The Second Shooter

by E. A. Briginshaw

  David watched as the nurse spoke to the officer stationed outside of David’s room. He saw her point to the alcove that was only about twenty paces down the hall.

  “He said you can – but he has to go with you,” the nurse said to David when she came back into his room.

  David sprang from the bed and grabbed his laptop.

  “Take it slow,” the nurse cautioned. “You might feel a bit dizzy when you get up.”

  David had already been out of bed several times and paced back and forth in his room just to relieve the boredom. “I’m fine.”

  The police officer escorted David the short distance down the hall. When he got there, he unplugged the Internet cable from the workstation and plugged it into his laptop.

  “Retrieve instructions,” David typed after he had entered his password.

  “Danger. Watch out for the second shooter,” appeared on the screen.

  Why would he still be in danger? The newspaper reports had indicated he didn’t know what was in the files. It didn’t make any sense.

  It had been a few days since he had read his messages. Maybe this was an old message that was sent before the newspaper article appeared. He checked the timestamp on the message.

  It had been sent less than an hour ago.

  *** Chapter 27 ***

  Vanessa hurried into calculus class and sat down beside Robert. “New laptop?”

  “Yeah, I got a new one to replace the one that got stolen – got it at the university tech shop. I’ve gotta get another one for my brother.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Everyone around here is spooked since the shooting – thinking there’s some nut job still out there.”

  Robert leaned in to whisper to Vanessa. “The cops don’t think it was some whacko who did it. Think it was actually a professional hit.”

  “Yeah, I read that in the paper. Anyway, I’m glad to hear your brother is okay.”

  “He’s actually getting bored just lying around in the hospital. He’s hoping to get out in the next day or so, but the cops want to keep him there to protect him.”

  “Why would he need protection? I read in the paper that he doesn’t know anything.”

  “He doesn’t, but the cops don’t want to take any chances.”

  The chatter in the lecture hall dropped significantly when the calculus professor arrived and threw his briefcase onto the desk at the front of the room.

  “Hold on to your hat,” Vanessa said. “The hurricane is about to start.”

  Sure enough, for the next hour the professor spewed his knowledge at a frightening pace. He showed no pity on those who couldn’t keep up.

  “I’m thinking of dropping this class,” Vanessa said after the lecture was over. “I just can’t keep up.”

  “You can’t,” Robert said. “Calculus is a required course.”

  “I know. I’m thinking of dropping out altogether. I’m not sure math is the field I should be in.”

  Robert was stunned. He really looked forward to calculus class, and Vanessa was the main reason. “Don’t give up. Maybe I can help you.”

  “Our study group already meets twice a week. I don’t think we could ask them to meet more than that.”

  “I don’t mean the study group. Just you and me. One-on-one.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Sure I would. How about we start tonight?”

  * * *

  Robert showed up at Vanessa’s place just before seven that night. She lived in a very tiny house not far from the university. There were several other houses on the block just like it – old, rundown. This was an investment property so the owner just did the minimum amount required – and students were used to living with the bare minimum.

  When Robert knocked on the door, he heard a dog bark and come racing to the door. When Vanessa opened the door, she tried to block the dog from getting out with her leg.

  “Don’t worry about him – he’s harmless,” she said as she took Robert’s coat. “But he might lick you to death.”

  Robert knelt down to pet the dog. “He reminds me of the dog David and I had when we were kids – a Bijon – his name was Duddly. What’s this guy’s name?”

  “Wiley. You’ve got to watch him. He always seems to be up to something.”

  “Come on – this guy? He’s too cute to be up to no good.”

  Wiley started sniffing around the huge bag that Robert had brought with him.

  “See, I told you,” Vanessa said. “If you’ve got any food in there, he’ll steal it in a flash.”

  Robert picked up the bag and carried it over to the dining room table. It was obvious that it wasn’t used very often for eating as Vanessa had her books spread out all over it. Some of the books looked like they’d never been opened.

  Robert pulled a bottle of wine and some chocolates out of the bag. “I find studying calculus goes a lot better with some wine and something to nibble on.”

  “Something to nibble on? Are you sure you’re talking about the chocolates?”

  Robert looked a little embarrassed. “Maybe – maybe not.”

  “That’s an awfully big bag. Any chance there’s an actual calculus book in there?”

  “Ta-da,” Robert said when he pulled a calculus study guide from the bag. “But I also have something else I have to get done tonight.”

  He pulled a brand new laptop from the bag, along with a bunch of other technical paraphernalia. “I picked up a new laptop for David today, but I have to set it up for him tonight. I promised I’d bring it in to him at the hospital tomorrow.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Just a power outlet.”

  Robert set up the laptop on the dining room table while Vanessa opened the wine and went to find some glasses. After Robert navigated the way through the initial setup, he plugged in an external drive he had brought with him.

  “What’s that for?” Vanessa asked as she handed Robert his wine.

  “I’m restoring all of David’s files from the backups I made. It’ll take a few hours.”

  He took the wine glass from Vanessa. “Now we can work on teaching you some calculus.”

  Robert picked up the calculus study guide and they both headed over to sit on the couch. Robert was doing his absolute best to explain the subject to her, but it was becoming obvious she wasn’t really listening.

  “I like you,” she said. “I really do, no matter what happens.”

  “I like you too. That’s why I don’t want you to drop out. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you pass calculus.” He leaned in to kiss her.

  “I can’t,” Vanessa said.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I don’t want to hurt you – I really don’t. Let’s face it. I’m never going to pass calculus. I don’t want to lead you down a path when I know there’s no chance for us.”

  “I don’t understand. We have as good a chance as anyone. We can slow things down if you want – just let things develop as we get to know each other more.”

  “Look – you’re a great guy – you deserve better.”

  Robert didn’t believe her. “Is there someone else?”

  She smiled at him. “No, there’s no one else.

  Robert came over to hold her and she melted into his chest. “I wasn’t supposed to let this happen,” she said. “This is my fault – it’s all my fault.”

  Suddenly they heard a beeping sound coming from the dining room.

  “What’s that?” Vanessa asked.

  “That’s just the computer,” Robert said as he stroked her hair. “The files have been restored. It can wait.”

  Vanessa took a deep breath. She had made a decision. “It’s probably best if you just get your computer and go – before we get ourselves into any more trouble.”

  Robert reluctantly headed into the dining room and unplugged the backup drive from the computer. He started scrolling through the list of files to make su
re all the files had been copied.

  “That’s strange,” he said.

  “What is?”

  “There’s a whole bunch of extra files here – hundreds of them. I have no idea what they’re for.” He continued to scroll through the list. Then he clicked on one of them and a video started to play. “What the hell is this?”

  Vanessa silently rose from the couch, pulled something from a drawer in the china cabinet and came up behind him.

  “I wish you hadn’t done that,” she said.

  “Why?”

  Robert turned toward her just in time to see the butt-end of a gun hit him across the side of the head.

  * * *

  When Robert came to, he found his hands tied to the arms of the dining room chair. Vanessa was sitting in a chair opposite him, waiting for him to wake up. Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her face. It was obvious she had been crying for a while.

  “What’s going on?” Robert asked.

  “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve this. I wish you and your brother had just stayed out of this whole thing.”

  “David? What has David got to do with this?”

  “It’s those files he downloaded – the ones he gave to the professor.”

  Robert couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you the one who shot David?”

  Vanessa shook her head. “No, that was my partner. He’s the one who shot your brother and the professor. But I was there. The agency always has a second shooter – for every mission – the backup – in case something goes wrong. I knew your brother was still alive when I was there. I was supposed to kill him, but I knew he hadn’t seen what was in those files. He didn’t deserve it, so I just gathered up the CDs and the gun. That should have been the end of it. Our mission was over.” Vanessa came over and gently stroked the side of Robert’s head where she’d hit him. “Why did you have to make a copy of the files?”

  David noticed the handgun sitting on the dining room table. “You don’t have to kill me. I didn’t see what was in the files. Just let me go and I won’t say a word – I swear.”

  Vanessa continued to gently stroke his head. “If I don’t do it, the agency will just send someone else. I was supposed to get close to your brother to find out whether he had a copy of those files. But not too close – that would have been too obvious – so I chose you – his brother. They train us how to get close, but I crossed the line.”

  Vanessa picked up the gun. “You should have seen this coming. I tried to warn you, you know – while playing your stupid Magic game. I always chose the blue and black cards – trickery, deception – winning at all costs. How did you not see this coming?”

  “Because I fell for you. It’s easy to be deceived by those you love.”

  “See, I knew you were too good for me. You don’t deserve this. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

  Vanessa raised the gun and pointed it at Robert. He closed his eyes.

  Suddenly a shot rang out and blood splattered across the dining room wall. But it wasn’t Robert’s blood – it was Vanessa’s.

  Robert opened his eyes to see a man dressed all in black holding a gun. The man slowly advanced into the dining room. He pushed Vanessa’s body over with his foot to make sure she was dead. Then he lowered his gun.

  “You okay?” the man asked Robert.

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  The man proceeded to untie Robert’s hands from the chair. Then he started gathering up the computer and the backup drive and shoved them into the bag that Robert had brought. “Do you have any other copies of these files?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Cause if you do, they’ll keep coming for you.”

  “I don’t. I swear. Where are you taking them?”

  “I’m going to destroy them. People who come in contact with them tend to end up dead.” The man picked up the bag and headed for the door.

  “What should I do?”

  “I’d suggest you call 9-1-1.”

  “Who are you? Are you the police? They’ll want to know who shot Vanessa.”

  The man grinned. “Just tell them it was the Black Knight.”

  Then he was gone.

  *** Chapter 28 ***

  “We’re moving you to a new room,” the nurse said to David when she arrived pushing a wheelchair.

  “Why? I thought you said I was going to be released tomorrow.”

  The nurse helped David out of bed and into the wheelchair. “As far as I know, you still are. We’re moving you to the same room as your brother.”

  “Robert? What happened to him?”

  The nurse started pushing the wheelchair down the hall. “He’s fine. Got a knock on the head – probably has a concussion. He’s been admitted for the night so we can keep an eye on him. He can tell you all of the details himself.”

  When they arrived at the new room, David saw Robert sitting up in bed. He had a big bruise on the right side of his head and it looked quite swollen. Henry was there, along with Detective Tremblay.

  “What happened to you?” David asked.

  “We were just about to go through the whole thing again,” Detective Tremblay said.

  Henry came over to help David out of the wheelchair and into the bed beside Robert’s. “He almost got killed – because of those files. I told you to quit that damn secret society.”

  “Dad, it’s not his fault,” Robert said.

  “Everyone should just stay calm,” the detective said. He made direct eye contact with Henry to emphasize his point. “Robert, why don’t you start at the beginning and take us through what happened.”

  Robert sighed. He had already been through it several times. “Vanessa told me earlier today that she was thinking of dropping calculus because she couldn’t keep up, so I went over to her place about seven to help her study. I didn’t want her to drop out. We’ve grown quite close over the last few weeks.”

  “Is that why you took a bottle of wine with you?”

  “Yes – and some chocolates, but I really did want to help her with calculus too. I brought a new study guide that I got at the university bookstore.”

  “Why did you bring the laptop?”

  Robert looked at his brother. “That was for David. I got him a new laptop to replace the computer that got stolen from the residence. Same kind as the one I got for myself a few days ago. I promised him I’d bring it to him in the hospital.”

  “Go on,” the detective said.

  “I set up the laptop on Vanessa’s dining room table and then started to restore David’s files from one of my backups. I knew it would take a few hours so I figured I could just let it run while Vanessa and I studied.”

  “Did you know what was in the files?”

  “I figured it was just stuff from David’s school projects. Anyway, Vanessa and I started going through the study guide – drinking wine – then I tried to make a move on her.” Robert felt embarrassed saying this in front of his dad. “Then, suddenly she wanted to stop.”

  “Did she say why?” the detective asked.

  “She said I was too good for her – said she wasn’t supposed to let this happen. I figured she must already have a boyfriend or something, but she said she didn’t. She asked me to leave.”

  “And then what happened?”

  “We heard the computer beep to indicate the restoration of David’s files was complete, so I went over to the dining room table to start packing everything up. I was just scrolling through the files to make sure everything was okay, but there were a bunch of extra files there. I clicked on one of them just to see what it was – a video started playing.”

  “Did you see what was in the video?” the detective asked.

  “No. It had just started when Vanessa hit me on the side of the head and knocked me out.”

  “Did she say anything before she hit you?”

  Robert tried to remember. “She said I wish you hadn’t done that. When I came to, my hands were tied to the chair. There was a gun
on the table. She was crying – said she had to kill me. If she didn’t, they’d send someone else to do it.”

  “Did she say who they were?”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Robert thought some more. “The agency – she said the agency always sends a second shooter.”

  Suddenly Robert started to remember more from that night – things that he’d forgotten until now. He looked at David. “She said it was her partner that shot David and the professor. She was the second shooter – she was supposed to kill David that night – but she let him live because he hadn’t seen what was in the files.”

  Detective Tremblay pulled a picture from his pocket and showed it to Robert. It was the picture of the lady with the dog. “Do you recognize her from this picture?”

  Robert squinted his eyes, but it was hard for him to be sure. “I’m not sure if that’s her or not – that lady’s blond. But that’s Wiley – that’s Vanessa’s dog.”

  Then the detective showed Robert an enhanced picture of the lady with the dog. Despite the pixilation, Robert recognized her. “That’s Vanessa. She’s wearing a wig – but that’s her.” He hung his head.

  “That’s not her real name,” the detective said. “We still haven’t figured out who she is, but the name she gave you – and the university – is fake.”

  “She played me,” Robert said as tears streamed down his cheeks. “She said I should have seen it coming. She’s right.”

  “Maybe we should take a break,” Henry said. He could feel the pain his son was going through.

  “No, I’m fine.” Robert wiped his eyes and looked at the detective. “What else do you want to know?”

  “Who shot Vanessa?” the detective asked.

  “I don’t know. Just when I thought Vanessa was going to shoot me, some guy shot her.”

  “Where did he come from?”

  “I don’t know – the kitchen maybe – I don’t know how long he’d been there. After he shot Vanessa, he made sure she was dead and then he untied me.”

  “What did he look like?”

  “He was dressed all in black – had a balaclava covering his face. He started packing up the computer. He took it with him.”