The Curse. Vasilios Bouzas
Dr Clifford gives them all a sarcastic smile.
Luke pulls the shades down and the whole group has a bit of a laugh including Dr Clifford.
While they are watching the big game, a LIVE NEWS FLASH runs across the TV.
SENATOR JAMES GALLAS ASSASSINATED
“Quickly someone flick the channel to the news,” yells John.
The news reader starts; “Senator James Gallas, along with his four bodyguards has been assassinated today while jogging in Gully Park. Eyewitnesses say his bodyguards were killed first by automatic machine gunfire and the Senator was shot at point blank range in the head by an unidentified man in a dark black suit. Eyewitnesses claim it was like a Mafia execution.
“We now cross live to FBI headquarters where lead investigating agent Don Blake is about to speak.”
“It is a sad day for everyone in this country when someone like Senator Gallas is assassinated. As you can tell from eyewitness reports, it has the hallmarks of an organized crime hit, but we are keeping all avenues of the investigation open at this stage.”
Everyone in the room exchanges glances in disbelief.
“Isn’t he the Senator that was mustering support to stop sending troops into Iraq?” asks Dr Clifford.
“He sure was, this guy had balls, pardon the expression ladies, but he really was passionate about keeping our troops out of Iraq. He was one of the few men in this country that called a spade a spade, no beating around the bush, unlike the majority of Politicians who say one thing and do another. He was a genuine American hero, who put the people’s interest first,” replied John.
“I guess someone didn’t agree with his view, or maybe he was getting in someone’s way,” said Dr Clifford.
“I’ll bet this has something to do with money, there is a lot at stake when you talk about military spending and war,” said Luke.
“You got that right son,” said John. “Somebody was mighty pissed off.”
Chapter Four
THE FIRST TIME
About Two Months Later
Luke and Jack are at the Police station throwing a baseball to each other on what seems like a slow day when suddenly the phone rings. Luke reaches for the receiver.
“Luke is that you? It’s Rachel, come quickly, please come quickly, there is a gunman in the supermarket, he has fired lots of shots, we don’t know if anybody has been injured or killed.”
“On our way”, says Luke slamming down the receiver and reaching for his gun belt and an extra shotgun.
Jack reacts instinctively and also grabs a shotgun from the rack.
“Let’s go man, there is a nut letting off shots at the market,” says Luke.
The two run out of the station and jump into the police car, look at each other nervously before heading for the market and calling for backup from Ben McAllister at the larger town of Ridgeville, about 30 miles away.
They arrive at the market with lights flashing and Sirens blaring. A large crowd has gathered watching what is happening, but staying well back behind cars across the road. Rachel runs up to Luke and says, “Luke, Luke he’s in there. I got out just in time but there are still some people in there .He is going crazy. I could hear the horror in his voice.”
“How many people do you think are in there?”
“I don’t know, maybe three or four, I was so scared, I made a run for the back and luckily he did not see me.”
Luke sits back and thinks of what he is going to do. He can see the gunman through the shop window, he looks freaked out on drugs, and he is holding a lady with his arm across her chest.
“Jack, get McAllister back on the radio and tell him to bring as many men as he can spare, tell him to get here as fast as he can.”
Luke hesitates for a minute. He starts to sweat a little as his heart starts to pump a little harder. He feels his mouth, it is a little dry. He thinks back to his training at the academy, in a hostage situation, always start a dialogue, get lives of innocents out of risk as soon as possible, calm the situation down.
“Luke, they will be here in 20 minutes.”
“No time Jack, just follow me.”
They both make their way to the back of the supermarket and enter through the back door. They hear the gunman screaming, they hear a couple of shots being fired before the gunman starts firing again.
“All you mother fuckers are going to die today,” he screams.
He fires another shot into the roof and reloads his shotgun quickly.
“Where’s the money, where’s the fucking money,” he shouts with a loud and angry voice at the woman hostage.
The woman is crying hysterically and is pointing to the back of the shop where the safe is kept.
Luke and Jack slowly and cautiously make their way down the aisle until they see the gunman who is nervously dragging the woman towards the back of the shop, frantically looking around him for cops.
The gunman continues his crazy rant, screaming and swearing, waving his gun all over the place. His attention is at the front as he can see the flashing lights of the police car but until now he has not seen Luke or Jack.
Luke looks around the aisle; he notices canned food next to him. He picks up the canned food; he feels the weight of the can on his hand. He looks at it, for a split second he thinks again, dialogue, get him talking, and never increase the risk with a dangerous play.
His thoughts are broken by more screaming from the gunman.
“How are you doing today Sir?” shouts Luke. “I am Captain Luke Whelan; I am here to help you get out of here alive and everyone else, okay?”
“Fuck off cop, I am going to kill you and everyone else who gets in my way, that’s how I am getting out of here alive, now get the fuck out of here if you want to live,” screams the gunman.
Dialogue just isn’t going to work here, thought Luke.
He hunches down and signals Jack.
In a whisper, “Jack, grab a can, let’s throw them at the windows together, when the glass shatters, hopefully he will think it’s a raid and be distracted, you go for the woman and I will jump him. Move to the side so you can get a better angle to grab her.”
Jack moves to the side ready as Luke takes a deep breath. They steady themselves with the cans and on the count of three on Luke’s hand they throw the cans with all their might at the windows. We hear a thundering noise as the glass shatters in both front windows.
The gunman is distracted, he stares wildly at the two shattered glass windows, confused.
Simultaneously Luke and Jack pounce on the gunman and the lady. Jack grabs the lady, Luke grabs the gunman, they wrestle but the gunman is powerful and gets a good grip on Luke and throws him to the ground.
The gunman starts to fire shots randomly, he hits Jack in the upper chest, but before Jack hits the ground Luke gathers himself, pulls his gun and gets a clear shot and manages to kill the gunman instantly with an accurate shot to the head.
There is pandemonium, everybody is screaming, there is a huge panic.
Luke gets up and quickly runs to Jack. He sees blood pouring out of Jack’s chest.
“My god Jack, hold on, hold on buddy.”
Luke puts his hands on Jack’s chest, hoping the pressure will ease the bleeding, but blood still gushes through his fingers.
“Somebody call for an ambulance,” shouts Luke, “call a fucking ambulance.”