Dark Stranger

Avriel - Part 12

Check the note at the end Lovely Readers! :)

Case 3 - "Dragonfire"

When the phone rang the next evening, we were all up, ready and raring to go. Kevin had come through with the information, it was a go for tonight. The F.B.I. weren't taking it lightly. They were making this case a priority and wanted the evidence to be turned over immediately. Paperwork had been kicked up the chain faster than Kevin had anticipated and it was go tonight. But we were ready. We had spent the time before he rang sorting out our gear, making sure the SUV had all identifying marks removed and a few extra layers of latex added. Then we changed out all our ammunition to non-lethal rounds. We no more wanted the F.B.I. on our backs for killing an agent than we did for destroying evidence.

I knew I was better with bladed weapons, but you don't bring a knife to a gun fight and expect to get away unscathed. Even if bullets won't take you down.

Scott was going to be the wheelman. His advanced driver training made him the most logical choice. We were all dressed in black, in new unworn clothing so DNA was not going to be an issue. We had prepared for this possibility and Avi had raided Zass's collection so everyone had new shoes as well. We were leaving nothing to chance. Gloves, masks and beanies completed the ensembles. Kirstie would be disposing of all the clothing and whatever else needed destruction in the morgue's incinerator. If we fired any of our weapons, they would be destroyed along with everything else that could lead them back to us. Non-lethal rounds still left impressions and we couldn't take the chance that they would trace back to us either. It was a good thing that even though I was not a gun fan, I had certain stockpiles of weapons and ammunition at various locations and in my storage units.

We were looking badass. Even Kirstie was feeling confident we could pull this off. She was equally decked out, but would remain inside the vehicle in case of injury to our team. Having her outside with a weapon was never my intention. She just wasn't menacing enough. But I could hopefully keep the most eager of shooters under control with my bonus. I was hoping the evidence was going to be transported by either newbies who weren't high enough up the food chain to do more important tasks and therefore less seasoned, or agents who were basically on their way out of the agency. Someone past their prime and looking forward to retirement.

Any combination of the two would be fine with me. I definitely didn't want any gung-ho, top-of-their-class hero type feeling responsible for impressing a boss or those upstairs. Any itchy trigger fingers would be a bad thing really. I had no desire to lose my Scott and Avi was growing on me. I could see us becoming friends if he would only let us in all the way. Anyway, enough speculation. We were heading out for the real thing soon enough. Less time to prepare meant we were going on blind faith that we could pull this off. But it also meant less time for doubt and fear to set in too. I knew Scott wanted to take a look and see if he could see the results of tonight but I honestly didn't want to know if I was going to lose any of those with me.

"Please Zass, let me see if I can tell anything about how it goes down." He begged me.

I reluctantly gave in and let him have his way. He placed his hand on my chest and Avi's and tried to get his Sensitivity to kick in. Nothing appeared to be happening for a while, then Kirstie touched his back and suddenly his eyes opened. Only they weren't blue, they had rolled back in his head and the whites were showing.

"We are going to need something else Zass." Scott said in a halting voice.

"What?" I asked.

"An accelerant. Gasoline, and something more for the fire to feed on. If we don't provide the extra fuel, they're going to be able to put the fire out sooner than we can stop them and the evidence won't all be destroyed."