In the woods, one of the two security men looked at the remains of his arm, tattered flesh hanging from shattered bone. With an effort, he brought his attention back to the danger at hand. He draped the strap of his automatic over his neck with his good hand, then braced the weapon against his side and took a quick glance at the corpse near his feet.

The shot had come from the other side of the gully, taking the top off the head of the lead security officer after he had finished talking with the sergeant. It was like nothing the other man had ever seen; a silent shot that left a perfect cut exposing a sheer edge of bone and brain. Only the officers fall to the ground had jarred tissue from the wound.

He took a deep breath and dared a fast peek around the edge of the tree he was using for shelter. Bark flew in his face as another shot came from across the gully; once again he heard no sound presage the volley. The shot that had taken his left arm had been just as silent.

Stolen novel; please report.

There was no pain from the wound, despite the destruction of his arm. He glanced down at the damage once again, then took a deep breath. He had known what he would have to do but had been stalling against the moment of action.

Plunging from the tree, he ran for the expanse of the yard, trying to keep the bulk of the tree between himself and the attacker, while knowing it was a doomed attempt.

The next shot hit the security man in the center of the back. He was dead when his body fell headlong into another tree, his finger vibrating against the trigger of his weapon.

Several suppressed shots broke the quiet of the woods.