Among the items in a growing list of things to get done, Illiana had put this one off far too long. With recent developments regarding security and personal safety concerns, she decided it was time to cross "Learn to operate a handgun" off the list. 

A perfect, bright blue Saturday sky stretched over a bare field that once grew corn, long ago. Several targets had been constructed at various distances. A long table held a selection of hand guns, complete with loaded magazines sitting beside them.

Illiana was the first to step out of the car. Clad in a pair of denim jeans, a blue cashmere sweater, and brown riding boots, Illiana took a deep breath of the country air. She'd called upon an old family friend to help make this little adventure possible. The field was part of an apple orchard where Illiana used to sirens summers working for the old couple that owned it. It was now run by their son, who was happy to accommodate Illiana's request. 

"Well, Billy, how's this for a first official job assignment? Teach two clueless women to fire a weapon...at least somewhat accurately?"

She flipped open the top of a thermos and took a sip of a strong, black coffee and took in the scenery. 

As Runa walked into the empty field, she was surprised that it didn't feel more like home. Granted, a fishing village didn't have a giant field like this, but the general idea of being out in the sticks... well, she was a little shocked to find that the city was starting to feel more like her natural habitat. She squinted up at the sky as she trailed behind Illiana. Lately, Runa had been wearing more dresses, but today she was dressed like she was on the day she'd first met Illiana: brown slacks and leather boots with a dark green tunic and brown jacket. 

In her pocket was the M1911 that she'd stolen on a job for Nick. The ammo was in the other pocket; Scarfo had never actually shown her how to use the gun, but she'd used it once to intimidate someone. 

Runa looked around, wishing that she'd brought a coffee like Illiana had. 

The new guy was... interesting. The grey suit was cut well, but he seemed a little overdressed for a field. Must be more used to cities? Or he was just trying to impress. And he had a 'gun guy'. Runa wasn't sure she had an any kind of guy. Connections too, then. 

Runa hung next to Illiana as the group of men set up their targets and the grey suited man revealed revolvers, pistols, shotguns, rifles, and... a crossbow? Runa grinned, imagining herself trying to covertly carry a crossbow.

Illiana got the first gun, unsurprisingly, then Runa got her introduction.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Pilgrim. Thanks for the lesson."

She removed an unloaded, black M1911 from her pocket, making sure to point it away from everyone just to be safe.

"One of my bosses had me do a job where I found this in the desk drawer of a private security guard. It was one of the first jobs I pulled off for Race Street, so if it looks like it's in good enough condition I'd like to keep it. If not, well that's okay too. I'd need something that I could fit in a purse or hide somewhere else? My area of expertise is flying below the radar."

Runa shrugged.

"But I'll happily defer to the expert."

Not entirely used to being outdone in planning, Illiana watched the cadre of men transform the range into something a good bit more serviceable than was already there. She blinked a few times, looking back and forth between Billy and the crew. The array of weapons that had been laid out on the table looked like a gun show. Apparently, Billy had more than just information contacts. As if looking over jewelry at a department store counter, she eyed the crossbow and bolts.

"If you're trying to impress me on your first assignment, you succeeded."

She looked at the tiny gun Billy had offered her, and took it. She cocked an eyebrow and glanced back up at Billy, skeptically.

"This thing doesn't look like it could scare the hair off a rabbit. Does it do any real damage?"

Runa's eyes had widened when Billy displayed his proficiency with the revolver, and she subconsciously took a couple steps back from him as she listened to his story about the Serbian nationalist groups. The man was dangerous, but he also seemed eager to please and impress. Presumably Illiana and not her, but Runa didn't mind.

Runa picked up the M1911 from Scarfo's job. She cleared her throat politely.

"Uh, Mr. Pilgrim. I, well..."

She held the pistol in one hand, then held up the ammunition in the other.

"... where do the bullets go in?"

Runa was a little embarrassed, but she was no fool who'd falsely pretend to know how to use a deadly weapon and risk hurting herself or her colleagues. She gave Billy her best sheepish grin and shrugged apologetically.

"I've been practicing my hand to hand fighting. And knife stuff. But I'm starting from square one here, unfortunately."

With a smirk toward Billy, Illiana moved to stand beside Runa.

"Don't worry, I'm in about the same boat as you. Billy has his work cut out for him today."

Carefully, she picked up the .38 and inspected it. The weapon's performance was surprising. Up to this point, Illiana thought she needed something big an heavy to look intimidating, or at least look like she knew what she was doing. But, Billy was the expert here. Stealth and speed just might serve her better. 

"My bullets get to ride in a carousel."

She gave the cylinder a spin. Without looking behind her, she could tell Billy was starting to question his life choices. Laughing, she  cleared her throat.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, I'll get serious."

Runa watched Billy like a hawk, trying to absorb and remember his motions. She thought she could load it now, at least. 

The targets were standing in the distance, and Runa tried to copy what Billy had done. I mean, he had said that she was ready to go. It was time for her to show Illiana and Billy what she could do! She stood where Billy instructed her to, then raised the gun slowly, narrowed her eyes, and focused on the targets in the distance. 

It was hard getting used shooting the gun. At first, Runa thought the targets might be really durable. Then she realized she had missed all them by a mile. Her six shots didn't even come close to hitting anything. Her arms sank dejectedly to her sides. Bill, who'd been counting her shots, had started speaking to her and moving towards her immediately, but he wasn't quick enough to stop her seventh shot from cracking and cutting through her boot. The pain was immediate, blossoming through her foot from the far edge. Did she shoot off her pinky toe? She didn't think so. Had it just grazed the edge? This seemed more likely.

Runa dropped immediately, sitting on the grass and grabbing her foot, trying not to scream or cry. Wincing, she half spoke and half yelled to Billy and Illiana.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! It just hurts! I think it- uh-grazed my foot!"

I hope.

Before Illiana could manage to spit out a curse, she instinctively dropped to her knees beside Runa, trying to remember any first aid her mother had tried to teach her so long ago. Drawing a blank, she called to Billy. 

"Please tell me one of your guys is trained in first aid."

Carefully, she started unlacing the boot, which had a fairly mangled looking edge at the toe. At first glance, it didn't look awful. Biting her lower lip, she started peeling back the sock. Just as Runa had said, fortunately, it looked like the bullet had just taken a few layers from the meat of her foot just below the pinky toe. Illiana gave a sigh of relief. 

"Thank goodness. It's not that bad."

Mustering a bit of a laugh, she gave Runa a playful swat on the head.

"You're supposed to shoot the targets, not yourself."

Runa kept her eyes closed, not as much from the pain from her foot as the embarrassment.

Motherfucker.

She accepted Billy's flask wordlessly, drinking much more than she should.

How unlucky could she get?

Maybe she should stick to knives...

She stayed quiet as her foot was tended to. She watched Billy intently as he worked on her. Was he angry? He seemed distracted, if anything. But it a little while, it was finished. 

"Seems like the only casualty is my boot. And your jacket, Billy. Sorry. But uh, I'm fine, really. Think I should probably be done for today, but why don't you keep going? Teach Illiana what to do and I'll watch. Just watch. I mean, you've already got everything set up here. Don't let me ruin the plans."

"Well, if you're sure. Just take it easy and see how you feel at lunch."

Once Runa was settled, Illiana took her place by the table and looked down range. The pistol fit nicely in her hand, but she'd already seen enough to not assume it wouldn't be tricky to fire. She took a deep breath and lifted the gun. At first, she closed one eye; then opened it to see if that was better. No, maybe with the eye closed, tilt the head to one side? Ok, might as well try. 

She eyed the target and squeezed the trigger. To her surprise, the gun seemed to kick to one side. The crack was loud, and they're was a distinct sound of the bullet striking something. Excitedly, Illiana lowered the gun and looked out. The target wasn't hit. Then she looked to the side, where a tree was missing a sizable patch of bark. She laughed. 

"I hit something, right?" 

"As long as it's not me!" chimed in Runa from the side, where she'd propped up her foot. 

The shot  was nearly perfect. Illiana smiled a little and glanced back at Billy.

"Hey, you're a pretty good teacher. What can't you do?"

She reset her stance, held up the gun again and looked down the snub nosed barrel between the two posts. One breath in, and she gently squeezed the trigger. Again, the sound surprised her, but not as much as last time. Her hand stayed steady, and she kept it pointed toward the target, even after the echo faded. Squinting, she looked at the target. 

There was a new hole in it, just a few inches below the center of the same target. Illiana broke into a grin, her eyebrows raised.

"Hey! Look at that! I did it!"

For a moment, she thought of her father. It was a bittersweet thought. She should have done this with him. He'd talked about it several times, but she'd always been so busy trying to be the top of her class in law school. He'd be proud of her now, though, she thought. While her mom hadn't wanted her to go near the world of the mob, her dad probably would have been the first one at the end of the Race Street Pier with her that night.