Clare and I lingered longer over coffee this morning―up earlier than usual because neither of us could really sleep. I mean how else do you behave on a day that could be the last of your life?
Three pm this afternoon loomed―the hour they crucified Christ―not that I was aggrandizing my sacrifice. It just seemed grimly appropriate it might also be the last hour of my life.
And I, just thirty-three years old as well, like him.
Yeah, not making comparisons...just stating the obvious.
But I wasn't ready to die because I hadn't begun to live. Still, it was my call to make and I did because I couldn't lose another friend. But with Clare, she meant more than that...
she was everything.
"We should leave," she whispered, glancing at the clock.
I nodded and got up and mechanically reached for my coat, but she grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me into her, kissing me as if I were leaving forever, never to return.
Even Maggie, our golden retriever,leaned her body against my knees and that gesture triggered Clare to begin sobbing and I couldn't control my grief and mingled my tears with hers.
"We're quite a mess now," she frowned, looking in the mirror and then, suddenly pushed me hard to the floor with her on top of me. In that moment I heard the mirror explode as glass fragments showered down on us and embedding themselves in our skin and clothes.
"Are you okay?" I gasped.
She nodded and gave Maggie a hands-down sign and watched while she dropped obediently to the floor. Stay! she commanded.
"We need to get away from the window," I rasped hoarsely.
She nodded as we both crawled back into the den.
The window exploded as another shot buried itself in the opposite wall.
I fished my cell from my pocket and speed-dialled Cyril.
"We're under siege at the farm," I managed to say before another shot took out the window glass in the front door.
"Sending Swat," he said tersely, "Is the shooter alone?"
"No idea―we're crouched down on the floor in the den."
"Both armed?"
"Yeah, pistols drawn, but no target."
"Stay under cover―don't even try to spot him―he wants to lure you out."
"How long till back-up?"
"ETA 5 minutes―I had units ready and dispersed. Hang in and stay down."
I relayed the info to Clare but there was nothing we could do but wait .
Within minutes we heard vehicles, doors slamming and the squelch of police radios. We knew it was over and the shooter gone.
"Area's clear," the unit commander informed us. "it's safe to come out."
Clare was back in my arms and Maggie crouching at our feet, glass shards glinting in her fur. We dodged bullets but the point was clear―no place was safe while the sniper was at large.
Later, Cyril showed up and sat with us before the fire. Clare made coffee and we sat sipping and going over the few scant details we could piece together.
"Three shots in total, all from long distance―most likely from that ridge." Cyril pointed to the notch in the trees where Clare and I shared our first kiss. The irony wasn't lost on me.
"I thought we had eyes on Barnes," I hissed.
Cyril shrugged. "We did―it wasn't him, nor Robyn either. They were both at the detachment when it happened."
My jaw dropped and I just stared at Clare whose eyes were wide with surprise and fear.
If not them, then who? her gaze said and my eyes were equally dark, but more with disappointment and despair.
Ending this nightmare was not going to be easy. Why did I think I could put an end to the madness like quitting a simulated combat game?
This was real warfare and it's never easy or pretty.
Next time instead of splintered glass it will be flesh and bone and blood splatter...
assuming we survive to see it.
