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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 0:45:58 GMT -5
"Good idea, kid." She nodded to Joey, then glanced at the women.
"What d'ya say, Grace -- you want to give this a try?"
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 0:55:40 GMT -5
Wincing, Grace shuffled forward and took the gun, holding it even more awkwardly than Alex had at first. With Daws' instruction, she shifted to a more proper grip--but she couldn't fight the urge to aim with one eye closed. She squeezed the trigger before Daws could correct her.
The recoil knocked the dancer backward, and with a small shriek she landed on her backside, dropping the gun--which mercifully did not go off. Meanwhile, her stray shot pinged sharply off of something at the other end of the range.
Flushed with embarrassment and consternation, Grace looked up sheepishly at Daws. "Oops."
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 1:10:30 GMT -5
Daws' hand flew to her mouth, stifling a grin, and she did her best to suppress her chuckle. Jack, this is you takin' revenge on me for spending six months learning, isn't it?
She retrieved the fallen automatic, flicked the safety on, and drew a different gun from the pile Sid had brought with him. "Here, Grace," She helped the blonde woman to her feet and handed her the smaller gun. ".25 caliber -- what we call a vest-pocket gun or a Saturday Night Special." She grinned. "It's not as powerful, and the barrel's shorter, so it's not as accurate at long distance -- but it also isn't gonna knock ya over backwards."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 1:16:58 GMT -5
Grace gingerly accepted the new gun and tried again, remembering this time to keep both eyes open. She stifled another whimper when the gun fired, but she remained on her feet--and she at least hit the target, although she was a few inches off from the actual human outline on it.
She blinked at the gun in uneasy wonderment. "I'd like to have one of these if Tony comes slithering around the Club again..."
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 1:23:37 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "That's what a gun like this is really designed for -- short-range, defensive stuff. Although I don't think ya really need me to tell you that shootin' Tony, tempting as the idea is, will cause a lot more problems than it solves."
She chuckled. "'Course, if Tony is as true to type as I think he is, he wouldn't stick around for actual shooting to start, either."
Daws gestured at the target. "That's not a bad shot for this distance, with that gun. Why don't you give it one more try?"
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 1:29:11 GMT -5
Grace looked back at the target and raised the gun, frowning in concentration. Now that she knew what to expect from the little pistol, she barely flinched as she fired it. Her aim wasn't too much better--she put her bullet through the upper arm of the target outline--but it was an improvement over her first shot, at least.
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 1:34:14 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Like I said, that particular gun's built for a short-range situation; but you handle it well, and with some more practice I think you'll get a feel for how to aim with it."
She glanced at Miriam, who had watched the entire proceedings silently. "What do you say, Doc? D'you want to try again?"
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 1:50:10 GMT -5
Miriam sighed and nodded mutely. Daws handed her the gun she had used before, and she took up her position, aiming at the now well-pocked paper target.
Someday this could be the only thing between death and Henry... or Alex... or any of the others. How will you feel then?
Steeling herself, Miriam squeezed the trigger, and scored a shot within two inches of the bullseye.
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 1:57:25 GMT -5
"Nicely done, Doc." Daws nodded, adding quietly "I think now you see what I mean about it bein' mental."
She looked appraisingly at the gun in Miriam's hands, then took it and exchanged it for another. ".22 LR -- smaller bullets, but about the same power. It's more accurate, generally -- but it does a lot less damage to what you're shootin' at. It's not a gun meant for killin' people."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 2:04:11 GMT -5
Miriam smiled ruefully at Daws. "The question is whether we can stop whatever we might have to shoot at... without killing it."
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 2:08:36 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "T'be perfectly honest with you, Doc, I'm hopin' we can stop it without even shooting at it." The detective looked sober. "In here is one thing; here it's a skill, and an art, and a way to relax. Out there, where the targets move and shoot back . . . " She let her voice trail off, and shrugged uncomfortably.
"Out there it's a lot more complicated."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 18:24:33 GMT -5
Miriam did not reply to that immediately. Instead, she once again aimed and fired at the target, coming slightly closer to the bullseye than she had with her last shot.
"I can't count the number of people I've autopsied who were killed with one of these," she said quietly. "I'm afraid you're never going to convince me this is an art."
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 21:55:18 GMT -5
Daws winced -- knowing exactly how much Miriam went through during an autopsy -- and said quietly "I won't even try, Doc."
She glanced over her shoulder to the space a little further along the range, where Joey and Alex were practicing. "How're you two coming along?" She called out.
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 22:03:47 GMT -5
"We're dealin'," Joey responded gamely. "Now I'm trying to teach Mr. Malone how to reload."
As if on cue, from behind Joey there came a small clatter of bullets being dropped and scattered on the floor. Alex raised his head with a beleaguered look and a sigh.
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 22:10:04 GMT -5
Daws chuckled. "All right, so . . . small gun for Grace, an' we'll wanna make sure Alex has somethin' he can carry an extra clip for."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 22:22:02 GMT -5
"Aw, he just needs some practice," Sid drawled, sauntering back over with Henry in tow. "Almost nobody's better at pickin' up new skills than Foxy."
"How's Henry?" Miriam asked, ignoring the unhappy look her undertaker friend gave her.
Sid grinned apishly. "I guess whatever practice he had as a kid did him some good. He's a pretty fair shot. He just ain't got the will."
"My objections are already on record, thank you," Henry replied primly. "When the lines are clearly drawn, I think the use of force is perfectly valid--but in this situation, I'm concerned about what we might start by taking up arms."
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 22:34:03 GMT -5
"Fair enough, Henry." Daws sighed. "Maybe we'll get lucky, and whatever Vance is plannin' won't involve us takin' up arms. But I feel better knowing that you all have at least fired a gun."
She raised an eyebrow at Sid and added "All the same, if it ever comes down to it I think you and I are gonna end up doing most of the shooting in this little group."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 22:41:33 GMT -5
"Fine by me," Sid murmured, lovingly inspecting the barrel of a somewhat antiquated Walther that was one of his favorites.
"Has Father Steele gotten in touch with Vance's man yet?" Miriam asked.
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Post by skybright on May 24, 2006 22:45:17 GMT -5
"Oh, yeah -- he left me a message this mornin', in fact. Vance's gonna be at Our Lady at noon." She glanced around. "It's about that now -- I suppose we could all just head down there."
Daws grinned slyly and added "Can't hurt for us to outnumber him, after all."
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Post by Jordanna on May 24, 2006 22:50:51 GMT -5
Joey fidgeted. Another encounter with the Grenadier was not the way he had hoped to spend his afternoon.
"Um, Daws, would you mind if I, maybe, don't go with you? I... uh... I don't think that guy likes me. I could, you know... go back to your office and work on some of your filing stuff, or something."
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