The Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

Sense of Humour (SIXTY-FOUR)

Sirens screamed through the street and Hannah whipped around, as agents from almost every department of the government aimed their weapons at the shooter. He stood in the middle of a human circle and Hannah tried to peek her head above the sea of black and grey suits. She turned to Zeke, defeated and shook her head, her own weapon by her side. "I can't see who it is, but I think he's surrounded." She smiled and Zeke rolled his eyes.
"At least you didn't forget your sense of humour. We need a better vantage point," he said, nodding towards the stage and walking towards the higher ground.
After twenty minutes of static, James Carmichael's voice finally came through their comms system. "Attack on the European and Russia area has been neutralised. Status of the Middle East?"
"We've run into a small snag, report to come soon!" Stephanie Winchester replied in a frantic voice.
Hannah stopped walking as a memory flashed through her brain. Driving in the jungle in the back of a Ute, with the woman called Stephanie yelling at the driver. She pulled out a big gun and began shooting at another truck which was following them. Hannah shook her head and pushed the memory away, moving forward towards the stage where Zeke was already climbing the steps.
"Why did CGT send a shooter? They already had the attacks planned," she asked as he climbed up the final step. "They're scrambling for Plan B, just in case," Zeke replied.
Gunshots from the middle of the human circle sent shockwaves through the area. Shouts from agents, and shooting into the circle from behind SWAT shields erupted. Bullet casings flew into the air and Hannah moved closer to the makeshift stage. Zeke aimed his gun in the direction of the shooter, his face suddenly white.
As Hannah reached the higher vantage point, she looked into the middle of the circle where blood soaked through the shirt of the shooter. He lay motionless, his face familiar, but Hannah couldn't place it.
"We have to get out of here," Zeke said, his voice shaking as he swallowed hard.
"Why, who is it?" Hannah let him pull her hand down the stairs, and they ran towards their car, slamming the doors and flying out of the parking lot.
Hannah reached up, pressing the transmit button on her inner ear communications. "Shooter at the Peace Talks is neutralised, on our way back to The Palace." Hannah exhaled and closed her eyes. "Who was that Zeke?" She opened her eyes again and looked over at the man who was her husband. "Your face went dead white when you saw him." Zeke sat silently for a minute, then shifted in his seat. "That was my boss."
"What do you mean your boss? At the Defence Strategic Policy-"
"Yes. It was my boss. It was Oliver."