Corbett flipped his cigarette out the window of the car and handed his phone to Deware. "It's a motel."

"How'd he get that?"

"He said he just started calling the most likely numbers in the area the phone trace showed, and on the sixth try he hit pay dirt."

"So now what?"

"He wants us to sit on the place until more backup arrives."

"Backup? Christ, he treats this guy like some kind of superman."

"Yeah, well think about Carver and his team." Corbett started the car and headed for the motel.

The motel sat on the crest of a shallow hill at an intersection of a main highway, and a rambling cemetery surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Corbett drove past the motel, slowing only slightly to scan the property, then he continued on down to the cemetery entrance and followed one of the drives to a point where he could see the back of the motel property.

"The doesn't give us much chance of a quick exit," Deware stated, looking uncomfortably at the cluster of grave markers and statues.

"You think we'll need one?" Corbett teased.

"You're the one giving this guy superpowers."

"Yeah, well as soon as the others get here, Chase is gonna see his kryptonite big time."

******

Paula nibbled on some chips watching Chase checking the window and the door. "Would they come right here, in broad daylight?"

"It won't be daylight for long, and yeah, they would. My guess is they are already here. It's a question of how many."

"But what about other guests . . . the owner?"

"Ever heard the term collateral damage? Doc has the means to cover up anything, and when we're out of the way, all this will just get shoved to the back of some file cabinet.

"I hope that's not foregone." She crumpled the empty bag, actually grateful for the sandwich and the coffee.

"My guess is they have assembled in the cemetery across the road. Lots of natural cover and plenty of protection with all those markers."

He went to his pack and took out an object that he fastened to the rifle.

"What's that?" She watched. Curious.

"Night vision scope. Technically, a Sightmark Wraith HD 4 with a built in video recorder."

"You mean you can record what you- you shoot?"

"Yep, great late night viewing with a beer and some popcorn," She made a small noise, and sputtered out how disgusting that was. "Lighten up, Ms Regan. You have to keep a light frame of mind – serious, but light."

"That didn't sound very serious to me." She cleaned the empty food wraps off the bed and sat primly, features set in disapproval.

"Trade humour." He carried the rifle to the window and sighted through the glass, adjusting the scope for different ranges and focus. "Would you like to look?"

"I most definitely would not." She stood and paced around. "I just want to get back to my job, my friends - my life."

"I'll try and see that you do."

His words brought her up short, and she realized again that this was much for her as for him, and she was contributing nothing. Chase kept moving from the window to the door and back again. As darkness took over the street lights came on, and the gaudy motel sign shed a rainbow of coloured reflections on the motel driveway.

"Can I do anything?"

"Just stay down and out of the way. I'm going to slip outside for a minute."

"What!"

"Relax, I'll be right outside." He picked up the rifle and spent a moment screwing something on the end of the barrel, then with an assuring nod, he slipped out into the night.

******

Three men exited the car that had pulled up behind Corbett and Deware, and the two got out to meet them.

"Doc says they're in that motel. We've had eyes on it since before he called. No action at all. They're still inside."

"What about the front?" One of the men asked. "You been back here the whole time?"

"No. We've checked regularly. We came back here because the front is all lit up. Nothing could move out there without being seen."

"Let's get this done then." The older of the three commanded. "Regan wants a complete and final edit."

"How do you want to do it?"

"We'll spread out and close in. Take the entire facility."

"What about other guests," Deware asked.

"What don't you get about entire facility." The question was delivered with frigid authority. The speaker turned and gave a series of signals to his team, and Deware watched the men move, using the gravestones as cover.

A spray of marble exploded into the night air followed by a muffled cry, and Deware froze, watching the man fly sideways into another marker, the side of his head a dark mass of shattered flesh and bone.

"Down! Down! The bastard's got a night scope." The older man hit the ground as another shower of marble glittered briefly above him.

Corbett went into a running crouch, weaving as best he could until he was right around even with the back of the motel. Deware had followed, but his earlier assurance had been left somewhere back on the blood covered lawn.

"How could he know where we were?" He panted, ducking right down on his knees.

"He's superman, remember." The sarcasm thick.

"Screw you, Corbett. Weren't we supposed to be kryptonite when they arrived? We're already down a man and we don't even know where the hell he is."

"The direction of the spray and the impact says he's at the front of the motel somewhere." Corbett edged up to the iron fence, keeping low.

"So now what?"

"Over this fence. I'll give you a lift."

"Me!"

"Fine. Stay here. You can make out the report to Doc."

Deware landed clumsily and lay flat, head jerking furtively. Corbett followed, snorting in disgust, then scurried across the road in another running crouch. The property at the back of the motel was scattered bush and some old oak trees. Cover was scarce, but it was almost pitch black. Sucking in a breath, he made a dash for the back wall and stayed flattened there, holding his breath and listening.

He waved Deware closer, finger to lips, and when they were together, he slid along the wall slowly to a window, raising his head cautiously to peer in. The first two windows yielded nothing, but the third, he caught a glimpse of someone moving inside, and he held up a hand to Deware.

******

Chase pulled back from his firing position and slipped back into the room, fingers indicating silence and a direction to get down on the floor. Paula crouched beside the bed, gripping the sheets tightly. He eased across the room and whispered instructions, grabbing her hand with force as she tried to refuse the gun he placed there.

"I showed you how to operate it. It is for protection not attack. There are two across the road in the cemetery, and two have made their way around the back of the motel, I'm pretty sure.

"Did you . . .?"

"One. The others are hiding behind a small mausoleum, I can't get at them from here."

She winced at his cold, casual remark. "What are you going to do?" Her whispered words felt warm on his face and at that moment Chase felt all the actions of his past come roiling up in his gut. He blinked, his focus trapped by the pure dependence of her question.

"Chase?"

"Put an end to all of it. You stay right here, and anyone coming through that door, shoot. Do not hesitate."

She shook her head, "If it's you--"

"It won't be." He wet his lips and stared hard at her. "Just do as I ask, please."

"But what if . . .?"

"Shhh - no buts, okay. I said I'd protect you, Ms Regan." He wanted to say more but stopped himself. A smile crossed his face as he thought of the words of Kenny Rogers, 'There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.' A brief squeeze of her hand and he crept back to the door, easing it open, and disappearing outside without another look back.