Hunter's Games

by James P. Sumner

  I look at each of them in turn, making sure they’re dead.

  Now it’s over…

  I hear a noise behind me. I spin around to see Chambers on all fours, holding the back of her head. I start running toward her and hear a gunshot from behind her, out of sight. Pellaggio appears behind her, pausing to stare at me and smile.

  “Hey!” I shout. “Don’t you even think about it, asshole!”

  I try to aim with the Carbine, but I can’t get in position for an accurate shot while I’m running and I don’t want to risk hitting Grace. I make it to her just as he turns and runs down the corridor that leads out back.

  “Shit!” I yell in frustration.

  I crouch down to check on her and look to the left. Manhattan is lying on the floor with a bullet hole in his chest. I look back at the exit again. Should I go after him? I put my hand on Chambers’ shoulder as she groans from what I assume is a blow to her head. No… I’ve found him once and I’ll find him again.

  “What the hell happened?” I ask, concerned and confused in equal parts. “Are you alright?”

  “It was... Pellaggio,” she says, holding her head. “He got the drop on me—I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  I grab her hand and squeeze gently, offering some comfort and reassurance. She looks up at me and smiles, groggily.

  “What happened to him?” I ask after a moment, nodding to Manhattan.

  She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I must’ve blacked out for a moment when Pellaggio hit me on the head.”

  “I don’t understand,” I say, frowning with confusion.

  “Adrian, it wasn’t me,” she says with a sigh. “It was Pellaggio. He shot Manhattan.”

  Outside, I hear the faint sound of doors slamming shut.

  Pellaggio must’ve made it to the vans…

  I look at Chambers, who’s staring toward the main doors, clearly having heard it too. She just waves me away dismissively before I have chance to check she’s okay.

  Gun in hand, I turn and sprint across the warehouse floor toward the loading bay doors. At full speed, I exit and jump down the small ledge just as the van is pulling off. Pellaggio leans out of the passenger window, producing a pistol and firing in my general direction. I skid to a halt on the gravel and drop to the ground in one movement to avoid the bullets. The second he stops firing, I’m straight back up. I level the gun and take aim, but the van’s too far away for it to be worth my effort.

  Pellaggio is in the wind again, at least for now.

  “Fuck!” I shout out. My voice echoes around the otherwise deserted industrial estate.

  I walk back inside and over to Chambers, who’s managed to get to her feet.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. No luck?” she replies.

  “No, he’d already got away.”

  She looks down at Manhattan. “He’s still breathing. We should get him to a hospital.”

  “Or we could leave him here to die? Saves me a bullet later.”

  “Adrian... He’s got valuable information on Pellaggio’s plans, and now he’s just been shot by his little protégé, he might just be a bit more willing to tell us about it.”

  “Fair point.” I take my phone out of my pocket and hand it to her. “Here, make the call,” I say.

  I leave her on the phone and walk down the corridors at the back of the warehouse. I might as well explore each room back here—I might find something useful. Some clue about what’s coming next from Pellaggio.

  I spend a few minutes and try all the rooms on this corridor, except the one I found Chambers in, as I know there’s nothing in there.

  No luck.

  I head down the opposite corridor, starting in the room across from the one I’d woken up in. It’s where I dumped the first guy’s body. I’d left without looking around but it looks like I’ve hit the jackpot here.

  He was holding some papers when I’d killed him. There are more scattered over the desk that’s in here, too. I gather them all together and have a quick look over them. They don’t mean much to me, but I’ll take them for Wallis—he might find something useful in them.

  I fold them up and tuck them into my inside jacket pocket. I leave the room and head back to the warehouse floor to find Chambers.

  “An ambulance is on its way,” she says, walking over as she sees me. “I rang the office too. Wallis and the military liaison are going to meet us at the hospital. They have an update for us, which sounds positive.”

  “Well, I’ve just found some documents that look useful—diagrams and receipts, mostly. I’ll let Wallis look over them.”

  We fall silent for a moment.

  “Did you tell Wallis about Johnson when you spoke to him?” I ask.

  She looks at the floor and shakes her head. “I couldn’t do it,” she says. “I’m a coward.”

  I take a step toward her and she moves in close, taking me by surprise and throwing her arms around me, burying her head in my chest as the tears start to flow. My arms are out to the sides as she holds onto me. I’m not entirely sure what’s appropriate here… It’s been a pretty stressful day. Me? I've grown somewhat accustomed to being shot at, blown up, car chases, and seeing innocent people die. But Grace? I think it’s all a little too much. I imagine seeing her colleague gunned down tipped her over the edge. That’s when she fell silent, on the bridge. I initially thought it was anger toward me, but looking at her now, it’s clear she’s in the early stages of shock.

  I slowly put my arms around her and hold her as she sobs her heart out. No amount of training or experience can prepare you for days like today. I look over at Manhattan, lying on the floor, wounded by his own man and it sets my spider sense tingling.

  The worst is still to come…

  19.

  17:19

  THE AMBULANCE DOESN’T take long to get to us. Chambers had called her office first and they’d triangulated our location from her cellular signal. We’re both riding in the back as EMTs work on Manhattan. He’s apparently going to survive, but is in a bad way.

  We arrive at San Francisco General and Wallis greets us at the main entrance. Chambers talks him through what’s happened, which he struggles to get his head round. He asks where Johnson is, so she takes him off into a room—I assume to break the news to him. They were partners and the news is going to hit him hard. I was staying with Manhattan, but when nurses wheeled him away to surgery, I figured I’ll go and see how Josh is doing.

  A nurse approaches me when I enter the room and asks who I am. I tell her I’m family. She explains that his vitals are improving steadily, but he isn’t out of the woods just yet. They’ve brought him out of the coma, but they’re keeping him sedated. She checks his charts and his various drips and machines, and then leaves.

  I’m standing at his bedside. He’s still unconscious. I look down at him. He’s wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and has various wires connected to small pads stuck to his chest. There’s an IV feed in his left hand and a small crocodile clip on his index finger. The machine next to him is still beeping away, steady and stubborn.

  I can’t help but think about how everything would’ve played out if he’d been there, helping me like he always does. I couldn’t have avoided getting blown up on the pier, I don’t think. Could I have prevented what happened on the bridge had Josh been in my ear? Maybe. But I’ve learnt from experience that there’s no point beating myself up about all the things I could’ve done differently. Things have played out the way they’ve played out, so that’s what we have to work with. End of story.

  What’s that saying Josh sometimes comes out with? There’s no use crying over spilt milk, that’s it. I smile and think about how annoyingly upbeat and British he always is. I could definitely do with some of his trademark enthusiasm right now.

  A short knock on the door interrupts me. I turn to see Chambers standing there, with Wallis by her side. Without a word, Wallis walks up to me and exte
nds his hand. I shake it without question.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, knowing it’ll be of little comfort. “He might have been an asshole to me, but he was a good agent and a decent guy. He didn’t deserve what happened.”

  Wallis nods his appreciation. “Way I hear things, as bad as it was, it could’ve been worse if it wasn’t for you,” he replies, throwing a quick glance behind him at Chambers, who smiles weakly.

  I simply give a small smile, not wishing to receive any praise for any of my actions during the last twenty-four hours. Eager to move on, I change the subject.

  “Agent Chambers mentioned you have an update?” I ask.

  “Yeah,” he replies, understandably distracted. “I’ve been working with the liaison from Hawthorne on the weaponry that Pellaggio got a hold of. They also had a look at the case, as a courtesy, and have come up with some good theories. I’m hoping the papers that you took from the warehouse will back some of them up.”

  I reach into my jacket pocket and hand all the documents over to him. “Knock yourself out,” I say.

  Wallis takes them and leaves, presumably heading back to the Field Office to begin his analysis.

  I look at Chambers. “How you holdin’ up?” I ask.

  ‘I’ll live,’ she says with a tough smile. ‘The doctor gave me a once over.’

  She nods at my shoulder wound. “How are you?”

  I look down at it and shrug. “Forgot all about it to be honest,” I reply. “I’ll get someone to look at it before I leave here.”

  “Make sure you do,” she says, with a warmer smile this time.

  “Hey, this liaison sounds like a team player. Bet you’re glad they’re co-operating with the FBI so willingly?”

  “Actually, they said they were doing it as a favor to you.”

  I frown. “A favor to me? I don’t understand.”

  “And I know how much that must piss you off,” says a man’s voice from outside the room.

  The voice is familiar, but I’m too confused to place it right now.

  Robert Clark walks into the room and stands beside Chambers.

  “Hello, Adrian,” he says.

  Robert Clark is a high-level employee of GlobaTech Industries. He got promoted when I executed Ted Jackson in Heaven’s Valley last year, who held his position at the time. He’s the one who figured out GlobaTech’s involvement in that whole affair and put an end to it, helping me take out Roberto Pellaggio and stop Dark Rain from killing a lot of innocent men and women.

  Josh had kept in touch with them to keep the relationship alive, with the thinking being they could prove a valuable ally. I’ve not personally seen or spoken to Bob since I’d left him on that highway, just after blowing half of Nevada into space.

  “Hey, Bobby,” I say, after a few moments of stunned silence. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was asked to work with the FBI on behalf of Hawthorne Air Base,” he explains.

  “So you’re the liaison? I was expecting someone... you know, from the military?”

  Clark shrugs. “GlobaTech works closely with Hawthorne, as a lot of the weapons we make go through there. Our R&D boys made most of the stuff that Pellaggio Junior now has in his possession, so we have a vested interest in getting this whole debacle resolved. How’s that going, by the way?”

  I look behind me at Josh, then back at Clark, without saying a word. He simply nods in understanding.

  “How’s he doing?” he asks.

  “I just spoke to the nurse who said he’s improving, slowly but surely. Not in the clear yet, but I know he’ll pull through. The guy’s too annoying and too stubborn to give up and die anyway.”

  He smiles and nods. “I remember. He’s a good man. I know how hard this must be for you.”

  “Got plenty going on to distract me,” I say, returning the smile.

  “Well, I hope everyone involved on this side of things is aware of how this is likely to end?”

  He smiles, like a friend would smile when they offer you reassurance about something. My jaw muscles tighten as I think about how exactly things will end here.

  Very badly. For Pellaggio, at least.

  “I think there’s a certain level of understanding, yeah,” I say, flicking my gaze over to Chambers, who remains silent.

  “Well, as always, Adrian, if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.” He turns to speak to Chambers. “I’ll head over to your office now and assist Agent Wallis in any way I can,” he says. He looks back at me. “Good to see you again, Adrian.”

  He turns and walks out, leaving Agent Chambers and me staring at each other by Josh’s bedside.

  She looks at me and smiles, and then leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

  “What was that for?” I ask, unsure of how to react.

  “My way of apologizing for the things I said to you,” she replies. “And to thank you for saving my life—more than once.”

  “Forget about it,” I say with a shrug, somewhat humbled by receiving thanks and praise for doing what I do. First time for everything, I guess.

  “No one is ever going to see past what you do, Adrian. At its core, you kill people for a living. Whatever justification you give, that will always be what you do. But you’re a good man. And the things you’ve done—what you’re capable of doing... that’s almost superhuman. You have a gift, Adrian—if you can call it that. I just hope, in time, you’ll put it to better use.”

  We hold each other’s gaze for a few moments. That’s probably the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in a long time. I can feel the moment overwhelming me. I actually feel close to her. I’ve not thought about a woman this way in what seems like a lifetime. Not since Janine.

  I quickly clear my mind and look away. I feel like I’m betraying my wife by even looking at another woman. I’m not ready to put her behind me yet. Maybe I never will be; I don’t know.

  “Anyway, I’m going to head off,” she says, maybe sensing my discomfort and changing the mood. “I want to catch up at the office and see where we’re at on figuring out what Pellaggio’s next move is.”

  I nod. “Good idea,” I say. “I’m going to hang around here for a bit. I want to keep an eye on Josh, just in case Pellaggio decides to lash out in any way. Plus, I want to be here when Manhattan wakes up.”

  She looks at me with concern.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna kill him,” I say, reassuring her. “I’ll find out what he knows and come straight to you, I promise.”

  “Okay, stay out of trouble.”

  She smiles and walks out, closing the door behind her and leaving me alone once again with Josh. I look around the room and drag a chair from against the wall on the far side of the bed over to the wall facing Josh and sit down. This way, I can see whoever’s coming in and out the room as well as keep an eye on Josh, without leaving myself open to an unseen attack.

  I sit back in the chair and cross my arms, leaning my head back and staring up at the ceiling. This is the first time I’ve rested in two days.

  My eyes are heavy…

  September 25th, 2014

  07:37

  I snap awake with a grunt. I blink hard and rub my eyes to clear them of grit. I gaze wide-eyed around the room, trying to focus as my mind comes out of what I suspect was a long and deep sleep. The door’s still closed, which I take as a good sign. I look over at the window and see the pale skies of another sunny day peeking through the blinds.

  I look over at the bed…

  “Fuck me!” I yell as I jump a clear foot off my chair, sending my heart hammering into my ribcage.

  Josh is sitting bolt upright in bed, eyes wide open, staring straight at me and smiling, tilting his head slightly to the left like a goddamn psychopath!

  “Boo!” he says before bursting out laughing, his familiar British accent tinges with his lovable, yet annoying happiness.

  “Jesus Christ, Josh! What the hell?” I say as I fight to get my heart rate back under control.

>   “Hey Boss,” he say. “Miss me?”

  ‘I was missing you until you nearly give me a heart attack, you asshole!’

  He laughs. “I’ve been sitting staring at you for half an hour… it was totally worth it!”

  “How are you... why are you awake?”

  “The nurse came in a few hours ago, checked my bits and bobs, and gave me chance to wake up on my own. I did—go me!”

  I sigh, finally calming down and processing the good news. God knows I’m due some. “It’s good to have you back, man,” I say. “How do you feel?”

  He shrugs. “Still sore where the bullets got me, obviously. Bit tired, a little hungry, but other than that, I feel pretty good. You?”

  I smile. “Well, seeing as you’ve stopped being such a pussy and finally woken up, I may as well fill you in on what you’ve missed.”

  He smiles and sits back, adjusting himself to get comfortable. “Go for it,” he says enthusiastically.

  So I tell him everything that’s happened since he got shot...

  08:02

  “You really figured out it was Danny Pellaggio from me getting shot?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “Really? All on your own?”

  I flip him the middle finger and he smiles.

  “So we still don’t know how they blew up the SWAT van or know our every move?” he asks.

  “Nope. But the smart money would be on an inside man at the FBI. Question is, who? I’ve only really spoken with Grace and Wallis, and I’m comfortable vouching for them.”

  He nods in agreement. “Maybe mention it to Agent Chambers?” he offers.

  “Yeah, I will next time I see her,” I say. “Tricky subject to raise, though.”

  ‘Yeah, never nice being told your house isn’t in order… I can’t believe you managed to take out an entire Triad operation at the same time as a black market weapons dealer. That’s pretty crazy, man.”

  I smile. “Would you have let me do it if you’d been there?”

  “From what you’ve told me, I’d probably have suggested it to you!”