Read CL Hart -From A Distance for Free Online Page B

on? She moved to a new location before she dared to look over the edge again, fully aware that she was making herself an easy target, as she sized up the other sniper. The dark figure was now standing next to the window. The binoculars were gone and this time his hands held a rifle - trained on Cori's apartment.
    "What the..." So many expletives went through her mind she couldn't put her tongue on just one. Someone sent a backup. Someone doubted my ability to do the job. Looking back at the other gunman, Kenzie knew the time had come for her to get off the fence. Systematically, she rechecked the bullet in the chamber, the fit of the scope as she dialed in the approximate distance and wind, and then brought her weapon up for the kill. It was her job and she was going to finish it.
    Finger on the trigger...breathe in...squeeze in the slack of the trigger...breathe out and...
    She couldn't do it. Her mind was too unsettled by the voices screaming inside her head. Pulling back from the roof edge, she tried to sort out the conflicting echoes inside her. The only thing she knew was that she couldn't pull the trigger until she knew the "why" of this assignment, even if it went against everything she'd been trained to do. If being ordered to kill an innocent person was a test of her allegiance, then it only confirmed her earlier quandary. That was no longer who she was or wanted to be.
    Looking across the way, she found no sign of the second gunman. She was not sure whether that made her feel better or not. A decision had to be made, and she was making one. Without even realizing it as she quickly disassembled her rifle. She slung her bag over her shoulder, and moved toward the fire escape on the far side of the roof. She didn't have a plan and didn't have time to stop and think about it. The soldier in her was simply acting and reacting.
    Quickly and quietly, she descended the flimsy metal staircase until she made her way down into the heat at street level. No one paid her any attention as she slipped into the back entrance of the apartment building, away from the prying eyes of whoever else was watching. Kenzie stopped in front of Cori's door and paused for a moment to think about what she was going to do. She reached into her bag, pulled out one of her 9mms, then knocked loudly on the door. She glanced both ways down the hallway, thankful she didn't have an audience as she waited.
    "Ola," a cheerful voice called from the other side of the door.
    Kenzie grasped the cool metal doorknob and waited for the lock to be disengaged. The moment the handle moved, Kenzie pushed the door open and forced her way into the apartment.
    The young woman from behind the door fought back, screaming in fear. They struggled for a moment, smashing into the cheap kitchen table. Kenzie had to drop her bag as they wrestled on the floor amongst the splintered wood. The young woman was surprisingly strong, but no match for Kenzie's strength and training. The end came quickly as Kenzie overpowered her and brought her gun up and into the young woman's frightened face. It was Cori Evans and it was all she needed to know.
    Pull the trigger, LeGault, and get the hell out of here, the voice in Kenzie's head screamed, but those were not the only words she was hearing.
    "Quo listed quiere...que listed quiere?" Cori screamed in Spanish.
    Kenzie rose to her feet and motioned with her gun for her intended target to rise. "Get up."
    "What do you want?" Cori pleaded, this time in English.
    "Shut up!" Kenzie ordered, pressing the gun against Cori's forehead. Her own head was pounding with second thoughts. One could not do that in the military. It just did not happen.
    Cori seemed surprised Kenzie spoke English. "Who are you? What do you want?"
    Kenzie grabbed Cori by the hair and Cori held her tongue.
    Pulling them out of the line of sight of the window, Kenzie dragged her hostage along with her as she crossed the room and pulled down the blinds. Whoever was out there