The UNO decided that the signing of the armistice would put an end all Wars. It lay in Shambles, and many factions struggle for power with promises of better times to come. At a secluded spot in Florida, known as Sandy Bridge Island, a celebration had been planned for all the people in the mission. Sandy Bridge Island is about 200kms away from South America.
It was on the coastal areas of this island ,that the three of us had a beautiful night ,all dressed up, with some music and drinks it was like heaven on earth .There, many staunch comrade joined hands. And moments after the party started, my dream girl Kathleen joined the party. It was totally fun after that, with guys trying hitting on her and getting a blow on their tummies. Full moon added the beauty to the party, and she shone like a bride.
Back at the party I was alone when Kathleen leant towards me, lovely, in her crisp black shirt, and whispered,
“Hi! Will you take a stroll with me?” .
When I heard her magical voice, I almost forgot the pain and dour memories I held in my heart. She murmured something in my ears, but I couldn’t what, because Ryan was shouting and singing. I reached up to pull her closer to me and hug her. But, my hands clutched at air and nothing more. It was my idiotic friend’s voice that fully awoke me. I opened my eyes reluctantly, not wanting to let the go of the dream.
"Do you know how bloody late it is!"
“Lieutenant!”
“You don’t want to die here catching a cold or eaten by some beast do you? Wake up!”,a sweet but aggressive voice reached me as I turned to my left, I saw Kathleen standing there shouting at me, but it looked as though she was singing to me. And later I came back to reality.
“Oh! Yeah Miss. Kathleen I think I over did the alcohol this time around "
“Good!! Now get up and go to your room!”
“Yeah sure Kathleen! Well would you like to have a cup of coffee with me now?”
“Are you mad! It’s almost 1am morning”. And we guys have to assemble at 5 for training .so it would be better if you took a nap for couple of hours at the least!”
“Fantastic. I’ve got only a couple of hours to sleep and you tell me now!”
“Are you insane? I order you not to speak a word and go to bed immediately!” she was a bit rude..But coming to think of that i was the nut case there
I was told that. It would takes 5 minutes to travel from the beach to the hotel by car, a lodge on the Gulf of sandy bridge island, called Sea Breeze; they had kept their word. This hotel was one of the highly rated ones on the island and it met all our expectations. As I drove; I saw a long fence ahead. I saw a guard run to me, he saw my wallet, the license and said “please drive straight and park in the parking lot.”
“Don’t you have car valets to assist the customers?”
“Sorry sir, we don’t encourage that in the late hours”
“Oh!!!!! Fine”
“Thank you, sir.”The gates swung open, I parked my car and left the keys inside. I felt something was wrong. But, I was completely worn out and had no time to register what. I got my key from the reception and went to the room to sleep.
“Sano! Sano!” I heard a voice filled with fear, knocking my door heavily. I reached for my mobile and it was almost 6:15 in the morning. I stood up reluctant to go, wondering if it was a call out to the training session, which I was already late for. I opened my door and saw Ryan waiting in a panic.
“I got a call from Shane in this morning, and its bad news. A corpse was found on the beach.”
“What? Do you have any idea of who was it?”
“No! But we must hurry up!”I was in my cargo Capri, so I grabbed my shirt and hurried to the car pulling my shirt on. Ryan drove. I had a gut feeling that it could possibly be Kathleen; she was the last person I saw at the beach before I left. Various thoughts rushed through my mind as we neared the spot.
A soldier ran to us saying, “Sir! It was Mr. Grant Hill”
“A couple who were out for a stroll discovered the corpse sir , his face down on the beach , His skull had been crushed using a large piece of driftwood, then he was strangled using a thin wire. We saw Kathleen inquiring the couple about the crime .I then joined her in the investigation and then went to the corpse.
“It’s a sad ending.” Kathleen was shook by the incident
“Yeah he was a very good person”
“Yeah he was …but I still can’t believe that he‘s gone.”, her eyes started to water lightly. He was like her friend and father and guided her through difficulties, he gave her valuable advices when needed, his death was a great shock to her.
“Judging from the footprints left on the sand, the crime had been perpetrate from behind, while he was retiring to the lodge after the celebrations.”
“This must have been an intentional murder, Lieutenant. Sandy”
“We have a mystery on our hands, you two, and we’ve got to get to the bottom of this” said Ryan.
We then sent Mr. Grant‘s corpse back for an autopsy. It was only Later that I realized, last night as I went to the lodge, Mr. Grant’s car had been missing. Ryan came running
“Another ambulance just arrived”
We were all perplexed because we had just sent the corpse in another ambulance!Kathleen winced as her new Mercedes s500 sedan bounced down the dirt road, heading deeper into the island. We had planned to go to the hospital, and the landscape got increasingly desolate as we left the beach. We came to a small city with a population of about few thousands. And then we stopped by a church which was next to a Primary school.
Ryan went out to inquire to an old man sitting outside the church.
“Excuse me! Can you hear?” asked Ryan to the old man.
“Yes, young man. What can I do for you?”
“Did you see any van or car pass this way?”
“No young man I have been sitting here for more than two hours, nothing passed this way.”
“Thank you sir, have a nice day.”
This was the only road which the ambulance could take to reach the hospital and we had taken a straight road. Then we were on the way to the hotel. We then headed back to the hotel.
“We should have taken the short cut guys.” said Kathleen.
“Let’s check the guide book.” Ryan checked the guide book which was there under the seat.
“Hey guys wait! Look for the nearest ports! It’s possible that somebody one could have stolen his corpse for other reasons!”, said Kathleen.
“Yeah sure that’s possible too. She’s right Ryan check for ports.”Ryan’s search resulted in four ports located close by; all are being managed by the government.Ryan called Shane to ask him to check the ports.
“Hello! Its Shane all the ports are clear , there were no traces of any van or anything suspicious. But I heard that there’s a church in the village , on the eastern side of the hotel from where lot of missionary boats start and it’s completely under the control of church.”
“Guys we’ve have been tricked .” I said to the other two and asked Shane to come to the church with back up.
“How far are we from the church?” asked Ryan“10 to 15 miles away.”
“Ok! Step on it!”We reached the church, stepped out of the car and entered the church .We found it deserted. I heard screeching of brakes to my left and within seconds I heard sounds of gun shots, not 30 yards away. I heard the sound of a car rushing to us. We reached for weapons; and it was unfortunate. I had only a Taurus with two magazines, Ryan had a berretta with three magazines and Kathleen was unarmed. All I sensed was obscure atmosphere and chattering of automatic machine guns.The street by which we took had been blocked by a black sedan. There was a man standing in front of it, firing rounds of an AK-47 rifle into the front end, and another man was raced around to the car's left rear.
“Get down!” I grabbed Kathleen’s shoulder and forced her to the ground.
“Guess we need to hurry Shane up! A.S.A.P,” said Kathleen in a low voice. I recognized the fear in her voice, after all, we had no ammo to fight back!. Ryan kept an eye out on the situation. The ambulance with Mr. Grant’s corpse was sighted with a handful of armed men around it.
“Shane! We’re are surrounded by rebels with arms. Bring the backup A.S.A.P!”.
“ You can count on us!” the call was ended.
“There are shots again!” , Shouted Kathleen.
“Civilians! Move, Move! I’ll move to the right. cover me !”
My peripheral vision took in the faces of people up the street. I fired at the black sedan with my pistols, and moved further right pointing the pistols at the car. Covered by the car, we came in, I could see a guy who locked his target at the church with his grenade launcher. The windshield in the car spangled I couldn’t fix my target but I fired. A bullet pierced his lower neck and into the tire . Ryan’s berretta came handy. I could see the ak47 gunner turn towards the church, his hand extended as he expected someone to bolt from the church. I loaded my final set of magazine and opened fire at him. Ryan and Kathleen were safe now, without being noticed. I moved rapidly towards the car. Another car arrived and two more armed guys came out . Ryan’s Berretta and my colt anaconda pierced the newcomers . The rounds emptied and there were no magazines left. Ryan signed that he had one magazine left. I moved rapidly towards the car blocking the short cut head down, keeping myself low and accelerating constantly. I could see a man targeting the church , I made my way behind him. The idea worked, I aimed at his neck with my elbow. He snapped like a twig and I heard his bones snap as I rammed his head into the bumper of the car, he collapsed. I got up instantly winded but full of adrenaline .I got up and crouched around the body. I grabbed his pistol ,armed with the browning, I moved closer into the bush to find a better angle and bring down the barricade.
The people who were hiding at the school ran. The rebels bolted to the school at this open fire and we left unnoticed. As I moved forward, I caught sight of an Ak47 gunner, aiming at the church .I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind of my cover, faced him and leveled the gun at his chest and fired, he went down. As I turned, I saw a sedan approach me with an Ak47 aimed at me. I felt a fiery hit on my left shoulder. The second bullet came from somewhere beating my chin. Time slowed down . I saw a bullet pierce the window of the car and hit the driver. The thick windshield shattered to pieces as Ryan’s berretta fired. I felt dizzy and fell to the ground with the browning in my hand. I noticed that I had an empty clip.
I smiled, thinking of what would be my last smile. Events flashed before my eyes and pain shot up my injured arm as I raised it.Waves of pain flowed through my body and the visions continued. Darkness started to set in over my eyes. I looked around and saw Kathleen running towards me. As soon as she could reached me something happened.Shades of darkness started to set in faster. I clutched at the light, I tried harder. But, a black screen was curtained before me.
