Reckoning Day

“How is she?” Katie asked, when she saw Kim walking towards them after speaking to the doctor.

“She’s gonna be okay”, Kim said. She, Katie and Hayley were at the hospital.

“Thanks”, Katie breathed out.

“She’s gonna be laid up for a couple days, though”, Kim said. “What happened?”

“We were at Caitlin - Agent Foord’s - house.”

“You can call her Caitlin”, Hayley said to Katie. “We all know you’re together.”

“Right”, Katie said. “We were at Caitlin’s house. I left to get food. When I came back, I found Caitlin on the ground, with a bullet wound in her stomach. It was Leah. My guess is she spotted us at the NDA office and then followed us back to Caitlin’s apartment.”

“Jesus”, Hayley said. “Do I need to go into hiding?”

“I don’t think so”, Katie said. “Caitlin said Leah gave her a message to give to me. Something like, ‘Tell Katie McCabe she can’t protect her women.’”

“What the fuck does that even mean?” Hayley asked.

“I don’t know, but somehow Leah figured out Caitlin and I are romantically involved.”

“Jesus, you two”, Kim rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Well, Caitlin’s gonna be alright”, she said again. “What else?”

“Nothing new. We just know Leah has a minivan with a large gun in it.”

“Shit”, Kim said. “Well, I canceled all of my public appearances, including the one for the tech center tomorrow.”

“Hey”, Denise said as she strode up.

“Denise”, Katie said.

“Director Little called me, told me what happened. I figured I’d come, you might need an extra hand now.”

“Thanks", Katie said, then hugged Denise.

“So, what's next?” Denise asked.

“Well, we don’t have much”, Kim said. “Let’s convene at the office tomorrow morning.”

“I’m going to stay here with Caitlin, if that’s okay”, Katie said.

“Of course”, Denise said.

********

After leaving Caitlin’s, Leah drove to the new tech center. She circled the surrounding blocks and found a space two blocks away, on a street up a slight hill. Well within range, and perfect positioning for the gun to shoot out of the back window of the minivan. She pulled out the local parking permit that she had stolen and hung it off the rear view mirror, then crawled into the back. This is it, she thought. Twelve hours and it’s all over. She smiled to herself in the darkness and then shut her eyes.

********

“Hi…” Katie said, as Caitlin stirred.

“Hi”, Caitlin said, slowly opening her eyes.

“How do you feel, luv?”, Katie asked.

“Okay I guess. How long have I been out?

“Overnight”, Katie said and gently squeezed Caitlin’s hand.

“You stayed?”

“Haven’t left your side, luv”, Katie said. She smiled and then gave Caitlin a soft kiss.

“What time is it?”

“8am. I gotta get to the office soon.”

“Anything new?”

“Unfortunately no.”

“Damn”, Caitlin said.

“Don’t worry about anything right now”, Katie said. “You just concentrate on getting better. Stay here and rest.”

“Okay”, Caitlin whispered. She smiled at Katie, who smiled back and leaned in for another kiss.

“Good morning” the doctor said, entering the room. “I’m Dr. Emily Fox. How are you feeling?” she asked Caitlin.

“Okay, I think”, Caitlin said. She tried to sit up but winced a bit.

“Just relax”, Dr. Fox said. She looked at Caitlin, then looked at Katie, and then looked back at Caitlin. “You have a dedicated partner. She hasn’t left your side since you were brought in.”

Caitlin smiled. “She’s the best”, she said, and squeezed Katie’s hand.

Dr. Fox smiled and then said, “We’ll need to run a few tests. It’ll just be a few minutes.”

“I’ll be here for a bit”, Katie said to Caitlin.

“There’s a morning paper at the nurses station right outside the room if you want to read it while you wait. Cell service can be spotty in the hospital”, Dr. Fox said to Katie. “I’ll bring her back soon.”

“Thanks Doctor”, Katie said, then turned to Caitlin. “Good luck, luv”, she said, then blew her a kiss as Dr. Fox helped her up off the bed. Caitlin smiled and gave Katie an air kiss, then she and Dr. Fox left the room. Katie stood up and stretched, then went to the nurses station. She grabbed the paper and headed back to Caitlin’s room, then sat down and flipped it open. She scanned the front page, then scanned through the politics section, then the sports section, and then got to the metro section, and was about to skip to the music and arts section, when something caught her eye:

Chancellor Stephanie Catley To Speak At New Tech Centre Opening Today

Katie read and re-read the headline. Something’s bothering me, she thought. She flipped the page, and then flipped back. She read the headline again, and then her blood went cold. She pulled out her phone. No signal. Shite, she thought, then bolted up and ran to the nurses station.

“I need your phone”, Katie said, looking around the station.

“Sure, it’s right-” here, the nurse was about to say, as Katie lunged over the counter and dialed.

“Deputy Director O’Sullivan”, Denise answered her mobile.

“Denise!” Katie shouted into her phone.

“Katie - I’ve got Director Little and Agent Raso with me on speaker.”

“Something’s been bothering me…why would Leah keep her plan to come after Director Little? Especially when she can be protected and has canceled all her appearances? I mean, I know Macca wants revenge, but still…seems like a long shot to get the director. It didn’t click until I saw a news article just now about Chancellor Catley speaking at the tech center opening today."

“Okay...” Denise said, letting it hang.

“I remembered what you said about Macca - public and bloody revenge.”

“Right”, Denise said.

“Also, I remembered what Caitlin said Leah said to her - that I can’t protect my women.”

“Your women?” Denise asked.

“Foord told McCabe that Leah has said to her that McCabe can’t protect her women”, Kim said to Denise.

“Like Ruesha and Agent Foord?” Denise asked Katie.

“I thought that at first, but then I realized that it's more than that. Leah was talking about any women. All women”, Katie said.

“Where are you going with this, McCabe?” Kim asked.

“We’ve been guarding the wrong person. Leah’s after the chancellor”, Katie said. “She’s gonna assassinate Chancellor Catley today at the tech centre opening ceremony. There will be thousands present and millions watching on TV. Public and bloody revenge.”

“Holy shit”, Denise said as her blood went cold with the realization that Katie was right.

“Oh fuck”, Hayley said.

“What time does the tech center ceremony start?” Katie asked.

“One hour”, Kim said.

“We gotta get there now”, Katie said.

“Where are you?” Denise asked.

“I’m at the hospital with Caitlin. They just took her to run some tests.”

“Did you stay overnight?” Hayley asked.

“Yes. I haven’t left.”

“Wow. Romantic”, Hayley quipped.

“Focus, Raso”, Kim said. “We need to leave now. McCabe - you’ll have to meet us there.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Us too. See you there”, Denise said, and hung up the phone.

********

“It’s a fucking zoo down here”, Katie said, as she met up with Denise, Kim and Hayley. There were several thousand people in attendance, milling about, and there were police and security everywhere.

“How’s Caitlin?” Hayley asked.

“She’ll be okay”, Katie said.

“She’s tough”, Hayley said with a slight smile.

“Well, Leah's still going to die for shooting her”, Katie said and then gritted her teeth. "Ima put a bullet right between that blonde bitch's eyes, today."

“Easy", Denise said, putting her hand on Katie's shoulder. "We need to stay professional." She paused as Katie composed herself, and then asked, "So, what are we looking for?”

“A minivan of some color with a large gun in it”, Katie said.

“There’s no way we’ll be able to cover the entire area before the ceremony starts, which is in”, Kim said, checking her watch. “Fifteen minutes.”

“Shite”, Katie said, then turned her head as something caught her eye, and she watched as three black Suburbans and a black Lincoln Town Car pulled up. “That’s the Chancellor”, she said, as she watched a full security detail exit the Suburbans, and then a moment later Chancellor Steph Catley stepped out of the Lincoln, smiling and waving to the crowd as they cheered.

“Look at the suit on her”, Hayley marveled.

“Focus, Raso”, Kim said. “Okay - we need to split up. Raso - take the streets to the right. McCabe - take the streets to the left. O’Sullivan - warn Chancellor Catley’s security detail, and stay close to the chancellor. I’ll find whoever’s in charge of local PD for the day, we’re gonna need their help in searching the area for Leah’s minivan. Let’s move”, Kim said, and everyone nodded, and then dispersed.

********

Leah sat on a bench close to her minivan. She was wearing a metro PD uniform, complete with cap. She looked over and saw a squad car slowly pull down the block. She got up and approached the car.

“Hey guys”, she said and smiled.

“Morning”, the officer riding shotgun said. “Any suspicious minivans?”

“Nothing”, Leah said. “I’ve been up and down this block and the next two to the left. The only minivan I saw is this here red one”, she said, pointing to hers, “but I checked it out. City metro plate tags, local parking permit. It’s good.”

“Yeah, we checked out a couple on the blocks to the right of here. They’re all good as well. We’ll check again, but my guess is we’ll get nothing.”

“I’d agree”, Leah said and smiled. “The NDA has us chasing our tails.”

“More of a better-safe-than-sorry thing, if you ask me.” the officer shook his head and smiled.

“I hear that”, Leah said. She smiled back and then patted the side of the police car. “You guys be safe”, she said.

“You too”, the officer smiled back at her, and then he and his partner continued on their way. Leah waved as they drove off, and then looked towards the stage in front of the tech centre. She could see the chancellor exiting her car, waving towards the crowd, surrounded by her security detail. Sorry luv, those guys aren’t gonna save you from this one, she mused. She smiled to herself and looked around, then went back to her minivan, opened it up, and grabbed her backpack with her laptop. She locked the minivan, then walked back to her bench, sat down, and opened up her laptop. In a few keystrokes she was in the interface, and she could see the scope of the rifle kick on. She used her remote on her car keys to roll down the back window, then looked back at the sighting on her laptop and saw a clean shot from her van to the podium. She could hear the MC starting the presentation.

“Welcome to the grand opening of the newest and greatest tech centre in all of…”

Now all she had to do was wait for the chancellor to take the stage. Just a few more minutes now…

********

Katie walked briskly down the streets surrounding the tech centre. No minivans. She turned a corner and saw a subway station. Possible escape route, she thought. Easy place to get lost in once pandemonium breaks out after the gunfire erupts. She stared at the station for a moment and then heard the MC over the loudspeaker:

“And now, it is my great pleasure to introduce our first guest of honor, Chancellor Catley…”

“Shite”, Katie said, as she heard the applause from the audience. She hustled down the block she was on, and then turned a corner, scanned the block and froze. Three quarters up the block, on the other side of the street was a red minivan. It was facing away from the stage. Katie paused and calculated that a gunshot fired out of the rear window would have a clean shot to the podium.

“Thank you, everyone”, the chancellor began. “It is my great hope that, as we move into the future, our new tech centre will…”

Katie turned to look at the chancellor, and then turned back, and as she did, she saw the back window of the minivan roll down. Katie squinted and then cursed. She could see the outline of a gun. A large one, just like the one that they had tracked purchased on the dark web.

“Guys! I have eyes on the van!” Katie said into her comms.

“Where are you?” Denise said.

“Halfway up fourth avenue”, Katie said. “Get the chancellor off the stage, now!”

********

Leah stared at her screen. Almost there, she thought…there! Locked in, she thought, as she put the chancellor in the crosshairs. She paused for a moment to savor the calm before the storm, then went to press the fire button-

BAM

Leah looked up and around. That was a gunshot, and not one fired by her. She looked around and then looked at her van. It was intact, but something was wrong. It looked like it was riding a bit lower.. She looked down the street and saw Katie walking up towards the van, shooting. Fuck, Leah thought. She looked at the sighting on her screen. The chancellor was now out of the crosshairs. She adjusted and got her back in, but then heard another gunshot and the crosshairs went off. Fuck, she thought. McCabe is shooting at the tires to throw off the sighting. She adjusted again, got the chancellor in her crosshairs, and thought - it’s now or never, then exhaled and pushed to fire.

BAM

BAM

Katie fired at another tire just before Leah fired at Chancellor Catley. The bullet from Leah’s gun missed the chancellor by about half a foot, putting a fist-sized hole in the wall of the building behind her.

“We need to get the chancellor off the stage, now!” Denise yelled at the security team, as she pushed her way up towards the podium. The security team looked at her for a moment and then looked around in confusion.

BAM BAM BAM

The bullets missed the chancellor.

“God damn it!” Denise said, as chaos erupted and the crowd started shouting and running for their lives. She looked at the chancellor, standing ten feet away, who was looking around in confusion. Then Denise looked off the stage and spotted the red minivan, 500 yards away. She could see Katie advancing up the street, shooting at the van.

BAM BAM BAM BAM

More bullets. Denise looked back at the chancellor, and then in one motion ran up onstage and tackled her to the ground behind the podium.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM

Bullets raked the ground, and Denise took one in the leg. “Fuck!” she cried out. The security detail ran onstage. “Get the chancellor out of here!” Denise shouted. The security detail scooped up the chancellor and hurried her to the motorcade. “Agent down! Get a medic!” one of the security detail shouted for Denise.

********

Katie advanced on the minivan, taking out the tires. This should at least throw the scope off so Leah can’t aim, she thought. She got within thirty feet of the van.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM

The gun was still firing, and by now the crowd was in full pandemonium. Katie looked at the stage - the chancellor was off the stage and the security team was hurrying her towards the motorcade. Katie breathed a quick sigh of relief, then turned back towards the minivan and saw the barrel of the gun start to swivel towards her.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM

Fuck, Katie thought and ran behind a parked car. Bullets were flying. I need to take this thing out now, Katie she. She paused for a moment, then popped up from behind the car she was hiding behind and aimed at the minivan’s gas tank and fired. The minivan exploded into a ball of fire. The firing from the van stopped, and Katie shielded her eyes.

********

Fuck, Leah thought. She grabbed her backpack and got up and started heading for the subway. She tossed her cap in a trash can and stripped off her metro PD shirt and tie as she walked, then reached into her bag and pulled out a grey windbreaker. She put it on and then tossed her backpack and laptop in another trash can. She looked back and saw chaos erupting as people were running for their lives. Mission failed, she lamented, but at least I have cover to escape. From here I can take the subway out of the city, then disappear. I’m keeping the initial payment of ten million. With that plus all of the money I have saved up, I can disappear forever. She crossed the street and headed down the block, then jumped down the stairs into the subway. A few more minutes and I’m gone, she thought…

********

Katie stared at the exploded minivan for a moment, then started searching for Leah. If the van was here, she couldn’t have been far, probably controlling the gun via remote firing station off of a laptop nearby. She ran up the street, then turned right, ran down another street, and as she turned the corner, she caught a glimpse of a blonde heading into the subway. Leah.

“I’ve got eyes on Leah”, Katie said into her comms. “She’s heading into the subway. I’m in pursuit.”

“Copy that”, Kim said. “We’re headed that way. Proceed with caution.”

“Copy that”, Katie said. She ran across the street and then down into the subway. She pushed past the throng of commuters and jumped over the turnstyle, then surveyed the platform from above and spotted Leah at the far end.

“Attention”, came the loudspeaker. “Train approaching in one minute.”

Shite, Katie thought, then sprinted towards the escalator that went down to the platform. She slid down the divider, and then slowed to a quick walk. Leah was fifty feet away. Katie drew her gun.

“Attention, train entering station”, the loudspeaker announced.

Leah looked up at the approaching train, and as she did, she saw Katie advancing on her. She started to back up, then turned sideways and ran full tilt, then jumped off the platform right in front of the approaching train and onto the tracks. The train operator honked his horn and pulled the brakes, missing Leah by inches. Leah slammed against the far wall and then got up and ran down the tunnel.

“Shite!”, Katie said. “Leah’s heading down the tunnel towards the next station”, Katie said into her comms.

“Ple - - repea - -” Kim’s voice came, the comms breaking up in the subway station.

“Can anyone hear me?” Katie asked.

“Ka - - your’e - - break - - “ then her comms went dead.

“Shite”, Katie said. She ran towards the back of the train, now docked in the station, and then jumped off the platform onto the tracks. She jogged down towards the next station, and got about fifty feet, when a bullet whizzed by her. “Dammit”, she said, then ducked behind the entryway to an access door, swung her arm around and fired.

“Fuck!” Leah gritted, the bullet hitting her leg. She fired two bullets back and then continued down the tracks, limping.

Katie heard Leah curse and then heard footsteps. She waited a few seconds, and then peeked out and saw Leah limping down the tracks. She stepped out and followed after Leah at a cautious jog, keeping her distance.

Leah approached the next station and climbed onto the platform. People stared at her. She continued limping her way to the escalator to go up and out and hit the street, when she heard the rack of a gun slide.

“Stop right there, Leah!” Katie yelled, twenty feet away, her gun trained right on Leah. “Drop your weapon and turn around slowly.”

Passengers froze. Leah put her gun hand up in the air and turned around slowly, and then with her other hand she quickly grabbed a young woman and pulled her in front of her as a shield. She fired her gun once into the air, and passengers screamed and fled. Leah took advantage of the chaos, grabbing the young woman by the hair and dragging her towards the end of the platform.

“Dammit!” Katie said to herself, and followed Leah and the young woman. They reached the edge of the platform. “Let her go, Leah”, Katie said, gun trained on Leah.

“Are you sure you want to shoot me?” Leah asked. “You might hit her”, she taunted, and pulled the young woman right in front of her.

“Let her go, and put your gun down. It’s over”, Katie said forcefully. She started circling, trying to get a better angle, and Leah countered, ending up with Katie on the edge of the platform, and Leah facing Katie, her back to the platform.

“What’s your name, luv?” Leah asked the young woman, putting her gun to her head.

“A-a-alessia”, the young woman sobbed out, terrified.

“Alessia, dear”, Leah said, stroking Alessia’s hair with her gun. “We want Operative McCabe to be careful, don’t we?”

“Y-y-yes”, Alessia stammered.

“Well, why don’t we have Operative McCabe put her gun down, and then you can go. How does that sound?” Leah asked.

“P-p-please”, Alessia looked at Katie with pleading eyes.

“Say ‘Please, Operative McCabe, don’t let me die’”, Leah taunted.

“Please, Operative McCabe, don’t let me die”, Alessia sobbed out, tears running down her face.

“See, Operative McCabe? Another one of your women to save”, Leah taunted. “What are you going to do? First Ruesha, then Caitlin. You don’t want to make it three for three, do you?”

“You fuckin' bitch", Katie cursed at Leah thru gritted teeth.

“Please…” Alessia sobbed, looking at Katie with pleading eyes.

“God damn it, Leah. Let her go, now!” Katie yelled.

“Put your gun down, and I’ll let her go. Or else”, Leah said, pushing the gun into Alessia’s temple.

“Please!!!” Alessia squirmed.

“Alright! Alright”, Katie said. She lowered her gun and tossed it on the ground.

“Good girl”, Leah said. She smiled and then caressed Alessia’s cheek with her gun. “Say thank you, Operative McCabe.”

“T-t-thank you, Operative McCabe”, Alessia squeaked out.

“That’s a good girl”, Leah smiled and then kissed Alessia gently on the cheek. “Run along now”, she said, letting go of Alessia’s hair. Alessia let out a little yelp and then ran off sobbing. “Well, Operative McCabe, you were right. It’s over. For you”, Leah smiled, then pointed her gun at Katie. “Get down on your knees.”

“What are you going to do, Leah? Shoot me?” Katie asked as she got down. “You’ve got all of NDA and INTERPOL looking for you, and you’ve got a bum wheel”, she said, looking at Leah’s bleeding leg. “What are you going to do? Hobble your way out of here? How long do you think you’re gonna last?”

Leah stared at Katie and then said, “I’ll think of something. At any rate, it won’t be your concern”, she said, then racked the slide on her gun. “Katie McCabe…couldn’t protect her women, and can’t protect herself.”

“The chancellor is safe”, Katie said. “You failed. And Macca will be coming for you as well, for botching the job. Your days are numbered.”

“Like I said, not your concern”, Leah said. She paused and then said, “Are you ready to die?”

“I’ll see you in hell, Leah”, Katie said, unafraid.

“Ever the brave soldier”, Leah said. “Now, on the count of three… one…two…”

Katie closed her eyes. God protect Caitlin, she thought. She paused and then heard a gunshot. She jumped at the sound, then realized she wasn’t injured or dead. She opened her eyes, and saw Caitlin, standing behind Leah, smoking gun in her hand.

“Three”, Caitlin said.

Leah paused, mouth open, then fell forward onto her face, blood pouring out of the gunshot wound in the back of her head.

“Cait…” Katie breathed out.

“Are you alright?” Caitlin ran over to Katie, dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around her.

“I’m alright”, Katie said. She squeezed Caitlin and felt Caitlin flinch. “Oh my god, I’m sorry. You?”

“I’m okay. My stomach still hurts bad but I’ll be okay”, Caitlin said.

Katie gazed at Caitlin and then planted a deep kiss on her lips. “What are you doing here?” Shouldn’t you be in the hospital?”

“Probably”, Caitlin smiled.

“How did you find me?”

“After I got back from my tests you were gone. I asked the nurse where you went, and she said you made a call and left in a hurry. So I called Hayley and she filled me in. I left the hospital with Dr. Fox screaming sat me to stay, and I took an Uber down to the tech centre. I saw the gunfire, and everyone running, and then I spotted the subway, and I figured if Leah was trying to escape, that would be the place she would go, so I went down, and then I saw you, at the other end. I tried to catch you, but I couldn’t keep up. But I followed you down the tracks all the way here to this station, and then I saw this young woman run up the escalator crying, and then I saw you, and I saw Leah, and then I saw you get down on the ground, so I drew my gun, and then I heard Leah counting to three, and…”

“You saved me”, Katie said. She gazed at Caitlin and then said, “I thought you don’t like having to shoot people.”

“I don’t”, Caitlin gazed back at Katie. “But she shot me, and she was going to shoot you, so…” She paused and then said, “We take care of each other, right?”

“We do”, Katie said. She gazed back at Caitlin and then wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a long kiss.