Snow Bond

by Ross Richdale

  "Oh my God!" Renee gasped.

  "She will be fine, Ma'am," the sergeant continued. "Doctor Rostrom has three nurses here who are all qualified in field operations."

  She and Tyler could do little except watch as Sonja was carried in on a stretcher and moved into the zipped off area of the tent. An engine began to thud outside and lights came on. An electric generator had been started.

  Two bowls of hot soup arrived and a woman corporal who must have been assigned to liaise with them introduced herself as Olivia and sat beside them on the folded-out chairs made available.

  "It's begun snowing again," she said. "If it had arrived half an hour earlier we probably would not have been able to reach you." She glanced at Tyler. "I noticed your row of piled snow and trail you made. Great tractor driving."

  "Not me," Tyler said with a grin. "Renee drove most of the way. It was her idea to use the bucket as a snow plough."

  AFTER WHAT SEEMED AGES, Renee glanced up when the curtain zip was pulled up and the surgeon stepped out. "The operation was a success," he said. "You were right for the bullet did exit Sofa's body but in doing so it nicked a bone. Tiny fragments that broke away caused all the problems. I have removed these and cauterised the wound."

  "So she'll be okay?" Renee asked.

  "She will be sore for a while and may need therapy to restore full movement to her arm but will make a full recovery. We will take her back with us, for a couple of nights in the hospital are recommended." He switched his eyes between Tyler and herself. "Thank you. Without your valiant effort to get her to us, there may have been a different outcome."

  Renee nodded and guilt feelings gathered in her mind. She felt responsible for what had happened to Sofia. If it wasn't for her violent ex-husband ...

  "Stop it," Tyler said. "Think how much worse it would have been if we hadn't brought Sofia here."

  Renee nodded. "As soon as we get into range I'll call Aza with the good news."

  She took Tyler's hand and walked through the curtain to find Sofia awake and grinning at them from the surgical table.

  "Hi," she said. "I don't remember much about the journey here but know about the tremendous effort you both made."

  "All in a day's work," Tyler replied.

  "Sure!" Sofia said as she lay back and closed her eyes.

  JUST BEFORE THEY DEPARTED to head back Tyler handed Olivia a plastic container.

  "This contains evidence from the site from where the gunman shot Sofia. It's just a cigarette butt and empty beer can but could you hand it to the police when you get back?"

  "Certainly. I'll see that nothing contaminates the evidence." Olivia glanced at Tyler's tractor. "If you need any fuel to get home we can sell you some at the commercial rate."

  Tyler grinned. "I didn't want to tell Renee but we are under half full so it would have been a close call. I would appreciate a top up."

  He left Olivia and walked across to where Renee was saying goodbye to Sofia who was lying on a stretcher at the back of the truck

  "You keep in touch," he said to Sofia. "Come back and visit sometime when you get tired of the big smoke."

  "Sofia held her hand out from under a blanket and gripped his. "I will," she said. "After all, Aza and I never got our ski holiday, did we?"

  The tent came down as quickly as it went up so soon flattened snow was all that remained of the field hospital. A couple of soldiers pumped diesel into the tractor's tank, final thanks and goodbyes were said and Tyler slipped his arm around Renee as they watched the convey headed away.

  "Funny," he said. "It seems as if we've known Sofia for years, not just a few days. I hope she'll be okay."

  Renee glanced up at him and nodded. "She will be. I just hope that gunman doesn't come back,"

  "And the police find out why all this happened," Tyler added and turned towards the tractor. "Shall I drive?"

  JOVANOVIC WAS RELAXED as he approached the international counter at Queenstown airport. It was just after noon and, as usual he waited towards the end of the queue looking like an ordinary tourist. When he reached the counter to show his ticket and passport, the clerk hardly glanced up. "Is your luggage is already here, Mister Ursu?" she asked in a bored tone after passing his European passport over a scanner.

  "Booked it in earlier," Jovanovic said. He had purposely used a southern European fake name so his thick English accent would sound authentic.

  As he slung his hand luggage over his shoulder and stepped towards the loading gate, two men in business suits stepped in beside him. He also noticed two uniformed police officers further back.

  "We want no trouble, Mr Vilko Jovanovic," hissed the nearest man and flashed an identity card before him. "I am Detective Sergeant Brody Cleveland and am arresting you for the attempted murder of Miss Sofia Hawkins at the settlement of East Ridge." He continued on in a monotone as a uniformed police officer stepped forward and Jovanovic found handcuffs clapped on his wrists behind his back.

  His mind was in a whirl. How could they have found him so quickly? How did they know his real name? He had never heard of the woman they mentioned and why did they say attempted murder? Had the bitch survived?

  In spit of his protestations about being wrongfully identified he was almost frogmarched through a side door and, none too gently pushed into a chair where he noticed his luggage sitting on an adjacent bench.

  Detective Sergeant Cleveland walked in, sat behind a desk and glowered at him. "Your departure from New Zealand has been postponed. Mr Jovanovic," he muttered in an icy voice. "I doubt if you'll be leaving our shores for quite some time." He glanced up. "You have managed to accumulate a multitude of international crimes over the last few years, haven't you? Got complacent with a beer can and cigarette butt, though. Completely unprofessional, wouldn't you say?"

  AT THE QUEENSTOWN POLICE Station interview room, Brody was intrigued by Jovanovic's replies to his questions. Sure, the man was a professional criminal and could lie without even twitching an eyelid but some of his mannerisms showed that some of his statements had an element of truth.

  He pushed photos of four women across the desk, including that of Sofia Hawkins and Renee Stevens and glanced up at the man.

  "I reiterate, which of these young woman were you contracted out to assassinate?"

  Jovanovic sighed as he glanced his eyes over the photographs.

  "I am sorry for the young woman I accidentally shot but I mistook her for a deer floundering in the snow."

  "Do you recognise any of these women?" Brody hissed.

  "Typical blondes whose ancestors probably came from one of the Nordic countries. I prefer southern European brunettes myself." Jovanovic grinned and crossed his legs. "Less inhibited, you know!"

  "I would advise you to co-operate Mr Jovanovic." Brody clicked his computer over to a new page. "We have received a request from both United Kingdom and Russia to extradite you into their custody. I'll let you guess what country would offer you a better deal. I hear the Russians have increased their number of capital punishment sentences where-as the UK has no death penalty."

  In spit of the passive stare, he noticed the man's cheek twitch ever so slightly. After almost two hours he had finally struck a nerve. Jovanovic glanced at the photographs and slid a finger over to the photo of Sofia.

  "This could be the girl I mistook for a deer," he said.

  "And you recognise nobody else?"

  This time Jovanovic actually studied the three other photos. "No."

  "Look again," Brody hissed.

  "I tell you. I have never seen any of the women before." He shrugged and a little of his arrogance returned. "Of course, all blondes look alike to me."

  Brody gathered the photographs up and placed four more on the table.

  "Were any of these women your intended target, Mr Jovanovic?" he asked.

  When Jovanovic's eyes swept across the four photos he said nothing. However, Brody noticed that his glance stopped and switched back to the second photograph for just a secon
d. So he did recognise the woman shown. That was interesting!

  "More blondes. Good lookers but none that I've had the pleasure to meet."

  "You will be taken to the district court and charged with reckless use of a firearm and entering our country illegally by using a false passport, Mr Jovanovic. What charges follow and where you'll be deported to will depend on your co-operation. "

  Brody grimaced as the prisoner was escorted out of the room. The interview was partially successful for he was quite sure that Jovanovic was a paid assassin but who had employed and paid him the money they had found hidden in the lining of his luggage? And what about the woman he showed that brief flicker of interest in? He brought his computer back on line and clicked on the photograph to show details about her.

  "That's interesting," he muttered to himself and reached for his mobile.

  CHAPTER 7

  It was now six thirty in the evening and dark after a long slow journey home from the field hospital. Renee was worried as they approached East Ridge in the tractor for the place was in darkness without even a flicker of light in the house or sheds.

  "Perhaps they couldn't get the generator going," Tyler suggested.

  "But there would be some lights even if it's from a kerosene lantern."

  Tyler nodded as he slowed yet again to allow the front bucket to scoop away snow and turned up the driveway.

  He pulled in beside the house and Renee climbed down. It was cold but not snowing as she took the few steps to the veranda while Tyler left the tractor lights on to show the way. She heard barking and turned to find Sam the dog almost leaping in delight at seeing her. She bent down and patted him.

  "You all alone, Sam?" she asked.

  His wagging tail drooped as looked at her and gave a soft bark.

  "Where are Ian and Aza, Boy?" Tyler asked when he arrived.

  Sam whined and ran along the veranda, stopped and returned. He sat down, held a paw up and his ears drooped.

  "It's okay, Sam," Renee said." Is Apricot here?"

  Sam woofed and wagged his tail.

  "I'll take the tractor over to the shed and get the generator going," Tyler said.

  Renee switched on her torch and found the door locked. She found her keys and unlocked it, walked inside, just about tripped over the ginger cat inside and found a kerosene lamp. It was slightly warmer than outside but still cold so she set about to light the pot-bellied stove. She heard the distant chug of the generator and the lights came on. Tyler appeared and glanced around.

  "Any note or anything?" he asked.

  "Not that I could see," Renee replied. "They must have stayed up at the top tank for the night."

  "Guess so. The snowfall up there could he heavier than even here. I hope they were prepared. It's damn cold tonight."

  Sam ran to the now closed door, scratched at it and barked.

  Renee opened it and turned on the veranda light. Sam ran out and again along to the far end of the veranda, stopped and glanced back. He gave a woof and came halfway back before stopping and sitting down.

  "You want us to go somewhere with you, Boy?" Tyler asked.

  Sam woofed and ran back to the veranda end again. Renee and Tyler both followed as Sam jumped out to follow paw prints he must have made previously in the snow.

  "Wait Boy," Tyler said. "We'll get our coats."

  A moment later Renee and Tyler both with dry outdoor clothing on, followed Sam across towards the big shed. About three quarters of the way there Sam stopped and whined as he glanced though the darkness where she knew Tank Hill was.

  She turned off her torch and asked Tyler to do the same.

  "Why?" he asked.

  "We can't see anything with the lights from the house and the torches," she replied. "Sam thinks something is out there."

  Now in semidarkness as trees hid most of the house lights, she peered through the darkness. At first she saw nothing but her eyes became used to the lack of light so the silhouette of the hill appeared as a darker blob against the blackness beyond. Halfway up and to the left a tiny light flickered off and on.

  "Tyler!" she gasped.

  "I see it," he replied. He turned his torch in the direction and flicked a button so it gave out a flashing red light.

  "Look?" Renee gasped for the light in the distance changed from white to red and also pulsed before going out for a second. It came on again and repeated the signal.

  Tyler changed his torchlight to blue, the third colour available and flashed out a signal.

  The distant light also changed to blue before changing back to a pulsing red.

  "It must be Ian and Aza in trouble," Renee said.

  "And Sam saw the light earlier." Tyler patted the dog's ears. "Good boy, Sam. I'd say it's about halfway up the hill. We need to get a few things then head out."

  AS WELL AS A COIL OF rope, first aid box, extra clothes and other tramping gear, Tyler slung his rifle over his shoulders.

  "Why do you need that?" Renee asked.

  "Just being cautious. There could be more gunmen out there."

  Renee glanced around but could see little except the house lights below them as they tackled the first section of the tank track. Here, there were a series of gravel steps encased in a wooden frame. Once her feet found the surface beneath the snow, it wasn't too difficult to walk up them. Sam bounded ahead to plunge in snow up to his tummy followed by another leap, two steps at a time. Every couple of minutes or so, he'd stop and glance back in the torchlight and give a small woof as if to tell them to hurry.

  "Okay," Renee muttered. "You've got four legs and no backpack to carry." Except for her freezing face, she was quite warm beneath her jacket, gloves and thick socks, though some snow had seeped into her boots and turned to water. Once she stopped walking she'd probably have freezing toes.

  "You okay?" Tyler asked from behind her. "Stop and rest if you wish."

  "No, it's better to keep going." Renee was fit but did feel somewhat puffed on this steep section.

  They reached the top of the steps and around a corner so the house lights disappeared from sight. Now though, the snow was deeper and even Sam dropped back to follow her footsteps after she had crunched through the snow. The journey continued with another set of steps and more corners until the house lights came back into view.

  Tyler touched her shoulder. "We should be in their view from here."

  He switched his torch to the flashing red mode and flicked it off and on several times. Ahead but below them a red light flashed back.

  "It's wrong!" Renee said. "Shouldn't they be above us?"

  "I know. They must have slipped down the hillside." Tyler sounded grim. He placed his hands around his mouth and shouted out but there was no reply. "Still too far to hear us."

  Renee stared at the flashing light that made three rapid flashes followed by three slower ones. This was repeated several times. "Isn't that a signal for danger?"

  Tyler nodded. "But from what? Is there a slip, dangerous snow or something more sinister?"

  Renee shuddered as Tyler took the rifle from where it was slung over his shoulder and held it ready to fire. "Turn off your torch, Renee."

  She did and with Tyler's torch already off, they were plunged into darkness.

  "Get down!" Tyler screamed and pushed her forward so she plunged into the snow.

  After landing flat in the snow she glanced around and saw it. A tiny red circle of light moved along a bank where she had been standing mere seconds before. She heard a whizzing sound followed by a distant report of a weapon being fired.

  "Stay down!" Tyler gasped

  She heard rather than saw him swing around, a click of a cartridge being brought into his rifle's chamber and three almighty bangs as he fired into the darkness. Her ears were ringing.

  The red circle of light disappeared and total darkness enveloped her.

  "Stay down but creep forward," Tyler hissed.

  She wiggled forward for several metres using a hand to slide along the
bank to her left, before stopping. Sam was there beside her but where was Tyler? She called for him and gasped in relief when he crawled in beside her.

  "Could have winged him for I aimed at the flash from his rifle. The bastard didn't expect return fire. I think it was a long range shot from somewhere."

  "And that red spot we saw it's target?"

  "Exactly. It was aimed right at you. I saw it on the back of your jacket."

  "Oh hell!" Renee began to shake as her body reacted to the situation. "What now?"

  "Leave our torches off but it should be safe to stand. Move forward slowly and I'll be right behind."

  THE ALMOST PLEASANT tramp had turned into a terrifying nightmare as she moved on. Her eyes were next to useless in the total darkness but gradually she saw a faint outline of the light grey snow compared with the intense blackness everywhere else. Her clothes were saturated and now both her toes and fingers began to freeze. She continued on in numbed silence but was aware of Sam beside her and heard Tyler puffing behind. It made her grin for he seemed to be less fit than herself.

  Suddenly a red light flashed below her on the right and Sam gave a tiny bark. Tyler turned his torch to flashing red and the light below turned to a constant blue to probably indicate that they were safe.

  "Hello!" screamed Renee. "Tyler and myself are here." Her voice sort of echoed in the still surroundings.

  "Hello... hello ...hello," echoed a faint reply. The voice was difficult to understand but she could piece together most of the conversation. She realised that Aza and Ian were down the hillside, cold but unhurt. Having heard the rifles fire, Aza was concerned about them and called out something about having similar problems.

  Guided by their friend's blue light and an excited Sam, Renee moved forward while Tyler dropped back with his rifle ready in case they had been followed. Now closer, she could hear the pair quite easily and soon came to an area where there were footprints ahead and a huge snow slide showed where the pair had slipped. She moved cautiously forward and peered over a bank. Looking up at her from about ten metres below were two faces.