The Traps of Black Swan

Around half-past five, Leon's men were waiting around the military hospital at inconspicuous locations waiting for the Surgeon general to leave the hospital so that they could start their plan of ambush.

The sunset rays failed to warm the atmosphere. The military hospital wasn't speaking of any luxuriousness but austere. The way military fellows walked steadily and their voice was low but audible to the listener felt cold.

The main entrance building was five floors but it didn't have a main medical block, it just served as a security area. After crossing the first building there were three buildings with a walking park in the center where the soldier patients were taking a walk or enjoying coffee in the dusk.

Near the cardiology department, Connor elegantly went upstairs to the third floor without using the elevator. He was nodding at the junior doctors and nurses whenever they greeted him.

Connor knocked on the door of a room where there was a nameplate on the door, 'Susan Parkinson, Surgeon General.'

An aloof voice of an aged woman rang inside, "Please, come in."

Connor pushed open the door and saw the lady busy with a report without bothering to lift her head, "How many I help you?" She asked.

Connor stepped inside the office room which had more brown wood tones and white walls without any fancy items. Susan Parkinson was sitting opposite the door behind her desk.

"I am sorry if I am disturbing your work, Doctor Parkinson." His voice was mild and straight without revealing his real emotions. 

Susan looked up and flashed a modest smile at the first sight of Connor, "Chief! What a surprise! Please have a seat." She stood up as she greeted him.

Connor took a seat while Susan went to the water dispenser to fetch water for both. "To what do I owe this honor for your appearance in my office?" She asked in a light humorous way.

Connor took the warm water cup and turned aside when Susan pulled the other chair and sat in front of him instead of another side of the desk.

"I was thinking if Doctor Parkinson would do me an honor and have dinner with us." Connor didn't beat around the bush.

Aarvi had called him a few hours prior, it was the first time she called him and asked for a favor so he was ready to go out of his way to help her. Since it was also about the life of Susan, he accepted as he felt Aarvi's plan was more feasible.

Susan's smile slightly froze before breathing a long sigh. "It's been three years. Our family often had dinner together but now…"

Susan and Connor's wife were friends from the time they had started working in the military hospitals. Susan and her husband had numerous times visited the Rivas mansion for dinner. 

After Connor lost his wife, Susan often feared to speak to him or console him due to his detachment from the world yet warmly smile at the colleagues. 

Hearing him ask her for dinner, she felt petty to turndown, maybe as a junior or as her friend's husband. "Alright then. I will ask my husband to reach there straight." She gave her acceptance.

Connor smiled gratefully, they actually had the choice of revealing everything to Susan that Leon was targeting her life but things would get very complicated. 

The investigation would take place, whereas it was just Aarvi's intuition without any proof and Leon would escape like every time he slipped away from the Military or law.

Aarvi had told him she had tortured Leon, by taking his personality he would definitely take drastic steps without patience. So her plan was 'better to be cautious before it's too late.'

If Leon doesn't attack Susan, then Susan will be safe without worrying about anything. So hiding it from her for time being felt the most suitable choice.

Standing up, Conner invited the other two, "What about your son and daughter? Dad would love to meet them."

Susan chuckled hearing about Jordan, she had heard a lot about Jordan and his wife from her friend and she always craved she could have got such caring in-laws. 

Susan nodded, "I am not sure if my son will be home. I will ask my daughter, she would love to join us."

Both faintly smiled at each other in acknowledgment. Connor added before leaving the office, "Why don't you send your car home? You can return with Mr.Parkinson from the Rivas mansion." 

It was to fool Leon's men as she left towards the home whereas Susan would go with him.

Susan felt it was better than taking many cars, "I will do that, chief."

That way, Aarvi's first stage of the plan was completed.

Susan's driver drove the car towards the Parkinson villa earlier than usual with the black shield on the windows.

Leon's men who were waiting for Susan's car and number plate, quickly called Leon, "Boss, the car left the hospital premises now." They assumed Susan sitting behind as the blind shields were pulled down.

[Hmm, earlier than expected. Activate the plan.] It was Leon's voice giving the green signal for his plan to start.

The way from the military hospital to the Parkinson villa takes up to an hour if the path taken on the ring road avoids the traffic. Attacking on the ring road might seem easy but the vehicles will be very fast.

Aarvi doubted if Leon really had a shooter who could be sharp enough to target the high-speed car. Not to mention, now the driver had no objection to maintaining minimal speed but to reach the villa to leave the car and go home.

The high-speed ring road apart, after the ring road there was a way that passes through the non-residential, secluded areas where it would be easier to attack.

Leon didn't just put his people at the last stretch of the travel route, he planted his men at quite good places so that if one missed another could take them down.

This time, Leon wasn't ready to lose.

....

Sitting in the banquet hall, Leon had instructed each member of the teams who was waiting to attack Susan Parkinson to call him right after they completed the deed.

So he ignored the water glass he had broken after he saw Twyla entering with Aaron. A cleaner in uniform quickly cleaned while his fingers tapped on the mobile impatiently.

…

On the other end, the first team of two members got the message saying the car was on its way. They were on a terrace of a residential building of three floors. It was present at the arc of the road where cars usually slow down. 

The shooter's aim was the wheel of the car or head of the driver as straight aiming the passenger who will be on the back seat in the high-speed car is tougher.

A man in blue jeans and a black shirt prepared himself ready to aim the moving car which was at 55 miles per hour speed.

Another man was fat and tall in ripped baggy jeans. He was using binoculars and noticed the car appear at the curve of the road and started giving a countdown to the shooter which was the distance from them to the car.

"500 meters away, 5… 4… 3… 2… 1, Shoot." He commanded.