Obsession For Vengeance

Author's Note
This story was written during a very difficult time in New York City. On February 26, 1993, a truck bomb came perilously close to dropping the World Trade Center. I was knocked out of my chair by the blast. Less than ten months later, on December 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson shot 25 people on the Long Island Rail Road. I will never forget the blood on the windows. In between, on March 12-13, 1993, the Blizzard dubbed the "Storm of The Century" wreaked havoc, killing over 300 people. I recall shoveling epic amounts of snow.
Obsession for Vengeance was written during these dark and tense days in New York that many predicted foretold the end of the world. The seed of the story was "what could one truly deranged man with skills and resources do to New York City? Unfortunately, on 9/11, we all witnessed a real life version.
Thus, please accept this story for what it is, one New Yorker trying to deal with the dark days of 1993 by imagining the worst. While imagining the worst, I had to imagine what type of person could even contemplate the types of deeds perpetrated in the story. Again, unfortunately, these imaginings lead to a very disturbing picture of a serial rapist. Thus this story includes very graphic violence, including sexual violence, that is a function of the tension and horrors of 1993 in New York. As you read this story, please note how many times Hank is described as a coward, because any man who could hurt a woman or child in any way, let alone in the terrible ways that Hank hurts people, must be a coward.

Chapter
"The United States Army finds you guilty as charged. You are hereby ordered to surrender your commission, all uniforms and weapons, all citations, and all manners and forms of property associated with the Army. You are not to speak of this incident with anyone, at any time. Any failure to comply with these orders will result in the release of our evidence and findings to the civil authorities and your subsequent arrest, trial and conviction by civilian law of these same charges. I assure you that you will spend the rest of your days in jail if you do not adhere by this sentence."

The presiding General stopped his pronouncement of the sentence. He pulled his glasses form his face, wiped them slowly on a handkerchief he pulled from his dress uniform pocket, and slowly put them back on his face. He had a pained expression that revealed his inner conflict in sentencing Lieutenant Colonel Hank Adams. Respect for his service, disgust with this specific latest action, and silent shame in having been complicit in letting it go on so long.

"It is only our personal relationship, and your long and meritorious service to the United States, in high risk, covert missions that precludes me from turning over this entire matter to the District Attorney. This hearing is adjourned."

The General looked down from the bench and found the Sergeant at Arms for the proceedings. He was unwilling to look the convicted officer in the eyes. Hank Adams had been one of his special projects. A killer. Trained in practically every weapon system and killing system known to man. Hank had travelled the world carrying out assignments that other men could not even imagine. He was a fine tuned assassin who could kill at any range, including at zero range, hand to hand, face to face.