“Get down! Stay away from the windows!” Bethany screamed at the crowd as the bullets continued flying. She appeared ready to fight back, but it seemed awfully convenient that on the day she’d found him, someone was firing into the crowded diner.
The front doors were shoved open and several people spilled out onto the sidewalk. The shooter didn’t target them as they fled, but who was to say he wouldn’t start? Marcus thought the guy’s intent was probably to create pandemonium and, if it was, he’d been successful.
Moving to the metal doors already riddled with bullet holes, Marcus motioned for the rest of the crowd to rush toward the back. He noticed fear on their faces, yet he remained oddly calm under fire. How had he known that that sound had meant a bullet was headed their way? And why did this all seem second nature to him?
“Stay low and you’ll be safe,” he assured everyone as they began to filter back. Marcus spotted Milo huddled under the counter with Marie. He nodded at them. “Get those people into the freezer.” The large walk-in was solidly built and would withstand the gunfire. He glanced back at the holes in the door and knew instinctively that this wasn’t a random shooting. He was the target.
Milo kept a rifle under the counter in case of trouble. Marcus tore off his apron, crawled across the floor and reached to the back, his hand grabbing metal. He checked the weapon, glad to see it was loaded. Thank you, Milo.
He looked at Bethany. She wasn’t backing down, either. In fact, she was crouched on a leather booth seat, gun by her hand and using a mirrored compact to try to get a better look at the shooter.
Marcus joined her at the booth. “See anything?”
“Only one shooter. Looks like he’s perched on the top of the bank building across the street.”
“That’s a perfect vantage point for a sniper. He fired a lot of shots but didn’t hit anyone in the crowd. He must have been trying to create panic. Any chance he’s one of yours?”
“You mean CIA? No. No one from the Agency knew I was coming. I’ve been tracking you off the books.” She pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1. “Someone is shooting into Milo’s Diner on Main Street. We need police and ambulance response pronto.”
He jumped up, pushed the shotgun through the window and fired. Bethany fired, too, and the sniper stopped shooting for only a moment before Marcus spotted the red laser that indicated the assailant had turned on his targeting gear. It swept the area, trying to find its mark as Marcus and Bethany crept out of its range.
“We’re not going to stop him from here,” he stated. This all felt so natural and, once again, that struck him as odd. He’d done this sort of thing before. He was certain of it. He grimaced. If this sniper hadn’t showed up, he would already have the answers he needed from the pretty brunette. He clutched his gun. She knew him. She knew him. The idea both baffled and amazed him.
“We’ve got to go out there and stop him. We can go out the back then circle around the hardware store and climb up the back of the building.”
She nodded, agreeing, and he was glad because he was going to make sure they didn’t get separated. This Fed had the answers to the questions he’d been seeking. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
Bethany followed him into the kitchen. The freezer door opened and Milo peeked out.
“Is it safe?” he asked. “It’s cold in here.”
Marcus waved him away. “Get back inside. Better to be cold than dead. The police are on the way.”
“And what are you two doing?”
“We’re going after the sniper. Keep everyone inside until they arrive.”
While some people had gotten away and he’d noticed the shooter hadn’t targeted them, it was too dangerous to allow anyone else out. They were better off staying in the freezer for now until the police arrived.
Marcus went out the back door and, crouching against the wall, followed the building to the front. He was hyperaware that Bethany was right behind him.
He cautiously glanced out and the sniper fired. He jumped back. “He’s got us pinned down. How many bullets do you have left in that gun?”
She pulled it to her in a protective manner. “Enough. Why?”
“You draw his fire. I’ll circle around the back of the hardware store and confront him.”
She frowned and he could see she didn’t like the thought of letting him out of her sight, but what choice did she really have?
Finally, after several long moments, she reluctantly nodded, but then obviously felt the need to clarify something. “You’d better not disappear again, Marcus. I found you once. I’ll find you again.”
He was certain she could but her worry was in vain. “I’m not going anywhere.” He’d come here to find answers and she was the first clue to his identity. He wasn’t going to run from her now.
She braced herself then started firing at the building. Marcus took off running, crossing the street then ducking into the hardware store. Mr. Bennett, the store’s owner, was hunkered down behind the counter.
Shouldering his rifle, Marcus told him to stay low as he hurried to the back, swooping up a rope from a shelf before exiting through the door. He quickly knotted the rope and then tossed it up the side of the building until it caught. He scaled the side of the building, all the while conscious of Bethany’s firing to keep the sniper engaged.
Good girl. Keep him occupied.
The rope burned into his hands but he didn’t stop. Hefting himself over the top of the roof, once again he was acutely aware of the fact that he’d done this before.
The scream of sirens wailed in the distance and Marcus knew the police would arrive soon enough, more likely new targets of the sniper’s aim. He needed to get over there and find out just who was shooting at them before further chaos erupted.
But he also needed to get back to the woman who held the answers to all his questions. You’ve brought me this far, Lord. You sent this Federal Agent with knowledge of my past to find me. Please don’t let anything happen before I can hear what she has to say.
He drew his gun and moved across the rooftop, every muscle on alert as he ran to the edge.
He scanned the rooftop quickly, spotting a rifle leaning against the wall, but the shooter was gone.
Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind, pulling something hard and tight against him. Marcus caught it with his hand, knowing that if the attacker managed to get this around his neck, he was done for. And everyone else down there would have to deal with this guy alone. He couldn’t allow that.
Marcus summoned more strength than he knew he had, reached back to grab the guy and then slung him across his shoulder. He hit the ground with a thud and a groan while Marcus scrambled to stay on his feet at the near loss of air supply.
Air Supply. He loved the band Air Supply.
He shook his head. Stop it and focus. Fight now. Answers later.
His attacker was dressed
