Making a Different Call

The Almost Kill

Reaching the top of the stairwell, Anthony crosses the roof of the apartment block, slung the long backpack onto the floor and knelt near the edge of the building. He unzipped the bag and drew a Barrett M98B sniper rifle out.

Anthony set up the stand an  inserted a magazine with experienced fingers. He set up the rifle on the edge of the roof, but just not so close so that anyone could we him, and looked around for his target. The busy crowds were perfect cover for anyone but Anthony knew this and had had experience in locating targets. He knew what he was looking for.

His hawk-like eyes scanned the crowds in the street for the best part of an hour (hey, no one said that assassination was easy) and was  beginning to get cramp in his left leg before his target came into view. Average height and build, curly, blond hair, brown eyes behind glasses and a college student look about him including a leather satchel and a knitted grey jumper over a checked shirt and tie. Generally, the whole look was smart but casual.

He leaving a large building, a library, and started to cross the road towards Anthony. Looking down the telescopic sight, Anthony angled e rifle down so that the centre of his targets head was in the centre of the lens. He placed his forefinger on the trigger and was about to finish the job when his and everyone else's thoughts were completely distracted.

Gunfire had arisen from  the down the street on Anthony's right. His concentration blow to smithereens, Anthony stared ,wide-eyed, at a man, carelessly waving a pistol in the air and with his  left  arm in a choke hold position around the neck of a young girl.

Said man had just left a bank and e was a rucksack on his shoulder that looked like it was about to burst. A small, green piece of paper fluttered out fro  a pocket left slightly open.

The crowds lining the street had completely frozen. The air was thick with tension and no one seemed to breathe. The poor girl he had his arm around looked like she was going to faint.

"Alright!" The man yelled into the silence. "Everyone on your knees an  put your hands on the air! This gun is loaded and I don't care who I shoot! And no callin' the police!"

'Wow this guy must have a few screws looses if he thinks that he can control this large a crowd for much longer.' Anthony thought as he gazed down on to the sea of slowly kneeling citizens. 'Or maybe he's an amateur. Probably the latter.'

He glanced back to his assigned target but was  suprised to sea that  had vanished. Anthony searched the scene an  then saw him skulking in an empty side street. He must've used the back alleys to get closer. But Anthony had no idea what his motive was.