Beneath the Ashes, He Rose

Chapter 5: Sniper Dot

The red dot pulsed with the sniper's heartbeat as it sat on Tatiana's breast like a live coal.  Alexander slapped the brakes and turned off the van's headlights.  Tires screamed.  The car skidded behind a concrete jersey barrier on the Navy Yard overpass and fishtailed on wet asphalt.  The laser disappeared.

He yelled, "Down!"

Mira was already on the floors when Tatiana pulled the comforter over them both.  Rolling out the passenger side, Cole scanned rooftops with the AR-15 up.  The smell of cordite and river decay filled the night.

"Talk, Grayson," Alexander yelled into his communications.

Four hundred yards south of the water tower, there is a thermal bloom.  suppressed. Lapua 338.  A spotter and a shooter.  The wind is blowing from right to left at ten knots.

"Make the shot."

"Not possible.  He is shielded by Mira's heat signature.  He fires when she moves.

On the wheel, Alexander's knuckles turned white.  "Choices."

The EMP drone is being recharged.  30 seconds.  You must pull him away from the child, even though I can blind his scope.

Tatiana's deep, deadly voice pierced through.  "I am the lure."

"No," snarled Alexander.

"Yes."  She caressed Mira's curls and pushed the quilt away.  "Baby, stay with Uncle Cole.  Mommy is engaged in a game of hide-and-seek.  She looked directly at Alexander.  "Believe me."

He detested it.  To keep her in the van, every cell cried out.  But hunting, the dot was back on the windshield.  He gave one nod.

With a two-handed grasp on the Glock, Tatiana slipped out.  Moonlight gleaming on her skin, she stepped out into the open.  To her sternum, the red dot snapped.

"You bastard, hurry up," she muttered.  "Observe me."

The dot remained stable.

Cole ran for a drainage culvert after scooping Mira.  Alexander rolled into the shadows and vaulted the barrier.  After lowering the silk mask, he transformed back into the Phantom.

"EMP live in three… two…" said Grayson.

Slowly, Tatiana lifted her arms.  "You desire the heir?  Instead, take me.

a cough that is muted.  Where her foot had been, the round punched the asphalt.  She rolled behind a corroded shipping container and dove off.  Frantically, the laser swept.

"Now!"  Alexander let out a shout.

Silent and matte black, the drone sped across the sky.  There was a burst of white light.  Every electronic device within two hundred yards, the van's ignition, the sniper scope, and the communications, died.  The red dot gave a wink.

Boots thumping, Alexander ran over the open ground.  He landed silently on the catwalk ladder after vaulting the container.  He weighed Metal down, and Metal moaned.  Glock led the way as he ascended quickly.

With a curse, the sniper painstakingly racked the bolt.  With the knife out, the spotter whirled.  He was shot center mass (suppressed pop) by Alexander.  The body fell over the railing and splashed into the river.

The weapon was swung like a club by the sniper.  Alexander dodged and punched the man in the stomach.  They collided with the railing of the tower.  Below, D.C. gleamed, unaware.

Alexander tore the rifle off and threw it into the night.  Pulling a combat knife, the sniper (scarred face, ex-Spetsnaz ink on his neck) did so.  He made a lunge.

Alexander spun, grabbed the wrist, and sidestepped.  Bone broke.  The blade clanked.  He repeatedly banged the man's face onto the scope mount.  The metal was slicked with blood.

"Who sent you?"  Alexander growled.

A tooth was spat by the sniper.  For the girl alive, Whitaker pays three times as much.  If the mother is looking, double.

Mid-strike, Alexander's fist froze.  "Where is he?"

"Gala Senate."  Inside already.  It's too late.

Alexander gagged the sniper with his own balaclava and zip-tied his hands to the railing.  He entered his communications.  "Stat, status."

Breathless, her voice returned.  "Mira is secure.  She is in Cole's culvert.  "Where are you?"

"Water tower."  The gala is where Benjamin is.  We leave now.

In three leaps, he jumped down the ladder and landed on the ground.  Tatiana's eyes blazed as she met him at the van.  With Mira on his hip and the quilt trailing like a banner, Cole came out of the culvert.

Alexander opened the back doors of the van.  There are two tuxedos, one emerald gown, and duffel bags of equipment inside.  "The insurance policy of Grayson."

Tatiana raised the silk, thigh-slitting, backless gown.  "This was something you planned."

"Contingency."  After removing the tactical vest, he put on the tuxedo shirt.  He buttoned it with trembling fingers.  "Every camera in the room forgets Benjamin exists when you wear that."

She approached him and repositioned his bow tie.  His throat was touched by her knuckles.  And you in this?  I might also forget.

Mira laughed out of Cole's embrace.  "Mom is attractive."

Tatiana grinned ferociously.  "Daddy is more attractive."

Cole threw Alexander the keys to a black, tinted, stolen-plate vehicle that was waiting.  I'll grab the van and set up a distraction.  You two are amazing.  You are Mr. and Mrs. Langford, who are Monaco-based arms traffickers, and Grayson has hacked the guest list.

The keys were caught by Alexander.  "What about Benjamin?"

The east balcony is the private box.  In forty minutes, the live feed will begin.  He will either die or confess on television.

Tatiana fastened Mira to a booster seat in the rear of the automobile.  "How about her?"

"The safe house of Grayson."  Mossad, Nanny's ex.  Until we return, Mira will watch cartoons and eat ice cream.

Mira sulked.  "I hope Daddy becomes a hero."

Alexander tapped her nose while kneeling.  "Kiddo, heroes return home."  Assure me.

Mira was moved to the van by Cole.  With her gown glistening, Tatiana climbed into the passenger seat of the vehicle.  Alexander got behind the wheel.  The engine came to life with a purr.

Tatiana's hand met his on the shifter as they rolled toward the city.  "After tonight?"

"We vanish.  private island.  No more masks.

Leaning down, she planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth.  "I'm going to hold you to that."

The parkway was joined by the sedan.  The water tower (Grayson's farewell gift) burnt behind them.  In the distant, sirens cried out.

Alexander blew it away.  Empires would crumble at the event, which loomed ahead with its crystal chandeliers and champagne flutes.

The black SUV's headlights blazed in the rearview mirror.  It sped up and collided with their bumper.  Metal screamed.

Tatiana whirled, Glock raised.  "Company."

With his tires smoking, Alexander swerved.  "Remain steadfast."

Once more, the SUV collided.  The automobile made a fishtailing motion.  Cole held Mira's booster seat, but it was empty.  However, the fresh blood-stained bedspread was resting on the floorboards.

Tatiana gasped for air.  "We don't own that."

Alexander glanced over at the quilt.  After dancing across it, a lone red laser dot landed on the headrest, which is where Mira's head would have been.

The hunt was only getting started.

With the child draped over his shoulder (Mira, unconscious, quilt trailing), Harrison Whitmore's shadow emerged from the rear seat of the SUV.  As the SUV swerved onto an exit ramp, he held up a fake salute.

The automobile rocked from Alexander's roar.  "She's with him!"

Tires roaring, he turned the wheel and chased the taillights into the night.  The empire, the confession, the gala, everything came down to this: Before the sun rose over the Potomac, every Whitaker would bleed.