discreet and secretive behavior and the small bits of the Senator coming back in when it was no longer necessary. This woman was infuriating as much as she was beautiful. "I can go through all the targets on the table and prove I can eliminate with the best of them."
Davey's eyebrows raised in surprise as he looked between Claire and I, slowly putting together that there was something more going on in the empty range.
Claire smiled tightly, opening the second black case and removing her P99, reaching for the box of ammo and speed loader I had used to reload the magazines. She looked over at Davey, "Do you have my scores from last time, Davidek?"
He nodded, "I do, found them as soon as you called."
"Thank you." Claire finished loading her magazines and looked up at me. This look had shifted back to Claire and away from the Senator, "Would you like to do this together, Kit?"
I raised an eyebrow at her, "Are you sure?" It was a gentle question, I really didn't want to embarrass her in front of Davey. I had spent most of my life around guns and even as time and booze took me away from the constant training and handling of firearms, I definitely knew how to handle them. I had just proven it to her.
Claire smiled, walking up to the empty lane next to me, "For fun?"
I shook my head, laughing quietly. I walked back to my lane and loaded one magazine into the gun, turning to look back at Davey, "Standard rules?"
He winked at me, "Alright ladies, these are the rules, whoever can empty all three magazines the fastest and be accurate to the high standards I have, will be the winner."
Claire stepped back, "Should we place a wager on this little competition?"
I laughed again, "If you want." I thought for a minute, "Fine. Winner gets to choose something they want to do at a later date. Without question or gripes from the loser." I looked at a confused Claire, I knew I was going to win this little shootout, "Meaning if I want to drive, you let me drive. If I want the Senator to make dinner instead of ordering take out every night..."
Claire smirked, cutting me off, "I get it, Kit. Winner gets free choice. Like if I want you to wear dresses to work for a month, you will have to. Or if I want you to go pick up Paco's tacos for a week with no questions, you will?"
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I guess that's the jist of it." I turned back to the lane, hanging up my second mustached target. "Let's get this started."
I pushed the orange earplug back in before settling the plastic glasses over my eyes. I listened to Davey rattle off the rules of the qualification, a speech I knew by heart. I focused my breathing and went through my ritual, holding the gun up at mid waist waiting for Davey to shout fire.
The second he did, I found my sight picture and squeezed the trigger. Emptying the first and second magazine in a matter of seconds, barely half listening to the shots going off next to me as Claire fired away. I paid little attention to the echo and her target, I only cared about getting my third magazine in and finish the target while I continued to think about the prize I was about to win.
Two shots into my third clip, I realized the sound of my gun was the only sound around me, gone were the twin pops from the stall next to me. I instantly assumed Claire had a malfunction that was delaying her. I pushed it out of my mind and focused on finishing. I blew through the last few rounds in my gun and set the gun down, turning to Davey with my hands raised to signal I was done.
He nodded and yelled time, waving at the both of us to step back from the lanes so he could run the tar
gets back.
I looked at Claire as she set her empty magazines onto the table. She racked her gun a few times, trying to get the slide to move smoothly. I set my empty magazines down, "Malfunction?"
Claire shook her head setting the magazines back into the case.
I went to say something when Davey stood next to me, setting the two targets face down on the table. "Okay ladies. Time to announce the winner."
I smiled, setting my gun on top of the case. I folded my arms and waited for the moment I could tell Claire what I had in mind for her.
"In second place with a time of seven point four seconds and a score of forty-five." Davey rattled the paper target, "Kit Witmer."
The smirk fell from my face as I stared at Davey, "What?"
Davey shrugged, "In first place with a time of five point five nine seconds and a score of fifty-five." he held out the target so both Claire and I could see the tight groups compared to my semi spaced out groups, "The Senator. Well done Claire, you beat your last score by point three seconds."
I snatched the target from his hands, staring at the perfect groups in center mass and in the forehead of the target. I was shocked, Claire had shot a truly perfect target.
I shot a look at Claire, she was smiling, a genuine smile on her face that was not one of gloating or rejoicing in proving me wrong, but the same one she had given me when I woke up with my arm wrapped around her in bed. "Davey has been my instructor for the last few months. I figured it was time that I learned how to protect myself." She met my eyes, "Not just rely on the protection of others as much as I have in the past."
She then turned to Davey, "Thank you Davidek. I think Kit and I are done." She glanced at her watch, "We should get cleaned up and start making our way to the zoo. I will decide on my prize later, Kit." She went to pick up the case when Davey stopped her.
I continued to stare at Claire, amazed at how badly she showed me up. For years I was always the top shot in the agency and with Davey, no one had ever came close to beating me or close to matching me.
Redemptio Animae Page 23