He didn’t flinch but sighted along the barrel and fired. The bullet caught her right shoulder, the impact staggering as the snub-nose round took a chunk from her back. There was no pain—adrenaline and the stimulant patch smothering it—but her right arm went limp as warm blood drenched her uniform. Her momentum held, and she thudded into the guard’s midriff. They both crashed to the ground, the rifle clattering away on the hard floor.