Page 43 of Training Rain
“I think we should assume the building is surrounded.” Will’s voice was still completely casual. He didn’t seem at all concerned or worried about the prospect that they were about to be ambushed in an apartment with only one way out.
“Get your things. We’re going to the roof.”
Rain picked up her bag, checked her extra clips and closed her mind against any psi powers.
Jess went into the bedroom and came out carrying a duffle. “We need to get on the roof and see what we’re dealing with.”
She didn’t even know what question to ask first so she just kept her mouth shut and silently commanded Yas to follow. Yas licked her fingers and never left her side as they climbed three flights of stairs to the roof.
All told, there were six operatives surrounding the building. “How many do you think you can take out with your rifle before they know what hit them?”
Will settled in to a spot in the northwest corner of the flat rooftop. “Three.”
There was no doubt in the sharpshooter’s voice. Rain wished she felt half as confident. She held a Beretta 92 compact in her hand, her bag was weighed down by the several extra magazines and ammo. Looking over the wall, she saw two men waiting for an opportunity to kill her.
As if he’d read her mind, Jess knelt down in front of her. “I know you’re not ready for this, but you’re going to have to shoot one of them.” She just stared at him. Could she do it?
“Listen to me. You and I are going to go down to the street. See the guy on the southwest corner? You are going to have to take him out. I’ll get the one at the other end of the street.”
“And the other?”
“He’s going to run and we’re going to chase him, catch him and find out who sent him and why.”
“Okay.” Her voice trembled on just the one word.
“If you don’t shoot him, he will kill you or me. You understand?”
“Yes.”
He grabbed her hand and they headed back inside.
Will called in a low voice, “Three minutes.”
Jess checked his watch and they ran down the steps with Yas at their heels.
At the rear door to the square building they waited. “As soon as we hear Will take his shots, we go.”
Thirty seconds ticked by and time stopped. Pop. Pop…pop.
Jess ran out the door and she followed, heading in the opposite direction. The man she was after saw her a moment before she got within range. He lifted his automatic weapon and she knew this was it. Rain Silver’s last seconds on the earth.
The growl from Yas preceded the dog rushing forward toward her mark. His attention was drawn toward the animal. He shifted his aim. He was going to shoot Yas.
Rain saw his anger-twisted face in the bubble of her sight. She pulled the trigger and he dropped in a heap on the sidewalk. Yas stopped, sniffed the mercenary and growled once before turning back to her with his tail wagging.
One thing was certain, he was the best dog she’d ever had. Maybe she would feel regret for her actions later. No time. She took off toward the sound of another gunshot, praying that Jess had done as well. Another mercenary lay on the sidewalk dead and Jess was chasing the last, who had run as predicted. She followed, but Yas overtook Jess and leaped on top of their prey. The dog got him on the ground and took hold of his throat.
Jess was only a second behind. “Good work, Yas. Now leave him.”
Yas growled but didn’t release the man’s throat.
Rain slowed to a jog and told the dog to release, which he did before trotting over to her with his tongue hanging out happily. “Good boy.”
Jess dragged the would-be assassin to his feet just as Will arrived in the car. Yas happily jumped in the back. Rain got in the front, and Jess pushed their captive into the back before getting in after him.
Will’s grin never seemed to dim. “I called for backup to clean up the mess and talk to the authorities.”
“Head for Ten. We’ll go to Pierre Part. It’s quiet and we can dispose of this one in the swamp.”
