Chapter 7

"We're being shot at!" Virgil screamed into his headphone. In that instant after the first "pock" hit the chopper, he pushed the stick forward and to the left. At the same time, he pulled up on the collective for more power, sending the helicopter into a sharp dive.

Jack was in the back readying for the boy if it was him and wasn't prepared for the violent maneuver. He yelped in pain as he slammed against the wall.

Virgil, listening to the pulse pounding in his ears, headed straight for an outcrop of rocks and dove behind them. Having succeeded in putting a barrier between him and the shooter, he thought that they took at least three hits. He skimmed along the desert floor away from the attack until he was sure nothing could have kept up. He slowed and hovered for a moment turning to check on Jack sprawled on the floor.

"Jack, can you hear me? Are you okay? Jack?"

His headphones remained silent. Taking the chance the sniper did not take up the pursuit, Virgil set his chopper down. As soon as it touched the ground, he flipped off his helmet and jumped into the back checking Jack over carefully. Grabbing the emergency supplies he started first aid procedures. Preparing a neck brace for his partner, Jack came to and waved Virgil away.

"Get that thing away from me," he growled. "I didn't break my neck. I broke my God-damn arm. Shit and it hurts like hell." He held tightly onto his broken right limb. "Get my helmet off."

Virgil checked the rest of him over. "No, keep it on. We're taking off as soon as you're immobilized and head to the nearest hospital. How do you want to go, lying down or sitting up?"

"In the co-pilot's seat where I belong."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

Jack glared at him. "I'm NOT going to the hospital lying down over a broken arm. Just immobilize it and help me up front. And why the hell did you do that anyway?"

"You didn't hear it? We got shot at. There's a hole through the floor near the pedals of the co-pilot's seat and one in the overhead glass top. Good thing you were back here, Jack. I think you would've been hit. C'mon, let's get you outa here."

Virgil immobilized Jack's arm with an air splint, helped him into the co-pilot's seat and buckled him up. Jack looked down at the entrance hole between his feet then up at the exit hole over his head. He shivered as he visualized the bullet passing through.

The entire communications room froze when they heard the scream. After waiting what seemed an eternity, they heard Virgil yelling to Jack. A few agonizing minutes more and Virgil called base to say he was landing to check Jack out. Waiting, the silence was deafening. Walt heard someone whisper, "Why would anyone shoot at us? All we do is rescue people."

While glued to the communications, Terry called into base with more disturbing news. "We are at the coordinates given for the campsite. But there's nothing here. Nothing but open desert. Have Pete do a thermal scan to see if there's anyone around this area. Also, give me those coordinates again in case I wrote them down wrong."

Walt gave the coordinates again, and Terry said, "No mistake there."

As Peter Yen was getting another satellite image, Virgil spoke again, "Sorry to keep you all in suspense. It looks like Jack broke his arm, so I'm taking him to Fallows Memorial Hospital. Our ETA's about 25 minutes."

Jack growled, "You make it sound like I am not here! Walt, I'm fine. Like Virgil said, I broke my arm. Will you call Wendy and tell her I'm fine? Don't tell her we were shot at. I want to break that news to her myself."

Virgil, after giving Jack the 'shut up already' look, continued, "The copter took a couple of hits. It handles okay but I'll check it more thoroughly at the hospital. I'll give you a buzz when he's ready to leave. Call if you need me back in the air to look for the boy."

"I don't think there is a boy, Virg."

"Huh, what do you mean?" Virgil wrinkled his brow then the light started to dawn. "You think this was a setup? What about all the police and rangers out looking for him? They couldn't all have been in on this."

"John and Terry're at the supposed site now."

As soon as Virgil heard 'supposed' he realized there never was any family, kid or campsite. No police or rangers looking for hours.

Walt said, "The communication came from an online call. The encrypted code determined it valid. So, whoever sent it used one of the National Park's computers and logged on as an official. We never made contact with parents or police, only the communiqué from a Ranger. All details were there. I most definitely believe it's a setup. I'll contact the police from this end. You take care of Jack."

"Okay, Virgil out."

He powered up the chopper and lifted back into the air. Pushing the stick forward, he took a heading towards the hospital.

"How're you feeling?"

Jack rubbed his injured arm. "Like crap ... kinda feverish, but I guess that's to be expected. Hell, don't worry. Just treat me like any other patient with a busted arm."

"If I treated you like any other patient, you'd be tied to a back board with your neck in a brace, like a pig ready for roasting. You're getting preferential treatment sitting up here."

"First class all the way?"

"First class all the way."

"So, where're my peanuts?"

Andy slammed his rifle down on the desert floor, and threw a temper tantrum a three year old would envy. He stomped up and down, screaming in anger. He had the chopper in his sights. He knew he had a clean shot, he saw the bullet hit the window on the left side. The pilot should be dead. He was furious. He had it dead to rights but the maneuver caught him off guard and he couldn't adjust his shooting fast enough. Weeks of planning wasted. The idea of setting GRNI up with a fake rescue grew as a well fertilized vegetable. Breaking into the office computer after hours and sending them a rescue request had been easy. He didn't worry about them double checking since the ID and computer ISP were legit. Simple and full proof. He even wore the absconded navy and red GRNI jumpsuit for added luck.

He picked up his gun, dusted it off, and checked the mechanics. Settling in his Jeep Wrangler he started the engine and headed off after the chopper. Maybe one of the shots winged it and it'll need to land. Then he'd finish the job. He kept his ears open for any sound and an eye out for any 'stars' that seemed to move. The chopper should still have its running lights on. As a contract employee, he used all his spare time to become intimate with the desert. He could almost drive without headlights, but he wasn't going to be that foolish and end up in an arroyo somewhere. He wanted to get that chopper.

Bouncing along at a high rate of speed, a pool, shiny with the moon's reflection, caught his eye. He slammed on his brakes and lowered his spotlight directly on the spot. Bending down, it looked like some mechanical fluid. Since there's nothing else out here, it had to be the chopper. He knew then he had hit something vital. He did a little two-step of joy then walked the perimeter to see if he could find the direction they took. He found additional drops and jumped back into his Jeep. He got his bearings from his compass and GPS reading and headed off after the wounded bird.

Virgil glanced left at Jack, who had his head back and eyes closed. "You still with me?"

"Yeah. I'm just concentrating on keeping my arm still. Hey, sorry about being such an ass when I first came to."

"No sweat. Just don't do it again." He paused then added, "Uh oh."

Jack lifted his head and opened his eyes. "What do you mean, 'uh oh'?"

"We're losing pressure. I have to take her down."

"Here, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night? Oh that's just great. Can it get any worse?"

"It could storm." Virgil said with a straight face.

Jack looked up at the crystal clear night. "You're probably right."

Virgil felt the shudder, known as translational lift, when he brought the chopper down for a landing. But the vibration seemed worse than usual. He removed his helmet and harness and got out of the helicopter. He turned towards his partner. "Jack, while I'm looking for the leak and trying to plug it, get on the horn to Walt and have him send another chopper out. Maybe John and Terry're still in the area."

Jack heard Virgil rummaging in a back compartment retrieving items to fix the helo. When he slid the door shut, Jack made the call.

Walt was talking to John and Terry when Jack interrupted. Since a thermal scan of the area showed no signs of campers, the team was coming in. "Go ahead, Jack"

"Low pressure warning forced us to set down, Walt. Virgil's trying to put her back together with spit and bubble gum. Think you can send a taxi?"

"John and Terry are the closest. I'll send them back for you. Judging by your GPS, I would say they are about 40 minutes out. By the way, tell Virgil the state police are heading out to the shooting site now. I'm not sure what they can pick up in the dark, but they aren't wasting any time. How're you doing, Jack?"