Part 460: Bullets For Hal

3:14 pm

The view of the lake house was beautiful but Hal always said it looked even more inviting in winter. They never got snow up in that area but sometimes, in the early morning; the cold vapors would glide upward from the lake. The cop always knew this because he never missed a sun rise. It was the way in which he honored his son.

Libby calmly sipped on her hot tea as she stared out the window. The leaves were flickering in the wind; almost skipping across the lake. Outside, Chance and Hal were laughing as they sat on the patio; listening to the radio with details of a local football game. Arizona joined her, helping herself to a cup of tea. “It’s a shame we don’t live here all the time.” The brunette said, “I think Hal and Chance would be best friends in another life.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet they could have been hell raisers if they were in High School.” The therapist giggled.

“So . . .soon you will be Libby Mancuso.” Arizona nudged her.

“I like the way it roles off the tongue. Maybe when Hal retires, we can form a private detective husband and wife duo, like Hart To Hart.”

“Who?” the Texan raised an eyebrow.

“Hart To Hart?” the therapist shook her head, “The TV show? With Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers?”

“I’m sorry Libby, but I don’t know what that show was.”

The therapist took a deep sigh and sipped on her tea. “I’m very old.” She whispered.


Outside Hal and Chance chuckled as they enjoyed a few beers, listening to the football game. The local minor team the Enforcers has been the visiting team the Penguins. The Texan never followed the minors but Hal did and he brought him up to speed on which player was the best. After the game had been played, they laughed at the thought of imagining the poor Penguins mascot getting hit by the running back from the other team. “I’ve seen referees get hit but rarely have I seen mascots.” Chance laughed.

“It just winds up making it even hilarious.” Hal said, finishing his beer.

“Well, Hal. I’m gonna hate leaving this place.”

“You ever considered moving here?” the cop raised an eyebrow, “Hell, a few of the survivors did. You know we are all family.”

“I must admit, it’s tempting. However, I can’t leave Texas for too long.” Chance sipped his beer, “I’m too use to it.”

“What does Arizona think? She ever mention it?”

“All the time.” The gunslinger laughed, “But in the end, that’s where our family is. The ones that are living anyway.”

“I suppose it’s just all the same.” Hal picked up his empty beer cans, “I suppose if you had the chance to be around me all the time, you’d probably find me disagreeable.”

Chance laughed as he put his empty can in Hal’s little trash bag. Hal proceeded to then walk up the stairs of the patio back to the house.

He stopped when he heard automatic gun fire.

Chance lurched up from his lounge chair and looked up toward the sound of the gunfire. Hal looked back at him and then back up the door. Then within seconds, Libby and Arizona darted out the back door; running as fast as they can through down the stars. Hal quickly threw his trash bag to the side. “COME ON!” he screamed, as he ran down the stairs to the backyard.

Chance waited till Libby and Arizona joined the, then followed their detective friend. Hal landed on the grass and then cut toward his right; running under the platform of the stairs. This led to the outside door to his basement, which he rammed open. His fiancé, and his two friends quickly followed him. The moment they got in, they all crouched low. Hal peered up from the glass vents under the bushes. The men were still firing their guns into the house, as he hear the destruction of his property coming from above. “We got maybe five minutes before they realize we are not up there.” Hal told his friends.

“How many did you see?” Chance asked his wife.

“Five . . .no, no wait . . .maybe 8.” The brunette said.

“Hal, what do we do?” Libby asked.

Hal then looked up to the ceiling when he heard the gunfire cease. He then darted to a side closet. He quickly opened it and pulled out a black duffle bag. The cop then placed it onto the table and unzipped it; seeing a small array of hand guns. Chance didn’t bother to ask where they came from; he simply grabbed two and loaded them up. “Bullets on the counter,” the detective pointed.

Chance quickly started to load as many clips as fast as he could. Arizona then took a .357 magnum and the speed loader it was resting next. Libby could see the men marching toward the house. In a few minutes, they’ll know they ran out the back and it’ll be a matter of simple deduction to find them in the basement. Hal then leaned over to another counter and slid out a long drawer. He then pulled out a bullet proof vest. Striding over to his fiancé, he held it up to her. “Put this on.” He ordered.

“Hal, what?” she stammered.

“Libby, don’t argue with me, just put it on.” Hal said shoving it over her head.

“Wait, Hal, where is yours?” the therapist said, as he strapped it on her.

“Only got one.” He whispered.

“NO, Hal . . .you should wear this, in case . . “

The cop then cupped her by the cheeks and kissed her heavily. Libby held onto his wrists as he did so. Arizona and Chance watched them. The brunette felt the same desire to get out alive but if the roles were reversed; she knew Chance would place it on her regardless of his own safety. Hal parted from Libby and let his forehead rest on hers. She wept silently as he held onto her. “No one I love . . .will ever die near me again.” He whispered.

Libby knew he was talking about his son. Now he had made the same vow to include her. Hal then parted from her and picked up three pistols. “What’s the plan, Hal?” Chance asked.

“You got the keys to your truck?” he asked.

“I do.” Arizona said, picking them out of her pocket.

“We make a run for your truck. Chance and I will provide cover fire.” The cop pointed,” Then we haul ass as far away as we can.”

“Any idea who these guys are?” Libby said in sheer terror.

“We’ll worry about that later.” The detective pointed toward his Texan friends, “You ready?”

“No, “ Chance admitted with a slight rush, “But let’s do it anyway.”

“GO!!”

Arizona grabbed Libby by the hand and ran out first. They immediately cut toward the right and circled the house. The brunette Texan could see her vehicle up at the top of the hill parked on the street. She then pulled her therapist friend with her as they ran up the hill. The moment they were past the house, the soldiers could see them. “HERE!!!” one of them screamed, “THEY ARE OUT HERE!! COME . . “

The soldier was silenced by a bullet ripping into his neck. He jolted back a foot as he flung into the air. The other soldiers were on the porch of the house and immediately opened fire on the two men. The two friends then ran out into the open and began to fire their pistols toward the men. One immediately fell down as the others took cover. Arizona and Libby still ran toward the truck, while bullets ricocheted in the ground near them as they ran. The Texan then ran toward the driver’s side while the therapist darted toward the passenger side. The moment she turned around the bed of the truck, a bullet struck her in the shoulder; spinning her like a top. “LIBBY!!” Arizona screamed as she got into the truck.

Hal turned to hear his friend all his wife name and from his point of view, he couldn’t see her. He fired again at the men, managing to clip one in the arm. Chance did his best to place his shots. Every one he fired, he hit the men. However, that type of precision left him open to attack. One bullet whizzed by his head, feeling the burning air near his air. “WHOA!” he ducked.

“CHANCE, COME ON!” Hal said, as he started to run up the hill.

The Texan ran after his friend as they proceeded up the hill. Pockets of dirt exploded near them as they ran. Hal looked up and was relived to see Libby crawling into the passenger side with Ari’s help. She may have been shot but at least she was alive. The cop then panicked when he heard Chance screaming.

He turned around in time to see his friend fall from a gun shot wound to the leg. His lower calf erupted in a pin-hole blossom of red as he felt to the ground. Hal then opened fire on the men and he could hear Arizona firing behind. The cop quickly jumped down, and grabbed his friend by the arm. Chance grunted as he put him in a fireman’s cradle and then started to run toward the truck.

The moment they arrived, Hal had to unfortunately fling Chance into the bed of the truck. The Texan grunted as he landed on the hard metal. Then when Hal reached the tailgate, he flipped himself over; landing just as hard as his friend did. Arizona then got into the drivers side of the truck. By the time, she put it into drive a bullet exploded a pin hole near her hand and punctured the windshield. She gasped over the fact that the projectile missed her left hand by inches.

The truck sped down the road and began to cut to the right. The woman heard a tapping on the glass behind her. She looked in the rear view mirror to see Hal frantically tapping the glass. She quickly grabbed the handle and slide it back. The cop then leaned toward his wife. “LIBBY!” he grunted, “Talk to me! Are you all right?”

“My shoulder hurts.” She told him.

“Any blood? Are you shot?”

The therapist tapped her shoulder and didn’t feel any sticky, red blood. “No,” she smiled, wincing a bit, “I think . . .the bullet bounced . . .off the vest.”

“Hal, is Chance all right?” Arizona said.

“He’s shot but it’s in the leg.” The cop leaned back, “He’ll make it.”

The male Texan leaned up against the side in the bed of the truck. He reached over into a tool box and lifted up the inner casing. Underneath was a red bandana; slightly dusty. Chance then leaned up and wrapped his wound; squeezing it. He grunted in mild pain. “I hope this doesn’t help it get infected.” He hissed through his teeth.

“You gonna make it, Chance?” Hal asked.

“You’re damn right, I’m gonna make it!” he yelled, slamming his hand, “Damn it, Hal! Who were those guys?”

“Hell if I know.” He said, leaning back, “They nearly shot my fiancé and shot at your wife too. I don’t think we’re dealing with anybody who’s got personal issues against me.”

The Texan looked at him, propping his leg up. “You think . . .this has got something . .to do with you and me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Honestly . . .I hope not.”

The cop then paused as he could feel his beeper vibrating. He then reached toward his side and looked at the message on the small green screen.

SIT, SIT, SIT . . . .

Hal blinked. His memory started to fish for the details of Thanksgiving long ago. When Locke was talking about a contingency plan in case they were ever attacked all at once or needed some place to meet up in case of a problem. Hal thought the old man was just being paranoid. At the moment, it made all the sense in the world. Who had they fought before? Who would want them dead above all else? “HAL! CHANCE!” Arizona screamed from within the bed.

“What’s wrong, Ari?” Chance leaned up.

“I just got a call on my cell phone and an automated message just said, SIT, SIT, SIT!”

“It’s Locke’s Regroup plan.” Hal told them.

“Locke’s what?” Chance asked.

“Oh, yeah,” the detective smirked, “ You weren’t here that Thanksgiving.”

“Hal, what does this mean?” the Texan woman called from the front of the truck.

“Ari, head down town. Toward the police precinct. I got a pick up a map there that will tell us where to go.”

“What about Chance?”

“He’ll make it. We’re going to meet up with the other survivors and I’m sure Tony or Jack can patch him up.”

“Do what Hal says, baby!” Chance grunted, “I got a feeling he knows what’s going on.”

Arizona shook her head and immediately took the exit toward the highway to head downtown. Hal then unbuttoned his shirt and scooted over toward his gunslinger friend. He quickly used it to wrap his leg. “Hang on, Chance.” The cop told him.

“I’ll be fine, Hal,” he grunted, “Just tell me . . .the men that shot at us . . .was that the Liberation?”

“Probably.” He sighed.

“Shoulda known. Something in the back of my head told me we weren’t done with those bastards.”

“Yeah, well, we will be soon,” the detective promised, “I left Embry buried in the past. And the Liberation will stay there too.”