***
Jack finished his coffee and put his metal cup in the pile of equipment that was going to be left behind. He nodded at Jill as if to say, “It’s time.”
“Putting my cup on this pile makes me sad. It is such a final act. From here on, there is only one more thing to do before we leave,” Jill said.
“Speaking of the ‘one more thing,’ let’s start getting set up for the kill shot.”
“Okay, you set up Betsy, and I will start checking the winds.”
Jack put an ammo magazine in his 50-caliber rifle and pulled the slide that loaded one round in the barrel. Then he used his gun-mounted rangefinder to double-check the distance to the Zaragoza compound. He also checked the temperature using the built-in meter on the rangefinder. Then he took a quick look at the trees. He looked at the trees close to him, and about halfway to the compound. He didn’t see any movement. A dead calm. If it weren’t for the long distance, this would be an easy kill shot.
Jill pulled out her wind meter so she could get a good measurement at their location. “I know how silly this looks when the wind is a dead calm. But, it’s the procedure that we have to follow.” She held the wind meter at arm’s length above her head and pressed the hold button. Checking the meter, she said, “Just as I thought, a dead calm. So this will be an easy kill shot for you.”
Jill began doing the math for the shot. Jack watched her out of the corner of his eye as she estimated the difference in elevation between them and the Zaragoza compound. Then she used the laser rangefinder on her spotting scope to double-check the distance. Using this information, she did several calculations. Finally, she spoke. “Okay, Jack, I have the numbers. Are you ready?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Temperature thirty degrees,” Jill said.
“Confirmed,” Jack replied.
“Distance fifteen hundred yards.”
“Confirmed.”
“Wind zero knots.”
“Confirmed.”
“Elevation up fifty-nine feet.”
“Confirmed.”
“So, that’s it. Now we wait,” Jill said.
“Mmm,” Jack agreed.
A half hour passed in silence. Jill and Jack were both peering through their scopes as they focused their attention on the Zaragoza compound.
“Here comes the pilot,” Jack said.
“He is about a half hour early,” Jill said.
“Yes, but it will take that about twenty minutes to preflight the helicopter.”
“Oh right, I forgot.”
Jack watched the pilot as he used a checklist to review each safety feature. He started by checking the fuel levels, then the tail rotor, the main rotor, then the engine oil and cooling fluid. After that he sat in the helicopter and checked the instruments. Finally, he turned the ignition key to the “on” position and the engine began spinning. The rotor blades slowly came up to speed. I’m happy to kill Ramiro, but I am sorry that I have to kill you. You have no idea that you are going to die in a few minutes.
Jack continued to peer through his riflescope at the helicopter and its spinning rotors. His mind drifted to Jill. I will be glad to get the credit for the kill shot, but I am glad that Jill will be getting the credit for the mission. She is tough and intelligent, and deserves the credit.
“Juan-Carlos and Ramiro should be coming out any time now,” Jack said.
Jill looked at her watch. It was oh-six-twenty-seven. “Any minute now . . .”
“Do you hear dogs barking?” Jack asked.
Jack looked at Jill. The sentries used dogs, but they never came this far out into the jungle. He froze, and focused on the sounds of approaching dogs.
“Do you think it’s the sentries?” Jill asked.
“I hope not.”
His eyes continued to peer through his scope while his ears focused on the approaching dogs.
“I think I hear some voices,” Jill said.
“Me, too. They are getting very close.”
Another minute ticked by, and as expected Juan-Carlos and Ramiro exited the house and headed for the helicopter. Jack watched Juan-Carlos and Ramiro start their walk to the helicopter. It was about a one-hundred-yard walk. He listened to the approaching voices and dogs barking. What should I do? If I try to take the shot before the sentries get here they will surely find us and kill us. If they find us before I take the shot, they will kill us, and Ramiro will live. Think, Jack—what are the priorities? What should I do?
Jack looked at Jill. He could see the tension on Jill’s face. He had to protect her, and Ramiro had to die. How could both tasks be accomplished?
Jack reached over to Jill’s waist and grabbed her 22-caliber pistol. He slid it out of its holster and turned off the safety. He said in a quiet but commanding voice, “Jill, you take the kill shots.”